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Founded  by 


GOL.DWIN    SMITH       I      IQOl 
HARRIET    SiVlITH 


THE  VICTORIA  HISTORY 

OF  THE 
COUNTIES  OF  ENGLAND 


A  HISTORY  OF 
ESSEX 

VOLUME  IV 


THE  VICTORIA  HISTORY 

OF  THE 
COUNTIES  OF  ENGLAND 


EDITED  BY  R.  B.  PUGH 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  LONDON 

INSTITUTE  OF 

HISTORICAL  RESEARCH 


Oxford  University  Press,  Amen  House,  London,  E.G.  4 

GLASGOW   NEW  YORK   TORONTO    MELBOURNE   WELLINGTON 
BOMBAY  CALCUTTA  MADRAS   KARACHI   CAPETOWN   IBADAN 

Geoffrey  Gumberlege,  Publisher  to  the  University 


PRINTED  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN 


646017 


INSCRIBED  TO  THE 
MEMORY  OF  HER  LATE  MAJESTY 

QUEEN  VICTORIA 

WHO  GRACIOUSLY  GAVE  THE  TITLE  TO 

AND  ACCEPTED  THE  DEDICATION 

OF  THIS  HISTORY 


Aerial  View  ok  Chipping  Ongar  from  the  North-East 
The  castle  mound  is  shown  in  the  mid-foreground 


Copyright  Aerojilms 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 
COUNTY  OF 


ESSEX 


EDITED  BY  W.  R.  POWELL 
\ 


VOLUME  IV 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


PUBLISHED  FOR 
THE  INSTITUTE  OF  HISTORICAL  RESEARCH 

BY  THE 

OXFORD  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

AMEN  HOUSE,  LONDON 
1956 


DA 

bio 

£71/6 
V.4 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME   FOUR 


Dedication.         .         .         .  ""^^^ 

••••■.....         V 

Contents 


List  of  Illustrations  and  Maps 
Editorial  Note     . 


Essex  V.C.H.  Committee 

Qasses  of  Public  Records  used       .... 
Classes  of  Documents  in  the  Essex  Record  Office  used 
Note  on  Abbreviations 


Topography 


Ongar  Hundred  . 
Bobbingworth. 
ChigweU 

Fyfield    . 
Greenstead 
Kelvedon  Hatch 

Lambourne 

High  Laver     . 
Little  Laver    . 

Magdalen  Laver 

Loughton 

Moreton- 

Navestock 

Norton  MandeviUe 
Chipping  Ongar 
High  Ongar    . 
Abbess  Roding 

Beaucharap  Roding 


iz 
xi 

xiii 

XV 

xvii 

xviii 

xix 


Where  not  otherwise  stated.  Architectural  De- 
scriptions by  Margaret  Tomlinson;  bridges, 
roads,  postal  services,  and  public  services 
(except  in  ChigweU)  by  Gladys  A.  Ward; 
Roman  Catholicism  from  information  sup- 
plied by  the  Revd.  B.  C.  Foley;  Methodist 
Churches  (except  in  Lambourne)  by  G.  Har- 
rington; all  other  Nonconformist  Churches 
by  W.  R.  PowELL;Primary  Schools  by  A.F.J. 
Brown;  Charities  by  Susan  Reynolds. 

By  W.  R.  Powell 

By  Audrey  M.  Taylor        .... 

By  E.  J.  Erith.  Architectural  Descriptions 

from  information  supplied  by  the  Ministry 

of  Housing  and  Local  Government    . 

By  Audrey  M.  Taylor        .... 

By  W.  R.  Powell 

By  E.  E.  Barker,  W.  R.  Powell,  and  Audrey 

M.  Taylor  ..... 

By  W.  R.  Powell.  Parish  Government  and 

Poor  Relief  by  D.  M.  M.  Shorrocks 
By  Audrey  M.  Taylor        .... 
By  Audrey  M.  Taylor.   Parish  Government 

and  Poor  Relief  by  J.  H.  Holmes 
By  Audrey  M.  Taylor.   Parish  Government 

and  Poor  Relief  by  J.  H.  Holmes 

By  W.  R.  Powell.  Architectural  Descriptions 

from  information  supphed  by  the  Ministry 

of  Housing  and  Local  Government   . 

By  Audrey  M.  Taylor.    Parish  Government 

and  Poor  Rehef  by  D.  M.  M.  Shorrocks  . 

By  E.  E.  Barker,  W.  R.  Powell,  and  Audrey 

M.  Taylor    ..... 
By  W.  R.  Powell       .... 
By  W.  R.  Powell       .... 
By  W.  R.  Powell       . 
By  W.  R.  Powell.    Parish  Government  and 

Poor  Relief  by  D.  M.  M.  Shorrocks.         .     i88 
By  W.  R.  Powell.    Parish  Government  and 
Poor  Relief  by  D.  M.  M.  Shorrocks         .     197 


18 

43 
58 

63 

72 
87 

97 

103 


129 

139 
150 

15s 
171 


ES.  IV 


IX 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME   FOUR 


Shelley   . 
Stanford  Rivers 

Stapleford  Abbots 
Staple  ford  Tawney 

Stondon  Massey 


Theydon  Bois 

Theydon  Garnon  ..... 
Theydon  Mount  ..... 
North  "Weald  Bassett         .... 

Analysis  of  Some  Medieval  Tax  Assessments: 
Ongar  Hundred  ..... 

Analysis  of  Hearth   Tax    Assessments    for 
Ongar  Hundred,  1662,  1670,  and  1674  . 

Analysis  of  Bishop  Compton's  Census  of  1676: 
Ongar  Hundred  ..... 

Indez^ 


By  Audrey  M.  Taylor        .... 

By  W.  R.  Powell.  Parish  Government  and 
Poor  Relief  by  J.  H.  Holmes    . 

By  Audrey  M.  Taylor        .... 

By  Audrey  M.  Taylor.  Parish  Government 
and  Poor  Relief  by  D.  M.  M.  Shorrocks     . 

By  E.  E.  Barker,  W.  R.  Powell,  and  Audrey 
M.  Taylor.  Architectural  Descriptions  by 
J.  H.  Farrer  and  Cynthia  E.  Booth. 
Parish  Government  and  Poor  Relief  by 
D.  M.  M.  Shorrocks     .         .         .         . 

By  A.  A.  DiBBEN 

By  A.  A.  DiBBEN 

ByA.  A.  Dibben         .         .         .         . 

By  W.  R.  Powell. 


Parish  Government  and 


Poor  Relief  by  D.  M.  M.  Shorrocks , 

By  M.  W.  Beresford  .         .         . 

By  K.  H.  Burley         ... 

By  K.  H.  Burley       ... 
ByW.  R.Powell       .         .         .         , 


page 

203 
208 

222 


240 
249 
258 

275 

284 
296 

3" 
313 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  AND  MAPS 


The  three  maps  are  based  on  the  Ordnance  Survey,  and  like  the  illustration  of  painted  glass  facing  page  185 
are  published  with  the  sanction  of  the  Controller  of  H.M.  Stationery  Office,  Crown  Copyright  reserved. 
Additional  information  for  the  map  facing  p.  1 10  was  supplied  by  the  ChigweU  Urban  District  Council. 
The  drawings  of  Fyfield  Hall  and  Lampetts  are  by  Miss  Cynthia  Booth,  based  on  a  survey  made  by  the 
National  Buildings  Record  in  1954.  Thanks  for  the  loan  of  photographs  and  other  pictures  are  due  to  Mrs.  C. 
Blaxall  (Kelvedon  Hatch  Old  Church),  the  Cement  and  Concrete  Association  (Bank  of  England  Printing 
Works),  Mr.  D.  A.  J.  Buxton  (Town  Hall,  Chipping  Ongar),  the  Minister  and  Deacons  of  White  Roding 
Congregational  Church  (Abbess  Roding  Congregational  Church),  and  the  Minister  and  Deacons  of  Chipping 
Ongar  Congregational  Church  (Stanford  Rivers  Congregational  Church);  and  to  the  National  Buildings 
Record  and  the  Essex  Record  Office  for  the  loan  of  several  photographic  and  other  prints.  The  portrait 
facing  p.  280  is  reproduced  by  courtesy  of  the  Mayor  and  Corporation  of  Saffron  Walden.  The  block  for 
the  illustration  of  Lucton  Secondary  Modem  School  was  lent  by  the  Essex  Education  Committee.  Unless 
otherwise  stated,  all  photographs  were  taken  in  1955  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Tomlinson. 


Air  View  of  Chipping  Ongar,  6  June  195 1      . frontispiece 

Map  of  the  Hundred  of  Ongar,  drawn  by  Cynthia  Booth page       3 

Arms  of  ChigweU  Urban  District,  granted  195 1 „        18 

Buckhurst  Hill.  Air  View  from  the  west,  4  June  1952 facing 

ChigweU  Village  ............. 

Barns  at  Rookwood  Hall,  Abbess  Roding.  Photograph  by  G.  N.  Kent,  1940      .         .       „ 
Dews  Hall,  Lambourne,  refronted  c.  1740,  demolished  c.  1840.  Drawn  by  J.  P.  Neale 

and  included  in  his  Fietcs  of  the  Seats  of  Noblemen  and  Gentlemen  in  England . . .  (2nd 

Ser.),  Vol.  i  (1824) 

Luxborough  House,  ChigweU,  rebuilt  1716-20,  demolished  c.  1800.  Dravm  by  Metz. 

From  a  print,  published  in  1783  by  Harrison  &  Co.,  in  the  Essex  Record  Office  „ 

Fyfield  Hall,  sections  and  plan '.         .         .         . 

Lampetts,  Fyfield,  sections  and  plan • 

Fyfield  Church /»"».? 

Bomb  Damage  at  Navestock  Church.  Photograph  by  G.  N.  Kent,  1940    .         .         .       „ 
Fyfield  Church:  chancel  in  1834.  Drawn  by  A.  Suckling  and  published  in  his  Memorials 

of  the  ...  Architecture  of  Essex  {l%if<;,) » 

Lambourne  Church  in  1825.  Drawn  by  J.  P.  Neale.  From  a  print,  published  1825,  in  the 

Essex  Record  Office  .......■•••>> 

Greenstead  Church  in  1748.  From  Fetusta  Monumenta  (Sec.  Antiq.),  Vol.  ii  (1789)  .       » 

Kelvedon  Hall,  built  f.  1743.  Photograph  from  Co»»/ry  Z:»/^  1941 

Lambourne  Place,  formerly  the  Rectory,  built  f.  1740 

Map  of  Loughton,  drawn  by  Cynthia  Booth  and  Margaret  Tomlinson       ...         .       „ 

Loughton  Street  Plan,  drawn  by  Cynthia  Booth > 

Mid-20th-century  Buildings  at  Debden. 

Roman  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Thomas  More,  opened  1953 

Bank  of  England  Printing  Works  (Architects,  Easton  &  Robertson;  Consulting  En- 
gineers, Ove  Arup  &  Partners).   Interior  of  main  printing  haU  under  construction, 

1954 

Nonconformist  Churches. 

Abbess  Roding  Congregational  Church,  buUt  1729,  demolished  c.  1900.  From  an  oil 
painting       ....••••••••"" 

Stanford  Rivers  Congregational  Church,  built  1820,  burnt  1927.  From  a  photograph  of 

1927 •         •         ■         •   -  " 

Buckhurst  HiU:  Palmerston  Road  Congregational  Church,  buUt  1874    .         .         .       „ 

Loughton:  Methodist  Church,  built  1903 " 

Former  village  school  at  Greenstead,  built  f.  1846 ' 

County  Primary  School,  High  Ongar,  built  1 867  .         •         •         •        _•         •       " 

xi 


18 
19 
19 

30 

30 
48 
50 
52 
52 

53 

53 
61 
82 
82 
no 
III 

112 
112 

113 

113 
113 
113 
126 
126 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  AND  MAPS 

Loughton  County  High  School  for  Girls,  built  1908 facing  page  127 

Lucton  Secondary  Modem  School,  Debden,  built  1950 „  „  127 

Navestock  Hall,  built  early  1 8th  century,  demolished  1 8 1 1 .  Drawn  by  J.  Chapman.  From 

J  ...  History  of  Essex  6y  a  Gentleman, 'Wol.  in  {ij-ji) »»  »  136 

The  former  Rectory,  Stondon  Massey,  built  early  17th  century,  demolished  c.  1800. 

Drawn  by  'C.H.'  From  The  Gentleman's  Magazine,  Ixxv  (i),  facing  p.  105  (1805).       „  „  136 

Wynter's  Armourie,  Magdalen  Laver,  containing  part  of  a  14th-century  aisled  hall      .       „  „  137 

Black  Bailor  Guildhall  Cottage,  Moreton,  probably  a  Guildhall  off.  1473  .         .         .       „  »  I37 

Former  Steam  Mill,  Navestock „  „  156 

Town  Hall,  Chipping  Ongar,  demolished  1896-7.  Photograph  off.  1890  .  .  .  „  »  156 
Castle  House  and  the  Moatof  Ongar  Castle  in  1832.  From  Thomas  Wright's  ffij/ffry  of 

...  Essex,  ii,  ■^■^0 „  „  157 

Greenstead  Hall  in  the  later  1 8th  century.  From  A  New  Display  of  the  Beauties  of  England 

(3rd  ed.).  Vol.  i  (1776) ,,  „  157 

High  Ongar  Church:  i2th-centuryTympanum.  Photographby  G.N.Kent,  1942         .       „  „  184 

Litde  Laver  Church:  12th-century  Font  Bowl ,  „  184 

Painted  Glass  in  High  Ongar  Church:  Arms  of  Jane  Seymour.   From  Hist.  Men.  Com. 

£wf;ir,  Vol.  ii  (1924),  plate  facing  p.  xixvii »  »  185 

Shelley  Hall,  Mural  Painting  of  f.  1590.  From  .E.^.T  (1913)  n.s.  xii,  26.         .         •       „  „  185 

Beauchamp  Roding  Church  .............  202 

Magdalen  Laver  Church       .............  202 

Toot  HiU  Windmill,  Stanford  Rivers.  Shattered  by  lightning  1829.  Print  as  sold  for  the 

benefit  of  the  miller           .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .       „  „  210 

Old  Loughton  Hall,  burnt  1836.  Fromanearly-igth-century  water-colour, £..1^.7.(1903) 

N.s.  viii,  345 ,,  ,,  226 

Albyns,  Stapleford  Abbots  (derelict  in  1955).   From  an  estate  map  of  1654,  E.R.O. 

D/DC27/1121 „  >,  226 

The  River  Roding  and  Passingford  Mill  from  Passingford  Bridge „  ,,232 

Loughton:  Trees  in  Epping  Forest  showing  the  effects  of  lopping       .         .         .         •       »  »  232 

Cutlers  Forge,  Stapleford  Tawney          .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .       „  „  233 

Stanford  Rivers:  Tent  and  Tarpaulin  Factory,  formerly  the  Ongar  Union  Workhouse  .  „  „  233 
Post-Reformation  Churches. 

Kelvedon  Hatch  Old  Church,  built  1750-3.  Photograph  byConstanceBlaxall,f.  1942      „  „  270 

Theydon  Bois,  built  1850          ............  270 

Theydon  Mount,  built  161 1-14 „  »  270 

The  Church  and  Priest's  House,  Theydon  Garnon.  DrawTiand  published  by  W.  Franklin 

in  1818.  From  a  print  in  the  Essex  Record  Office.         ......„„  271 

Stondon  Massey  Church  in  1833.  Drawn  by  A.  Suckling,  and  published  in  his  Memorials 

of  the  ...  Architecture  of  Essex  (\%\')^         ........„„  271 

Portrait  of  Sir  Thomas  Smyth  (151 3-77).  By  an  unknown  artist.  The  original,  which  is 

in  Saffron  Walden  Town  Hall,  was  presented  to  the  corporation  by  Sir  Charles  Smyth 

in  1771  and  is  presumed  to  have  been  copied  about  that  time  from  an  earlier  work     .       „  „  280 

Hill  Hall.  East  front,  reconstructed  f.  1 7 14.  Photograph  from  Coa»/ry  Z,//f,  1908  .  „  ,,281 
Hill  Hall.  The  Great  Hall  before  20th-century  alterations.  Photograph  from  Country 

Life,  1908 „  »  281 

Semi-detached  Houses  at  Theydon  Bois,  built  f.  1900       ......„„  286 

Post-1945  Housing  Estate  at  North  Weald »  »  286 


XU 


EDITORIAL  NOTE 

The  first  volume  of  the  Victoria  History  of  Essex  was  published  in  1903 
and  the  second  in  1 907.  A  little  work  on  other  volumes  was  put  in  hand  in 
1907  and  1909,  but  nothing  came  of  it,  and  it  was  not  until  1950  that  any 
desire  to  add  to  the  Essex  volumes  in  the  series  openly  displayed  itself. 
In  that  year,  however,  two  conferences  of  the  Local  Authorities  in  Essex, 
specially  convened,  resolved  to  raise  a  local  fund  so  that  work  on  the  history 
of  their  county  might  be  resumed.  The  three  County  Boroughs,  and  most 
of  the  Municipal  Boroughs,  Urban  Districts,  and  Rural  Districts  agreed  to 
contribute  in  proportion  to  their  populations,  and  the  money  thus  found 
was  used  to  meet  the  local  editorial  expenses.  The  Essex  County  Council 
extended  some  useful  practical  help.  A  'Victoria  History  of  the  County  of 
Essex  Committee'  was  set  up  in  1951  to  ensure  a  proper  use  of  the  money, 
and  appointed  a  local  editor  (Mr.  W.  R.  Powell)  and  assistant  editor  (Miss 
Audrey  M.  Taylor).  It  has  met  ever  since  under  the  chairmanship  of  Sir 
John  Ruggles-Brise,  Bt.,  and  besides  a  few  co-opted  individuals,  consists 
of  representatives  of  the  participating  Local  Authorities  and  the  learned 
societies  in  Essex.  Mr.  J.  G.  O'Leary,  Public  Librarian  of  Dagenham,  who 
had  cheerfully  shouldered  the  burden  of  appealing  for  financial  support, 
undertook  the  duties  of  secretary.  With  this  Committee  the  University  of 
London  agreed  to  collaborate,  and  so  was  formed  another  of  those  partner- 
ships for  the  promotion  of  local  historiography,  the  prototype  of  which  is 
described  in  the  editorial  note  prefixed  to  the  seventh  volume  of  The 
Victoria  History  of  Wiltshire.  The  University  of  London  will  ever  grate- 
fully recall  the  local  generosity  which  made  this  partnership  possible,  and 
the  Essex  Authorities  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  them  of  bringing  out 
in  instalments  a  modern  history  of  their  county. 

The  present  volume  presents  some  special  features.  Thanks  to  the  exten- 
sive system  of  topographical  indexing  adopted  in  the  Essex  Record  Office 
it  has  been  possible  to  exploit  the  large  accumulations  of  historical  material 
in  that  Office  in  systematic  fashion.  This  has  enabled  contributors  to  pre- 
pare fuller  accounts  of  parish  government,  the  administration  of  poor 
reUef,  and  the  maintenance  of  roads  and  bridges  than  have  as  yet  appeared 
in  the  series,  while  the  history  of  the  descent  of  land  since  the  17th  century 
has  been  enriched,  as  perhaps  never  before,  by  the  use  of  private  estate  • 
documents.  Secondly,  the  publication  by  the  County  Council  of  Essex 
Parish  Records  1240-1894  so  recently  as  1950  suggested  that  the  brief 
descriptions  of  the  earlier  parochial  registers  of  each  parish,  commonly 
included  in  the  topographical  volumes  of  the  History,  might  be  dispensed 
with  here.  Thirdly,  in  1921  the  Royal  Commission  on  Historical  Monu- 
ments published  the  second  volume  of  its  report  upon  the  buildings  of  the 
county  earlier  than  171 4.  The  existence  of  this  volume  rendered  com- 
parable treatment  of  the  buildings  in  Ongar  hundred  superfluous,  but  the 

xiii 


EDITORIAL  NOTE 

ground  had  to  be  traversed  anew  in  pursuit  of  later  buildings  falling  outside 
the  Commission's  purview.  In  the  course  of  this  inquiry  it  was  found  pos- 
sible to  correct  or  amplify  some  statements  appearing  in  the  Commission's 
reports,  particularly  in  the  light  of  recent  research  on  medieval  timber- 
framed  structures.  In  later  volumes,  however,  it  is  probable  that  a  less- 
detailed  treatment  of  the  buildings  will  be  found  advisable,  especially  in 
areas  that  are  richer  in  architectural  interest  than  this  one.  Similarly,  other 
features  may  be  modified  where  this  can  be  done  without  rendering  them 
less  scholarly. 

The  compilers  have  received  help  from  many  people  living  in  Essex  or 
connected  with  the  county.  The  Essex  Education  Committee,  the  County 
Planning  Department,  and  Chigwell  Urban  District  Council  permitted 
access  to  certain  records  and  answered  questions.  The  Eastern  and  North 
Thames  Gas  Boards,  the  Eastern  Electricity  Board,  and  the  London 
Co-operative  Society  also  supplied  much  information.  The  records  of  the 
Wanstead  and  Woodford  Methodist  Circuit  were  examined  by  permission 
of  the  Revd.  J.  R.  S.  Hutchinson.  Information  from  the  records  of  the 
Essex  Congregational  Union  was  communicated  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Appleby. 
The  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Local  Government  allowed  the  use  of  their 
unpublished  lists  of  buildings  of  architectural  or  historical  interest.  Certain 
architectural  descriptions,  notably  those  of  medieval  houses,  owe  much  to 
the  Royal  Commission  on  Historical  Monuments,  and  in  the  parish  of 
Fyfield  special  surveys  were  made  on  request  by  the  National  Buildings 
Record.  Many  local-  residents,  whose  kindness  is  acknowledged  in  footnotes, 
gave  information  or  permitted  the  inspection  of  their  houses.  The  galley 
proof  of  each  parish  article  was  read  by  at  least  one  person,  usually  the  in- 
cumbent, living  or  working  in  the  parish,  and  many  valuable  suggestions 
resulted.  The  County  Archivist  (Mr.  F.  G.  Emmison)  and  his  staff  per- 
formed special  services  at  all  stages,  Mr.  Emmison  himself  reading  many  of 
the  articles  in  draft  or  in  proof.  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings  of  Ongar  carried  out 
field  surveys  for  all  parishes,  gave  much  information,  supplied  references 
from  periodicals,  and  read  the  whole  volume  in  proof. 

R.  B.  PUGH 
W.  R.  POWELL 


XIV 


ESSEX 

VICTORIA  COUNTY  HISTORY 

COMMITTEE 


President 


Col.  Sir  Francis  Whitmore,  Bt.,  k.c.b.,  c.m.c,  d.s.o.,  Her  Majesty's  Lieutenant 


Chairman 

Sir  John  Ruggles-Brise,  Bt.,  o.b.e.. 

T.D.,  D.L. 

Representatives  of  the  following  Local  Authorities* 

County  Boroughs: 

East  Ham                  West  Ham                Southend-on-Sea 

Municipal  Boroughs: 

Barking 

Chelmsford            Chingford 

Colchester 

Dagenham 

Harwich                Ilford 

Leyton 

Maldon 

Romford                Walthamstow 
Urban  Districts: 

Wanstead  and  Woodford 

Benfleet 

Braintree  and  Hocking         Brentwood 

Bumham-on-Crouch 

Canvey  Isknd 

Chigwell                              Clacton 

Epping 

Frinton  and  Walton 

Halstead                               Harlow 

Hornchurch 

Rayleigh 

Thurrock                             Waltham  H 

oly  Cross           West  Mersea 

Braintree 


Chelmsford 

Lexden  and  Winstree 


Rural  Districts: 

Epping  and  Ongar 


Halstead 


Maldon 


Representatives  of  the  following  Societies 


Barking  and  District  Archaeological  Society 
Brentwood  and  District  Historical  Society 
Chingford  Antiquarian  Society 
Essex  Archaeological  Society 
Essex  Field  Club 


Roman  Essex  Society 

Southend-on-Sea  and  District  Antiquarian  and  Historical  Society 

Waltham  Abbey  Historical  Society 

Walthamstow  Antiquarian  Society 

Woodford  and  District  Historical  Society 


W.  Addison,  Esq.")" 
Councillor  H.  A.  BRiDCEf 
Alderman  A.  L.  Clarke 
Alderman  L.  DANsiEf  (resigned  1954) 
F.  G.  Emmison,  EsQ.f 


Co-opted  Members 

M.  Fitch,  EsQ.f  (from  1954) 

M.  R.  Hull,  EsQ-f 

K.  J.  Lace,  Esq. 

E.  O.  Reed,  Esq. 

G.  O.  Rickword,  Esq. 


F.  W.  Steer,  EsQ.f  (resigned  1953) 

•  The  following  Local  Authorities,  not  being  regular  subscribers,  have  made  donations:  the  Municipal  Borough  of  Saffron 
Waldon;  the  Urban  District  of  Basildon.  t  Members  of  Editorial  Committee. 


XV 


ESSEX  V.C.H.  COMMITTEE 

Editorial  Committee 
Alderman  D.  Thorogood  (Chairman)         Professor  H.  C.  Darby,  o.b.e. 
Professor  F.  J.  Fisher  Canon  J.  L.  Fisher 

E,  R.  Gamester,  Esq.  (from  1954)  Mrs.  G.  A.  Ward 

together  with  the  persons  marked  with  a  dagger 

County  Secretary:  J.  G.  O'Leary,  EsQ.f 

Treasurer:  C.  H.  Chown,  EsQ.f  (resigned  1955)     Alderman  D.  L.  FoRBEsf  (from  1955) 

General  Editor:  R.  B.  Pugh,  EsQ.f 

Essex  Editor:  W.  R.  Powell,  EsQ.f 
t  Members  of  Editorial  Committee 


XVI 


LIST  OF  CLASSES  OF  PUBLIC  RECORDS 

USED  IN  THIS  VOLUME,  WITH  THEIR 

CLASS   NUMBERS 


Chancery 

Ci  Proceedings,  Early 

Cz  Proceedings,  Series  I 

G3  Proceedings,  Series  II 

C5  Proceedings,  Six  Clerks'  Series,  Bridges 

C6  „             „           „           Collins 

C8  „            „          „          Mitford 

Cio  „            „          „          Whit- 

tington 

C21  Depositions,  Country,  Eliz.  I — Chas.  I 

C47  Miscellanea 

C54  Close  Rolls 

C60  Fine  Rolls 

C66  Patent  Rolls 

C78  Decree  Rolls 

C99  Forest  Proceedings 

C132  Inquisitions  post  mortem.  Series  I: 

Henry  III 

C133  Edw.  I 

C135  Edw.  Ill 

C136  Ric.  II 

C137  Hen.  IV 

C138  Hen.  V 

C139  Hen.  VI 

G140  Edw.  IV 

C141  Ric.  Ill 

C142  Inquisitions  post  mortem.  Series  II 

C143  Inquisitions  ad  quod  damnum 

C145  Miscellaneous  Inquisitions 

C146  Ancient  Deeds,  Series  C 

Court  of  Common  Pleas 

CP2  5(i)  Feet  of  Fines,  Series  I 

CP25(2)  „          „          „           II 

CP40  Plea  Rolls 

CP43  Recovery  Rolls 

Exchequer,  Treasury  of  the  Receipt 

E32  Forest  Proceedings 

E40  Ancient  Deeds,  Series  A 

Exchequer,  Queen's  Remembrancer 

E 1 3  3  Barons'  Depositions 


E134  Depositions  by  Commission 

E137  Estreats 

E150  Inquisitions  post  mortem.  Series  II 

E164  Miscellaneous  Books,  Series  I 

E179  Subsidy  Rolls,  &c. 

E210  Ancient  Deeds,  Series  D 

Exchequer,  Augmentation  Office 

E301  Certificate  of  Chantries  and  Colleges 

E3 1 5  Miscellaneous  Books 

E3  2 1  Proceedings  of  Court  of  Augmentation 

E326         Ancient  Deeds,  Series  B 

Exchequer,  First  Fruits  and  Tenths 

E331  Bishops'    Certificates   of  Institution   to 

Benefices 

Exchequer,  Lord  Treasurer's  Remembrancer 
E  372        Pipe  Rolls 

Home  Office 

HO67       Acreage  Returns 
HO107      Census  Returns 

Duchy  of  Lancaster 

DL25        Ancient  Deeds,  Series  L 
DL30        Court  Rolls 

Justices  Itinerant 

JIi  Assize  Rolls,  Eyre  Rolls,  &c. 

Special  Collections 
SC2  Court  Rolls 

State  Paper  Office 

SP12  State  Papers  Domestic,  Eliz.  I. 


SP16 

Sr44  »»  '»  " 

Court  of  Wards  and  Liveries 
Wards  5     Feodaries'  Surveys 

Court  of  Star  Chamber 

St.  Ch.  8    Proceedings,  Jas.  I. 

Court  of  Requests 

Req.  2       Proceedings 


Chas.  I. 
Entry  Books 


xvn 


LIST  OF  CLASSES  OF  DOCUMENTS  IN  THE 
ESSEX  RECORD  OFFICE 

USED  IN  THIS  VOLUME,  WITH  THEIR 
CLASS  NUMBERS 


Court  of  Quarter  Sessions 
Q/SR         Sessions  Rolls 
Q/SB         Sessions  Bundles 
Q/SO         Sessions  Order  Books 
Q/AB         County  Bridges 
Q/AC        Committees 
Q/RDc       Inclosure  Awards 
Q/RRp      Returns  of  Papists'  Estates 
Q/RRw      Returns  of  Nonconformists'  and  Roman 

Catholics'  places  of  worship 
Q/RTh      Hearth  Tax  Assessments 
<2/RPl        Land  Tax  Assessments 
Q/RPr       Registers  of  Parliamentary  Electors 
Q/RUm     Public  Undertakings:  plans  of  schemes 
Q/RSg       Deputations  to  Gamekeepers 
<2/RSw      Workhouse  Agreements 
Q/RLv       Recognizances   of  Licensed   Victuallers 

and  Alehouse-keepers 
Q/CP        Clerkof  the  Peace:  Precedents 


Q/CR        Clerk  of  the  Peace:  Parliamentary  Re- 
turns 

County  Council  Transferred  Records 

G/EM       Poor  Law  Guardians,    Epping    Union: 


Minute  Books 

G/OnM 

Poor   Law   Guardians,   Ongar   Union: 

Minute  Books 

eposited  Records 

D/D 

Estate  and  Family  Archives  (many  sub- 

classes) 

D/AE 

Archdeaconry  of  Essex  Records 

D/Cl' 

Diocesan    Records:    Tithe    Apportion- 

ments and  Maps 

D/P 

Parish  Records 

D/Q 

Charity  Records 

D/T 

Turnpike  Records 

Transcripts 

T/  (Document  or  collection  indicated  by 

addition  of  another  letter) 


Some  of  the  foregoing  classes  contain  sub-classes  which  are  denoted  by  additional  letters,  not  shown  here  but 
fully  cited  in  footnotes  in  this  volume.  The  group  called  'Transcripts'  includes  all  forms  of  copies  or  catalogues 
of  documents  of  which  the  originals  are  elsewhere.  The  wills  proved  in  the  court  of  the  Archdeacon  of  Essex 
(D/AE),  cited  in  this  volume  as  'Archd.  Essex',  were  transferred  from  Somerset  House,  London,  to  the  Essex 
Record  Office  while  this  volume  was  being  printed. 


XVIU 


NOTE  ON  ABBREVIATIONS 


E.A.S. 
E.R.O. 
P.M.G. 


Among  the  abbreviations  and  short  titles  used  the  following  may  require  elucidation: 
Essex  Archaeological  Society 


CA.  Belh  Essex 
Ch.  Plate  Essex 

Ejt.T. 
E.R. 

Essex  Par.  Recs. 
Feet  ofF.  Essex 

Hist.  Essex  by  Gent. 
Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex 

Morant,  Essex 
Newcourt,  Repert. 

PJi.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.) 


Essex  Record  Office 
Postmaster-General 

C.  Deedes  and  H.  B.  Walters,  Tie  Church  Bells  of  Essex  (1909) 

G.  M.  Benton,  F.  W.  Galpin,  and  W.  J.  Pressey,  The  Church  Plate  of 

Essex  (1926) 
The  Transactions  of  the  Essex  Archaeological  Society 
The  Essex  Review 

Essex  Parish  Records,  ed.  E.  J.  Erith  (1950) 
Feet  of  Fines  for  Essex  (E.A.S.,  issued  in  parts:  Vol.  i,  1899-1910;  Vol.  ii, 

1913-28;  Vol.  iii,  1929-49;  Vol.  iv,  pt.  I,  1947) 
A  New  and  Complete  History  of  Essex  by  a  Gentleman  (6  vols.  1769-72) 
Royal  Commission  on  Historical  Monuments  (England):  An  Inventory  of 

the  Historical  Monuments  in  Essex  (4  vols.  1916-23) 
P.  Morant,  The  History  and  Antiquities  of  Essex  (2  vols.  1768) 
R.  Newcourt,  Repertorium  Ecclesiasticum  Parochiale  Londinense  (2  vols. 

1710) 
P.  H.  Reaney,  The  Place  Names  of  Essex  (English  Place  Name  Society,  xii, 

1935) 


XIX 


THE  HUNDRED  OF  ONGAR 

THE  hundred  of  Ongar,  lying  in  the  south-west  of  the  county  is 
roughly  oval  in  shape  and  about  17  miles  long.  Although  only  10 
miles  from  London  at  the  nearest  point  and  27  miles  at  the  farthest  it 
is  still  mainly  rural.  The  River  Roding  flows  south-west  through  the 
hundred.  In  the  summer  it  is  usually  no  more  than  a  narrow  stream  but  is  some- 
times severely  swollen  in  winter,  and  the  repair  of  its  many  bridges  was  a  serious 
problem  down  to  the  19th  century.  In  the  Roding  valley  the  land  is  never 
more  than  200  ft.  above  sea-level.  Elsewhere  it  is  usually  under  300  ft.  and 
there  are  few  hills. 

The  south-west  corner  of  the  hundred  is  largely  urbanized,  for  here  is 
Chigwell  Urban  District,  which  includes  the  towns  of  Loughton  (with  Debden), 
Buckhurst  Hill,  and  Hainault,  and  now  has  a  population  of  about  56,000. 
Even  here,  however,  the  forests  of  Epping  and  Hainault  and  the  old  houses  and 
cottages  of  Chigwell  recall  a  simpler  society.  Farther  north  and  east  there  is 
gently  undulating  country  with  high  hedges,  meadows,  ploughed  fields, 
streams,  and  spinneys  as  far  as  Chipping  Ongar.  The  soil  of  this  south-western 
half  of  the  hundred  is  mainly  London  Clay,  with  some  areas  of  Boulder  Clay 
and  some  patches  of  glacial  sand  or  gravel.'  It  is  a  land  of  mixed  farming,  with 
many  dairy  herds  and  sheep. 

Chipping  Ongar,  which  gave  its  name  to  the  hundred  and  was  for  long  the 
principal  place  in  it,  was  an  ancient  market-town  and  contained  a. Norman 
castle.  Though  very  small  it  still  has  some  local  importance  as  the  administra- 
tive centre  of  the  Ongar  Rural  District.  North  of  it  the  landscape  changes. 
There  are  low  hedges,  few  trees  or  meadows,  and  the  roads  are  narrow.  The 
soil  is  almost  entirely  Boulder  Clay.  It  is  good  corn  land  and  cattle  are  com- 
paratively rare.  The  end  of  the  hundred  is  reached  at  Beauchamp  Roding  and 
Abbess  Roding,  which  are  as  remote  and  isolated  as  any  part  of  Essex. 

Nucleated  villages  are  unusual  but  there  are  many  hamlets  and  scattered 
farms.  The  older  farm  buildings  are  timber-framed  and  either  plastered  or 
weather-boarded.  They  are  often  enclosed  by  moats,  especially  in  the  north. 
Brick  houses  of  the  i8th  century  and  later  are  fairly  common.  Few  are  older, 
but  among  them  is  Hill  Hall  (in  Theydon  Mount),  a  16th-century  mansion 
noted  for  its  early  use  of  renaissance  detail.  In  and  after  the  1 6th  century  the 
south-western  part  of  the  hundred  was  a  fashionable  residential  area  for  wealthy  ' 
landowners  and  a  number  of  large  houses  were  built  there.  In  the  1 8th  century 
and  later  landscape  gardeners  transformed  the  surroundings  of  some  of  these  - 
houses.  In  most  parishes  the  church  stands  on  an  isolated  site  beside  the  princi- 
pal manor  house,  and  is  usually  a  small  flint  building  with  a  short,  shingled 
spire.  But  by  far  the  best-known  church,  the  Saxon  church  at  Greenstead,  is 
not  of  flint  at  all,  but  has  walls  of  timber. 

■  For  the  geology  of  the  area  see  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  I  (map),  which  still  represents  the  latest  information 
available  cartographically. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 

In  1086  the  west  of  the  hundred — Loughton,  Chigwell,  the  Theydons,  and 
North  Weald — and  the  area  around  Chipping  Ongar  were  thickly  wooded.^ 
By  the  end  of  the  1 6th  century  the  only  large  areas  of  woodland  remaining 
were  Epping  and  Hainault  forests.  Most  of  Hainault  Forest  was  destroyed 
about  i860  but  Epping  Forest  was  preserved  after  a  notable  controversy. 
Hardly  any  evidence  has  been  found  of  open-field  arable  cultivation  in  the 
hundred.  Commons  survive  in  several  parishes.  In  others  they  were  inclosed 
in  the  i8th  or  19th  centuries  but  in  most  they  had  been  inclosed  before  1700. 
Apart  from  the  forest  inclosures  the  landscape  of  the  hundred  probably  changed 
little  between  the  Conquest  and  the  middle  of  the  19th  century.  Building 
development  started  in  the  south-west  about  i860,  when  the  railway  from 
London  was  extended  to  Loughton,  Epping,  and  Ongar,  and  continued  slowly 
until  1939.  Since  1945  the  London  County  Council  has  built  two  large 
housing  estates,  at  Debden  and  Hainault. 

Until  the  19th  century  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  hundred  were  engaged 
in  agriculture  and  its  ancillary  trades.  There  were  many  water-mills  along  the 
Roding  and  a  few  windmills  on  higher  ground.  Brickmaking  was  carried  on 
in  many  parishes  in  the  London  Clay  area  and  there  was  a  little  beer-brewing 
with  hops  grown  locally.  Agriculture  is  still  predominant  outside  the  towns. 
Brickmaking  continues  in  a  few  places  but  brewing  has  entirely  ceased.  There 
are  light  industries  in  Loughton  and  Buckhurst  Hill  but  the  towns  are  mainly 
residential. 

Domesday  Book  lists  some  40  estates  under  Ongar  hundred. 3  Seven  other 
estates,  though  not  so  listed,  seem  clearly  in  this  hundred  in  1086.+  These  47 
estates  contained  103  hides  in  26  villages  distinguished  by  separate  names. 
Most  of  these  villages  later  gave  their  names  to  the  parishes  of  the  hundred,  but 
there  were  several  exceptions.  The  Domesday  Theydon  was  later  split  into  the 
three  parishes  of  Theydon  Bois,  Theydon  Garnon,  and  Theydon  Mount.  The 
Domesday  Laver  similarly  became  three  parishes  and  Stapleford  and  Ongar 
each  became  two  parishes.  The  Domesday  Rodinges,  to  which  three  Ongar 
hundred  and  thirteen  Dunmow  hundred  entries  relate,  was  eventually  divided 
into  eight  parishes,  two  of  which  were  in  Ongar  hundred.  In  contrast  to  these 
places  where  'the  fission  of  vills'  occurred  were  some  which  later  became  part 
of  parishes  larger  than  themselves:  Alderton  and  Debden,  which  were  separate 
Domesday  villages  were  later  included  in  the  parish  of  Loughton,  Woolston 
Was  merged  in  Chigwell  parish,  Passfield  in  High  Ongar,  and  Little  Stanford 
in  Stanford  Rivers.  The  case  of  Stanford  is  specially  interesting,  for  it  shows 
the  process  of  fission  starting  in  1086  but  later  reversed.  This  may  also  have 
happened  in  two  other  places:  there  are  separate  references  in  Domesday  to 
Fyfield  and  'the  other  Fyfield'  and  to  Navestock  and  'the  other  Navestock',  but 
there  was  no  later  fission  in  either  village.  One  place  which  later  became  a 
parish  in  this  hundred  is  not  specifically  mentioned  in  Domesday:  Stondon 
Massey  which  was  probably  included  in  an  entry  for  Margaret  Roding  (Dun- 
mow  hundred).  The  connexion  between  Stondon  Massey  and  Margaret 
Roding  was  subsequently  maintained  by  the  payment  of  tithes  from  Marks 
Hall  in  Margaret  Roding  to  the  Rector  of  Stondon.  A  tithe-rent  charge  is  still 

2  Cf.  F.C.H.  Essex,  {,375. 

5  Ibid.  ^2j—^j\.  passim.  Occasional  ambiguities  in  Domesday  Book  make  the  total  doubtful  to  within  two 
or  three.  4  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  537^,  538a,  540<?,  554a. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

paid  by  the  owner  of  Marks  Hall  to  the  Rector  of  Stondon,  and  until  early  in 
the  19th  century  the  parishioners  of  Stondon  included  Marks  Hall  in  their 
annual  beating  of  the  parish  bounds.  Loughton,  which  in  1086  was  partly  in 
Becontree  hundred,  was  from  the  14th  century  or  earlier  wholly  in  that  of 


*   Marks  Hall  in  Margaret  Roding  has  always  paid  tithe  to  Stondorj  Massey 

Ongar.  North  Weald  Bassett  seems  to  have  been  partly  in  Harlow  half-hundred 
in  1086  and  continued  to  be  thus  divided  between  Harlow  and  Ongar.s  One 
very  small  place,  Plumtuna,  has  not  been  certainly  identified.^ 

The  13th-century  eyre  rolls  give  little  additional  information  about  the  com- 
position of  Ongar  hundred.  Stondon  Massey  is  mentioned  in  the  roll  for  1 226- 
7.7    In  the  same  year  a  tithing  of  Epping  was  listed  under  Ongar  hundred  ;8 


5  Ibid,  i,  397,  ii,  350. 
'  J.I.  1/229. 


Ibid,  i,  529. 
Ibid. 


But  see  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  153. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 

this  was  probably  part  of  Theydon  Garnon,  whose  boundary  in  later  times  ran 
through  the  middle  of  Epping  town.'  In  and  after  the  13  th  century  there  were 
usually  reckoned  to  be  26  parishes  in  the  hundred,  including  North  Weald  and 
Loughton.  Greenstead,  a  very  small  parish  adjoining  Chipping  Ongar,  was 
sometimes  omitted  from  official  lists.' 0  In  the  Middle  Ages  the  parishes  in 
Ongar  hundred  were  normally  identical  with  the  'vills'.  There  were  occasional 
exceptions:  in  the  taxation  assessment  of  1 320,  for  example  (see  below,  p.  300), 
Norton  Mandeville  was  included  in  High  Ongar.  The  same  assessment  and 
others  of  the  14th  century  listed  under  Ongar  hundred  the  hamlet  of  Roding 
Morrell,  which  was  situated  locally  in  White  Roding  parish  (Dunmow  hundred). 
For  the  purpose  of  these  assessments  Roding  Morrell  was  included  in  Abbess 
Roding,  but  there  was  never  any  permanent  and  parochial  connexion  between 
them.  The  inclusion  of  Roding  Morrell  in  Ongar  hundred  possibly  originated 
in  the  acquisition  of  the  tenancy  in  chief  of  the  manor  of  Roding  Morrell  by  the 
lords  of  Ongar  hundred." 

A  document  concerning  the  hundred  drawn  up  in  1543-6  and  based  on 
earlier  records  includes  a  list  of  'the  names  of  the  vills,  parishes  and  hamlets'  in 
the  hundred. 12  Marden  Ash  (in  High  Ongar)  and  Greenstead  appear  to  have 
been  grouped  with  Chipping  Ongar,  and  Ashlyns  (a  detached  part  of  High 
Ongar)  with  Bobbingworth.  Chivers  End  was  mentioned  as  a  hamlet  of  High 
Ongar:  it  was  probably  identical  with  the  Passfield  of  1086.  Barringtons  was 
mentioned  as  a  hamlet  of  Chigwell  and  Abridge  of  Lambourne.  There  was  an 
entry  for  Roding  Morrell  and  one  for  Westwood  (a  detached  part  of  High  Ongar), 
which  was  grouped  with  Chipping  Ongar.  Apart  from  the  above  all  the  places 
mentioned  were  parishes. 

Saxton's  Map  of  Essex,  1 5j6  shows  hundred  boundaries  and  the  location  of 
parish  churches.  It  correctly  places  the  26  churches  of  Ongar  hundred,  al- 
though the  hundred  boundary  is  inaccurately  drawn  in  relation  to  some  natural 
features,  for  example  in  the  south-west  corner,  at  Chigwell.  Morrell  Roding  is 
not  shown  as  belonging  to  the  hundred. '^  The  Map  of  Essex,  iSyS,  by  John 
Ogilby  and  William  Morgan,  has  a  more  accurate  delineation  of  the  hundred 
boundary.  That  of  Robert  Morden  and  Joseph  Pask,  about  1690,  shows 
Thornwood  (in  North  Weald)  as  in  Harlow  hundred.  That  of  Philip  Overton 
and  Thomas  Bowles,  1726,' also  shows  Hastingwood  (in  North  Weald)  as  in 
Harlow  hundred,  Berwick  Berners  (in  Abbess  Roding)  as  in  Dunmow  hundred, 
and  Roding  Morrell  as  a  detached  part  of  Ongar  hundred.'*  Chapman  and 
Andre's  Map  of  Essex,  lyjj  shows  the  hundred  boundaries  with  precision. 
C.  and  J.  Greenwood's  Map  of  Essex,  1824  is  the  first  to  give  parish  boundaries, 
but  the  delineation  of  these  is  often  inaccurate.  The  first  edition  of  the  Ordnance 
Survey  6  inch  Map  (published  1868-84)  indicates  parish  boundaries  precisely 
and  shows  the  detached  parts  of  several  parishes,  in  this  hundred  notably  High 
Ongar,  Magdalen  Laver,  and  North  Weald.  The  origin  of  such  detachments, 
where  it  can  be  explained,  lies  in  the  manorial  and  church  history  of  the 
parishes  concerned. 's 

The  census  reports  of  1 801-41  give  Roding  Morrell  as  a  separate  hamlet  of 

'  See  Theydon  Garnon.  Epping  parish  was  in  Waltham  half-hundred. 
'"  e.g.  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  204-6.  "  Morant,  Essex,  ii,  471. 

'2  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/197,  and  see  further  below. 

'3  Copies  of  this  and  the  other  maps  mentioned  below  are  all  in  the  Essex  Record  Office. 
'*  For  Berwick  Berners  see  also  Morant,  Essex,  i,  138.  '5  See  especially  High  Ongar,  Church. 

4 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

Ongar  hundred.  Those  of  1811-41  note  that  Thornwood  and  Hastingwood 
were  in  Harlow  hundred  and  those  of  1 821-41  show  Berwick  Berners  as  in 
Dunmow  hundred.'^  The  1851  census,  though  not  arranged  by  hundreds, 
states  that  the  hamlet  of  Birds  Green  was  partly  in  Beauchamp  Roding  and 
partly  in  Willingale  Doe  (Dunmow  hundred).  In  the  late  i8th  and  early  19th 
centuries  Birds  Green  was  for  some  purposes  certainly  reckoned  as  part  of 
Dunmow  hundred,  though  no  evidence  has  been  found  that  this  was  so  at  any 
earlier  date. 

The  lordship  of  Ongar  hundred  was  given  by  Henry  II  to  Richard  de  Lucy." 
It  descended  along  with  the  manor  of  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.)  to  the  Rivers 
family  and  subsequently  to  the  Staffords,  earls  of  Stafford,  and  later  dukes  of 
Buckingham.  At  various  times  in  the  14th  and  1 5th  centuries  the  hundred  was 
in  the  king's  hands  for  short  periods  owing  to  the  minority  or  forfeiture  of  its 
owners.18  It  was  finally  forfeited  to  the  Crown  along  with  the  manor  of  Chip- 
ping Ongar  in  152 1.  In  that  year  Henry  VIII  appointed  his  yeoman  Robert 
Stoner  as  bailiff  and  'wardstaff'  of  the  hundred,' «  and  in  1543  the  hundred  was 
granted  for  life  to  John  Stoner,  serjeant-at-arms.20  In  1547  it  was  granted  to 
Richard  Rich  on  his  creation  as  a  baron.^'  It  descended  along  with  Paslow 
Hall  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  until  the  death  in  1673  of  Charles  Rich,  Earl  of 
Warwick.  In  the  subsequent  partition  of  the  earl's  estates  the  hundred  was 
allotted  to  Henry  St.  John,  who  in  1689  granted  it  to  Philip  and  Rowland 
Traherne."  In  1694  the  Trahernes  conveyed  it  to  Sir  Eliab  Harvey  of 
Barringtons  in  Chigwell  (q.v.)  and  it  subsequently  descended  along  with 
Barringtons.  Vice-Admiral  Sir  Eliab  Harvey  was  lord  of  the  hundred  in  1 8 14.^2 

The  original  meeting-place  of  the  hundred  is  not  definitely  known.  The  site 
of  Ongar  castle  and  Toot  Hill  in  Stanford  Rivers  have  both  been  suggested. ^^ 
In  and  after  the  1 5th  century  Ongar  hundred  was  closely  associated  with 
Harlow  half-hundred,  whose  lordship  had  also  been  acquired  by  the  Staffords.^s 
From  the  late  i6th  century  Ongar  and  Harlow  were  grouped  with  Waltham 
half-hundred,  the  common  meeting-place  being  at  Waltham  Holy  Cross.26 
These  Waltham  meetings,  however,  were  probably  for  business  other  than  that 
anciently  associated  with  the  hundred.  It  is  not  known  whether  separate  meet- 
ings for  Ongar  hundred  alone  were  held  in  the  1 7th  century. 

On  a  quo  warranto  inquiry  in  1277  John  de  Rivers,  lord  of  the  hundred, 
claimed  no  return  of  writs  within  the  hundred  except  the  withdrawal  from  the 
sheriff  of  the  King's  debts  and  the  execution  of  the  other  orders  of  the  king 
therein."  As  to  pleas  of  withernam  he  said  that  the  hundred  had  been  grante  d 
by  Henry  II  to  his  ancestor  Richard  de  Lucy  and  that  Richard  and  his  descen- 
dants had  had  those  pleas.  The  Crown  advocate  rejoined  that  in  Henry  II's 
time  there  were  no  such  pleas  and  that  in  any  case  they  were  not  mentioned  in 
Richard  de  Lucy's  charter. 

'*  But  in  and  after  1 83 1  the  population  was  enumerated  in  Abbess  Roding  as  part  of  Ongar  hundred 

'7  Plac.  Quo  Warranto  (Rec.  Com.),  232;  Rot.  Hundr.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  I53- 

'8  e.g.  Cal.  Fine  R.  1413-22,  362;  Cal.  Pat.  \ifil-ll,  561. 

'9  L.  y  P.  Hen.  Fill,  iii  (2),  p.  973. 

20  L.  y  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xviii  (i),  p.  193.  According  to  the  1 543  grant  Stoner  was  to  be  bailiff  and  wardstaff 
of  the  hundred,  not  its  lord,  but  the  1 547  grant  to  Rich,  quoting  that  of  1 543,  states  that  the  hundred  had  been 
granted  to  Stoner  for  life.  "  C"'-  P"'-  '  547-8,  i  lo-i  i. 

"  E.^.T.  N.s.  ix,  402;  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  T26.  "  E.  Ogborne,  Htst.  Essex,  236. 

^  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  192.  ^5  Morant,  Essex,  ii,  482;  E.R.O.,  D/DP  M570,  585,  588,  595. 

2*  Norden,  Description  of  Essex,  1 594  (Camd.  Soc),  12;  E.R.O.  Guide,  i,  3- 

"  Plac.  Quo  Warranto  (Rec.  Com.),  232. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX    . 

On  the  same  occasion  Rivers  also  claimed  view  of  frankpledge.  This  was  not 
opposed  but  in  fact  before  1 277  this  jurisdiction  had  in  some  cases  already  been 
alienated  to  the  lords  of  individual  manors.  It  was  stated  in  1 274-5  that  the 
lords  of  Fyfield,  Stapleford  Tawney,  Woolston  (in  Chigwell),  Stapleford 
Abbots,  Loughton,  Navestock,  Beauchamp  Roding,  and  Theydon  (Mount.?) 
possessed  view  of  frankpledge  and  the  assize  of  bread  and  ale,  that  the  lord 
of  Woolston  also  had  gallows  and  the  lord  of  North  Weald  Bassett  had  all 
pleas.28 

In  the  document  of  1 543-6,  already  mentioned,  the  lord  of  the  hundred 
held  no  courts  leet  in  any  of  these  places  nor  in  Chipping  Ongar,  Greenstead, 
Stanford  Rivers,  Abbess  Roding,  and  Shelley.  At  four  other  places,  Norton 
Mandeville,  Roding  Morrell,  High  Laver,  and  Navestock,  courts  leet  were  said 
to  be  held  by  the  lords  of  the  manor  but  the  common  fine  was  customarily  paid 
by  them  to  the  lord  of  the  hundred.  During  the  Middle  Ages  the  manors  of 
Chipping  Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.)  were  held  in  demesne  by  the  lords 
of  the  hundred  and  there  was  thus  no  need  to  include  them  in  the  list  of  leets. 
At  Greenstead,  which  was  also  omitted  from  the  list,  the  lords  of  the  hundred 
were  tenants  in  chief  of  the  manor.^'  Courts  leet  for  the  manor  of  Abbess 
Roding  (q.v.)  were  certainly  being  held  in  the  1 5th  century.  But  it  is  clear 
that  the  document  of  1 543-6,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  courts  leet,  does  not  describe 
16th-century  practice,  for  it  omits  many  manorial  leets  that  are  known  to  have 
existed  in  the  14th  and  15th  centuries. 

At  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  courts  leet  were  being  held  for  the  manor  of  Paslow 
Hall  at  least  as  early  as  1271,  and  for  that  of  Newarks  Norton  in  1487.  At 
Abbess  Roding,  in  addition  to  the  leet  of  the  capital  manor,  there  was  one  for 
Berwick  Berners  manor  in  and  after  1382.  At  Kelvedon  Hatch  (q.v.)  there 
was  a  court  leet  from  1390. 

The  manuscript  of  1 543-6  quoted  above  was  probably  drawn  up  for  John 
Stoner  when  he  acquired  the  hundred  and  revised  somewhat  during  the  next 
three  years.^o  It  includes  the  text  of  the  grant  of  the  hundred  to  Stoner,  and 
states  that  the  customs  and  duties  it  records  were  observed  in  the  time  of  Edward 
III  and  Robert  Bruce,  King  of  Scots,  and  long  before  'when  the  Saxons 
inhabited  this  realm'.  In  support  of  this  statement  it  refers  to  ancient  records 
made  by  Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl  of  Hertford  [sic]  and  Essex,  Constable  of 
England,  and  'lord  of  the  said  liberties  and  hundreds'  dated  at  Pleshey,  10  July 
II  Edward  III  (1337)  and  to  other  records  'written  in  the  Saxon  tongue'. 
These  records  have  not  been  traced.  Humphrey  de  Bohun  (d.  1361)  is  not 
known  to  have  held  the  hundred  of  Ongar,  but  his  successor  and  namesake 
Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl  of  Hereford  and  Essex  (d.  1373)  held  the  hundred 
of  Harlow,  which  later  came  into  the  possession  of  the  earls  of  Stafford,  the  lords 
of  Ongar  hundred.  The  document  of  1 543-6  was  probably  prepared  so  that 
Stoner  might  exact  his  legal  dues  as  lord  of  the  hundred.  All  tenants'  names  in 
it  were  up  to  date  but  the  section  relating  to  the  courts  leet  and  some  others 
described  below  certainly  did  not  represent  16th-century  practice;  an  anti- 
quarian interest  may  have  led  to  their  inclusion.    Probably  much  of  the  docu- 

28  Ro/.  Hundr.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  1 53.  For  North  Weald  see  also  Cat.  Anct.  D.  i,  A.  755. 

^'  But  Roding  Morrell,  which  was  included  in  the  list,  was  also  held  in  chief  by  the  lords  of  the  hundred. 

30  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/197.  The  MS.  was  formerly  in  the  Round  collection  at  Birch  Hall,  Colchester.  It  was 
calendared  in  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  J4th  Rep.  Apf.  ft.  IX,  p.  5,  and  was  also  described  and  partly  printed  by  W.  C. 
Waller,  E.A.T.  n.s.  ix,  212-19. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

ment  was  indeed   based   on  early- 14th-century   records   and   described   the 
customs  of  that  period. 

The  document  lists  the  names  and  tenements  of  all  those  owing  suit  at  the 
three  weeken  court  or  other  courts  of  the  hundred,  and  the  names  and  tene- 
ments of  those  liable  by  reason  of  tenure  to  maintain  prisons  and  pounds.  It 
also  lists  the  vills  which  by  custom  came  to  the  sheriff's  tourn,  in  each  case  with 
the  reeve,  the  copyhold  tenants  from  which  the  four  suitors  at  the  tourn  were 
chosen,  and  the  free  suitors  at  the  tourn.  These  places  are  identical  with  those 
in  which,  according  to  the  document,  courts  leet  were  held  by  the  lord  of  the 
hundred,  or  from  which  he  received  the  common  fine,  except  that  Abbess 
Roding  and  Beauchamp  Roding  occur  only  in  the  tourn  list. 

The  document  describes  at  length  the  annual  ceremony  of  the  wardstaff  of 
the  hundred. 31  This  started  on  the  Sunday  before  Hock  Monday,  when  the 
hundred  bailiff  cut  a  willow  wand  from  Abbess  Roding  Wood:  this  was  the 
wardstaff,  which  gave  its  name  to  the  bailiff's  alternative  title.  The  staff  was 
conveyed  from  the  wood  to  Rookwood  Hall,  where  it  was  placed  in  the  hall. 
There  it  remained  while  the  bailiff  refreshed  himself.  It  was  then  taken  'by 
sun  shining'  to  Wardhatch  Lane  near  Longbarns  (in  Beauchamp  Roding)  and 
was  there  met  by  the  lord  of  Rookwood  Hall  with  all  tenants  of  the  Abbess 
Roding  'Watch',  whose  duty  it  was  to  guard  the  staff.  The  lord  of  Rookwood 
Hall  had  also  prepared  'a  great  rope  called  a  barr'  which  he  now  caused  to  be 
stretched  across  the  lane  to  stop  passers-by.  The  wardstaff  was  laid  beside  the 
rope  while  the  bailiff  called  the  roll  of  the  watch,  and  charged  them  'to  watch 
and  keep  the  ward  in  due  silence  so  that  the  king  be  harmless  and  the  country 
scapeless'.  The  watch  lasted  until  sunrise  next  day,  when  the  lord  of  Rook- 
wood Hall  took  up  the  wardstaff  and  made  a  notch  in  it,  signifying  that  he  and 
his  men  had  performed  their  duty  for  the  year.  Finally  he  handed  the  staff  to 
the  bailiff  to  be  taken  to  the  lord  of  the  manor  of  Fyfield,  delivering  as  he  did 
so  'the  tale  of  the  wardstaff',  a  narrative  in  Middle  English  verse  relating  how 
his  watch  had  carried  out  its  duty.^^  The  staff  was  then  presented  to  the  lord  of 
Fyfield  Hall,  who  examined  the  notch  made  in  it  by  the  lord  of  Rookwood 
and  then  went  through  a  ceremony  similar  to  that  at  Abbess  Roding.  The 
Fyfield  Watch,  which  was  kept  at  the  'Three  Wants'  in  Fyfield,  was  followed  on 
successive  days  by  seven  other  watches  at  different  places  in  the  hundred,  pro- 
ceeding in  a  clockwise  direction. 

Elsewhere  in  the  same  document  there  are  details  of  the  number  of  men  in 
each  watch,  and  the  names  and  tenements  of  those  who  were  bound  to  provide 
the  men.  The  smallest  watches  were  those  of  Abbess  Roding  (3  men)  and 
Theydon  Garnon  (5),  the  largest  Magdalen  Laver  (19)  and  Chigwell  (14). 
Those  who  furnished  the  men  for  the  watches  had  to  pay  %d.  a  man,  probably 
for  food.   The  lord  of  Lambourne  Hall  also  provided  straw  for  his  watch.33 

There  is  a  reference  to  the  wardstaff  of  Harlow  hundred  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  IID+  but  the  earliest  contemporary  reference  that  has  been  found  to  the 
wardstaff  of  Ongar  was  in  1 33  i,  when  Robert  William  of  Havering,  who  had 
been  outlawed  for  felony,  was  said  to  have  held  land  in  Lambourne  for  which 

3'  This  part  has  been  printed:  Salmon,  Hist.  Essex,  68-70;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  126-7. 

32  Although  the  narrative  appears  to  be  basically  in  Middle  English  it  is  not  entirely  homogeneous  and  there 
are  some  later  word  forms. 

33  For  the  watches  and  their  services  see  E.A.T.  n.s.  ix,  216-19. 
3+  Morant,  Essex,  i,  127  n. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 

he  paid  is.  a  year  to  the  bailiff  of  the  hundred  for  sheriff's  aid,  did  suit  at  the 
three  weeken  court,  and  paid  2{J.  a  year  for  the  wardstaff.  He  had  to  find  two 
men  to  watch  the  wardstaff  for  a  night  and  to  pay  /\.J.  a  year  for  this,  and  also 
had  to  provide  a  pound  for  distraints  taken  in  the  hundred  for  debts  owed  to 
the  king  and  a  prison  to  guard  prisoners  taken  in  the  hundred  for  a  day  and  a 
night.35  It  seems  unlikely  that  a  wardstaff  ceremony  was  still  observed  in  the 
1 6th  century,  but  references  to  the  wardstaff  occur  in  records  as  late  as  the 
reign  of  James  I.^^ 

35  Ca/.  Inf.  Misc.  ii,  p.  286.  3*  Morant,  Essex,  i,  127  n. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


BOBBINGWORTH 


Bobbingworth,  commonly  called  Bovinger,  is  a 
parish  immediately  to  the  north-west  of  Chipping 
Ongar.'  The  middle  element  in  the  name  of  the  parish 
suggests  early  Saxon  settlement.^  Bobbingworth  now 
has  an  area  of  2,595  acres. ^  It  was  formerly  1,642  acres 
but  was  increased  in  1946  by  the  incorporation  of  the 
detached  part  of  High  Ongar  lying  immediately  to  the 
west  of  Bobbingworth  and  of  the  detached  part  of 
Moreton  (^  acre)  lying  to  the  north-east  of  Ashlyns  (see 
below).*  In  1801  the  population  was  216. s  By  1841 
it  had  grown  to  357;  then  it  declined  to  270  in  1901.* 
In  the  first  half  of  the  20th  century  it  was  a  httle  above 
300  until  the  incorporation  of  the  detached  part  of  High 
Ongar  brought  it  to  483  in  1951.' 

The  land  rises  from  about  150  ft.  above  sea-level  in 
the  east  and  200  ft.  in  the  north  to  3  30  ft.  in  the  extreme 
south-west.  A  stream  flowing  into  the  Cripsey  Brook 
forms  part  of  the  northern  boundary.  Reynkyns  Wood 
lies  on  the  western  boundary.  The  road  from  Chipping 
Ongar  to  Epping  enters  the  parish  by  Ackingford  Bridge 
over  the  Cripsey  Brook  and  runs  north-west.  About 
200  yds.  from  Ackingford  Bridge  Pensons  Lane,  for- 
merly called  Finings  or  Pinions  Lane,  runs  south-west- 
ward to  Greenstead.  Nearly  J  mile  farther  along  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Ongar-Epping  road  lies  Waterend 
Farm,  a  building  probably  of  the  17th  century  but  with 
additions  on  three  sides  of  late  1 8th-century  or  early 
I  gth-century  date.  Bilsdens*  is  J  mile  west  of  Waterend, 
to  the  south  of  the  road.  About  i  mile  from  the  bridge 
the  main  road  is  joined  by  Blake  Hall  Lane  which  leads 
north  to  the  village  of  Bobbingworth.  Blake  Hall' 
stands  in  a  park  to  the  east  of  the  lane.  The  rectory'"  is 
near  the  north  entrance  to  the  park.  About  100  yds. 
farther  north  a  small  gate  leads  to  a  thatched  and 
weather-boarded  tithe  barn  of  the  17th  or  1 8th  century. 
At  this  point  the  lane  branches,  one  branch,  known  as 
Gainthorps  Road,  running  northwards  towards  More- 
ton,  and  the  other,  known  as  Church  Road,  running 
westwards  past  the  church  and  school."  The  church  is 
on  the  south  side  of  Church  Road  immediately  to  the 
west  of  Gainthorps  Road.  A  short  lane  divides  the 
church  from  the  school  on  the  west  and  leads  south  to 
Bobbingworth  Hall.'^  On  the  south-east  side  of  the 
churchyard  is  an  incomplete  moat,  suggesting  the  pre- 
sence of  an  earlier  manor  house. 

On  the  east  side  of  Gainthorps  Road,  some  400  yds. 
from  the  church,  stands  Gainthorps  Cottage,  a  timber- 
framed  house  recently  converted  from  two  tenements; 
it  dates  from  the  i6th  or  early  17th  century.  A  little 
farther  along  this  road  are  four  pairs  of  council  houses. 
Opposite  these  houses  a  lane  leads  westward  to  New- 
house,  a  timber-framed  farm-house,  of  the  i6th  or  early 
17th  century,  built  on  a  half-H  plan.  The  wings  origin- 
ally projected  to  the  north  with  a  small  staircase  block 
in  the  angle  of  the  east  wing."  There  are  two  pairs  of 
council  houses  on  the  lane  leading  to  Newhouse  Farm. 


Hobban's  Farm  is  J  mile  west  of  the  church,  to  the 
north  of  Church  Road.  It  is  an  18th-century  house, 
similar  in  appearance  to  Bobbingworth  Hall.  Opposite 
Hobbans,  Church  Road  is  joined  by  a  road  running 
south  to  Lower  Bobbingworth  Green  and  Greenstead. 
At  the  Green  is  Sayers  Farm,  a  square  red  brick  house 
apparently  rebuilt  in  the  middle  of  the  19th  century. 
At  Notts  Corner,  about  300  yds.  west  of  Hobban's 
Farm,  Church  Road  is  joined  by  a  road  which  runs 
north  to  Padler's  End  and  by  Mill  Road  which  runs 
south  from  Notts  Corner  to  meet  the  Epping-Ongar 
road  at  the  hamlet  of  Bovinger  Mill.  Here  the  single- 
story  brick  and  roughcast  buildings,  including  the  pre- 
sent post-ofBce,  standing  to  the  north  of  the  site  of  the 
old  mill,  formed  the  mill-house  and  an  adjoining 
bakery.'* 

About  J  mile  north  of  Notts  Corner  on  the  east  side 
of  the  road  to  Padler's  End  stands  Muggin's  Farm,  an 
18th-century  house.  About  J  mile  farther  north  a  lane 
leads  west  to  Bobbingworth  Lodge,  a  farm-house  of  the 
17th  century,  much  altered  about  1920.  A  fine  brick 
chimney-stack  with  six  octagonal  shafts  was  damaged 
by  blast  in  1944  and  later  rebuilt  to  its  original  design. 

Five  pairs  of  council  houses  stand  on  the  east  side  of 
Moreton  Bridge  Road,  in  the  north-east  corner  of  the 
parish,  near  Moreton  Bridge.  Ashlyns  is  in  the  north- 
west, and  Cold  Harbour  in  the  south-west,  of  the  pre- 
sent parish  of  Bobbingworth.''  Wardens  Farm,  to  the 
south  of  Bovinger  Mill,  is  timber-framed  and  weather- 
boarded  and  probably  dates  from  the  second  half  of  the 
1 7th  century.  It  is  built  on  a  half-H  shaped  plan  with 
wings  projecting  to  the  north-west.  The  front  was 
faced  with  brickwork  in  the  i8th  century.  Ashlyns, 
Cold  Harbour,  and  Wardens  were  all  in  High  Ongar 
parish  until  1946. 

References  in  the  sessions  rolls  to  communications  in 
Bobbingworth  chiefly  relate  to  Ackingford  Bridge.'* 

In  1582  and  in  1600  Finings  Lane,  from  Ackingford 
Bridge  to  Greenstead  Green,  was  said  to  be  in  decay, 
the  parish  of  Bobbingworth  being  responsible  for  its  up- 
keep." In  161 8  it  was  said  that  Bobbingworth  and 
Shelley  shared  the  responsibility  for  the  highway  lead- 
ing from  Ongar  via  Shelley  Bridge  to  Moreton.''  This 
road  evidently  then,  as  now,  lay  partly  in  Bobbing- 
worth, partly  in  Shelley,  and  partly  on  the  boundary 
between  these  two  parishes. 

The  London-Ongar  railway,  which  was  opened  in 
1865,  runs  across  the  south  of  Bobbingworth."  Blake 
Hall  station  on  this  line  is  situated  about  i  mile  south 
of  Lower  Bobbingworth  Green  in  the  parish  of  Stanford 
Rivers. 

Postal  facilities  were  extended  to  Bobbingworth 
when  a  receiving  office  was  set  up  at  Moreton  in  1 846.^" 
it  had  its  own  sub-post-office  in  1874.^'  According  to 
the  county  directories  letters  came  through  the  Ongar 
office. 


'  O.S.  2\  in.  Map,  sheet  52/50. 

^  Chief  Elements  in  Eng.  Place-Names 
(E.P.N.S.  i  (2)),  42. 

2  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council, 

*  Census  Retns.  1931;  County  of  Essex 
{Rural  Parishes)  Confirm.  Order  l')46. 

5  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

<•  Ibid. 

7  Census  Retns.  1 9 1 1  f.  j  Inf.  from  Essex 


County  Council. 

8  See  below,  Manor  of  Bilsdens. 

»  See  below,  Manor  of  Blake  Hall. 

'0  See  below,  Church. 

' '  See  below,  Schools. 

'2  See  below,  Manor  of  Bobbingworth. 

'3  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  22. 

•♦  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Burling  at  1 1  Bovinger 
Mill,  opposite  site  of  old  mill. 


"  For  Ashlyns  see  High  Ongar. 
"  See  Chipping  Ongar,  p.  157. 
"  E.R.O.,  e/SR  8o/5«,  149/43. 
■8  E.R.O.,  (2/SBa  1/32. 
"  See  Chipping  Ongar,  p.  158. 
2"  P.M.G.    Mins.     1846,    vol. 


87,    p. 


"  Ibid.  1874,  vol.  132,  min.  4759. 


ES.  IV 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Water  was  supplied  in  the  village  by  the  Herts,  and 
Essex  Waterworks  Co.  in  1899.^^  Two  of  the  four 
pairs  of  council  houses  in  Gainthorps  Road  have  a 
sewerage  system.*-'  There  is  no  supply  of  gas,*-*  but 
electricity  was  laid  on  in  195 1  .^s  There  is  a  small  parish 
room,  and  a  large  army  hut  at  Blake  Hall  can  be  used 
for  meetings.**  A  branch  of  the  county  library  was 
opened  in  February  1939."  The  football  and  cricket 
clubs  have  their  own  grounds.*' 

Bobbingworth  has  always  been  a  rural  parish  devoted 
almost  exclusively  to  agriculture.  The  large  landowners 
were  all  resident  in  the  parish  from  the  last  quarter  of 
the  1 6th  century  until  the  beginning  of  the  1 8th  cen- 
tury.*" It  is  not  clear  whether  the  owners  of  Blake  Hall 
were  resident  in  the  parish  during  the  first  quarter  of 
the  1 8th  century.  By  1735  the  lord  of  the  manor, 
Richard  Clarke,  lived  at  the  manor  house  but  did  not 
farm  the  estate.'"  He  let  Blake  Hall  manor  farm  to 
Robert  Crabb  and  Bilsdens  farm  to  Samuel  Corney.3' 
These  two  farms  continued  to  be  let  until  after  Capel 
Cure  purchased  the  estate  in  1789."  After  John  Poole 
sold  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth  to  Charles  Houblon  in 
1708,  the  owners  of  Bobbingworth  Hall  were  generally 
not  resident  in  the  parish  until  J.  A.  Houblon  sold  the 
estate  to  Capel  Cure  in  1834.33 

In  1840  the  parish  consisted  of  1,628  acres-S-*  Capel 
Cure  of  Blake  Hall  owned  1,058  acres  of  which  he 
farmed  nearly  700  acres  himself.35  He  let  Water  End 
Farm  (297  acres)  to  Jonathan  Lewis,  and  Hobban's 
Farm  (61  acres)  to  G.  Pavitt.3*  This  Capel  Cure,  son  of 
the  purchaser  of  Blake  Hall,  was  a  conscientious  farmer 
and  landlord.  After  his  father's  death  in  18 16  he 
kept  a  notebook  recording  his  farming  activities 
and  the  entries  show  him  to  have  been  energetic  and 
methodical.37  He  toured  his  estate  personally  and 
carefully  noted  down  the  area  of  the  individual  farms, 
their  state  of  cultivation,  the  condition  of  the  buildings, 
the  repairs  which  he  had  ordered,  and  the  industry  of 
the  tenant  farmers.3  8  He  put  a  new  tenant  into  Bilsdens 
in  1827,  some  three  years  after  he  had  observed  that  this 
farm  was  'shamefully  mismanaged'.''  But  he  was  kind 
and  encouraging  to  industrious  tenants.  On  a  rent  day 
in  1828  he  gave  a  rebate  of  j^io  to  one  tenant  'who  is 
an  industrious  man,  with  a  large  family'.-*"  At  the  end 
of  his  estate  notebook  Capel  Cure  copied  a  well-known 
passage  from  Sydney  Smith:  'there  are  so  many  tempta- 
tions in  the  life  of  a  country  gentleman  to  complete 
idleness,  so  many  examples  of  it,  and  so  much  loss  to 
the  community  from  it,  that  every  exception  to  the 
practice  is  deserving  of  great  praise' .■♦'  Capel  Cure 
himself  was  certainly  one  of  the  exceptions. 

In  1840  there  were  only  two  other  substantial 
owners  in  the  parish;  J.  Stacey  owned  Perrils  Farm 
(89  acres)  and  Sayers  Farm  (112  acres),  both  of  which 
he  farmed  himself,  and  G.  Thistlewood  owned,  but 


"  Inf.  from  Herts.  Sc  Essex  Waterworks 
Co. 

"  Inf.  from  Canon  E.  H.  Gallop,  Rector 
of  Bobbingworth. 

M  Ibid. 

"  Inf.  from  Ea»t.  Elec.  Bd. 

"  Inf.  from  Canon  Gallop. 
,    "  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

*'  Inf.  from  Canon  Gallop. 

">  See  below.  Manors  of  Bobbingworth, 
Blake  Hall,  Bilsdens. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/DCcTi/3. 

>■  Ibid.;  D/P  127/8. 

»  E.R.O.,  e/RPl  685-700. 

"  See  below,  Manor  of  Bobbingworth. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  38. 


35   Ibid.  36   Ibid. 

3'  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6. 

38  Ibid.  3«  Ibid. 

«  Ibid.  41  Ibid. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  38. 

«3  Ibid. 

■M  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6. 

•»5  ff'Aile's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  414. 

<'  E.R.  xl,  163.    Photograph  at  E.R.O. 

«'  Ibid. 

■"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i()iz,  J914). 

*''  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Burling. 

5°  H'hite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  414. 

5'  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6.  The  evidence 
suggests  that  J.  Lewis  may  have  been 
Cure's  estate  manager.    He  also  acted  as 


did  not  occupy,  Newhouse  Farm  (i  ig  acres).**  There 
was  only  one  other  farm  of  over  40  acres.-" 

Then,  as  now,  there  was  mixed  farming  in  Bobbing- 
worth. A  three-course  rotation  of  crops  was  generally 
followed,  wheat,  barley,  and  either  beans  or  clover 
being  the  usual  crops.** 

In  1 848  there  were  in  the  parish  a  cornmiller,  who 
was  also  a  baker,  and  a  land  surveyor.*^  The  windmill 
was  a  wooden  post-mill,  turned  by  hand,  with  a  brick 
'round  house'  below.**  It  probably  dated  from  the 
1 8th  century  and  the  post,  which  was  inscribed  '1640', 
may  have  been  an  earlier  one  reused.*'  The  mill  be- 
came disused  between  191 2  and  1914.*'  The  upper 
part  of  it  was  blown  down  in  1923;*'  the  round  house 
stood  for  some  time  afterwards. 

The  land  surveyor  mentioned  in  1 848  was  Jonathan 
Lewis. 50  It  was  probably  the  same  Jonathan  Lewis 
who  drew  up  some  of  the  local  tithe  maps  at  this 
period  and  who  did  much  surveying  and  other  work 
for  Capel  Cure  on  the  Blake  Hall  estate.^' 

This  estate,  totalling  some  3,800  acres  in  Bobbing- 
worth and  other  parishes,^*  must  have  employed  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  domestic  as  well  as  agricultural 
labour  in  the  middle  of  the  19th  century. 

In  1066  BOBBINGWORTH  was  held  by  2  free- 
men as  I  hide  and  30  acres  and  was  worth 
MANORS  40^.53  In  1086  it  was  held  of  Ranulf 
brother  of  Ilger  by  Richard  and  was  worth 
60J.S*  In  the  early  13th  century  it  seems  to  have  been 
held  in  chief  by  Hamon  de  Marcy.ss  Hamon  ap- 
parently left  as  his  heir  Serlo  de  Marcy,  lord  of  Stondon 
Massey  (q.v.),  who  was  dead  by  1 244.5*  In  that  year 
Serlo's  sisters  and  heirs,  Alice  wife  of  John  de  Merk 
and  Agnes  wife  of  Nicholas  Spigurnel  agreed  to  divide 
between  them  the  tenements  in  Bobbingworth  and  else- 
where which  Denise,  widow  of  Hamon,  and  Agnes, 
widow  of  Serlo,  then  held  in  dower. s'  Afterwards  it 
was  evidently  agreed  that  the  Spigurnels  should  hold 
the  Bobbingworth  tenements  of  the  Merks,  forin  13 11- 
12  William  son  and  heir  of  Ralph  de  Merk  granted  the 
overlordship  of  these  tenements  to  Humphrey,  Earl  of 
Hereford  and  Essex  (d.  1322)  who  in  1 3 1 2-1 3  granted 
it  in  fee  tail  to  his  youngest  son  William  de  Bohun, 
later  Earl  of  Northampton. ss  In  1328  the  manor  of 
Bobbingworth  was  held  of  William  by  the  service  of 
\  knight's  fee. 5'  He  died  in  1360  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Humphrey,  later  Earl  of  Hereford  and  of 
Essex.*"  After  Humphrey's  death  in  1373  the  over- 
lordship passed  through  his  daughter  Eleanor  to  Anne 
wife  of  Edmund  Earl  of  March.*'  After  the  deaths  of 
Edmund  (1425)  and  Anne  (1432)  the  overlordship 
passed  to  Anne's  brother  Humphrey,  Duke  of  Bucking- 
ham (d.  1460).**  In  1475  the  manor  was  held  of 
Humphrey's  widow  Anne.*3  In  1485  and  1493  it  was 
held  of  Jasper,  Duke  of  Bedford  (d.  1495)  and  his 

overseer  of  the  parish  for  many  years  before 
1827  (see  below.  Parish  Government  and 
Poor  Relief). 

52  See  below,  Manor  of  Blake  Hall. 

53  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  540,2. 
5«  Ibid. 

55  Feet  of  F,  Essex,  i,  148-q. 
ss  Ibid.  57  Ibid. 

58  DL25/1592,  1453. 

59  Cat.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  104. 
'"  Complete  Peerage,  vi,  472-3. 
*'  C 1 37/90;  Ci  ;i()l  1 2  ;  Complete  Peerage, 

vi,  474-5,  viii,  453.  Anne  was  grand- 
daughter of  Eleanor. 

<>^  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  388. 

"  C140/52. 


10 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


BOBBINGWORTH 


wife  Katherine  whose  first  husband  had  been  Henry 
Stafford,  Duke  of  Buckingham  (d.  I483).*'* 

Nicholas  Spigurnel  died  before  1 27 5 .*5  Sir  Edmund 
Spigurnel,  son  of  Nicholas,  died  in  1295-6  leaving  his 
widow  Clarice  to  hold  for  her  life  i  messuage,  i 
carucate  of  land,  and  50J.  rent  in  Bobbingworth.**  In 
1297  his  brother  and  heir  John  granted  the  reversion 
of  this  estate  after  the  death  of  Clarice  to  Henry 
Spigurnel,  probably  his  younger  brother,  and  to  the 
heirs  of  Henry.*^  In  1328  Henry  Spigurnel  died  in 
possession  of  this  estate,  which  was  then  described  as  a 
manor.*^  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas  who 
in  1332  quitclaimed  all  his  rights  in  the  manor  to 
Robert  de  Hakeney,  citizen  of  London,  and  his  wife 
Katherine.*'  In  1361  Thomas  son  of  Robert  de 
Hakeney  granted  an  annuity  of  ^^lo  from  the  manor  to 
James  de  Lacy  and  his  heirs.'o  Thomas  de  Hakeney 
left  at  least  one  sister,  Katherine,  as  his  heirJ'  In  1 389 
Maud  de  Enfield,  who  was  perhaps  the  widow  of  John 
de  Enfield  and  perhaps  also  the  sister  of  Thomas  de 
Hakeney,  granted  the  reversion  of  the  manor,  then 
held  for  hfe  by  Joan  wife  of  Luke  Morell,  to  Ralph  de 
Tyle  and  his  wife  Alice,  daughter  of  John  de  Enfield, 
to  John  their  son  and  to  the  heirs  of  Alice.'^  In  1403 
Thomas  Horsman  and  his  wife  Margaret  and  John 
Abberbury  and  his  wife  Alice  granted  the  reversion  of 
the  manor,  after  the  death  of  Joan  Morell,  to  Sir  John 
Ashley  and  his  heirs.'s  The  conveyances  of  1389  and 
1403  led,  after  the  death  of  Joan  Morell,  to  a  contest 
for  possession  of  the  estate. 

Joan  Morell  died  on  t6  May  i409.7't  At  that  time 
Alice  and  Ralph  de  Tyle  and  their  son  John  were  dead 
and  the  next  of  kin  of  Alice  was  her  cousin  Thomas,  a 
minor,  son  of  her  father's  brother  Thomas  de  Enfield." 
On  22  May  1409  William  Wodeward  and  his  wife 
Agnes,  a  kinswoman  of  Thomas,  were  granted  custody 
of  the  manor.'*  Shortly  afterwards,  by  letters  patent 
which  apparently  were  antedated  to  20  May  1409  the 
custody  of  the  manor  was  given  to  Helming  Legat, 
who  was  closely  connected  with  Sir  John  Ashley,  and 
William  Loveney."  The  grant  to  the  Wodewards  was 
annulled  and  they  were  removed  from  possession  of 
the  estate.'*  They  then  proceeded  to  complain  by  peti- 
tion in  Parliament  and  in  June  1410  the  case  was 
examined  by  the  king's  council."  In  the  course  of  the 
hearing  Helming  Legat  stated  that  at  the  instance  of 
Sir  John  Ashley  he  had  released  all  his  claim  in  the 
estate  to  John  Habhale,  a  servant  of  Ashley.*"  At  the 
close  of  the  hearing  the  council  declared  that  the  grant 
to  Legat  and  Loveney  should  be  revoked  on  the 
ground  that  when  it  was  made  the  grantees  did  not 
fulfil  their  legal  obligation  of  revealing  other  gifts  which 
they  had  received  from  the  king.*'  At  the  same  time 
the  council  secured  an  acknowledgement  by  Loveney 


that  the  letters  patent  dated  20  May  were  sealed  after 
the  letters  dated  22  May.*^  In  accordance  with  the 
council's  judgement  the  Wodewards  were  restored  as 
custodians  of  the  estate  in  October  1410.*' 

It  is  not  clear  whether  Sir  John  Ashley  took  any 
further  steps  to  obtain  possession  of  the  manor  after  his 
attempt  in  1409.  An  inquisition  taken  in  14 12 
declared  that  Thomas  de  Enfield  was  the  heir  to  the 
estate  in  virtue  of  the  fine  of  1389.**  By  1420,  how- 
ever, a  lawsuit  was  begun  to  contest  Thomas's  claim. *5 
In  1420  William  Ashley,  brother  and  heir  of  Sir  John, 
came  to  an  agreement  with  Nicholas  Thorley  whereby 
Nicholas  was  to  pay  the  costs  of  the  action  and  a  further 
70  marks  to  William  in  return  for  which  William  was 
to  enfeoff  him  with  the  manor  or  with  half  of  it,  if  only 
half  was  recovered.**  It  is  not  clear  how  far  the  action 
was  pursued.  In  January  1424  an  inquisition  declared 
that  in  virtue  of  the  fine  of  1389  Thomas  de  Enfield, 
who  had  come  of  age  in  October  1423,  was  entitled  to 
the  estate.*'  In  March  1424  Thomas  conveyed  what 
he  described  as  'all  my  manor  of  Bobbingworth'  to  Sir 
Lewis  Robessart  and  others  who  granted  it  to  Nicholas 
Thorley.**  In  August  1424  William  Ashley  conveyed 
what  he  also  described  as  'my  manor  of  Bobbingworth' 
to  Nicholas  Thorley  and  the  heirs  of  Nicholas.*' 

In  1442  Sir  Nicholas  Thorley  died  leaving  as  his 
heir  Walter  Estoft,  son  of  his  sister  Katherine.'"  Alice, 
Countess  of  Oxford  and  widow  of  Nicholas,  ap- 
parendy  held  a  life  interest  in  the  manor  of  Bobbing- 
worth." In  1445  she  granted  this  life  interest  to  her 
son  John  de  Vere,  12th  Earl  of  Oxford,  and  to  Sir 
Reynold  West  and  Richard  Wentworth  who  im- 
mediately sold  it  to  Sir  Thomas  Tyrell.'^  At  the  same 
time  Sir  Thomas  purchased  the  reversion  from  Walter 
Estoft.'s  In  January  1464  Sir  Thomas  Tyrell  con- 
veyed the  manor  to  Sir  Peter  Arderne  and  others  who 
in  December  1466  granted  it  to  Walter  Wrytell.'* 
After  Walter's  death  in  1475  the  manor  of  Bobbing- 
worth followed  the  same  descent  as  that  of  High  Laver 
(q.v.)  until  1 5 10." 

In  1 5 10,  when  they  made  a  partition  of  the  rest  of 
their  inheritance,  James  and  Eleanor  Walsingham  and 
Edward  and  Gresilda  Waldegrave  agreed  that  they, 
and  the  heirs  of  Eleanor  and  Gresilda,  should  hold 
Bobbingworth  manor  in  common.'*  In  1575,  how- 
ever, the  owners  of  the  manor.  Sir  Thomas  Walsing- 
ham, grandson  of  James  and  Eleanor,  and  John 
Rochester  of  Terhng,  son  of  William,  son  of  Gresilda 
by  her  first  husband  John  Rochester,  made  a  physical 
division  of  it."  It  was  agreed  that  John  Rochester's 
share  of  the  estate  should  be  the  manor  house  which, 
with  its  appurtenant  6  acres,  was  then  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  John  Poole  who  was  a  freeholder  and  copyholder 
of  the  manor;  175  acres  of  demesne  land  of  which  117 


'♦  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VIl,  i,  pp.  61-63, 
383;  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  73.  See  note 
under  High  Laver  manor. 

65  CH3/+/6. 

"  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  84;  C.  Moor,  Kts. 
of  Ed'w.  I,  iv  (Harl.  Soc.  Ixxxiii),  269. 

<>■>  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  8+;  C.  Moor,  Kts. 
of  Edtv.  I,  iv,  269. 

68   Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  104.. 

*">  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/6. 

">  Cal.  Close,  1360-4,  258. 

'■  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/37. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  m,  211;  C 137/90. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  240.  Alice  Abber- 
bury may  formerly  have  been  Alice  dcTyle. 
Alternatively  she  and  Margaret  Horsman 
may    have    been    sisters    of   Thomas    de 


Hakeney. 
"  C137/90. 

75    Ibid. 

'6  Cal.  Pat.  1408-13,  231,  240;  Cal. 
Fine  R.  xiii,  148,  192-3. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1408-13,  231,  240;  Cal. 
Fine  R.  xiii,  192-3. 

'8  Cal.  Pat.  1408-13,  231,  240;  Cal. 
Fine  R.  xiii,  192-3. 

79  Cases  Before  King's  Council  1243-1482 
(Selden  Soc.  xxxv),  9^-95  j  Cal.  Pat.  1408- 
13,  240;  Cal.  Fine  R.  xiii,  192-3. 

80  Cases  Before  King's  Council  1243-1482, 

93- 

8"  Ibid.  94.  "  Ibid. 

83  Cal.  Pat.  1408-13,  240;  Cal.  Fine  R. 
xiii,  192-3. 


*♦  Cl  37/90. 

85  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/28. 

8«  Ibid.  87  C139/13. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/33-35. 

89  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/31. 
9"  Complete  Peerage,  x,  236. 

9'  E.R.O.,     D/DB     T96/41-42;     CP 

25(0/71/279/^44- 

92  Ibid. 

93  Cal.  Close,  1441-7,  392-3. 
9«  E.R.O.,  D/DBT96/51. 

95  C 1 42/2 1/2;  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  yil, 
i,  pp.  61-63,  383;  L.  Sf  P.  Hen.  Fill, 
i,  p.  103. 

96  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/69. 

97  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T98;  yisits.  of  Essex 
(Harl.  Soc),  97,  280. 


I  I 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


acres  lay  together,  56  acres  which  were  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  four  copyholders  at  rents  totalling  £,z  1 3/.  a 
year;  and  the  rents,  amounting  to  {j.  19/.  i,d.  a  year, 
and  services  of  all  the  twelve  freeholders.'*  The  share 
of  Sir  Thomas  Walsingham  was  to  be  218  acres  of 
demesne  land  which  lay  in  two  parcels  of  122  acres 
and  71  acres  and  several  smaller  ones,  and  44  acres 
which  were  in  the  occupation  of  four  copyholders  at 
rents  totalling  C't  4^-  *  year." 

John  Rochester  was  dead  by  1584.'  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  second  son  Edward  who  in  1 586  sold  his 
half  of  Bobbingworth  manor  to  the  above  mentioned 
John  Poole.*  This  estate  afterwards  became  known  as 
the  manor  oi  BOBBINGWORTH  HALL.^ 

The  demesne  land  acquired  by  Sir  Thomas  Walsing- 
ham in  I  5  7  5  was  sold  by  his  son  Sir  Thomas  Walsingham 
in  1598  to  Robert  Bourne,  owner  of  Blake  Hall  (see 
below).*  The  greater  part,  if  not  all,  of  this  land  after- 
wards remained  as  a  permanent  part  of  Blake  Hall 
estate,  some  of  it  being  attached  to  the  manor  of  Blake 
Hall  and  some  of  it  to  the  manor  of  Bilsdens  (see 
below).' 

John  Poole  died  in  1602  having  devised  Bobbing- 
worth Hall  to  his  son  John  with  the  stipulation  that 
his  widow  Lora  was  to  have  'her  dwelling  and  house 
room  in  the  new  parlour  belonging  to  Bobbingworth  hall 
and  the  two  upper  rooms  over  the  same  parlour'.*  John 
Poole  the  son,  a  London  alderman,  died  in  1633.'  His 
considerable  estate  consisted  largely  of  claims  on 
foreigners  and  these  had  to  be  recovered  before 
legacies  totalling  about  ;^lo,ooo  could  be  paid.*  He 
devised  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth  to  his  wife  Anne 
for  life  and  then  to  his  brother  Richard  after  whose 
death  John  son  of  Richard  was  to  inherit  the  estate.' 
Richard  Poole  died  in  about  1642."*  In  1674  John 
Poole,  son  of  Richard,  made  a  settlement  on  his  own 
son  John  when  the  latter  married  Mary  Powel."  By 
this  the  manorial  rights,  the  capital  messuage  with  its 
appurtenances,  and  93^  acres  passed  immediately  to 
John  the  son  who  was  also  to  receive  a  further  71  acres 
on  the  death  of  his  father.'*  The  elder  John  retained 
the  free  disposition  of  about  12  acres.''  Immediately 
after  the  settlement  he  leased  to  the  younger  John  39i 
acres  of  the  71  acres  in  which  he  retained  a  life  interest, 
at  a  rent  of  ^20  a  year.'*  The  elder  John  died  in  about 
1676."  The  younger  John  died  before  1701,  leaving 
his  widow  Mary  to  enjoy  a  life  interest  in  the  manorial 
royalties,  the  manor  house,  and  93^  acres  under  the 
terms  of  the  settlement  of  1674.'*  He  left  the  71  acres 
which  he  had  inherited  on  his  father's  death  to  his  son 
John  who  was  also  to  have  the  reversion  of  Mary's 
estate.'^    In  1701  John  Poole  mortgaged  his  rever- 

»«  E.R.O  ,  D/DB  T98.  w  Ibid. 

•  Ibid.  »  Ibid.  3  Ibid. 
4  CPz5(2)/.38/,7so. 
»  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6;  T/M  210,  213. 

Morant  stated  {Eisex,  i,  148)  that  the 
eatate  which  Walsingham  sold  to  Bourne 
in  1598  was  reattached  to  Bobbingworth 
Hall  by  the  Houblons  in  the  i8th  cent., 
but  surveys  of  c.  1725,  1804,  and  1820 
make  it  clear  that  at  least  160  acres  re- 
mained attached  to  Blake  Hall. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T98.  This  is  a  large 
group  of  documents. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/83. 

•  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T98. 
»  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/83. 

'»  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T98. 

■'  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

•*  Ibid.  »  Ibid.  '«  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 


sionary  interest  to  Charles  Houblon  for  ^^600.'*  In 
1704  he  sold  to  Houblon  for  ;^i,o8o  the  71  acres  he 
had  in  hand."  In  1708  Houblon  also  bought  the 
manor  house  and  the  lands  mortgaged  to  him  by  John 
Poole  in  1701,  Mary  Poole  selling  her  life  interest  for 
^^498   and  John   Poole  his  reversionary   interest   for 

The  estate  which  John  and  Mary  Poole  sold  to 
Houblon  in  1704-8  consisted  of  a  large  part  of  the 
estate  acquired  by  John  Rochester  in  1575.  Houblon 
also  bought  other  property  in  Bobbingworth.*'  He 
may  have  bought  a  small  part  of  the  lands  sold  by 
Walsingham  to  Bourne  in  1 598." 

Houblon  never  made  his  home  in  Bobbingworth.*' 
He  died  in  1 7 1 1  .**  From  this  time  the  manor  descended 
in  the  direct  male  line  of  the  Houblon  family  until 
1834.*'  From  1729,  when  Jacob  Houblon  took  up 
residence  at  Great  Hallingbury,  until  1834  the  owners 
of  Bobbingv/orth  manor  did  not  live  on  their  Bobbing- 
worth estate.**  In  1833  this  estate  consisted  of  6  acres 
of  woodland  in  hand;  231  acres  of  arable  and  pasture 
in  the  occupation  of  John  and  Thomas  Speed  at  a  rent 
of  ,^205  a  year;  6  copyhold  messuages  and  26  acres  of 
copyhold  land,  rents  for  which  totalled  £1  6s.  \d.  a 
year;  and  freehold  lands,  rents  for  which  totalled 
^i  7/.  <^d.  a  year.*'  In  1834  John  Archer  Houblon 
sold  this  estate,  and  his  share  of  the  advowson  of 
Bobbingworth  (see  below)  to  Capel  Cure  of  Blake 
Hall  for  ^fifijj  of  which  ;^577  was  paid  for  the  timber 
on  the  estate.**  The  manor  of  Bobbingworth  has 
subsequently  remained  in  the  family  of  Capel  Cure. 
It  had  copyhold  tenants  as  late  as  1919.*' 

The  present  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and  weather- 
boarded  and  is  probably  of  early-i  8th-century  date.  It 
is  L-shaped  and  has  a  hipped  tiled  roof  with  moulded 
brickwork  to  the  central  chimney. 

In  the  1 2th  century  the  manor  oi  BLAKE  HALL 
was  held  of  the  honor  of  Boulogne  by  Pharamus 
of  Boulogne,  great-grandson  of  Count  Eustace  of 
Boulogne.'"  It  is  not  clear  whether  Pharamus  held 
the  manor  in  demesne.  He  died  in  1 183-4  ^'^'^  was 
succeeded  by  his  only  daughter  and  heir  Sibyl  de 
Fiennes."  Sibyl  was  holding  the  manor  of  the  honor 
of  Boulogne  in  1221-2.'*  By  the  early  14th  century, 
however,  the  manor  was,  apparently,  no  longer  con- 
sidered part  of  that  honor." 

Sibyl's  heir  was  her  son  William  de  Fiennes.'* 
William's  grandson.  Sir  William  de  Fiennes  (d.  1302), 
was  second  cousin  of  Eleanor  of  Castile,  to  whom  he 
pledged  part  of  his  estate  in  1 275  when,  at  his  request, 
she  engaged  to  pay  ^1,000  to  Humphrey  de  Bohun  on 
the  latter's  marriage  with  William's  sister  Maud."   It 


»<i  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DWv  T51.  At  the 
time  of  the  sale  Poole  still  owed  Houblon 
the  ;^6oo  he  had  borrowed  in  1701  and 
£i%S  interest  on  the  loan.  Houblon  had 
therefore  to  pay  Poole  only  ,^215  in  cash. 

"  A.  A.  Houblon,  The  Houhhn  Family, 
ii,  1-2. 

"  Cf.  Morant,  Eiiex,  i,  148.  And  see 
note  8  above. 

^3  A.  A.  Houblon,  Tie  Houhhn  Family, 
ii,  2.  "  Ibid. 

'5  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T2;  D/DCc 
E2,  6. 

'«  A.  A.  Houblon,  The  Houhlon  Family, 
i,  1 1  f.  From  1717  until  1729  Jacob  son 
and  heir  of  Charles  Houblon  lived  in  Bob- 
bingworth with  his  uncle  Jacob,  then 
rector  of  the  parish. 

*'  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E2.  The  lands  occu- 
pied  by  John   and   Thomas    Speed   were 


divided  into  4  farms :  Bobbingworth  Hall, 
Rachells,Hobbans,  and  Galnthorps.  In  1 829 
they  had  agreed  to  pay  a  rent  of  ^270,  but 
this  had  been  reduced  to  ,^205  when  J,  A. 
Houblon  succeeded  to  the  estate  in  1831. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T2 ;  D/DCc  E6. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  Mi. 

3°  Bk.  of  Fees,  1428 ;  Genealogist,  N.s.  xii, 
145—51.  For  Pharamus  see  also  Manor  of 
Lam  bourne. 

3'  Bk.  of  Fees,  234-5;  Genealogist,  n.s. 
xii,  145-51- 

"  Bk.  of  Fees,  240,  1435. 

'3  Cal.  Inq.  f>.m.  V,  p.  349. 

3*  Bk.  of  Fees,  235;  Genealogist,  N.s.  xii, 
149. 

35  Complete  Peerage,  vi,  466,  ix,  283  ;  C. 
Moor,  Kts.  of  Edtv.  I  (Harl.  Soc.  Ixxxi),  ii, 
21-23';  De  La  Chenaye-Desbois  et  Badier, 
Diclionnaire  de  la  Noblesse,  viii,  39-41. 


12 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


BOBBINGWORTH 


is  likely  that  William  granted  the  overlordship  of  Blake 
Hall  to  Eleanor  of  Castile,  for  her  grandson,  Gilbert, 
Earl  of  Gloucester,  was  holding  it  when  he  died  in 
1 3 14.3*  Gilbert  was  succeeded  by  his  sister  and  coheir 
Elizabeth  de  Burgh,  Lady  of  Clare,  of  whom  the  manor 
was  held  by  the  service  of  J  knight's  fee. 37  Afterwards 
the  tenancy  in  chief  followed  the  same  descent  as  that 
of  Magdalen  Laver  manor  (q.v.).'* 

In  1 3 14  the  tenant  in  demesne  was  Robert  de 
Hastings  who  sold  the  manor  to  Adam  Atforth.^o  It 
was  subsequently  held  by  Sir  John  de  Loundres.'*"  In 
142 1  Sir  Robert  Brent  died  in  possession  of  the  manor 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  sister  Joan  wife  of  John  Trethek.'^' 
In  1424  John  and  Joan  Trethek  conveyed  the  manor 
to  William  Trethek/^  William  immediately  granted  it 
to  Sir  Reynold  West,  Richard  Wentworth,  and  Richard 
Arderne  in  exchange  for  the  manor  of  Poldu  (Cornw.) 
which  they  had  acquired  from  Nicholas  Thorley  and 
his  wife  Alice,  Countess  of  Oxford/^  West,  Arderne, 
and  Wentworth  were  probably  acting  as  trustees  for 
Nicholas  Thorley  in  the  purchase  of  Blake  HaU  as  they 
certainly  were  in  the  purchase  of  Bobbingworth  manor 
(see  above)  in  the  same  year.  Sir  Nicholas  Thorley 
died  in  1442,  leaving  as  his  heir  Walter  Estoft,  son  of 
his  sister  Katherine.'^^  In  about  1 504  William  Thomson 
became  lord  of  the  manor .♦s  At  the  same  time  he  pur- 
chased 217  acres  of  land  from  Robert  Brent.^*  William 
and  his  wife  Agnes,  who  may  have  been  a  daughter  of 
Walter  Estoft,  were  still  in  possession  of  the  manor  in 
151 1,  but  by  September  1512  Sir  William  Capel  was 
lord.*7  At  that  time  John  Glascock  farmed  the  manor 
at  a  rent  oi  £%  Sl  year.*  *  Capel  died  in  1 5 1 6,  leavin  g  as 
his  heir  his  son  Giles  who,  with  his  sons  Henry  and 
Edward,  conveyed  it  in  1 539  to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  later 
1st  Baron  Rich.*'  In  1563  Rich  conveyed  the  manor 
to  John  Waylett.5"  In  1564  Waylett  granted  it  to 
John  Glascock  who  in  1562  had  been  described  as  'of 
Blake  Hall'.s'  In  1598  John  Glascock,  perhaps  the 
son  of  the  purchaser  of  1 564,  sold  the  manor  to  Robert 
Bourne  but  retained  56  acres  of  its  demesne  land  for  his 
own  son  George. ^^  In  the  same  year  Bourne  pur- 
chased from  Sir  Thomas  Walsingham  the  demesne 
lands  which  Walsingham's  father  had  acquired  in  1575 
as  his  share  of  Bobbingworth  manor  (see  above).s3  In 
1628  Bourne  purchased  some  land  from  John  son  of 
George  Glascock. 5*  In  1639  Robert  Bourne  died, 
having  settled  Blake  Hall  manor  on  his  wife  Katherine 
for  hfe  with  remainder  to  his  son  Robert.ss  The 
younger  Robert  had  only  one  child,  a  daughter  Alice 
who  in  1656  married  John,  3rd  Baron  Digby,  and 
afterwards  3rd  Earl  of  Bristol.s*  She  died  without  issue 
in  1658.57  Robert  Bourne  made  a  settlement  whereby 


Digby  was  to  hold  the  manor  for  life  with  remainder  to 
John  Cooper,  nephew  of  Bourne.ss  Bourne  died  in 
1666."  In  about  1675  Cooper  tried  unsuccessfully  to 
sell  his  reversion.*"  At  that  time  he  rented  the  manors 
of  Blake  Hall  and  Bilsdens  (see  below)  from  Digby  for 
^462  a  year."  He  succeeded  to  the  estate  on  Digby's 
death  in  1698  and  died  in  1701.*^  His  heirs  were  his 
sisters  Dorothy,  wife  of  Richard  Thompson,  and  Anne, 
wife  of  Charles  Fowler.^J  In  1 709  they  sold  the  estate 
to  John  Clarke  for  ^8,ooo.*«  Clarke  died  in  1726 
having  devised  the  manor  to  his  eldest  son  Richard.*' 
In  1735  ^^^  manor  house  was  in  the  occupation  of 
Richard  Clarke  and  the  manor  farm  in  that  of  Robert 
Crabb.**  Richard  died  in  1770,  apparently  leaving 
considerable  debts.  He  had  devised  the  manor  to  his 
brother  Dennis  who  by  his  will  of  1770  devised  it  to 
his  sisters  Ann,  wife  of  Sir  Narbrough  D'Aeth,  and 
Catherine,  wife  of  Barnabas  Eveleigh  Leigh,  for  their 
lives  with  remainder  to  his  nephew  Narbrough 
D'Aeth.*7  Catherine  Leigh  died  before  i78o.*8  In 
1780  Sir  Narbrough  D'Aeth,  nephew  of  Clarke, 
mortgaged  his  reversion  of  the  manors  of  Blake  Hall 
and  Bilsdens  (see  below)  and  the  advowson  of  Bobbing- 
worth for  ;£i,ooo.*9  Between  1781  and  1788  Sir 
Narbrough  and  his  mother  Lady  Ann  D'Aeth  borrowed 
further  sums  on  the  security  of  their  Bobbingworth 
estate,  making  the  total  mortgage  {j],ioo  in  March 
1788.70  Before  this  they  had  mortgaged  their  other 
properties  for  sums  totalling  at  least  ;^I4,500."  It  may 
have  been  this  load  of  debt  which  made  Sir  Narbrough 
sell  his  Bobbingworth  estate  to  Capel  Cure  in  1789.72 
Since  that  time  Blake  Hall  has  remained  in  the  family 
of  Capel  Cure.  By  Morant's  time  it  no  longer  had 
manorial  tenants.73  In  1 840  Blake  Hall  farm  consisted 
of  nearly  220  acres  and  was  in  the  occupation  of  Capel 
Cure.7'«  At  about  that  time  Blake  Hall  was  the  centre 
of  an  estate  of  some  3,800  acres,  mainly  in  Bobbing- 
worth and  neighbouring  parishes.75  It  included  the 
manors  of  Blake  Hall,  Bobbingworth  Hall,  Bilsdens, 
and  Ongar  Park  (in  High  Ongar,  q.v.)  and  a  total  of 
some  20  farms. 7*  Capel  Cure  was  the  impropriator  of 
Norton  Mandeville  (q.v.)  and  Compton  Abdale 
(Glouc.)  as  well  as  patron  of  Bobbingworth.77 

In  about  1700  Blake  Hall  was  a  typical  timber- 
framed  Essex  building  with  two  gables  to  the  front.78 
This  house  appears  to  have  been  completely  demolished 
early  in  the  i8th  century.  The  central  rooms  at  the 
front  of  the  present  house  are  part  of  the  Georgian 
mansion  which  superseded  it.  In  1 804  the  house  was 
of  two  stories  with  seven  windows  across  the  front,  a 
colonnaded  porch,  and  a  central  pediment.79  By  1 804 
the  straight  avenue  of  trees,  which  in  the  late  1 8th 


'*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  v,  p.  349 ;  Complete 
"Peerage^  v,  707,  712-14.  Joan  of  Acre, 
daughter  of  Edward  I  and  Eleanor  of 
Castile,  married  Gilbert,  Earl  of  Glouces- 
ter, and  had  by  him  a  son  Gilbert  who 
became  Earl  of  Gloucester  on  his  father's 
death  in  1295. 

"  DL30/123/1861;  Complete  Peerage, 
iii,  245. 

«  C136/106;  €138/56;  Ci39/i9S9i 
Cal. Close,  1419-22, 1775  Cal. Close,  1422- 
9,  248-9. 

"  DL30/123/1859;  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  v, 
p.  349. 

«»  01,30/123/1859  and  1861.  Possibly 
the  John  Loundres  who  was  knighted  in 
1397  :  Shaw,  Knights  of  Engl,  ia,  Ix. 

••'  C138/56. 

«  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  iv,  3. 

«  Cal.  Close,  1422-9,  120,  144. 


♦•  Complete  Peerage,  x,  236. 
••5  DL3o/i23/i859  and  1862. 
«'  DL30/123/1859. 

«'  CP25(2)/ii/5i  Mich.  3  Hen.  VIII. 
<8  B.M.  Add.  MS.  40,6323. 
"  £142/30/16;   CP25(2)/i2/67   Mich. 
31  Hen.  VIII. 
50  CP40/1207. 
5-  CP25(2)/i27/i624;  E.R.O.,  QjSR  4. 

52  DL30/123/1861. 

53  CP25(2)/l  38/1750. 
5t   DL30/123/1861. 

55  Sepulchral  Mems.  of  Bohhingworth,  ed. 
F.  A.  Crisp,  33. 

i<>  E.R.O.,  D/DMgT3i ;  Complete  Peer- 
age, ii,  322. 

5'  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  322. 

58  UL30/123/1861-2;  E.R.O.,  D/DAc 
24-25.  50  E.R.O.,  D/DMg  T3 1. 

<>»  E.R.O.,  D/DAc  24-25.  "  Ibid. 


"  DL30/1 23/1 862 ;£.y4.r.N.s.ici,  177. 

«  DL30/123/1862;  E.R.O.,  D/DCc 
T./.-3. 

64  E.R.O.,  D/DCcTi/1-3. 

6s  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T1/3. 

"  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

M  Ibid.  '»  Ibid. 

'0  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  Ti/i  and  2. 

"  Ibid. 

'2  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T4. 

'5  Morant,  Essex,  i,  148. 

'4  E.R.O.,  D/CT  38.- 

75  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6. 

7'  Ibid.  77  Ibid.  See  below,  Church. 

7*  As  shown  in  a  small  drawing  on  an  un- 
dated map  at  Blake  Hall.  For  photostat  of 
map  see  E.R.O.,  T/M  2!o. 

7»  This  is -shown  on  an  estate  map  of 
1804.  For  photostat  of  mao  see  E.R.O., 
T/M  213. 


13 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


century  had  led  direct  from  the  doorway  to  the  road, 
had  been  abandoned  in  favour  of  curved  approaches  to 
north  and  south.*"  In  1822  the  house  was  remodelled 
by  George  Basevi,*'  but  it  is  not  clear  how  much  work 
was  done  at  this  time.  The  rooms  facing  the  garden 
with  their  two  semicircular  bays  may  be  of  this  date 
or  a  little  earlier.  A  service  wing  to  the  north  was  also 
built  by  1822.  About  the  middle  of  the  19th  century 
the  house  was  greatly  extended. ^^  A  third  story  was 
added  to  the  central  block  and  a  new  wing  was  built 
on  the  south  side.  Early  in  the  20th  century  a  fine  late- 
I7th-century  staircase,  which  came  originally  from  a 
house  on  the  south  side  of  Pall  Mall,  was  inserted  in 
the  hall.'3  Between  1940  and  1948  Blake  Hall  was 
requisitioned  by  the  R.A.F.  and  during  this  time  the 
library  and  drawing  room  with  the  bedrooms  above 
were  thrown  together  to  form  an  operations  room. 
This  wing  has  not  yet  been  restored.*^ 

The  manor  of  BILSDENS  derived  its  name  from 
the  family  of  Billesdon.  In  1496  Joan,  widow  of  Sir 
Robert  Billesdon  and  daughter  and  heir  of  John 
Williams,  died  in  possession  of  a  messuage,  280  acres 
of  land  and  20  acres  of  meadow  in  Bobbingworth  and 
other  parishes.  *5  This  estate,  which  was  then  called 
'Monkis  alias  Bobynford',  was  worth  100/.  and  was 
held  of  one  Brent.'*  Joan's  heir  was  her  son  Thomas 
Billesdon.87 

After  Joan's  death  her  Bobbingworth  estate  may 
have  passed,  with  her  Marshalls  estate  in  North  Weald 
(q.v.),  to  Sir  William  Fitzwilliam.  In  1581  William 
Bourne  died  in  possession  of  the  Bobbingworth  estate 
which  he  apparently  purchased  from  Richard,  ist 
Baron  Rich,  in  1566.**  William  bequeathed  to  his 
wife  Margaret  'household  stuff,  corn  and  cattle  at 
Gippes  alias  Billesdons'. '»  In  his  will  he  also  mentioned 
his  house  there.'" 

Bourne's  son  Robert  purchased  the  manor  of  Blake 
Hall  (see  above)  in  1 598  and  the  Billesdon  estate,  which 
was  described  as  a  manor  in  1675  and  later,  afterwards 
descended  with  Blake  Hall."  It  was  occupied  by  a 
tenant  until  1828,  after  which  it  was  farmed  by  the 
owner  himself'^  In  1840  Bilsdens  farm  consisted  of 
237  acres  of  which  136  were  arable. '3 

The  back  part  of  Bilsdens  house  is  timber-framed 
and  probably  dates  from  the  1 5th  or  early  i6th  century. 
It  apparently  consisted  of  a  central  hall  with  two  cross- 
wings.  The  hall  has  been  much  altered  but  in  both 
cross-wings  the  lower  part  of  arch-braced  roof  trusses 
are  visible  on  the  first  floor.  In  the  roof  space  at  least 
one  king-post  with  four-way  struts  remains.  This  was 
evidently  the  manor  house  of  which  William  Bourne 
died  possessed  in  1581.  An  estate  map  of  Bilsdens 
dated  I76i''*  has  a  rough  drawing  of  the  house  from 
which  it  appears  to  have  been  L-shaped  and  gabled. 
The  present  front  rooms  were  added  late  in  the  i8th 

•"  Ibid.;  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of 
Essex,  J777,  sheet  xii. 

"  Drawings  at  Blake  Hall  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Major  N.  Capel  Cure. 

"  Drawings  and  photographs  as  above. 

"  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Capel  Cure.  This  was 
probably  Schombcrg  House,  built  in  the 
last  decade  of  the  17th  cent. 

•<  Information  from  Mrs.  Capel  Cure. 

'•  Ca!.  Inij.  f.m.  Hen.  Fll,  i,  pp.  541-2. 

"  Ibid.  87  Ibid. 

"  Sepulchral  Mems.  of  Bohhingiuorth,  ed. 
F.  A.  Crisp,  31 ;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  149. 

»9  Sepulchral  Mems.  of  Bohhingivorth,  3  I. 

»o  Ibid. 

«■  E.R.O.,  D/DAc   Z4-25;   D/DCc  T 


century  and  these  were  faced  with  brickwork  probably 
about  100  years  later. 

It  seems  that  Hamon  de  Marcy  held  the  advowson 

of  Bobbingworth  in  the  early  13  th  cen- 
CHURCH  tury.'s    After  his  death,  which  occurred 

before  1244,  his  widow  Denise  held  it  in 
dower.'*  In  1244  it  was  agreed  that  at  the  death  of 
Denise  it  should  pass  to  Alice  and  John  de  Merk  and 
to  the  heirs  of  Alice  who,  by  another  agreement,  be- 
came overlords  of  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth  (see 
above)."  In  about  1262  John  de  Merk  was  patron  of 
the  living.''  In  1 280  Ralph  de  Merk,  probably  the  son 
of  John,  granted  the  advowson,  with  J  acre  of  land,  to 
John  de  Lovetot  for  30  marks."  Lovetot  still  held  the 
advowson  at  his  death  in  1293,  but  by  1328  it  was  in 
the  possession  of  Henry  Spigurnel,  tenant  in  demesne 
of  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth."  In  1332  Thomas 
Spigurnel  granted  the  advowson  as  well  as  the  manor 
to  Robert  de  Hakeney.^  In  1365  and  1368  John  King 
presented  to  the  living.3  In  1389  Joan  Morell  was 
holding  a  life  interest  in  the  advowson  which  from  that 
time  descended  with  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth  until 
1575.'*  In  1575,  when  Sir  Thomas  Walsingham  and 
John  Rochester  divided  Bobbingworth  manor  between 
them,  they  agreed  that  the  advowson  should  remain  in 
common  and  that  they  should  present  to  the  living  in 
turn. 5  In  1582  Thomas  Barefoot  presented  pro  hac 
vice  by  concession  of  Sir  Thomas  Walsingham.*  In 
1 598  Sir  Thomas  Walsingham  granted  his  rights  in 
the  advowson  to  Robert  Bourne,  owner  of  Blake  Hall 
(see  above)  .7  Afterwards  the  owners  of  the  manors  of 
Blake  Hall  and  Bobbingworth  had  alternate  rights  of 
presentation.  They  sometimes  sold  their  single  turns. 
In  1669  John,  3rd  Baron  Digby,  then  life  tenant  of 
Blake  Hall,  granted  his  next  turn  to  John  Robinson  of 
Stapleford  Tawney.'  In  1673  Robinson  sold  it  to  Sir 
John  Archer,  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
who  presented  in  1678.'  In  1692  James  LordelJ  pre- 
sented Jacob  Houblon.'o  When  Charles  Houblon, 
brother  of  Jacob,  purchased  the  manor  of  Bobbing- 
worth from  John  and  Mary  Poole  in  1708  he  also 
purchased  their  right  to  half  the  advowson."  At  that 
time  Mary  Poole  held  a  life  interest  in  it  with  remainder 
to  John  Poole. '^  The  advowson  remained  divided  be- 
tween the  owners  of  the  manors  of  Bobbingworth  and 
Blake  Hall  until  1834  when  Capel  Cure  of  Blake  Hall 
purchased  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth  and  the  alter- 
nate right  of  patronage  annexed  to  it.'3  In  1838  Capel 
Cure  presented  W.  M.  Oliver. ■■•  Since  that  time  the 
living  has  remained  in  the  gift  of  the  Capel  Cures.'' 

In  about  1254  the  rectory  was  valued  at  5  marks.'* 
In  1291  it  was  valued  at  £(>  13/.  4^2'."  In  1428  the 
church  was  still  taxed  on  this  valuation.''  In  1535  the 
rectory  was  valued  at  ,^13  6;.  8d'."  Its  'improved' 
value  was  [^do  in  1604,  ^^81  in  1650,  and  ;^ioo  in 


./.-3. 

"  E.R.O.,D/DCcE6iD/CT38iD/DCc 
T1/3. 

93  E.R.O.,  D/CT  38. 

9«  E.R.O.,  T/M  211  (photostat). 

«5  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  \,  148-9.       9'  Ibid. 

97   Ibid.  98   ^.^.r.  N.s.  xviii,   19. 

99  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  28. 

'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iii,  pp.  131,  133,  vii, 
p.  124.  »  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/6. 

3  Reg.  Sudbury  (Cant.  &  York  Soc),  i, 
244,  260. 

*  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  211;  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  66. 

5  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T98. 

'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  66. 


7  CP2s(2)/i38/i75o. 

8  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T98.  9  Ibid. 
10  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  66. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T98;  D/DWv  T51. 

■2  Ibid. 

■3  E.R.O.,D/DCcTi/i-3;D/DCcT2i 
D/DCc  T4i  J.  Ecton,  Thesaurus,  270; 
J.  Bacon,  Lib.  Reg.  615. 

^*  Sepulchral  Mems.  of  Bobbingixiorth,  ed. 
F.  A.  Crisp,  38. 

'S  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f.);  Chel. 
Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1952. 

'*  W.  E.  Lunt,  Val.  of  Norwich,  336. 

■7   Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  21*. 

'8  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 

»»  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 


14 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


BOBBINGWORTH 


1661.^°  The  tithes  were  commuted  in  1840  for 
^455;2'  there  were  then  32  acres  of  glebe." 

The  rectory  was  built  by  the  Revd.  W.  M.  Oliver  in 
1839^3  near  the  site  of  an  earlier  parsonage.^  It  is  a 
three-story  square  house  of  gault  brick  with  a  two- 
story  wing  on  the  north.  A  difference  in  brickwork 
suggests  that  the  top  story  may  have  been  a  later 
addition. 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  GERM  J  IN  consists  of 
nave,  chancel,  vestry,  and  north  tower.  At  different 
periods  parts  of  the  church  have  been  rebuilt  so  that 
very  little  medieval  work  now  remains.  In  particular 
subsidence  on  the  south  side  has  necessitated  constant 
repairs. 

The  date  of  the  original  nave  is  not  known  but  it 
may  be  indicated  by  a  13th-century  piscina  in  the 
south  wall,  now  reset,  which  has  a  pointed  head  and 
attached  shafts.  In  1909  Frederic  Chancellor  stated 
that  during  then  recent  work  to  the  south  wall  ancient 
oak  uprights  were  found  embedded  near  its  west  end.^' 
He  suggested  that  these  might  have  represented  part 
of  a  pre-Conquest  church,  but  in  the  absence  of  better 
evidence  this  must  remain  extremely  doubtful. 

The  chancel,  replaced  in  1 840,  was  probably  of  the 
14th  century.  In  1835^*  it  is  described  as  of  ancient 
appearance  and  the  east  window  as  'a  good  specimen 
of  the  decorated  style  of  architecture'.  The  nave  roof 
is  of  the  trussed  rafter  type  and  may  be  of  the  1 5th 
century.  Probably  also  in  the  15  th  century  a  wooden 
bell  tower  was  added  beyond  the  west  end  of  the  nave.^' 
This  appears  to  have  been  in  two  stages,  the  upper  one 
of  smaller  diameter,  and  to  have  had  a  small  shingled 
spire.2*  The  church  still  had  a  small  north  porch  in 
the  early  19th  century^"  and  this  may  have  been  of  late 
medieval  origin. 

The  nave  is  said  to  have  been  rebuilt  in  red  brick  in 
1680.30  In  lyyo  considerable  work  was  done  to  the 
interior  of  the  church  including  the  erection  of  a  west 
gallery  presented  by  Jacob  Houblon.^i  The  nave  walls 
were  again  largely  rebuilt  in  18 18  and  fitted  with  oak 
windows. 32  In  1 840  the  chancel  was  rebuilt  in  gault 
brick  at  the  rector's  expense. ^3  The  14th-century  style 
of  the  demolished  work  was  probably  copied,  parti- 
cularly with  regard  to  the  east  window.  In  1840  a 
north  tower  and  porch  were  built,  a  Mr.  Burton  being 
the  architect.34  They  are  of  gault  brick  and  the  style  is 
again  inspired  by  the  14th  century.  The  tower  has 
three  stages  with  pointed  openings  and  a  castellated 
parapet.  The  lowest  stage  combines  the  functions  of  a 
ringing  chamber  and  a  north  porch  to  the  church.  The 
red-brick  vestry  was  built  in  1864  at  the  expense  of  the 
Capel  Cure  family.3s  It  occupies  the  same  position  as 
the  wooden  bell  tower  demolished  in  1840.  In  1902 
seven  new  nave  windows  with  stone  tracery  were  pre- 
sented by  the  Revd.  W.  M.  Oliver  after  his  retire- 
ment.3*  These  replaced  the  wooden  windows  of  181 8. 
The  nave  roof  was  restored  in  1907.37  In  1931-2 
repairs  were  carried  out  to  the  roof  and  the  south  wall 
of  the  nave  and  the  18th-century  gallery  was  removed.38 


The  stone  font  is  of  the  15th  century  with  an  octa- 
gonal bowl  and  a  moulded  shaft.  In  1770  the  bowl  was 
removed  and  a  new  one  fitted  to  the  pedestal.39  In 
1936  the  original  bowl,  carved  with  the  initials  'J.P.', 
was  discovered  in  the  churchyard  at  Little  Parndon. 
It  was  presented  to  Bobbingworth  by  the  Netteswell 
and  Little  Parndon  Parochial  Church  Council  and  now 
occupies  its  original  position.^"  There  is  an  iron-bound 
chest  with  two  locks  of  the  17th  century.  The  pulpit 
has  early  17th-century  arabesque  ornament.  The 
panelling  and  reading-desk  in  the  nave  appear  to  have 
been  made  up  of  woodwork  of  various  dates,  the  oldest 
probably  of  the  early  17th  century.  The  seating  in  the 
nave  is  of  early  19th-century  date,  the  more  elaborate 
pitch  pine  pews  of  the  chancel  probably  date  from 
1840. 

The  plate  includes  a  cup  of  1635  inscribed  with 

*T  C 

initials      ^     ,  also  a  paten  inscribed  'Bovinger  1684'. 

The  plate  now  in  use  is  of  1933. 

Six  bells  were  presented  by  the  Revd.  W.  M.  Oliver 
in  1 841.'"  In  1834  an  acre  of  land  in  the  parish  called 
Bell  Acre  formed  part  of  the  glebe;  by  tradition  the 
rector  was  supposed  to  provide  bell  ropes  and  hassocks 
for  the  church  from  the  rent  it  yielded.*^  The  then 
rector,  however,  refused  to  observe  the  tradition  since 
there  was  no  documentary  evidence  to  support  it.*' 
The  custom  appears  never  to  have  been  revived. 

In  the  chancel  are  two  reset  brass  inscriptions,  one 
to  William  Bourne  (1581)  with  an  achievement  of 
arms  and  one  to  Robert  Bourne  (1639)  with  two 
shields.  Before  its  rebuilding  in  1840  there  were 
several  inscriptions  in  the  chancel  to  members  of  the 
Bourne  family  and  others  which  have  now  disappeared.** 
These  included  an  unusual  incised  slab  bearing  the 
arms  of  the  City  of  London  and  of  the  Grocers' 
Company  together  with  a  standing  figure  of  William 
Chapman  (1627)  who  married  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Bourne.*'  In  the  nave  are  several  tablets  to  the  Capel 
Cure  family  including  the  first  Capel  Cure  of  Blake 
Hall  (1820)  and  his  two  wives  (1773  and  1804).  On 
the  nave  roof  are  painted  hatchments  of  the  Capel 
Cures  and  Pooles. 

Vestry  minute  books  for  Bobbingworth  survive  for 

the  periods  1 667-1 789 

PARISH  GOVERNMENT    and  1 808-1922.  There 

AND  POOR  RELIEF  is  also  a  separate  book 
of  overseers'  accounts 
for  the  period  1789-1827.** 

Until  1702  vestry  meetings  usually  seem  to  have 
been  held  only  at  Easter  in  each  year.*'  From  1702 
until  1758  meetings  were  held  at  Easter  and  Christmas. 
From  1758  there  were  several  meetings  each  year,  held 
at  irregular  intervals  of  between  2  and  19  weeks. 
Intervals  of  5-10  weeks  were  common.  In  the  early 
19th  century  between  four  and  eight  meetings  a  year 
were  recorded. 

Until  Jacob  Houblon  became  rector  in  1692  the 
vestry  minutes  were  brief  and  uninformative.    It  was 


^o  E.y^.T.  N.s.  xxi,  78,  83. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  38. 

"  Ibid.  23  E.R.  xiv,  i86. 

M  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
lyyy,  sheet  xii. 

25  E.A.T.  N.s.  li,  175. 

2'  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  359. 

"  Ibid.  'The  Steeple  and  the  steeple  end 
of  the  building  is  of  wood.' 

2'  Drawing  on  a  Blake  Hall  estate  map 
of  1 804.   Photosta  tat  E.R.O.  (T/M  2 1 3). 


2«  Ibid. 

3"  Inf.  from  Canon  E.  H.  Gallop,  Rector 
of  Bobbingworth. 
3>  E.R.O.,  D/P  127/25. 

32  Vestry  book  1808-1922. 

33  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 
35  Ibid.  ''  Ibid. 

37  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1929). 

38  Inf.  from  Canon  E.  H.  Gallop. 

39  E.R.O.,  D/P  127/25. 

«  Inf.  from  Canon  E.  H.  Gallop. 

15 


«■  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  18 1-2. 
■•2  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  218  (1835),  xxi  (i).- 

«3    Ibid. 

**  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  359. 

■•5  E.y^.T.  N.s.  xii,  321-2. 

*6  The  following  information  is  derived 
almost  entirely  from  these  books  which  are 
at  the  Essex,  Record  Office,  on  loan  from 
the  Rector  of  Bobbingworth. 

♦7  E.R.O.,  D/P  127/8. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  practice  to  record  only  the  appointment  of  officers 
and  the  balances  remaining  in  officers'  hands  at  the  end 
of  each  year.*?  Moreover  the  minutes  were  never 
signed.'"  Houblon  exercised  an  immediate  influence 
on  the  parish  records.  He  scarcely  ever  missed  a  vestry 
meeting  and  he  wrote  the  minutes  himself.  At  Easter 
1693  he  began  a  separate  account  book  containing 
detailed  overseers'  accounts,  which  were  always  duly 
audited  and  were  signed  by  the  parishioners  who  passed 
them.  Thomas  Velley,  who  succeeded  Houblon  as 
rector  in  1740  also  attended  vestry  meetings  regularly 
and  during  his  incumbency  the  parish  records  were 
kept,  though  rather  less  methodically,  on  the  lines  that 
Houblon  had  laid  down.  J.  Lipyeatt  who  succeeded 
Velley  in  1751  appears,  however,  to  have  taken  practi- 
cally no  part  in  conducting  parish  business.  He  did  not 
sign  any  minutes  after  December  175 1.  In  the  next 
four  years  his  curate,  J.  Wells,  usually  signed  the 
minutes  but  afterwards  neither  incumbent  nor  curate 
appears  to  have  attended  vestry  meetings  until  1782. 
The  complete  absence  of  officers'  accounts  in  the  parish 
books  between  Easter  1755  and  1758  may  reflect  the 
initial  apathy  aroused  by  the  incumbent's  lack  of 
interest.  In  April  1782  the  curate,  then  J.  Lipyeatt 
the  younger,  did  sign  the  vestry  minutes  and  his  signa- 
ture appeared  twice  more  in  the  next  seven  years. 
During  the  period  1759-89  the  churchwarden  was 
almost  invariably  the  first  to  sign  the  minutes  and  this 
practice  continued  into  the  second  quarter  of  the  19th 
century.  The  rector  rarely  attended  a  meeting  in  the 
early  19th  century. 

The  number  of  parishioners  who  attended  vestry 
meetings  varied  between  I  and  8  but  was  usually  be- 
tween 2  and  4.  In  the  century  after  1666  members  of 
the  Poole  family,  lords  of  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth 
until  1708,  took  an  active  and  leading  part  in  parish 
government.  John  Poole,  lord  of  the  manor  from  1674 
until  about  1701,  and  his  son  and  heir  John,  frequently 
held  parish  office.  Each  of  them  held  the  office  of  over- 
seer for  several  years.  They  nearly  always  attended 
vestry  meetings  and  signed  immediately  after  the  rector. 
The  younger  John  continued  to  take  an  equally  pro- 
minent part  in  parish  affairs  after  he  had  sold  Bobbing- 
worth manor  in  1708.  From  1708  until  1720  he  never 
missed  an  Easter  vestry.  From  1721  until  1740  William 
Poole  was  equally  active  and  prominent.  The  Houblons, 
owners  of  the  manor  of  Bobbingworth  from  1708,  were 
not  resident  in  the  parish  and  took  no  personal  part  in 
its  government.  In  the  period  down  to  1789  the 
owners  of  Blake  Hall  scarcely  ever  attended  a  vestry 
meeting  but  Robert  Crabb,  who  occupied  the  manor 
farm  in  1735,  frequently  held  some  parish  office  be- 
tween 1726  and  1781. 

The  work  of  the  vestry  consisted  mainly  in  nominat- 
ing parish  officers,  granting  rates,  agreeing  on  the 
recipients  of  weekly  collections,  and  approving  officers' 
accounts.  One  of  the  rare  occasions  in  the  i8th  century 
when  other  business  was  recorded  was  in  April  1708 
when  it  was  resolved  that  in  future  the  church  clerk 
should  be  paid  20s.  a  year  out  of  the  churchwarden's  or 
overseer's  rate  'in  lieu  of  what  he  has  hitherto  received 
yearly  by  the  house  as  a  former  custom  it  being  a  great 
hindrance  to  him  in  the  loss  of  time  to  go  about  to 
receive  the  same'.'" 

There  were  two  churchwardens  each  year  from 
1666  until  1682. s'  During  this  period  these  officers 
usually  served  for  2-4  years  consecutively.s^    From 

«  E.R.O.,  D/P  127/8.  «  Ibid. 


1 68 1  until  about  1793  there  was  only  one  office  of 
churchwarden.     From    1690   until    1771    it  was   the 
practice  to  spend  many  consecutive  years  in  this  office. 
Thomas  Nicholls  served  as  churchwarden  from  1700 
until   1724,  William  Poole  from    1724  until   1740, 
Samuel  Corney  from   1741   until   1753,  and  Robert 
Crabb  from  1759,  if  not  before,  until  1771.    For  a 
time  after  1771  the  number  of  consecutive  years  spent 
in  the  office  tended  to  lessen  and  from  about  1793  it 
again  became  the  practice  to  have  two  churchwardens. 
There  was  usually  one  overseer.    Until  17 17  it  was 
usual  for  the  overseer  to  serve  for  2  or  3  years  con- 
secutively. George  Read  served  for  4  years  from  17 17 
until  1 72 1.    After  his  appointment  for  a  fourth  year 
in  April  1720  it  was  agreed  that  'having  served  4  years 
he  shall  be  excused  7  years  following'.    Read's  suc- 
cessor, William   Hamshire,  also  served  4  years  con- 
secutively, but  3  years  remained  the  usual  term  of  office 
until  1 744.  From  1 744  until  1 8 1  o  the  overseers  nearly 
always  served  for  one  year  only.   They  seem  to  have 
been  chosen  on  a  rota  system  and  occasionally  the  officer 
chosen  appointed  another  man  to  perform  the  duties 
of  the  office.  Thomas  Woodthorp  acted  for  Capel  Cure 
in  1796-7  and  again  in  1 801-2.  Jonathan  Lewis,  the 
vestry  clerk,  acted  as  overseer  for  Capel  Cure  in  1 808-9 
and  for  William  Clark  in  the  following  year.   During 
the  year  ending  at  Easter  1 8 1 1  Lewis  again  acted  as 
overseer,  but  on  what  basis  is  not  clear.   If  he  received 
any  payment  for  performing  the  duties  of  overseer 
during  these  years,  such  payment  was  not  made,  it 
would  seem,  out  of  the  poor  rate.   In  April  181 1,  how- 
ever, a  meeting  of  the  vestry  agreed  'for  Jonathan  Lewis 
to  be  the  acting  Overseer  for  the  year  ensuing  and  to 
have  a  salary  of  ^^lo  p.  annum  and  to  be  paid  for 
journeys'.   Lewis  continued  to  act  as  salaried  overseer 
every  year  from   181 1   until  1835  with  the  possible 
exception  of  the  year  1819—20.   Each  year  there  was 
a  formal  agreement  at  the  Easter  vestry  to  renew  his 
appointment.     In    1822    his   salary   as   overseer   was 
increased  to  ;^l  3  1 3/. 

Constables  were  nominated  in  Vestry  at  least  from 
1667.  Until  1 72 1  the  parish  always  had  two  of  these 
officers,  each  of  whom  served  several  years  con- 
secutively. From  1 72 1  there  was  only  one  constable 
for  the  parish  and  he  usually  served  for  many  years. 
Richard  White  was  constable  from  1721  until  at  least 
1740,  and  R.  Perry  from  1744  until  at  least  1760. 

Two  surveyors  of  highways  were  nominated  annually 
until  1700  after  which  there  was  usually  only  one 
nomination  until  1742.  The  surveyor  was  chosen  from 
a  rota  of  landholders,  as  appears  from  the  rector's  note 
on  26  December  1722,  'Mr.  William  Poole  Surveyor 
as  a  Deputy  for  the  Revd.  Tho.  Wragg  Clerk  for 
Gainthrops'.53  From  1742  there  were  several  nomina- 
tions each  year  for  the  office  of  surveyor  but  there  are 
indications  that  there  was  only  one  acting  surveyor. 

From  1666  until  after  1750  the  overseers,  church- 
wardens, constables,  and  surveyors  were  each  granted 
separate  rates  for  which  they  were  directly  responsible 
to  the  parish.  Until  1702  it  was  the  custom  for  each 
officer  to  present  an  annual  account  at  the  Easter  vestry. 
Occasionally  one  officer  was  ordered  to  pay  another 
officer's  deficit  out  of  his  surplus.  From  1702  the  sur- 
veyors submitted  their  accounts  at  Christmas  instead  of 
at  Easter  but  the  other  officers  continued  to  make  their 
annual  account  at  Easter.  From  1758,  if  not  before, 
the  overseer  submitted  interim  accounts  to  the  vestry 


5°  Ibid. 


s'  Ibid. 


S2  Ibid. 


S3  Ibid. 


16 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


BOBBINGWORTH 


at  intervals  of  5-10  weeks  in  addition  to  his  final 
annual  account  at  Easter.  There  is  no  evidence  that 
the  interim  accounts  continued  after  1775,  but  in  view 
of  the  increasing  costs  of  poor  relief  it  is  very  probable 
that  they  did  so.  By  1772,  perhaps  before  1760,  the 
churchwardens,  constables,  and  surveyors  were  no 
longer  granted  separate  rates.  Their  expenditure  was 
met  by  the  overseer  who  included  it  in  his  account. 
This  practice  continued  until  1 8 1 1 .    From   1 8 1 1   to 

1 8 1 2  there  was  again  a  separate  highway  rate  and  from 

1813  to  1 8 14  there  was  a  separate  church  rate. 

In  1720  the  rateable  value  of  the  parish  was  about 
^^917.  In  1790  a  2J.  dd.  rate  produced  £106  15^.;  this 
implies  a  rateable  value  of  about  ;£854.  During  the 
Napoleonic  wars  the  rateable  value  was  generally  be- 
tween j{^90o  and  £(^\%.  In  181 5  a  reassessment  was 
ordered  as  a  result  of  which  the  rateable  value  became 
^^1,635;  in  1823  it  fell  to  ;^i,559  and  in  1831  rose  to 
^1,586. 

There  was  evidently  a  poorhouse  in  Bobbingworth 
in  1692— 3,  for  in  that  year  \os.  was  paid  by  the  overseer 
for  'straw  at  the  allmnshouse'.  By  1783  the  poorhouse 
was  situated  in  Pensons  Lane,  and  seems  to  have  been 
the  cottage  which  Robert  Bourne  (d.  1666)  left  in 
trust  to  provide  clothing  for  the  poor.s*  It  was  rented 
by  the  overseer  at  ^^i  10/.  a  year.  In  1779-80  the 
poorhouse  was  fitted  with  a  'poor's  oven.'  In  1784-5 
the  building  housed  at  least  one  poor  family  and  in  each 
of  the  years  1791-2,  1797-8,  1800-1,  1803-7,  and 
i8i9-2oit  housed  at  least  one  poor  person.  In  1807—8 
1$.  6d.  was  paid  by  the  overseer  for  '6  yards  cloth  for 
strawbed  for  poorhouse'.  Minor  repairs  were  often 
carried  out  and  in  1 807-8  more  substantial  repairs  were 
done  at  a  cost  of  ^^55.  In  1823  the  stove  was  repaired. 

In  most  cases,  however,  poor  relief  was  given,  in 
various  forms,  outside  the  poorhouse.  In  each  of  the 
years  1 8 1 3-1 5  there  were  20-2 1  adults  on  'permanent' 
outdoor  relief. 5 5  Provision  for  the  poor  was  made  in 
various  ways  including  the  binding  out  of  paupers' 
children  as  apprentices,  the  provision  of  spinning- 
wheels,  the  payment  of  rent  and  allowances  for  lodging 
or  nursing,  the  provision  of  wood  and  clothes,  and  the 
payment  of  weekly  doles. 

Parish  apprentices  were  allotted  on  a  rota  system  to 
farmers  in  the  parish.  In  the  period  between  168 1  and 
1 7 1 8  three  'great'  farms  and  thirteen  'lesser'  farms  were 
on  the  rota.  About  1 1  children  were  apprenticed 
during  the  period. 

In  1787-8  a  spinning-wheel  was  purchased  for  John 
Little  at  a  cost  of  is.  6J.  In  1 799-1 800  spinning- 
wheels  cost  the  overseer  £2  4/.  In  several  of  the  follow- 
ing years  'the  poor's  spinning'  occurs  as  an  item  of 
expenditure  in  the  overseer's  accounts. 

In  1692-3  there  seem  to  have  been  2  widows  receiv- 
ing weekly  doles,  the  cost  to  the  parish  being  5/.  6</. 
a  week.  In  1 7 19  there  were  4  weekly  doles  amounting 
to  js.  In  the  years  between  1758  and  1775  there  were 
usually  9  households,  including  several  widow  house- 
holds, receiving  weekly  doles,  totalling  between 
16/.  ()d.  and  £1  \s.  a  week.  In  1777-8  there  were  10 
households  which  throughout  the  year  received  doles 


which  totalled  ;{Jl  5/.  a  week.  In  each  of  the  years  from 
1780  to  1797  there  were  15-21  households  in  receipt 
of  regular  weekly  doles  which  cost  the  parish  between 
£1  5/.  and  £2  2s.  6d.  a  week.  From  1797  the  doles 
increased,  reaching  their  maximum  of  ^^8  5^^.  6d.  a 
week  in  1801.  They  then  declined  to  £2  ijs.  6d.  a 
week  in  1808.  From  then  until  1819  there  were 
usually  about  16-18  households  in  receipt  of  constant 
relief  at  a  total  cost  to  the  parish  of  about  £2  i  js.  bd. 
a  week.  From  1 8 19  until  1827  the  number  of  house- 
holds dependent  on  weekly  doles  varied  between  20 
and  27,  the  total  weekly  cost  ranging  from  ^^3  to  ^5. 
In  161 3-14  the  cost  of  poor  relief  was  £^  los. 
which  was  distributed  to  5  people.'*  In  the  last  years 
of  the  17th  century  the  total  cost  of  poor  relief  was 
always  below  ^^20  a  year  and  was  sometimes  as  little  as 
£j.  In  the  1 8th  century  much  higher  figures  were  soon 
reached,  rising  to  an  average  of  ^^32  a  year  in  the  three 
extreme  years  17 16—19.  There  was  then  a  rapid  fall 
to  a  minimum  of  £3  14/.  5</.  in  1723-4.  In  the  period 
1725-42  figures  have  survived  for  only  seven  years. 
These  are  within  a  range  ^£16-^31.  In  the  period 
1743-54  expenditure  only  once  fell  below  ;^45  and  on 
two  occasions  reached  nearly  ;^6o.  In  1754-5  it  was 
£TI-  Between  1759  and  1771  it  averaged  about  £%<i. 
In  1772  the  cost  reached  the  £100  level  and  from  then 
until  1782  it  remained  fairly  stable  between  ;^ioo  and 
;^i20  a  year.  It  then  rose  to  ;^i65  in  1782-3  and  to 
;^I97  in  1784-5.  In  the  next  ten  years  the  cost 
remained  within  the  range  ^^i 60-^^190.  In  1794—5  it 
was  ^^170.  In  1795-6  it  jumped  to  £2"]},.  After  a 
slight  drop  in  the  next  three  years  it  rose  to  ^^290  in 
1 799-1 800  and  then  in  the  following  year  to  ^£505,  its 
maximum.  In  180 1—2  the  cost  was  £450.  It  then 
dropped  to  ;^293  in  1802-3.  Between  1803  and  181 1 
it  varied  between  ^^246  and  £33 1  a  year.  It  then  rose 
to  £477  in  1812-13.  After  this  it  varied  between 
^280  and  ;^48o,  the  peak  year  being  1819—20. 

In  1836  Bobbingworth  became  part  of  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

In  1 807  and  1 8 1 8  it  was  stated  that  there  was  no 
school  in  the  parish.s7  In  1822,  with  the 
SCHOOL  support  of  Capel  Cure  of  Blake  HaU  (see 
above),  a  girls'  school  was  established 
which  by  1833  had  24  pupils.58  It  was  a  dame  school, 
with  a  Sunday  school  attached,^'  and  it  is  said  to  have 
been  situated  in  a  house  which  the  estate  carpenter  had 
erected  in  the  churchyard.**'  In  1846—7  there  were 
still  only  24  girls  attending,  the  sole  educational  pro- 
vision for  boys  being  the  Sunday  school.*'  W.  M. 
Oliver,  Rector  of  Bobbingworth,  considered  a  National 
School  to  be  'much  wanted'.*^  In  1855-6  Capel  Cure 
built  'a  good,  substantial  schoolroom'*^  and  a  teacher's 
residence  next  to  the  church,  but  until  about  1869  only 
girls  seem  to  have  attended  it.**  By  187 1,  however,  the 
pupils  included  1 8  boys,*5  an  addition  made  possibly  in 
anticipation  of  the  requirements  of  the  Education  Act. 
In  the  same  year  an  inspector  reported  to  the  Educa- 
tion Department  that  only  47  places  were  needed  to 
secure  universal  elementary  schooling  in  the  parish  and 
that  5  5  places  were  available  at  the  school.** 


**  See  below,  Charities. 

55  E.R.O.,  g/CR  i/io. 

5«  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

5'  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4 (Archdeaconry); 
Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  248  ( 1 8 19), 
ix  (,). 

58  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahur.  H.C.  62,  p.  267 
(1835),  xli. 


59  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1832,  p.  36;  Nat.  Soc. 
Enquiry  into  Church  Schs.  1 846-7,  pp.  2-3. 

">  Ex.  inf.  Mrs.  G.  Day,  Headmistress, 
1952. 

61  Earlier,  in  1822-3,  Capel  Cure  had 
sent  boys  from  his  estate  to  Moreton 
school  {E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6).  Whether  he 
continued  to  do  so,  after  1823,  does  not 

17 


appear. 

'2  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  2-3. 

'3  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  i/i/i. 

<>♦  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870). 

's  Retns.  Eltm.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp.  i  to- 
Ii(i87i),lv. 

'•''  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/26A. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


The  Capel  Cures  continued  to  support  the  school 
until  1904,  apparently  without  assistance  from  public 
funds,*'  retaining  it  as  their  property  but  allowing  it  to 
be  administered  as  a  Church  school.*'  An  inspector, 
visiting  it  in  1 896,  found  the  buildings  in  good  repair 
but  the  scholastic  standard  low.*'  The  school  did  not 
officially  pass  under  the  control  of  the  Essex  Education 
Committee  until  some  three  years  after  the  1902 
Education  Act.  In  1904,  when  there  were  42  pupils, 
the  senior  teacher  received  his  salary  of  £,\o  not  from 
the  Local  Education  Authority  but  presumably  from 
Capel  Cure  and  the  proceeds  of  the  weekly  fees  of  2d., 
paid  by  each  pupil.'"  In  that  year  the  Education  Com- 
mittee considered  the  provision  of  a  Council  school  in 
the  parish,  but  decided  to  give  the  existing  school  non- 
provided  status  if  the  managers  would  spend  ;^i5o  on 
an  additional  classroom.  The  Education  Committee 
accepted  some  financial  responsibility  for  the  school 
until  the  new  classroom  was  completed  in  igo6."  The 
average  attendance  rose  from  36  in  1905  to  53  in  19 10, 
but  fell  to  42  in  1927.  After  the  reorganization  of  the 
school  for  juniors  and  infants  in  1936  and  the  transfer 


of  seniors  to  Chipping  Ongar,  it  fell  further  to  27  in 
1938.  In  195 1  the  school  was  granted  controlled 
status.'^  In  May  1952  it  had  two  teachers  and  33 
pupils.'J  It  stands  a  httle  west  of  the  church.  It  is 
a  red-brick  gabled  building  with  stone  dressings 
dated  1856  and  inscribed  with  the  initials  of  Capel 
Cure. 

Robert  Bourne  of  Blake  Hall  (see  above),  by  will 
proved  1666,  left  a  cottage  and  land  to 
CHARITIES  provide  clothing  at  Christmas  for  four 
poor  old  people  of  the  parish.'*  The 
rent  was  £^  5^.  in  1708  and  ^^13  in  1866  when  the 
property  was  sold  for  ;^500  which  was  invested.  The 
house  seems  to  have  been  used  before  then  as  the  parish 
poorhouse.'s  In  1950  the  income  of  ^^13  9J.  41?.  was 
used  to  buy  clothing  vouchers  of  ^^4. 

John  Pool,  by  will  proved  1839,  left  ;^ioo  in  trust 
for  the  repair  of  three  graves  in  the  churchyard.  This 
was  not  legally  a  charitable  bequest  and  the  legacy  was 
apparently  never  paid,  although  in  1921  it  was  thought 
that  the  income  had  once  been  received.'* 

For  the  Bell  Acre  see  above — Church. 


CHIGWELL 


Chigwell  lies  in  the  south-west  corner  of  Ongar 
hundred,  on  both  banks  of  the  Roding,  at  a  distance  of 
12  miles  from  London.'  The  ancient  parish  had  an 
area  of  5,009  acres.^  It  contained  three  distinct  sections. 
The  village  of  Chigwell,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Roding, 
was  the  main  settlement  and  included  the  parish 
church.  Chigwell  Row,  a  mile  south  of  the  village,  was 
a  roadside  hamlet  on  the  edge  of  Hainault  Forest.  The 
third  section  was  Buckhurst  Hill,  ij  mile  from  the 
village  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river.  Until  the  19th 
century  much  of  Buckhurst  Hill  was  within  Epping 
Forest  and  there  were  only  a  few  scattered  houses  in 
that  part  of  the  parish  before  the  modern  development 
took  place.  The  soil  of  the  parish  is  mainly  London 
Clay,  but  there  are  thin  patches  of  glacial  gravel  in  and 
around  Chigwell  village  and  smaller  patches  at  Buck- 
hurst Hill  and  Chigwell  Row. 

For  ecclesiastical  purposes  the  ancient  parish  was 
divided  by  the  formation  of  the  district  of  Buckhurst 
Hill  in  1838  and  that  of  Chigwell  Row  in  i860.  Both 
these  districts  became  separate  ecclesiastical  parishes  in 
1867.3  Buckhurst  Hill  was  made  a  separate  urban 
district  in  1895.''  Chigwell  and  Chigwell  Row  to- 
gether constituted  the  civil  parish  of  Chigwell  from 
1895  until  1933,  when  that  parish  was  merged  with  the 
Urban  Districts  of  Buckhurst  Hill  and  Loughton  to 
form  the  new  Urban  District  of  Chigwell. 5 

For  several  centuries  the  south-west  end  of  the  parish 
and  Chigwell  Row  have  been  predominantly  resi- 
dential, with  houses  occupied  mainly  by  people  with 
interests  in  London,  while  the  rest  of  the  parish  has 
always  been  devoted  to  agriculture.  Modern  develop- 
ment has  emphasized  this  contrast.  Buckhurst  Hill  and 
much  of  Chigwell  Row  have  been  built  up  but  Chigwell 
village  has  retained  its  rural  appearance. 

From  the  west  bank  of  the  Roding  the  ground  rises 
steeply  from  about  50  ft.  to  267  ft.  at  Buckhurst  Hill, 


and  then  falls  to  about  1 50  ft.  at  Ching  Brook,  which 
roughly  defines  the  western  boundary  of  the  ancient 
parish.  On  the  east  of  the  river  the  land  rises  to  2 1 3  ft. 
in  Chigwell  village  and  then  falls  away  to  Chigwell 
(formerly  Edensor's)  Brook,  which  flows  south-west 
from  the  centre  of  the  parish  to  join  the  Roding  near 
Luxborough.  South  of  the  brook  the  land  rises  to 
Grange  Hill  (235  ft.)  and  the  ridge  of  Chigwell  Row 
(280  ft.).  From  these  heights  there  are  long  views  over 
the  Thames  valley  to  the  hills  of  Kent.  Near  the  north- 
east boundary  is  Lambourne  Brook,  another  tributary 
of  the  Roding. 

Chigwell  was  formerly  in  the 
forest  of  Essex  and  two  small 
patches  of  woodland  still  exist 
within  the  area  of  the  ancient 
parish.  Lords  Bushes  at  Buck- 
hurst Hill  cover  90  acres  be- 
longing to  Epping  Forest.  At 
Chigwell  Row  there  are  some 
50  acres  which  form  part  of 
Hainault  Forest. 

The  main  road  from  London 
to  Ongar,  here  called  High 
Road 


Chigwell    Urban    Dis- 
trict.   Or  J  a  stag  at  rest 
passes  north-east  through    proper,   on   a   chief  gules 


three  axe-heads  bendtvise 

sinister  ivith  blades  doivn- 

ivards  argent. 

[Granted  1951-] 


Chigwell  village.  From  the  vil- 
lage Roding  Lane  runs  west  to 
Buckhurst  Hill;  near  the  lane  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  river  are  the 
R.A.F.  Station,  Chigwell,  and  the  Buckhurst  Hill 
County  High  School  for  boys.  The  R.A.F.  Station  is 
on  the  site  of  the  ancient  manor  house  of  Chigwell  Hall. 
Beyond  the  river  to  the  west  Roding  Lane  passes  a 
public  park  and  finally  joins  Palmerston  Road,  Buck- 
hurst Hill. 

Buckhurst  Hill  is  a  residential  area  developed  mainly 
during  the  past  century.  It  consists  of  an  inner  ring  on 


6'  Ibid.;  Retn.  of  Schs.,  iSg3  [C.  7529], 
p.  714  H.C.  (1894),  kv. 

'8  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.{lSyi),fp.  IIO-II. 

'0  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/26A. 

'»  Ibid.;  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handhk. 
1904.,  p.  183. 

"  Min.   of  Educ.   File    13/26A;   Essex 


Standard,  29  Oct.  1904. 

'2  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/26A. 

'3  Ex.  inf.  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

'«  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  2i8(i835),xxi(i). 

'5  E.R.O.,  D/P  127/8,  25;  see  above — 
Parish  Government  and  Poor  Relief. 


"  Char.  Com.  files. 
'  O.S  2^  in.  Map,  sheet  51/49. 

2  V.C.H.  Essex,  n,  350. 

3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 

4  Ibid.  (1933). 

5  Chigviell  U.D.  Official  Guide  (2nd  ed.), 
p.  22. 


Il 


BucKHURST  Hill:  Aerial  View  from  the  West 


Copyright  Aerofilms 


Chigwell  Village 


Barns  at  Rookwood  Hall,  Abbess  Roding 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


both  sides  of  the  railway  station,  dating  from  about 
1 850-1900,  with  building  to  the  north  and  south 
mainly  of  1920-39.  From  West  Buckhurst  Hill  the 
Loughton  road  and  the  Epping  New  Road  run  north, 
the  London  road  (via  Woodford)  runs  south  and  the 
Chingford  road  runs  west. 

From  Chigwell  village  Vicarage  Lane  runs  south- 
east to  Chigwell  Row.  Haifa  mile  north  of  the  village 
on  the  High  Road  are  Rolls  Park  and  the  site  of  Barring- 
tons  (see  Manors).  Opposite  Rolls  the  main  road  is 
joined  by  the  road  leading  from  Loughton  via  Loughton 
Bridge.  North  of  Rolls  the  main  road  is  called  Abridge 
Road.  Half  a  mile  north-east  of  Rolls,  immediately 
south  of  the  Roding,  is  Woolston  Hall  (see  Manors). 
Pudding  Lane  and  Gravel  Lane  run  south  from 
Abridge  Road  near  Woolston  to  Chigwell  Row. 

Half  a  mile  south  of  Chigwell  village  High  Road 
joins  Hainault  Road  which  leads  to  Grange  Hill,  and 
then  via  Fencepiece  Road  to  Ilford.  A  mile  south-west 
of  Chigwell,  to  the  west  of  High  Road  is  Great  West 
Hatch  (see  Manors)  and  near  this  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  road  is  the  Manor  House  (formerly  the  Bowling 
Green,  see  Manors).  Luxborough  Lane,  leading  from 
Great  West  Hatch  north-west  to  Buckhurst  Hill,  takes 
its  name  from  an  ancient  manor  in  this  area. 

High  Road  leaves  the  parish  just  before  reaching 
Woodford  Bridge.  Manor  Road,  leading  from  Wood- 
ford Bridge  to  Chigwell  Row  enters  the  parish  im- 
mediately to  the  south  of  the  Manor  House.  Between 
Manor  Road  and  High  Road  at  this  point  there  is  a 
small  built-up  area  dating  mainly  from  about  1900. 
There  is  recent  ribbon-development  farther  east  on 
Manor  Road  before  the  junction  with  Hainault  Road. 
At  Grange  Hill  there  is  a  housing  area  of  1920— 39,  and 
in  Fencepiece  Road  there  is  some  similar  development 
and  also  some  houses  built  since  1945.  To  the  east  of 
Grange  Hill  is  the  large  Hainault  housing  estate  built 
since  1945  by  the  London  County  Council.  Part  of  this 
is  m  Chigwell  Urban  District,  and  part  in  the  Boroughs 
of  Ilford  and  Dagenham.  Other  houses  west  of  Chig- 
well Row  are  mostly  modern.  From  Chigwell  Row 
Romford  Road  runs  south-east  to  Romford  and 
Dagenham.  Manor  Road  continues  east  of  Chigwell 
Row  to  Lambourne  End  as  Lambourne  Road. 

Chigwell  village,  Chigwell  Row,  Gravel  Lane,  and 
Pudding  Lane  contain  a  number  of  houses  dating  from 
the  17th  and  i8th  centuries,  many  of  which  are 
described  below. 

The  railway  from  London  to  Epping  passes  through 
Buckhurst  Hill,  where  there  is  a  station.  A  loop  line 
from  Woodford  to  Hainault,  Newbury  Park,  and 
Leytonstone  branches  east  from  the  Epping  line.  There 
are  stations  at  Roding  Valley  (South  Buckhurst  Hill), 
Chigwell  (J  mile  south  of  the  village),  and  Grange  Hill. 
Hainault  station,  which  serves  the  London  County 
Council  estate,  is  just  outside  Chigwell  parish.  Both 
these  lines  are  now  electrified  and  form  part  of  the 
Central  London  Line. 

Before  the   17th  century  the  repair  of  the  parish 


roads  was  largely  a  matter  of  charity,  and  many  be- 
quests were  made  for  this  purpose,  for  example,  those 
of  Cicely  Rypton  (1551)*  and  George  Scott  (1588).? 
In  1592  the  surveyors  of  Chigwell  presented  eight 
parishioners  at  Quarter  Sessions  for  refusing  to  do  their 
statute  duty  on  the  roads. 8  In  1682  the  Woolston 
manor  court  presented  the  surveyors  themselves  for 
failing  to  repair  a  footbridge  and  threatened  them  with 
a  penalty  of  £5  if  they  failed  in  the  future.' 

The  most  important  road  in  the  parish  in  early  times 
was  the  London-Abridge  road,  which  was  also  the 
main  road  (via  Theydon  Bois)  to  Epping.  This  follows 
closely  the  line  of  an  old  Roman  road,  passing  near  the 
site  of  a  Romano-British  settlement  near  Woolston. ■" 
The  charity  founded  in  1557  and  1562  by  Joan 
Sympson  for  the  repair  of  this  road  is  described  below 
(see  Charities).  Her  endowment  was  regularly  used 
for  this  purpose  in  the  i6th  and  17th  centuries,"  but 
in  spite  of  it  ten  rods  of  the  road  between  Chigwell 
village  and  Abridge  were  in  a  bad  condition  in  1647." 
From  1763  the  road  was  maintained  by  the  Middlesex 
and  Essex  Highway  Trust.'^  In  1866  the  parish 
resumed  responsibility  for  the  road.'*  In  1668  part  of 
the  road  between  Chigwell  and  Abridge  was  diverted 
near  Rolls  to  enable  the  owner  of  that  house.  Sir  Eliab 
Harvey,  to  extend  his  grounds." 

It  is  remarkable  that  until  1 890  there  was  no  proper 
road  between  Chigwell  and  Buckhurst  Hill.  Before 
that  there  was  only  a  track  running  from  Luxborough 
Lane,  through  the  Roding  and  along  Squirrels  Lane, 
which  lay  approximately  on  the  line  of  the  present 
Lower  Queen's  Road,  Buckhurst  Hill.  This  track  was 
often  obstructed.'^  A  'church  way'  from  Buckhurst 
Hill  to  the  parish  church  at  Chigwell  existed  in  1 586. 
As  it  included  three  stiles  it  was  presumably  a  foot- 
path." The  construction  of  a  new  road  across  the 
Roding  from  Buckhurst  Hill  to  Chigwell  was  discussed 
by  the  parish  vestry  in  1855  and  1 864.  Nothing,  how- 
ever, was  achieved  until  in  1 890  the  present  Roding 
Lane  was  opened.'*  Before  this  the  people  of  Buck- 
hurst Hill  could  only  reach  Chigwell,  without  fording 
the  river,  by  way  of  Woodford  or  by  Loughton 
Bridge. 

Gravel  Lane,"  Pudding  (formerly  Patsalls)  Lane,^" 
Vicarage  Lane,^'  and  Hainault  Road  (formerly  Fortey 
or  Horn  Lane)^^  all  figure  in  records  from  early  times. 
They  were  all  gated  at  the  forest  end  to  keep  out  stray 
animals.23  The  gate  house  at  the  upper  end  of  Hainault 
Road  still  exists. 

The  road  from  Grange  Hill  to  Ilford  was  not  made 
until  1833,  and  that  from  Chigwell  Row  to  Romford 
about  30  years  earher;  both  were  paid  for  by  public 
subscription.^*  In  the  former  case,  however,  a  track 
must  previously  have  existed,  for  in  1662  Fortey 
Lane  was  described  as  the  road  from  Chigwell  to 
Barking.25 

Manor  Road  undoubtedly  replaced  an  ancient 
track.2*  As  late  as  18 17,  however,  it  was  held  that  it 
was  not  a  public  highway  because  it  was  only  a  'fair 


'  Archd.  Essex  1 1 3  Thonder. 
'  P.C.C.  98  Leicester. 
»  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  119/29. 
'  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M102. 
■»  E.A.T.   N.s.   xvii,    188;   Notes  on  a 
Romano-British     Settlement     at     Ckigivell 
(Essex  Field  Club,  1903). 

"  E.R.  xix,  1—7,  70—77.    For  the  later 
history  of  the  endowment  see  Charities. 
■2  E.R.O.,Q/SR  332/51. 
"  Essex  Highways  Repairs  Act,  3  Geo. 


Ill,  C.58,  estabUshed  this  responsibility. 

14  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 66/8/1 1. 

'5  Cat.  S.P.  Dom.  1667-8,  72.  The 
Crown  granted  Harvey  licence  to  alter  the 
course  of  Loughton  Lane;  this  must  also 
have  involved  the  alteration  of  the  main 
road.  '<•  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Mi-ii. 

■7  E.R.O.,  <2/SR  97/24. 

■s  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 

■9  Gravelly  Lane,  1650:  E.R.O.,  D/DEs 
Mioi. 


2»  P.Af.£'j«x(E.P.N.S.),  55;  also  Pater- 
sall  Lane,  1447:  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M94.. 

2*  Wycaryes  Lane,  1492:  will  of  John 
Hewyt,  Archd.  Essex  141  Winterborne. 

22  Robert  atte  Forteye  lived  at  Chigwell 
1293:  E326/885. 

2J  Chapman  and  Andre,  Maf  of  Essex, 
lyyy,  sheet  xvi. 

^•t  Kent  and  Essex  Mercury,  I  Sept.  1833. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/SR  392/12. 

2<>  E.A.T.  N.s.  xvii,  233-5. 


19 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


weather  road'.^'  Its  extension  from  Chigwell  Row  to 
Lambourne  End  {c.  1790)  has  been  described  under 
Lambourne. 

At  Buckhurst  Hill  the  Loughton-Woodford  road  is 
of  ancient  origin.  It  became  important  early  in  the  17th 
century  when  the  road  from  Loughton  to  Epping 
through  the  forest  was  completed,  thus  providing  a 
new  direct  route  from  London  to  Newmarket.^*  In 
the  18th  century  it  came  under  the  control  of  the 
Epping  and  Ongar  Highway  Trust,  which  about  1780 
remade  the  section  between  Buckhurst  Hill  and 
Loughton-^'  In  1834  the  trust  completed  its  new  road 
from  Woodford  to  Epping,  by-passing  Loughton.^o 
A  short  stretch  of  this  Epping  New  Road  runs  through 
Buckhurst  Hill. 

The  only  other  roads  in  Buckhurst  Hill  before  the 
19th  century  seem  to  have  been  a  lane  leading  from 
the  'Bald  Faced  Stag'  to  Langfords  (now  Westbury 
Lane)  and  another,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  main 
road,  leading  to  Whitehall  in  Chingford  (now  White- 
hall Lane).  In  1791  and  1796  the  parish  resisted 
magistrates'  orders  to  repair  the  latter  road. 3'  Of  the 
newer  roads  in  Buckhurst  Hill  Queens  Road  was  taken 
over  by  the  parish  in  1867,  Princes  Road  and  Victoria 
Crescent  in  1870,  Victoria  Road  in  1881,  and  Alfred 
Road,  Albert  Road,  Gladstone  Road,  and  Russell  Road 
in  1883.  Kings  Place  Road  was  taken  over  in  sections 
in  1870,  1879,  1881,  and  1883.32 

The  combined  Domesday  figures  for  Chigwell  Hall 
and  Woolston  give  a  total  of  2  3  villeins,  4  bordars,  and 
8  freemen  in  1066,  to  which  a  further  4  bordars  had 
been  added  by  1086.33  In  1391  there  were  72  houses 
in  the  parish.  There  was  a  small  concentration  round 
the  church  in  Chigwell  Street  but  most  of  the  houses 
were  scattered  throughout  the  parish.3't  They  prob- 
ably included  most  of  those  known  to  have  existed  in 
the  15th  century,  among  which  were  the  following:35 
Little  Londons,  Tumours,  Martins  (now  Marchings), 
Brownings,  Serjeants,  Birds,  and  Coles  (now  Taylors 
Farm)  in  Gravel  Lane;  Billingsbourne  in  Millers  Lane 
(off  Gravel  Lane);  Pettits  and  Barns  a/ias  Fulhams  in 
Pudding  Lane;  Appletons  (now  Old  Farm)  in  Green 
Lane  (a  track  off  Vicarage  Lane);  Tailours  and  the 
manor  house  of  Barringtons  (later  Rolls)  in  High  Road, 
and  Woolston  Hall  off  Abridge  Road.  At  Chigwell 
Row  were  Sheepcotes,  near  the  Lambourne  boundary, 
Whitehall  (formerly  Gullivers)  with  Goodhouse  and 
Haywards  near  by,  Skynners  which  later  became  the 
'Maypole'  and  stood  behind  the  site  of  the  more  recent 
inn  of  the  same  name.  Old  Bennetts,  Hatchmans,  Pear- 
smiths,  and  Page  Hall,  all  of  which  stood  near  the 
present  Hainault  Hall,  and  Hatch  House  near  the  later 
Clare  Hall,  with  perhaps  a  dozen  smaller  houses.  At 
Grange  Hill  there  was  Grange  Farm  and  in  Hainault 
Road,  Ekes  (formerly  Youngs).  In  Chigwell  village  a 
few  houses  are  known  to  have  existed  in  the  Middle 
Ages,  and  in  the  15th  century  there  were  probably 
more  than  a  dozen,  including  the  Grange,  Church 
House,  and  Ringleys  on  the  site  of  Grange  Court. 
Farther  south  in  High  Road  there  were  houses  at 
Broomhill  and  West  Hatch,  Brookhouse  Farm  and  the 
old  mansion  at  Luxborough.  At  Buckhurst  Hill  there 


were  a  few  houses  in  the  15  th  century,  among  them 
King's  Place  and  Monkhams. 

Some  of  these  houses  have  disappeared  and  the  others 
have  been  rebuilt  or  so  much  altered  as  to  leave  few 
traces  of  their  early  origin.  Among  the  oldest  surviving 
houses  in  the  parish  are  the  Retreat  at  Chigwell  Row, 
Woolston  Hall  (see  Manors),  Marchings,  and  Brown- 
ings, all  of  which  date  from  the  i6th  or  early  17th 
centuries.  Marchings  is  a  two-story  house,  timber- 
framed  and  roughcast.  It  was  probably  built  early  in 
the  1 6th  century  but  has  been  much  altered.  Brown- 
ings is  a  two-story  building,  also  timber-framed  and 
roughcast,  with  an  old  tile  roof.  It  has  a  front  of  three 
gables,  the  centre  one  being  much  wider  than  the 
others.  The  Retreat,  now  a  cafe,  was  probably  built 
in  the  i6th  century  but  only  a  small  part  of  the  present 
building  is  original.  There  are  old  timbers  inside. 
Details  of  some  Chigwell  houses  and  their  furnishings 
in  the  1 5th-i7th  centuries  are  contained  in  the  printed 
series  'Old  Chigwell  Wills'.36 

In  1 67 1  there  were  168  houses  and  two  forges  in 
the  parish.3'  In  addition  to  the  houses  already  men- 
tioned were  Bacons  (on  the  site  of  Montfort  House), 
Morgans  (later  Great  House  and  now  the  Grove), 
Wheelers  a/ias  Butlers  Bennetts  (now  the  Chace), 
Langhall  (now  the  Foxhounds),  Taylors  Hall  (on  the 
site  of  Willow  House),  Clare  Hall,  Bowls,  and  some 
cottages,  all  in  Manor  Road.  In  Pudding  Lane  Clark's 
tenement  (later  Burnt  House)  had  been  built  and  in 
Chigwell  village  there  were  houses  on  nearly  all  the 
present  sites.  The  original  manor  house  of  Chigwell 
Hall  had  fallen  into  disuse  after  the  building  of  a  new 
house  near  the  church  (see  Manors).  Existing  houses 
which  in  their  present  form  date  from  the  17th  century 
are  the  'King's  Head',  Chigwell  School,  Harsnetts, 
Woodlands  at  Chigwell  Row,  the  Foxhounds,  Brook- 
house  Farm,  Church  House,  Pettits  Hall  lodge. 
Tumours  and  possibly  Grange  Court. 

The  'King's  Head'  in  Chigwell  village  was  made 
famous  by  Dickens  in  Barnaby  Rudge,  where  it  figures 
as  the  'Maypole'.  It  was  an  important  inn.  From  1713 
and  possibly  earlier  it  was  regularly  used  for  meetings 
of  the  Court  of  Attachments  of  Waltham  Forest.3  8  In 
the  1 850's  it  was  a  favourite  resort  of  public  authorities 
banqueting  at  the  public  expense,  and  was  famous  for 
pigeon  pie.39  The  main  part  of  the  building  is  of  three 
stories  with  attics  and  cellars  and  exposed  timber- 
framing.  Each  upper  story  overhangs  and  there  are 
four  various-sized  gables.  There  is  a  large  roughcast 
chimney-stack  with  diagonal  shafts.  There  have  been 
many  alterations  and  additions  to  the  building.  The 
Chester  Room  on  the  first  floor  has  17th-century 
panelling. 

The  original  part  of  Chigwell  School  was  built  soon 
after  the  foundation  of  the  school  in  1629.^"  It  is  a 
one-story  building  of  red  brick  with  an  old  tile  roof. 
There  have  been  additions  in  the  1 8th  century  and 
later.  Harsnetts  is  a  two-story  building  opposite  the 
school,  now  divided  into  two  houses. 

Woodlands,  at  Chigwell  Row,  is  a  two-story  build- 
ing, roughcast,  with  a  tile  roof  and  a  rebuilt  chimney- 
stack  of  four  shafts.  The  'Fox  and  Hounds'  consists  of 


2'  Chelmsford  Chronicle  i  Aug.  and 
14  Nov.  1817  ;  indictment  at  Essex  Assizes 
against  the  parish  for  failure  to  repair  the 
road. 

28  See  history  of  Loughton. 

"  Ibid. 

30  Ibid. 


3'  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/10. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/1 1. 
33  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  432*,  553A. 

3*   £179/147/60. 

35  The  following  details  of  local  houses 
have  been  gathered  from  the  author's  col- 
lection of  notes  and  abstracts  of  court  rolls, 


public  and  private  records  and  other  sources. 
3'  E.A.T.  N.s.  I,  237,  312;  xi,  10,  150, 

335- 

37  E.R.O.,  6/RTh  5. 

38  W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  95. 
35  Dickensian,  xv,  211. 

«  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  544. 


20 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


two  stories  and  attics  and  is  of  red  brick.  Brookhouse 
Farm  is  a  timber-framed  and  roughcast  building  having 
an  old  tile  roof  and  a  central  chimney-stack  with  six 
diagonal  shafts.  Church  House,  though  mainly  of  the 
1 8th  century,  incorporates  obvious  remains  of  a  17th- 
century  building,  including  a  chimney-stack.  It  is  of 
two  stories,  timber-framed,  and  roughcast.  Pettits 
Hall  lodge  is  of  similar  construction,  with  a  cross  gable 
overhanging  to  the  right.^'  Tumours,  on  one  of  the 
oldest  sites  in  the  parish,  is  particularly  interesting.  In 
the  entrance  hall  there  is  a  fine  17th-century  fireplace. 
Late  in  the  i  gth  century  the  house  was  encased  in  red 
brick  in  Gothic  style.  Cloisters  were  built  on  the  north 
side  and  a  chapel  behind  the  house  to  the  west.  These 
alterations  were  probably  planned  by  Miss  Ada  Palmer. 
The  Palmers  lived  at  Tumours  from  about  i860  to 
about  1914.'*^  Ada  was  a  painter  and  sculptor  and 
many  of  her  works  are  preserved  in  the  house.  During 
the  Second  World  War  Tumours  was  used  for  military 
purposes  and  a  hutted  camp  was  built  in  the  fields  to 
the  north-west.  After  the  war  the  house  was  acquired 
by  Dr.  N.  Beattie  of  Ilford  and  maintained  by  hipi  as 
an  International  Youth  Centre.^3  Grange  Court, 
which  was  remodelled  in  1774  was  probably  built  in 
the  late  17th  or  early  i8th  century.  It  is  a  large  and 
handsome  three-story  house  with  lower  side  wings,  and 
is  built  mainly  of  stock  brick.  It  is  now  part  of  Chigwell 
School. 

During  the  i8th  and  early  19th  centuries  several 
new  houses  were  built  in  the  parish  and  many  old  ones 
greatly  altered  or  completely  rebuilt.  Among  those 
which  in  their  present  form  date  from  the  i8th  century 
are  Chigwell  Lodge,  Brook  House,  the  stables  at 
Barton  Friars  (originally  the  stables  to  Grange  Court), 
Vine  Cottage,  and  Tailours,  in  High  Road,  and  Sheep- 
cotes  and  Hainault  Hall  at  Chigwell  Row.  Flint 
Cottage,  The  Haylands,  Little  Haylands,  and  Belmont 
Park,  in  High  Road,  are  of  the  early  19th  century. 
Crosby  House  at  Chigwell  Row  is  an  early-i  9th-century 
remodelling  of  an  18th-century  house.  Great  West 
Hatch,  New  Barns  in  Luxborough  Lane,  and  Barring- 
ton  Lodge  and  Forest  House  at  Chigwell  Row  were 
entirely  new  houses  built  in  the  i8th  century.  Many 
smaller  houses  also  date  from  the  i8th  and  earlier  19th 
centuries.  The  old  house  at  Luxborough  was  replaced 
about  1 720  by  a  large  mansion,  but  this  was  demolished 
about  1800.  There  was  small-scale  but  continuous 
new  building  throughout  the  parish  and  by  185 1  there 
were  396  houses  of  all  sizes.*^ 

The  population  of  the  parish  was  1,351  in  1801. 
By  1 841  it  had  risen  to  2,059.  It  declined  slightly  to 
1,965  in  i85i.''5  Between  1850  and  1870  Chigwell 
Row  was  greatly  changed  by  the  inclosure  and  destruc- 
tion of  most  of  Hainault  Forest  (see  Agriculture).  At 
Buckhurst  Hill  part  of  Epping  Forest  was  inclosed  and 
some  of  it  built  over. 

The  rapid  building  at  Buckhurst  Hill  was  a  result 
of  the  extension  of  the  railway  from  Woodford  to 
Loughton.  By  1871  there  were  1,080  houses  in  Chig- 
well parish,  nearly  all  the  increase  being  at  Buckhurst 
Hill.'^*  The  only  other  building  of  any  importance  had 


been  in  Hainault  Road.*'  By  1891  the  number  of 
houses  had  increased  to  i,27i.'»8  The  population  of 
the  parish  rose  to  6,324  in  1891  and  7,294  in  igoi.*' 

It  is  interesting  to  compare  the  development  of 
Buckhurst  Hill  between  1851  and  1901  with  that  of 
Loughton  (q.v.).  Both  places  were  affected  at  the  same 
time  by  the  coming  of  the  railway  and  both  were 
involved  in  the  controversy  concerning  the  inclosure 
of  Epping  Forest.50  At  Buckhurst  Hill  development 
was  much  more  rapid  than  at  Loughton  and  was  much 
more  concentrated  round  the  railway  station.  In- 
closures  from  the  forest  were  much  smaller  at  Buckhurst 
Hill  than  at  Loughton,  mainly  because  Buckhurst  Hill 
had  a  smaller  forest  frontage,  but  most  of  the  inclosures 
at  Buckhurst  Hill  were  more  quickly  built  over  and 
thus  became  exempt  from  the  provisions  of  the  Epping 
Forest  Act  of  1878.  Loughton's  growth  took  place 
within  the  framework  of  an  ancient  village.  At  Buck- 
hurst Hill  a  new  town  sprang  up  on  farm  land  and 
forest. 

Growth  was  much  slower  after  1 901.  The  opening 
of  the  Woodford-Ilford  loop  line  in  1903  caused  some 
building  in  Chigwell  viOage  and  at  Grange  Hill,  and 
there  was  also  some  development  near  Woodford 
Bridge.  In  193 1  the  total  population  was  8,948 
(Buckhurst  Hill  U.D.  5,486;  Chigwell  C.P.  3,462). 
Between  193 1  and  1939  there  was  much  new  build- 
ing, in  Hainault  Road,  Manor  Road,  Forest  Lane, 
High  Road,  and  in  various  parts  of  Buckhurst  Hill, 
especially  at  Monkhams.  Shortly  before  1939  Chigwell 
lost  one  of  its  oldest  houses,  the  Grange  in  High  Road, 
which  was  demolished  after  a  fire."  It  dated  from  the 
15th  century.52 

Since  1945  restrictions  have  prevented  large-scale 
private  building,  and  much  of  Chigwell  has  been 
designated  as  a  part  of  'the  Green  Belt'.  The  new 
Hainault  estate,  however,  has  added  1,900  houses  to 
the  urban  district  since  1945.  There  has  also  been 
some  building  of  local  council  houses.  ■  The  Grange 
Farm  Camp,  Chigwell,  opened  in  195 1,  provides 
large-scale  facilities  for  camping,  swimming,  and  many 
other  types  of  athletics  (see  also  Charities).  In  1953 
the  population  of  Chigwell  Ward  was  estimated  at 
14,000  and  that  of  Buckhurst  Hill  Ward  at  i2,ooo.5J 

There  was  a  regular  coach  service  from  Chigwell  to 
the  'Blue  Boar'  at  Aldgate  from  1790.54  In  the  1820's 
Mary  Draper  of  the  'King's  Head'  ran  a  daily  service 
to  Aldgate. 55  In  1840  a  coach  left  the  'Maypole'  at 
Chigwell  Row  every  morning,  calling  at  the  'King's 
Head'  on  its  journey  to  the  'Three  Nuns',  White- 
chapel,  and  returning  by  the  same  route  in  the  even- 
ing.5*  In  1845  the  Ongar  coach  to  London  also  passed 
the  'King's  Head'. 5'  William  Fowling  kept  a  coach  at 
his  house  next  to  the  'Maypole'  at  Chigwell  Row;  from 
1 844  it  ran  from  there  to  the  'King's  Head'  and  back 
to  connect  with  the  Ongar  coach.s*  After  his  death  iri 
1 84859  his  widow  kept  two  coaches  for  some  years,  one 
ran  to  London  daily  and  the  other  to  the  newly  opened 
railway  station  at  Ilford.*"  In  1858  these  coaches  were  _ 
taken  over  by  William  Claydon  who  in  1864  moved  to 
Vicarage  Lane.*'   For  many  years  before  the  building 


<■  This   is   the  old    Pettits   Hall.    The 
present  house  of  that  name  is  modern. 
"  Kellys  Dir.  Eneic  (1859  ^O- 
*'  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Beattie. 
♦*  H.O.  107/1770,  195/1. 
45  y. CM.  Essex,  \\.  350. 
■•'  Census  Retn.  1 87 1. 
«  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/16-18. 


<8  Census  Retn.  1891. 
*•>  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 
s»  See     Loughton;     also     Agriculture, 
below.  51  £•.;?.  li,  13. 

52  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  48. 

53  Inf.  from  Chigwell  U.D.C. 
5-t  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/28/9. 

55  Dickensian,  xv,  21 1 ;  Pigol's  Dir.  Essex 


(1827). 
5'  Pigot's  Dir.  Essex  (1840). 
5'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1845). 

58  Ibid. 

59  Chigwell  Par.  Reg. 

«»  ff'Aile's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 
<"  Chigwell    Par.    Reg.;    E.R.O., 
166/11/12-28. 


D/P 


21 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


of  the  Ilford  loop  a  coach  ran  every  morning  and  even- 
ing to  Woodford  station,  the  Ilford  coach  being  dis- 
continued.*^ Coaches  owned  by  Nelson  of  the  'Bull', 
Aldgate,  ran  to  Chigwell  Row  until  i868.*3  In  1848 
Henry  Chipperfield  ran  a  wagon  three  times  a  week 
from  Chigwell  to  London  and  John  Wilton  ran  one 
daily  from  Chigwell  Row.*^  In  1878  William  Claydon 
ran  a  wagon  to  London  four  times  a  week.*5 

Before  the  building  of  the  railways  Buckhurst  Hill 
had  many  coaches  passing  through  every  day,  to 
London,  Cambridge,  Norwich,  Bury  St.  Edmunds, 
Dunmow,  and  elsewhere. 

The  Eastern  Counties  Railway  extended  its  line 
from  Woodford  to  Loughton  in  1856,  with  a  station 
at  Buckhurst  Hill.  In  1903  the  Ilford  loop  was 
opened,  with  stations  at  Chigwell  and  Grange  Hill.** 
In  1937  a  new  station  was  opened  at  Roding  Valley,  on 
this  loop,  to  serve  the  southern  part  of  Buckhurst  Hill. 

In  1839  there  were  postal  receiving  houses  at  Chig- 
well and  Chigwell  Row.*'  By  1863  there  were  two 
post-offices  at  Chigwell,  and  sub-post-offices  at  Chigwell 
Row  and  Buckhurst  Hill.**  By  1874  there  was  a  tele- 
graph office  at  Chigwell.*'  In  1886  there  were  two 
post-offices  at  Buckhurst  Hill,  one  of  them  having  the 
telegraph,  and  the  Chigwell  Row  office  also  had  the 
telegraph.'"  The  telephone  was  in  use  at  Buckhurst 
Hill  by  about  1906."  By  1922  there  was  a  telephone 
exchange  in  Chigwell  village.'^ 

The  first  serious  attempt  to  improve  sanitation  was 
in  1854,  when  the  Epping 
P  UBLIC  SERFICES  Guardians  appointed  a  paro- 
chial committee  to  remove 
nuisances.'3  Such  committees  were  again  appointed  in 
1857  and  1859.'*  In  1868  the  vestry  decided  to  ap- 
point a  Sewer  Authority  under  the  Sewage  Utilization 
Acts,  1865  and  1867,  and  the  Sanitary  Acts,  1866  and 
i868.'5  Two  months  later  it  resolved  to  appoint  mem- 
bers of  this  authority,  but  another  resolution  to  form  a 
Special  Drainage  District  for  Buckhurst  Hill  was  with- 
drawn after  strong  opposition.'*  A  sewage-disposal 
plant  was  installed  at  Buckhurst  Hill,  but  the  growth  of 
this  part  of  the  parish  soon  overtaxed  the  plant.  In  1 876 
a  local  doctor  complained  to  the  vestry  of  the  filthy  state 
of  the  roads,  ponds,  and  cesspools  in  lower  Buckhurst 
Hill."  This  protest  was  largely  instrumental  in  obtain- 
ing an  improved  plant.'*  From  1870  the  local  com- 
mittee was  controlled  by  the  Epping  Rural  Sanitary 
Authority."  In  1895  the  Buckhurst  Hill  Urban  Dis- 
trict Council  became  responsible  for  sewage  disposal 
within  its  area,  and  the  Epping  Rural  District  in  the 
restof  the  ancient  parish.*"  In  1933  the  whole  area  was 
taken  over  by  Chigwell  Urban  District  Council. 

In  1874  water  was  being  supplied  to  Buckhurst  Hill 


by  the  East  London  Waterworks  Co.  In  that  year  the 
parish  vestry  tried  unsuccessfully  to  arrange  for  supplies 
to  be  extended  to  Chigwell  and  Chigwell  Row.*'  It 
made  another  attempt  in  1879.*^  The  date  at  which 
the  extension  took  place  is  not  known,  but  by  1907 
Chigwell  and  Chigwell  Row  were  being  supplied  by 
the  Metropolitan  Water  Board,  successor  to  the  East 
London  company. *3  The  company  had  opened  a 
reservoir  at  Buckhurst  Hill  about  1895,  to  replace  the 
previous  water  tower.**  A  mineral  spring  at  Chigwell 
Row  which  existed  in  the  i8th  century  had  fallen  out 
of  use  by  about  i8oo.*5 

The  Chigwell  and  Woodford  Bridge  Gas  Co.  was 
formed  in  1 863  and  gradually  extended  its  area.  By 
1867  it  was  supplying  gas  to  Buckhurst  Hill.  In  1873 
it  was  reincorporated  as  the  Chigwell,  Loughton  and 
Woodford  Gas  Co.  Its  works  were  in  Snakes  Lane, 
Woodford.**  In  191 2  it  was  taken  over  by  the  Gas 
Light  and  Coke  Co.*' 

Electricity  was  brought  to  Chigwell  soon  after  the 
First  World  War  by  the  County  of  London  Electric 
Supply  Co.** 

An  unsuccessful  attempt  in  1792  to  build  a  pest- 
house  in  Chigwell  is  described  below  (see  Parish 
Government  and  Poor  Relief).  A  Village  Hospital, 
supported  by  subscription,  was  opened  at  Buckhurst 
Hill  about  1875,  on  the  initiative  of  Dr.  C.  H.  Living- 
stone.*' The  Medical  Provident  Home,  Buckhurst 
Hill,  was  opened  about  1890.''"  These  hospitals  were 
closed  in  191 2  when  the  Forest  Hospital  was  opened  at 
Buckhurst  Hill."  This  was  extended  in  1920  and 
1930.9^  It  is  now  administered  by  the  Forest  Hospital 
Management  Committee. '3 

Great  West  Hatch  was  formerly  a  branch  home 
of  the  Royal  Eastern  Counties  Institution  for  Mental 
Defectives. '■•  It  was  taken  over  by  the  London  County 
Council  about  1938  and  is  now  under  the  South 
Ockendon  Hospital  Management  Committee's  The 
neighbouring  Little  West  Hatch  is  under  the  same 
management.'*  The  Epping  Hospital  Management 
Committee  has  recently  opened  a  Chest  Clinic  at  Buck- 
hurst Hill." 

The  Female  Refuge  Home,  Buckhurst  Hill,  opened 
about  1875  and  later  known  as  the  Preventive  Training 
Homes,  under  the  Rescue  Society  for  Girls,  continued 
until  1914.'* 

A  Female  Benefit  Society  meeting  at  Chigwell  Row 
was  registered  in  1808,  and  the  Anchor  and  Hope 
Benefit  Society  meeting  at  Buckhurst  Hill  in  1832." 

In  1884  the  vestry  resolved  to  maintain  a  fire  engine 
which  was  to  be  purchased  by  public  subscription.' 
This  was  later  taken  over  by  the  Buckhurst  HiU  Urban 
District  Council,  which  built  a  new  fire  station.^  This 


«>  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f-)- 

"  Dkkensian,xv,  14.7. 

<•*  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

's  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {i%7i). 

"  E.R.  xii,  165-70. 

"  Figot's  Dir.  Essex  (1839). 

'8  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863). 

<">  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874). 

'»  Ibid.  1886. 

"  The  National  Telephone  Co.  opened 
services  in  Loughton  (q.v.),  which  adjoins 
Buckhurst  Hill,  in  1906. 

'»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1922). 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 

'♦  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  The  Acts  were  28  &  29  Vict. 
(1865)  C.75;  30&  31  Vict.  (1867)  c.  113; 
29  &  30  Vict.  (1866)  C.41  ;  31  &  32  Vict. 


(1868)  ciis. 
'«  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 
"  Ibid. 

'8  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/24/20-22. 
"  Ibid.  1 66/24/ 1. 
80  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 
»■  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 

82  Ibid. 

83  E.R.  xvi,  57. 

8*  Buckhurst  Hill,  pub.  J.  W.  Phelp 
{c.  1897:  a  local  handbook). 

8s  Miller  Christy  and  M.  Thresh, 
Mineral  Waters  of  Essex,  p.  43. 

8*  Chigwell,  Loughton  and  Woodford 
Gas  Act,  36-37  Vict,  c.xxi  (1873); 
E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/31-33  (Rate-books). 

87  S.  Everard,  Hist.  Gas  Light  &  Coke  Co. 
299. 


88  Personal  knowledge. 

89  Buckhurst  Hill,  ed.  J.  W.  Phelp. 

90  Ibid.  The  booklet  contains  photos  of 
the  Village  Hospital  and  the  Provident 
Home. 

9'  E.R.  xxi,  224. 
«2  E.R.  xxxix.  156. 

93  HospitalsDir.  Eng.  and  ff'ales  (1952), 
p.  70. 

94  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

95  Hospitals  Dir.  (1952),  p.  77. 

96  Ibid,  i  personal  knowledge. 
9'  Hospitals  Dir.  (1952),  p.  73. 

98  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1878,  1914). 

99  E.R.O.,  g/SO  20/225,  33/'97.  2'°- 

1  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 

2  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899);  Buckhurst 
Hill,  ed.  J.  W.  Phelp. 


22 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


was  closed  in  1933,  after  the  opening  of  the  stations  at 
Loughton  and  Grange  Farm,  Chigwell.3 

Allotments  were  instituted  by  the  parish  vestry  in 
1867  at  Grange  Hill  and  Ghigwell  Row.'' 

The  origin  of  the  Chigwell  Row  recreation  ground 
is  mentioned  below  (see  Agriculture).  It  has  been  taken 
over  by  the  Urban  District  Council,  which  has  also 
provided  grounds  near  Chigwell  station  and  at  Roding 
Valley.  The  Buckhurst  Hill  recreation  ground  has  also 
been  taken  over  by  the  council. s 

Until  the  19th  century  Chigwell  was  a  rural  parish 
devoted  mainly  to  agriculture. 
JGRIC  ULTURE  The  soil  is  clay.  At  Buckhurst  Hill 
and  Chigwell  Row  there  were  for- 
merly extensive  stretches  of  woodland  forming  part  of 
Epping  Forest  and  Hainan  It  Forest.  Apart  from  the 
forests  the  southern  part  of  the  parish  has  always  been 
used  for  pasture,  possibly  because  most  of  the  wealthier 
inhabitants  lived  there  and  preferred  such  surroundings. 
The  remainder  of  the  parish  has  always  contained  a 
higher  proportion  of  arable  land,  but  even  there  pasture 
has  predominated. 

Little  is  known  of  agricultural  practices  in  the  parish 
during  the  Middle  Ages.  Certain  iields  at  Buckhurst 
Hill  appear  to  have  been  still  divided  into  strips  in  the 
13th  century  but  were  consolidated  after  coming  into 
the  possession  of  Waltham  Abbey  about  1300.*  Such 
records  as  remain  of  this  period  show  that  pigs  were  the 
main  source  of  revenue,  as  was  usual  in  this  part  of 
Essex,  where  the  forests  provided  good  pannage.' 
Assarts  from  the  forests  were  numerous  in  the  1 3  th  and 
14th  centuries,  although  rarely  of  more  than  an  acre  in 
extent.*  At  Woolston  in  the  15th  century  pigs  were 
still  the  most  common  animals,  but  cattle,  sheep,  and 
geese  were  also  kept."  Most  of  the  arable  land  appears 
to  have  been  worked  by  the  lord  of  the  manor  using 
customary  labour  until  towards  the  end  of  the  15th 
century,  when  labour  services  had  been  generally  com- 
muted.'" Between  13 12  and  1534  some  100  acres 
arable  belonging  to  the  demesne  of  Woolston  had  been 
converted  into  pasture."  Grazing  land  was  certainly  . 
regarded  as  more  profitable  than  arable.  The  will  of 
John  Fuller  of  Serjeants,  dated  1 671,  charged  his 
widow  to  'make  no  waste  by  ploughing'  on  the  land 
which  he  left  her  in  trust  for  his  children.'^  An  unusual 
crop,  greenweed,  was  raised  in  a  field  at  Buckhurst  Hill 
in  1664. '3   It  was  probably  used  for  dye. 

During  the  i8th  century  more  land  probably  passed 
under  cultivation.  A  tithe  survey  of  1800  shows  that 
there  were  then  973  acres  of  arable.  Wheat  accounted 
for  280  acres,  oats  291  acres,  potatoes  32  acres,  barley 
25  acres,  beans,  peas,  and  vetches  26  acres,  and  seeds 
129  acres  with  190  acres  fallow.  There  were  2,310 
acres  of  grassland  and  30  acres  of  privately  owned 
woodland.  The  remaining  1,696  acres  of  the  parish 
were  made  up  mainly  of  the  forest  waste  at  Chigwell 
Row  and  Buckhurst  Hill.'*  According  to  Vancouver's 
tables  of  1794  the  yield  of  crops  was  slightly  above  the 


average  for  the  county.'s  James  Hatch  of  Claybury  in 
Barking,  lord  of  Chigwell  Hall,  who  owned  some  800 
acres  in  Chigwell  apart  from  waste,  was  one  of  the 
correspondents  who  supplied  Arthur  Young  with  in- 
formation for  his  General  View  of  Agriculture  in  Essex 
(1807).  He  reported  that  crops  of  potatoes,  well 
manured  on  a  rotational  system,  had  obviated  fallow 
land.  He  stated  also  that  fourteen  years  was  the  mini- 
mum lease  that  he  would  grant  because  tenants  could 
not  'make  the  necessary  exertions  in  draining  and 
manuring  under  a  shorter  term'.'*  Young  considered 
that  the  forest  waste  in  Chigwell  was  a  handicap  to 
good  husbandry,  any  advantage  gained  by  rights  of 
common  being  far  outweighed  by  the  damage  done  by 
deer  and  poachers."  He  suggested  that  750  acres 
waste  worth  %s.  6J.  an  acre  could  be  improved  to  25/. 
by  inclosure. 

Small  inclosures  had  been  continuing  in  the  1 6th  and 
17th  centuries,  sometimes  by  grant  in  manor  courts  and 
sometimes  by  silent  encroachment.'*  In  1851  Hainault 
Forest  was  disafforested  by  Act  of  Parliament."  The 
Hainault  Forest  Allotment  of  Commons  Act,  iSjS,*" 
provided  that  701  acres  (mainly  within  the  parish  of 
Chigwell)  should  be  allotted  as  common  of  that  parish. 
By  the  Chigwell  Inclosure  Award  1863  most  of  this 
common  was  inclosed.^'  The  largest  allotments  went 
to  James  Mills,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Chigwell  Hall, 
who  received  209  acres,  and  Mrs.  Lloyd  of  Barringtons, 
who  was  granted  72  acres  absolutely  and  an  additional 
50  acres  on  condition  that  she  maintained  it  for  use  as 
a  public  recreation  ground. ^^ 

Meanwhile,  at  Buckhurst  Hill,  inclosures  were  being 
made  from  Epping  Forest.  In  1858  James  Mills  pur- 
chased the  forestal  rights  of  the  Crown  in  his  manor  of 
Ghigwell  Hall.^3  The  Epping  Forest  Commission  re- 
ported in  1877  that  257  acres  had  been  illegally  inclosed 
within  this  manor  between  185 1  and  1871.2''  By  1877 
most  of  these  inclosures  had  been  built  on  or  had  be- 
come private  gardens  and  were  therefore  exempt  from 
the  provisions  of  the  subsequent  Epping  Forest  Acts. 
An  important  exception  was  Lords  Bushes,  which  con- 
tained 92  acres  and  became  part  of  the  forest  once  more 
under  those  Acts.  Unlike  those  at  Chigwell  Row,  there- 
fore, the  inclosures  at  Buckhurst  Hill  did  not  signi- 
ficantly increase  the  agricultural  acreage. 

A  fair  proportion  of  the  parish  is  still  devoted  to 
farming,  mostly  in  the  north  and  east,  and  is  now  evenly 
divided  between  arable  and  pasture  land. 

From  medieval  times  men  with  interests  in  London 
have  made  their  country  homes 
OTHER  OCCUPJ-  in  Chigwell,"  and  the  indi- 
TIONS  genous  population,  when  not 

engaged  in  agriculture,  has 
been  largely  occupied  in  catering  for  their  needs,  either 
in  goods  or  services.  In  the  second  half  of  the  17th  cen- 
tury four  cordwainers,  a  butcher,  a  weaver,  a  mason,  a- 
carpenter,  and  a  brickmaker  are  named  in  various 
records.^*  They  are  typical  of  the  tradesmen  generally 


3  Buckhurst  Hillj  ChigijueU  dnd  Lough- 
ton Oficial  Guide. 

*  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 

5  Official  Guide.  <>  E.R.  Ivii,  96-99. 

'  E32/12,  13,  16. 

«  Ibid. ;  W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex, 
323. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M  94  ff.  (Court  Rolls 
of  Woolston). 

'»  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M94-95.  For  a 
manorial  grange  and  bakehouse  in  the 
Middle  Ages  see  Parish  Government. 


■'  E.R.  Ixii  (Jan.),  51. 

"■  Archd.  Essex,  131  Atterbury. 

■3  E.R.O.,e/SR  402/131. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/3/1. 

'5  Young,  Gen.  View  of  Agric.  in  Essex, 

i.  325.  354- 
"■  Ibid,  i,  395.  "  Ibid,  u,  95. 

18  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  M14,  D/DU  97/2. 
'«  14  &  15  Vict.  C.43. 

21    21   &  22  Vict.  C.37. 

"  E.R.O.,   g/RDc   66.     For   Hainault 
Forest  before  inclosure  see  Chapman  and 

23 


Andre,  Map  of  Essex,  I'jyy,  sheet  xvi. 

22  The  recreation  ground  was  at  Chigwell 
Row,  adjoining  the  remaining  portion  of 
Hainault  Forest. 

23  W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  352. 

24  Rep.  of  Epping  Forest  Com.  H.C.  187, 
pp.  79-81  (1877),  xxvi. 

25  Court  Rolls  :E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Mi-i  3, 
D/DEs  M80-109,  D/DU  97/1-9;  Wills 
and  other  records. 

^^  Abstracts  of  records  in  possession  of 
the  author. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


until  late  in  the  19th  century.  In  1848,  in  addition  to 
the  usual  shopkeepers,  there  were  a  pianoforte  maker 
(at  Chigwell  Row),  a  violin-bridge  maker  (at  Chigwell), 
and  a  brewer."  A  map  of  1858  shows  'Hainan It 
Brewery'  in  the  position  of  the  present  Forest  Cottages, 
near  the  'Maypole'  at  Chigwell  Row,^*  but  it  seems  to 
have  closed  soon  after.^' 

In  1 85 1  there  were  1,294  persons  over  14  years  of 
age  in  the  parish,  of  whom  438  were  engaged  in  agri- 
culture, 320  were  domestic  servants  or  gardeners,  221 
were  professional  business  people  or  gentry,  1 5  5  local 
tradesmen,  60  were  engaged  in  the  building  trades,  3  5 
were  licensed  victuallers  or  their  servants,  19  were 
police,  forest  keepers,  or  other  officials,  1 1  carriers,  8 
were  still  at  school,  and  27  unemployed  paupers.  One 
house.  Rolls,  had  15  servants,  another  10,  and  5  houses 
had  6  or  7.30 

There  is  evidence  of  brickmaking  from  the  17th  cen- 
tury onwards.  In  1668  Sir  Eliab  Harvey  of  Rolls  was 
granted  a  royal  licence  to  inclose  land  near  his  house  to 
make  bricks.^'  A  brickworks  at  Luxborough  has 
operated  intermittently  for  nearly  a  century,  and  bricks 
have  been  made  at  the  lower  end  of  Buckhurst  Hill 
since  1870.'^  Much  of  the  output  of  these  works 
was  used  for  local  building.  Both  works  have  been 
owned  in  recent  times  by  Messrs.  W.  and  C.  French 
Ltd.  of  Buckhurst  Hill,  a  business  which  was  started  by 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  French  in  the  i86o's,  with  a  fleet  of 
carts  largely  occupied  in  supplying  gravel  to  parish 
authorities  for  roads.  From  this  beginning  it  has  risen 
to  be  one  of  the  largest  public  works  contractors  in  the 
world.  The  head  office  is  still  at  Buckhurst  Hill. 33 

From  1800  until  1843  a  watch-making  business  was 
carried  on  at  Marchings  in  Gravel  Lane  by  John  Roger 
Arnold.3'*  He  was  the  son  of  John  Arnold  (1736  .'-99), 
a  noted  watchmaker  who  made  a  number  of  improve- 
ments in  the  design  of  chronometers.35  J.  R.  Arnold 
was  associated  with  Dent  and  Arnold  of  the  Strand, 
London,  and  in  182 1  patented,  from  Chigwell,  an  im- 
proved expansion  balance  for  chronometers.3*  His 
foreman,  Thomas  Prest  (d.  1852),  started  business  on 
his  own  account  at  Chigwell  Row  in  1821.37  He 
patented  in  1820  the  attached  winding  movement  of 
watches,  as  opposed  to  the  detached  key.3  8  His  business 
was  continued  by  his  son  Thomas  Prest  (d.  i877).39 

In  recent  years  planning  authorities  have  not  con- 
sidered the  parish  suitable  for  industrial  development, 
except  for  a  small  area  in  lower  Buckhurst  Hill.*"  Local 
employment  has  therefore  been  mainly  confined  to 
agriculture,  the  distributive  trades,  and  catering  for 
visitors  to  Epping  and  Hainault  Forests.'" 

A  hiring  fair  was  being  held  at  Chigwell  on  30  Sep- 
tember each  year  in  the  period  1792  to  about  i860.  It 
had  ceased  before  1888.''^ 

The  best-known  inn  at  Chigwell,  the  'King's  Head', 
has  been  mentioned  above  (see  p.  20).   The  present 


'Maypole'  at  Chigwell  Row  was  built  in  front  of  an 
earlier  house.''3  There  has  been  an  inn  there  at  least 
since  1770,  and  the  old  house,  now  demolished,  can  be 
traced  back  to  1505.''''  In  1843  the  'Maypole'  served 
over  2,000  customers  from  Fairlop  Fair  after  the  magis- 
trates had  refused  permission  for  refreshments  to  be  sold 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  fair.'ts  At  Buckhurst  Hill 
the  'Roebuck'  now  stands  slightly  south  of  its  former 
site,  where  it  stood  at  least  since  1770.**  It  was  popu- 
lar in  the  late  1 9th  century  as  a  resort  of  Londoners 
visiting  Epping  Forest.  The  'Bald  Faced  Stag'  has  been 
traced  by  name  back  to  1752.'"  It  was  probably  the 
house  of  Richard  Dennis  who  in  1720  described  himself 
as  a  victualler.''*  The  'Bald  Hind'  at  Grange  Hill  was 
known  in  1770  as  the  'Bald  Faced  Hind'.'"  The  'JoUy 
Wheelers'  near  Woodford  Bridge  first  appears  by  name 
in  1778.50 

James  Basire  (1769-1822),  engraver,  lived  and  died 
at  Chigwell  Row.  His  eldest  son 
fFORTHIES''  James  (1796-1 869),  also  an  engraver, 
was  born  there.  Samuel  Bellin  ( 1 799— 
1893),  another  engraver,  spent  his  early  life  at  Burnt 
House  in  Pudding  Lane.  Henrietta  Lady  Chatterton 
(1806-76),  miscellaneous  writer,  lived  at  Rolls  from 
1852  to  1855.  Roger  Fenton  ( 1 5 6 5- 1 6 1 6),  theological 
writer  and  one  of  the  translators  of  the  Authorized  Ver- 
sion of  the  Bible,  was  Vicar  of  Chigwell  1606-16. 
Samuel  Harsnett(i56i— i63i)ismentioned  below  (see 
Church).  Admiral  Sir  Eliab  Harvey  (1758-1830), 
who  commanded  the  T/m/raire  at  Trafalgar,  was  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Barringtons  (see  above)  and  lived  at 
Rolls  House.  He  was  M.P.  for  Maldon  1780  and  for 
Essex  1803-12.  Richard  HoUingworth  (1639-1701), 
Royalist  pamphleteer,  was  Vicar  of  Chigwell  1690- 
1701.  Samuel  Howitt  (1765  .'-1822),  painter  and 
etcher,  lived  at  Chigwell  Row  in  his  youth.  Admiral 
Sir  Edward  Hughes  (1720  .'-94)  was  lord  of  the  manor 
of  Luxborough  and  lived  at  Luxborough  House. 
Joshua  Jenour  (1755-1853),  author,  hved  at  Chigwell 
Row  from  1792  to  1804.52  Thomas  Johnson  (fl.  17 1 8), 
classical  scholar,  was  headmaster  of  Harsnett's  Gram- 
mar School  171 5-18.  Admiral  Richard  Lestock 
(1679  .'-1746)  lived  at  Chigwell  Row  1709—46. 
William  Penn  (1644-17 18),  Quaker  and  founder  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  educated  at  Harsnett's  Grammar 
School.  George  Robert  Rowe  (1792-1861),  physi- 
cian and  medical  writer,  lived  and  practised  in  Chigwell 
village  from  about  1823  and  was  buried  in  the  church- 
yard. Helen  Maria  Williams  (1762-18 27),  authoress, 
was  living  at  Grange  Hill  in  1826. 

The  manor  oi CHIGWELL,  later  known  as  CHIG- 
WELL HALL  alias  CHIGWELL-AND- 
MANORS  WEST  HATCH,  was  held  in  1066  by 
Earl  Harold.  After  the  Conquest  it  was 
given  to  Ralph  de  Limesi,  whose  chief  seat  was  at 
Wolverley  in   Solihull  (Warws.).53    The  tenancy  in 


"  White' 1  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  P5. 

"  No  brewer  is  mentioned  in  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex  (1859). 

3°  H.O.  107/1770,  195/1.  Wives  and 
children  over  14.  have  been  included  under 
their  husbands'  or  fathers'  occupation  un- 
less stated  to  have  been  otherwise  em- 
ployed. 

3'  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1667-8,  72. 

32  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/34-51;  Kelly's 
Dirs.  Essex,  passim;  personal  knowledge. 

"  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,    D/DEs    M8ij    Par.    Reg.; 


personal  knowledge.  3s  B.N.B. 

36  Pigot's  Dir.  London,  (1817-32);  E.R. 
Ivi,  79.  37  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M81. 

38  E.R.  Ivi,  78  i  M.I.  in  Chigwell  church- 
yard. 

3^  M.I.  in  Chigwell  churchyard. 

♦"  fV.  Essex  Reg.  Planning  Schm.  igjj, 
p.  105. 

'"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1879-1933);  per- 
sonal knowledge. 

■•2  Rep.  Com.  Mkt.  Rts.  [C.  5550],  p. 
161,  H.C.  (1888),  liii;  White's  Dir.  Essex 
(1848);  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1859). 

«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 


ft  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M95;  Q/RLv  25. 
*5  Dickensian,  xv,  147. 

46  E.R.O.,  Q/RLv  25;  D/CT  78. 

47  Authentick  Tryals  of  "John  Stvan  and 
Eli-3sabeth  "Jeffryes.  They  were  hanged  for 
murder  near  this  house. 

48  Archd.  Essex,  89  Goates. 

49  E.R.O.,  Q/RLv  25.  so  Ibid. 

51  For  all  Worthies  see  D.N.B. 

52  See  also  Parish  Government,  below, 
and  E.R.O.  D/DEs  M80-81. 

53  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  553*;  Dugdale,  Hist. 
Warius.  342—3,  gives  the  Limesi-Dodyng- 
sells  pedigree. 


24 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


chief  of  the  manor  descended  in  the  Limesi  family  and 
their  heirs  the  Dodyngsells.  John  de  Dodyngsells  held 
it  in  i35o.5't 

Alan  de  Limesi,  son  of  Ralph,  granted  the  tenancy  in 
demesne  of  the  manor  to  Richard  de  Lucy,  the  Justiciar 
of  Henry  II,  to  hold  for  i  knight's  fee. 55  The  grant  was 
confirmed  before  1163  by  Gerard  de  Limesi,  Alan's 
son. 5*  De  Lucy's  interest  in  the  manor  subsequently 
passed  through  his  daughter  Maud,  wife  of  Walter 
Fitz  Robert  of  Woodham  Walter  to  the  Fitzwalter 
family.5'  Walter,  Lord  Fitzwalter  (d.  1406)  held 
I  knight's  fee  in  Chigwell.58 

After  acquiring  the  tenancy  of  the  manor  Richard  de 
Lucy  enfeoffed  Ralph  Brito,  who  held  of  Richard  for 
I  knight's  fee. 59  Some  time  after  this  Richard  appears 
to  have  enfeoffed  William  de  Goldingham  so  that  he 
became  the  overlord  of  Brito,  holding  of  Richard  for 
I  knight's  fee.*"  In  1 169-70  WiUiam  de  Goldingham 
enfeoffed  Robert  son  of  Ralph  Brito  with  the  manor,  to 
hold  for  I  knight's  fee.*' 

During  the  reign  of  Richard  I  Robert  Brito  suffered 
imprisonment  and  forfeiture  for  his  adherence  to  Prince 
John.*^  In  the  20  years  that  followed  there  were  several 
disputes  concerning  the  ownership  of  Chigwell.  Before 
his  imprisonment  Robert  Brito  had  leased  the  manor  for 
ten  years  to  Andrew  Blund  of  London.  The  lease  still 
had  six  years  to  run  when  the  manor  was  seized  by  the 
king.*3  While  the  king  had  possession  a  suit  was  brought 
by  Geoffrey  Mauduit,  claiming  the  manor.**  Mauduit 
apparently  succeeded  in  getting  possession  of  it  for  a 
time  but  he  was  later  ejected  through  the  legal  action 
of  William  son  of  Robert  Brito  and  Wilham's  mother 
Philippa.*5  In  1214  Andrew  Blund  sued  William  Brito 
for  the  unexpired  portion  of  the  ten-year  lease,  and  the 
court  awarded  him  50  marks  in  compensation.**  In 
1226  Gilbert  Mauduit,  presumably  Geoffrey  Mau- 
duit's  heir,  quitclaimed  a  knight's  fee  in  Chigwell  to 
William  Brito.*'  About  1235  Alan  son  of  John  de 
Goldingham  quitclaimed  all  his  rights  in  Chigwell  to 
William  son  of  William  Brito.**  In  or  about  1254 
William  Brito's  daughter  was  patron  of  the  rectory  and  " 
probably  held  the  manor  also.*'  Soon  after  this,  how- 
ever, the  Goldinghams  appear  to  have  acquired  the 
tenancy  in  demesne.  In  1258  William  de  Goldingham 
made  a  conveyance  of  property  in  Chigwell'"  and  in 
1298  John  de  Goldingham  was  lord."  John  died  be- 
fore 1 3 16,  leaving  a  son  and  heir  John.'^ 

John  son  of  John  de  Goldingham  was  knighted  and 
was  still  hving  in  1 349. ''  He  died  about  1 362  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Alexander  de  Goldingham.''* 


In  1 3  8 1  Sir  Alexander  had  licence  to  impark  his  garden 
and  50  acres  of  land  adjoining  his  manor  of  Chigwell.'s 
He  died  in  1408  leaving  his  estates  to  his  wife  Isabel  for 
life  with  remainder  to  his  son  Sir  Walter  Goldingham.'* 
Sir  Walter  was  dead  by  1435  when  his  widow  had  be- 
come the  wife  of  Matthew  Hay."  Sir  Walter's  daugh- 
ter Eleanor  married  John  Mannock  of  Stoke  by  Nayland 
(Suff.)  who  inherited  the  manor  in  right  of  his  wife 
after  the  expiration  of  a  life  interest  held  by  Matthew 
and  Elizabeth  Hay.'*  Mannock  died  in  i47i'9  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  who  died  in  1476,  leav- 
ing Chigwell  to  George  Mannock  his  elder  son.*" 

In  1 53 1  George  Mannock  leased  the  manor  to  John 
Kempe  for  1 5  years,*'  but  four  years  later  sold  it  to  the 
king.*2  In  1537  a  21-year  lease  was  granted  to  WiUiam 
Rolte,  serjeant-at-arms,*3  and  this  was  upheld  when 
Kempe  claimed  in  respect  of  the  earher  lease.**  Rolte 
died  in  1 541,  leaving  the  residue  of  his  lease  to  George 
Stoner*5  who  apparently  transferred  it  soon  after  to 
his  son  John.**  In  1550  Edward  VI  sold  the  manor  to 
Sir  Thomas  Wroth,  who  died  in  1573.*'  Sir  Robert 
Wroth,  son  of  Sir  Thomas,  married,  before  1578, 
Susan  daughter  of  John  Stoner.**  Chigwell  descended 
in  the  Wroth  family  in  the  same  way  as  the  manor  of 
Loughton  (q.v.)  until  the  death  in  1642  of  John 
Wroth.  *9  John's  estates  were  then  apparently  divided 
between  the  two  sons  of  his  brother  Henry:  John 
Wroth,  who  took  Loughton  (and  Luxborough,  see 
below),  and  Sir  Henry  Wroth,  who  took  Chigwell.'" 

Sir  Henry  Wroth  sold  Chigwell  in  1669  to  Sir  Wil- 
liam Hicks  of  Ruckholts  in  Leyton,  ist  Bt."  The 
manor  descended  with  the  baronetcy  to  Sir  Henry 
(commonly  called  Harry)  Hicks  who  took  possession 
after  the  death  of  his  mother  in  1723.'^  Sir  Henry, 
while  retaining  the  manorial  rights,  sold  the  demesne 
lands  of  the  manor  and  built  himself  a  house  near 
Woodford  Bridge,  formerly  called  the  Bowling  Green 
but  now  the  Manor  House."^  He  died  in  1755.''*  His 
elder  son,  who  became  the  4th  baronet,  was  blind  and 
Sir  Henry  left  his  estates  to  his  second  son  Michael 
Hicks,  who  died  unmarried  in  I764.'5  Michael  left 
the  estates  in  trust  for  the  benefit  of  his  blind  brother 
Sir  Robert  and  his  sisters  Ann  Burton  and  Martha 
Petty,  with  successive  remainders  to  Howe  Hicks  of 
Witcombe  (Glos.),  a  relative,  and  Howe's  second  son 
Michael.9* 

Sir  Robert  Hicks  died  unmarried  in  1768  but  the 
trust  continued  until  1799  when  Michael  Burton,  son 
of  Ann,  sold  his  interest  in  Chigwell  to  Michael,  son  of 
Howe  Hicks."  This  Michael  had  changed  his  name 


5*  C143/298/1 5  i  cf.  y.C.H.  Warms,  vi, 
125-6. 

5  5  Madox,  Formulare  An^licanum^  p.  42. 

56  Ibid.  Cf.  Stenton,  pint  Century  of 
Anglo-Norman  Feudalism^  161. 

5'  Complete  Peerage.,  v,  472.  For  de 
Lucy's  heirs  see  also  Chipping  Ongar. 

58  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  (Rec.  Com.),  iii,  p.  312. 

59  hiadox.,  Formulare  Anglicanumyp.  178. 
'»  Ibid.  368.  <"  Ibid.  44,  179. 
'^  Cur.  Reg.  R.  121 3-1 5,  205. 

«3  Ibid. 

'*  Ibid.  1199-1201,  196,  207. 

'5  Ibid.  Robert  Brito  was  dead  by  1200. 
King  John  appears  to  have  reversed  the 
forfeiture  in  favour  of  WiUiam  Brito. 

"  Ibid.  121  3-15,  205. 

«'  FeetofF.  E!!ex,\,ji. 

"  E3'5'/3'/204- 

'9  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  18. 

'"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  235. 

"  Cat.  And.  D.  i,  B.  974.  According  to 


W.  A.  Copinger,  Manors  of  Suffolk,  iii,  272, 
Alice  daughter  of  the  last  named  William 
Brito  married  Sir  William  de  Goldingham. 

'2  Cal.  Anct.  D.  i,  B.  912,  961,  963. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  95. 

'*  Reg.  Sudbury  (Cant.  &  York  Soc),  i, 
235;  and  see  Church,  below. 

'5  Cal.  Pat.  1381-5,  36;  E326/12448. 

^<•  P.C.C.  16  Marche. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iv,  21,  22. 

'*  E210/10551. 

'»  P.C.C.  I  Wattys.  '<>  C140/59. 

8'  E.A.T.  N.s.  ix,  273. 

"  E31S/31/126. 

83    E326/642O. 

85  P.C.C.  36  Alenger. 

8'  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/197:  MS.  relating 
to  the  'wardstaff' of  Ongar  hundred  c.  1 550. 
The  MS.  is  described  and  partly  printed  in 
E.A.T.  N.s.  ix,  212  f.  And  see  above, 
the  Hundred  of  Ongar. 

25 


87  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1 547-80,  28 ;  Cal.  Pat. 
1549-51,  68;  ibid.  1550-3,  I7i  P.C.C. 
16  Pyckcring. 

88  £:.^.r.  N.s.  viii,  148. 

89  Ibid.  348. 

90  Ibid.  348.  Sir  Henry  Wroth  probably, 
did  not  inherit  until  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  Henry  Wroth,  the  elder,  which 
occurred  between  1653  and  1656:  P.C.C. 
437  Berkeley. 

'■C5/499/6;  CP25(2)/653  Trin.  21 
Chas.  II;  CP43/346  rot.  130. 

«2  Burke's  Peerage  (19 1 3):  St.  Aldwyn; 
E.R.O.,  D/DDa  M4.  . 

93  Lysons,  En-virons  of  London  (18 10),  i, 
641 ;  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  386. 

'♦  Burke's  Peerage  (191 3),  St.  Aldwyn. 

95  W.  Hicks-Beach,  A  Cots-wold  Family, 
Hicks  and  Hicks-Beach,  259;  Burke's  Peer- 
age {igij),  St.  Aldwyn. 

96  Hicks-6each  Estate  Act,  40  Geo.  Ill, 
c.  78  (priv.  act).  «'  Ibid. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


in  1790  to  Hicks-Beach.'*  In  1800  a  private  Act  of 
Parliament  was  passed  to  enable  him  to  sell  Chigwell 
and  other  property,  which  were  still  subject  to  the 
limitations  imposed  by  the  settlement  under  the  will  of 
Michael  Hicks  in  1764."  The  purchaser  was  James 
Hatch  of  Bromley  (Mdx.),  a  wealthy  malt-distiller.  He 
paid  over  ^30,000  for  the  manor  of  Chigwell  (including 
West  Hatch)  and  the  estate  of  1,430  acres.' 

Hatch  died  in  1806,  leaving  three  daughters,  Caro- 
line wife  of  John  Rutherforth  Abdy,  Jemima  later  wife 
of  Christopher  James  Mills,  and  Louisa  later  wife  of 
William  Rufus  Rous.  The  eldest  daughter  and  her 
husband,  who  changed  his  name  to  Hatch-Abdy,  acted 
as  joint  lords  of  Chigwell  until  her  death  without 
issue  in  1838.  The  lordship  then  passed  to  Caroline's 
nephew  James  Mills,  who  died  in  1884,  also  without 
issue.^  Mills  was  succeeded  by  William  John  Rous, 
son  of  the  above  Louisa.  Since  Rous's  death  in  19 14 
the  manor  has  been  invested  in  trustees,  chief  among 
whom  was  the  Earl  of  Stradbroke.3  In  1839  James 
Mills's  estate  in  Chigwell  comprised  about  900  acres.'* 
This  included  Luxborough  and  Buckhurst  (for  both  of 
which  see  below). 

The  original  manor  house  of  Chigwell  Hall  was  be- 
side the  Roding  where  the  R.A.F.  Station  now  stands.' 
The  moat  which  had  surrounded  the  house  survived 
until  1937,  when  it  was  filled  in  by  the  contractors 
building  the  R.A.F.  Station.*  The  site  had  been  de- 
serted by  the  middle  of  the  17th  century  and  a  new 
manor  house  built  near  the  church  and  the  site  of  the 
modern  Bramstons.'  This  house  had  evidently  been 
rebuilt  by  about  1870.*  The  house  now  known  as 
Chigwell  Hall  is  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  previous 
house,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Roding  Lane.'  The 
Manor  House  near  Woodford  Bridge  has  been  greatly 
altered.  It  has  fine  wrought  iron  gates  dating  from  the 
1 8th  century.   It  is  now  a  convent. 

In  1359  William  de  Melcesborn  appointed  attornies 
to  give  seisin  of  his  manor  of  WEST  HATCH  to 
Nicholas  Ploket.""  In  1389  William  Tasburgh  clerk 
and  John  Bekke  granted  to  Sir  Alexander  de  Golding- 
ham  lands  and  tenements  in  the  vills  of  Chigwell  and 
Barking  called  'le  Westhach  and  Bookhurst',  once  be- 
longing to  Nicholas  Ploket  and  previously  to  William 
de  Melcesborn."  West  Hatch  subsequently  passed 
along  with  the  main  manor  of  Chigwell  Hall.'^  The 
two  manors  were  usually  described  in  the  17th  century 
and  later  as  the  manor  of  Chigwell-and- West-Hatch. 
The  present  house  of  Great  West  Hatch  dates  from 
about  1 800.  It  is  of  stock  brick  with  two  stories.  It  is 
now  used  as  a  hospital  (see  Public  Services). 

The  manor  of  APPLETONS,  now  known  as  Old 
Farm,  was  in  Green  Lane.  It  probably  took  its  name 
from  the  family  of  Thomas  Apilton,  who  with  his  wife 
Anne  was  party  to  a  fine  of  1402  relating  to  180  acres 
of  land  and  20  acres  of  meadow  in  Chigwell. '-J   Later 


in  the  15th  century  Philip  Malpas  held  Appletons:  it 
passed  on  his  death  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth  wife  of  Sir 
Thomas  Cooke.'''  She  died  about  1484  having  settled 
it  upon  her  son  John  Cooke  in  reversion. 's  John  died  in 
i486  holding  it  as  a  tenant  of  John  [George  ?]  Mannock, 
lord  of  Chigwell  Hall;  his  brother  Sir  Philip  Cooke  was 
his  heir.'*  Appletons  was  later  in  the  hands  of  William 
Cooke,  probably  the  brother  of  Sir  Philip."  In  1520 
William  sold  the  manor  to  Sir  John  Brygges  and  John 
Senewe  of  London." '  Senewe  died  in  1537  leaving 
Appletons  to  the  children  of  his  sister  Elizabeth,  who 
had  married  John  Hill."  About  1 540  Tristram  Cooke, 
son  of  Thomas,  son  of  the  above  William  Cooke,  sought 
possession  of  the  manor.^"  He  appears  to  have  had  some 
success,  for  in  1 564  the  children  of  John  Hill  took  pro- 
ceedings against  his  representatives  for  unlawful  entry.^' 
The  plaintiffs  seem  to  have  won  their  case :  the  Woolston 
court  roll  of  1 567  recorded  a  declaration  that  Thomas 
Colshill,  Thomas  P~uller,  and  others  who  were  shown 
to  be  the  descendants  of  John  Hill,  jointly  held  the 
freehold  of  various  lands,  part  of  their  ruined  tenement 
called  Appletons.^^  Colshill  sold  his  share  to  Thomas 
Fuller  who  died  about  1 575  leaving  the  house  of  Apple- 
tons,  in  which  he  lived,  to  his  nephew  Henry  Fuller  of 
North  Weald  Bassett,  probably  a  relative  of  the  Henry 
Fuller  who  owned  Stocktons  (see  below)  about  this 
time.23  Thomas  Fuller  had  presumably  bought  the 
other  shares  in  the  property,  in  addition  to  that  of 
Colshill. 

Henry  Fuller  died  in  1602.^^  Appletons  passed  suc- 
cessively to  his  son  (d.  1623)  and  his  grandson,  both 
named  Henry.^s  Henry  Fuller  of  Appletons  appears  in 
a  presentment  of  1668.^'  Thomas  Buckford  held 
Appletons  from  1671  until  his  death  in  1688."  In 
1692  another  Thomas  Buckford  sold  it  to  Francis 
More.^8  More's  granddaughter  Winifred  Pitfield 
(d.  1753)  married  Solomon  Ashley,  who  died  in  1778 
holding  Appletons.^'  He  left  it  to  Humphrey  Stuart, 
presumably  in  trust  for  his  son  Solomon  Ashley  who 
was  named  as  the  owner  in  1783.30  In  1802  Stuart 
sold  it  to  John  Blades,  on  whose  death  in  1830  it  passed 
to  his  daughter  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Blackburn." 
A  Joshua  Blackburn  was  given  as  the  owner  in  1839: 
the  farm  then  comprised  63  acres.32  Appletons  was  still 
owned  by  the  Blackburns  in  1 873.^3  The  present  farm- 
house is  a  red-brick  building  that  appears  to  date  from 
the  late  19th  century. 

The  manor  of  BARRINGTONS  (or  LITTLE 
CHIGfVELL)  took  its  name  from  the  family  of  Bar- 
rington  which  held  the  tenancy  in  demesne  from  the 
1 2th  to  the  i6th  century.  It  is  probably  identical  with 
the  estate  of  2  hides  and  1 5  acres  which  Robert  Gernon 
was  said  to  hold  in  Chigwell  in  io86.3'»  The  overlord- 
ship  appears  to  have  descended  like  that  of  Battles  in 
Stapleford  Abbots  (q.v.)  until  the  death  in  1 267  of 
Richard  de  Montfichet.  In  1 274  J  knight's  fee  in  Chig- 


"  Burke's  Peerage  (19 1  3),  St.  Aldwyn. 
»»  Hicks-Bcach  Estate  Act,  40  Geo.  Ill, 
c.  78  (priv.  act). 

■  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T330. 
»  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Mi 2,  13. 
3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 
«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 
5  See  above,  p.  18. 

*  Personal   knowledge.     The   moat    is 
shown  on  the  0,S.2\  in.  Map^  sheet  5 1/4.9. 

'  See  above,  p.  20. 

*  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Ixvi. 

9  Now  the  headquarters  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police  No.  5  District  Sports  Club. 
■0  E315/42/63. 


"  £326/5532- 

^*  Morant's  statement  {Hist,  Essex,  i, 
166)  that  Walter  Wrytell  held  West 
Hatch  in  1475  is  incorrect;  Wrytell  held 
the  reversion  only:  cf.  E326/8684. 

"  E,A,T,  N.s.  X,  318. 

"♦  Cat.  Inq.  f.m.  Hen,  VII,  i,  p.  38.  Sir 
Tho.  Cooke  was  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 
1463. 

'5  Ibid. 

'6  Ibid. 

"  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  39. 

"  Ci/390/29. 

"  P.C.C.  13  Dvngeley;  C3/101/23. 

"  C 1/969/43-^. 

26 


"  C3/101/23. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M97. 

"  Archd.  Essex  125  Gyll. 

^*  Ibid.  351  Stephen. 

"  Ibid.   Filed  Will,  1625,  35. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEA/44. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  97/2. 

28  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  97/7. 

30  E.R.O.,  Q/RJ  i/ii. 

3"  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M81. 

32  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78.    Henry  Hancock 
was  tenant. 

33  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/37. 

34  V,C.H.  Essex,  i,  553*. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


well  and  elsewhere  was  assigned  to  Philippa,  wife  of 
Roger  de  Lancaster  and  granddaughter  of  Margaret  de 
Bolbec,  sister  of  Richard  de  Montfichet.^s  On  his  death 
in  1 360  John  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  held  J  knight's 
fee  in  Chigwell.s*  It  had  probably  come  to  him  by  re- 
versionary grant  in  the  same  way  as  Stansted  Mount- 
fichet.37 

The  manor  continued  to  be  held  of  the  earls  of 
Oxford.  In  1537  it  was  held  of  the  then  earl  as  of  the 
honor  of  Hedingham  Castle.3  8 

The  de  Veres  appear  to  have  had  an  earlier  interest 
in  the  manor  than  that  which  came  to  them  in  the  14th 
century.  Early  in  the  1 2th  century  an  Aubrey  de  Vere, 
one  of  the  ancestors  of  the  earls  of  Oxford,  enfeoffed 
Eustace  de  Barrington  with  land  in  Chigwell  which 
afterwards  descended  in  the  Barrington  family.''  It 
seems  probable  that  before  enfeoffing  Barrington 
Aubrey  de  Vere  had  been  tenant  in  demesne  holding 
of  Robert  Gernon. 

The  family  name  of  Barrington  was  derived  from 
Barrington  (Cambs.).  Eustace  de  Barrington  held  land 
there  in  1 1 30.''<'  He  also  held  land  in  Hatfield  Broad 
Oak  which  was  later  known  as  Barrington  Hall,  and  he 
was  a  forester  of  Hatfield  Forest,  serving  under  Robert 
Gernon.*'  His  son  Humphrey  de  Barrington  received 
confirmation  by  Aubrey  de  Vere  of  the  grant  previously 
made  to  Eustace.*^  Humphrey  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  another  Humphrey,  who  was  a  minor  at  his  father's 
death,  which  took  place  early  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.*' 
The  younger  Humphrey  lived  until  the  early  1 3th  cen- 
tury; he  was  under-sheriff  of  Essex  and  Hertfordshire 
in  1 197.+*  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Nicholas  de 
Barrington  who  held  the  manor  in  1 2^g.*^  Sir  Nicholas 
was  succeeded  by  his  grandson,  Nicholas,  who  was  lord 
in  1274  and  died  about  l330.-«*  The  manor  then 
passed  to  the  younger  Nicholas's  son  Nicholas  Barring- 
ton III,  who  settled  it  in  1 344  on  his  eldest  son  John.'" 
John  died  about  1368  and  his  son  and  successor  John 
about  1426.**  Several  deeds  relating  to  Chigwell  be- 
tween I3i9and  I384suggest  that  the  Barringtons  were 
at  least  occasionally  resident  in  Chigwell  during  that 
period.*'  Certain  copyhold  lands  within  the  manor  of 
Woolston  were  held  by  this  family  and  the  descent  of 
these  as  shown  in  the  court  rolls  was  probably  the  same 
as  that  of  the  manor  of  Barringtons. 5" 

Thomas  son  of  the  last  named  John  Barrington  died 
in  1472  leaving  his  manor  of  Chigwell  to  his  wife  Anne 
for  life  with  reversion  to  his  son  Edmund. 5'  Anne  is 
said  to  have  died  on  the  day  after  her  husband.s^  In 
1479  Margaret,  formerly  the  wife  of  a  Thomas  Barring- 
ton, was  declared  to  have  previously  held  the  manor 
jointly  with  her  husband.*'  On  her  death  in  that  year 

"  Cal.Chu,  1272-9,82. 

3'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  r,  p.  522. 

3'  Cf.  Morant,  Essex,  ii,  577. 

J8  C 142/82/62. 

39  Morant,  Essex,  i,  166. 

«>  W.  Farrer,  Feud.  Hist.  Camhs.  233. 
In  the  I2th-i4th  cents,  tlie  usual  form  of 
the  name  was  Barenton. 

■•'  G.  A.  Lowndes,  'Hist,  of  Barrington 
family',  E.A.T.  n.s.  i,  251  f.  The  original 
charters  used  by  Lowndes  are  now  in  the 
British  Museum:  Add.  Ch.  28313-637. 
Some  of  them  are  calendared  in  Hist.  MSS. 
Com.  yth  Rep.  App.  pp.  537  f. 

**  Morant,  Essex,  i,  166. 

«3  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  yth  Rep.  App.  p. 
588. 

+•  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  255;  V.R.O.  List  of 
Sheriffs,  48. 

*5  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  257;  B.M.  Add.  Ch. 


28478. 

■•'  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  261-3.  Sir  Nicholas's 
son  Nicholas  had  predeceased  him. 

■•'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  72. 

4«  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  267,  272. 

«»  E326/917,  919,  921,  961,  964,  969, 
1849;  £315/32/119;  E315/41/58,  217; 
E3 1 5/42/200. 

so  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M94-109. 

»■  P.C.C.  6  Wattys. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  273.  "  C140/70. 

54  The  elder  Thomas  certainly  had  a  son 
Humphrey :  P.C.C.  6  Wattys. 

55  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M95;  P.C.C.  38 
Holgrave. 

s*  C142/30/18.  "  C142/82/62. 

5>    CP25(2)/l26/l62I. 

'9  The  Barringtons  continued  in  Hat- 
field Broad  Oak  until  the  19th  cent.: 
f./i.r.  N.s.  ii,  50-54. 


Barringtons  passed  to  her  husband's  brother  Humphrey 
Barrington.  Humphrey  and  his  brother  were  probably 
sons  of  the  Thomas  Barrington  who  had  died  in  1472.** 
Humphrey  Barrington  died  before  1487  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  Nicholas,  who  died  in  1505.55 
Nicholas's  son  and  heir  Nicholas  died  in  1515.'*  John 
Barrington,  son  of  the  younger  Nicholas,  died  in  1537.5^ 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas  Barrington,  who 
sold  the  manor  of  Barringtons  in  1563  to  Thomas 
Wiseman  of  Great  Waltham,'*  thus  breaking  a  con- 
nexion which  had  lasted  for  as  long  as  450  years.59 

Thomas  Wiseman  died  in  the  year  that  he  bought 
the  manor  and  was  succeeded  by  his  third  son  Stephen, 
who  died  childless  in  I567.*"  Stephen's  heir  was  John 
Wiseman,  son  of  his  brother  William.*'  In  1573  Wil- 
liam Tyffin  of  Wakes  Colne  did  homage  for  Barringtons, 
presumably  on  account  of  his  marriage  to  Mary,  widow 
of  Stephen  Wiseman,  who  had  a  hfe  interest.**  During 
his  hfetime  Stephen  had  demised  the  manor  with  certain 
lands  in  Chigwell  to  John  Morley  and  one  Goldringe 
who  were  to  pay  rent  to  him  and  after  his  death  to  his 
widow;  this  rent  was  in  arrear  and  was  the  cause  of 
legal  proceedings.*'  John  Wiseman  died  in  161 5, 
leaving  Barringtons  to  his  eldest  son  Thomas,  who  con- 
veyed it  in  1617  to  John  Hawkins.** 

In  1626  Hawkins  and  his  wife  Sarah  sold  the  manor 
to  William  Rolfe.*s  Rolfe  sold  it  in  1629  to  Henry 
Jackson,  who  in  1630  and  1634  claimed  forest  rights  in 
respect  of  the  manor.**  In  1639  Jackson  sold  Barring- 
tons to  Thomas  Wilmer,  whose  father  had  already  pur- 
chased Rolls,  the  mansion  house  of  the  manor.*'  The 
first  surviving  court  roll  of  the  manor  (1653)  gives  as 
lords  Edmund  Denny  and  Thomas  Wilmer.**  Wilmer 
was  a  major  in  the  royalist  army;  he  had  probably  sold 
half  the  manor  to  Denny  to  pay  the  fine  for  his  delin- 
quency.*' In  1 65  5  he  sold  the  remaining  half  to  Robert 
Abdy  of  Albyns  (in  Stapleford  Abbots,  q.v.)  and  John 
Chapman  of  London.'"  Abdy  and  Chapman  were 
apparently  trustees  for  Robert  Abbott  of  London,  who 
made  his  will  in  1657,  leaving  a  moiety  of  Barringtons 
to  his  wife  for  life  and  in  1658  added  a  codicil  leaving 
all  his  manors  to  his  executors  in  trust  to  provide  por- 
tions for  his  children."  The  executors  were  Abbott's 
wife  Bethia  and  John  Chapman  her  brother.  In  1668 
Abdy  and  Chapman  conveyed  this  half  of  the  manor  to 
Sir  Eliab  Harvey  and  John  Prestwood.'*  Eliab  died  in 
1 699,  leaving  all  his  manors  in  Essex  to  his  son  William." 

Edmund  Denny,  who  had  acquired  the  other  half  of 
Barringtons  from  Thomas  Wilmer,  died  in  1 6  56,  leaving 
it  to  his  wife  Anne  for  life  with  reversion  to  his  cousin 
William  Gardner.'*  In  1657  Anne  married  Francis 
Comyn  of  London,  vintner,  and  in  the  same  year 

<">  C142/147/148.  '■  Ibid. 

''2  Morant,  Essex,  i,  1 66;  Mary  was 
sister  of  Andrew  Jenour  of  Great  Dun- 
mow:  Ci42/i47/i48;  Morant,  Essex,  ii ,' 
222;  Fisits.  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  222. 

63    C3/327/2. 

**  C142/359/115;  Morant,£iKr, i,i66. 
's  CP25(2)/4I5     Mich.     2     Chas.     I; 

CP43/I76- 
"  CP43/i84;C99/i3om.88;C99/i32 

m.  16. 

67  C66/3067    m.     34i     CP25(2)/4i8 
Mich.  15  Chas.  I. 

'8  E.R.O.,  D/DU  97/1. 

'9  Cal.  Ctee.for  Compounding,  2535. 

'">  C54/4020  m.  21-22. 

"  P.C.C.  305  Wootton. 

"  CP25(2)/653  Hil.  19  &  20  Chas.  II. 

'3  P.C.C.  42  Pett. 

'♦  P.C.C.  317  Berkeley. 


27 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Gardner  surrendered  to  Comyn  all  his  rights  in  the  half- 
manor. 's  The  court  roll  for  1659  names  as  lords  Abdy, 
Chapman,  Thomas  King,  John  Jekyll,  Edward  Cotton, 
and  John  Berrisford.'*  The  last  four  were  presumably 
trustees  to  the  settlement  made  on  the  marriage  of  Anne 
and  Francis  Comyn.  Anne  died  in  1694  and  Francis  in 
1697."  Their  half  of  the  manor  passed  to  their  son 
Francis  Comyn  who  sold  it  in  1700  to  William  Harvey, 
who  thus  became  owner  of  the  whole  manor.'* 

William  Harvey  died  in  1 731  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  also  named  William,  who  died  in  1 742.'"  The 
younger  William  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  a  third 
William  Harvey,  who  died  in  1763.80  The  manor  then 
passed  to  WiUiam  Harvey  (IV),  son  of  the  last  owner, 
who  died  unmarried  in  1779,  leaving  Barringtons  to  his 
brother  Eliab,  later  Admiral  Sir  Eliab  Harvey.*'  The 
admiral  died  in  1830  without  surviving  male  issue.  He 
left  the  bulk  of  his  estate,  including  Barringtons,  to  his 
eldest  daughter  Louisa,  wife  of  William  Lloyd  of  Aston 
Hall  (Salop).  In  1839  the  estate  in  Chigwell  consisted 
of  about  420  acres. '^  Lloyd  and  his  wife  acted  as  joint 
lords  of  the  manor  until  his  death  in  1843,  after  which 
Louisa  was  sole  lady  until  her  death  in  1 866.^3  Her  son 
Richard  T.  Lloyd  succeeded  to  the  manor  and  died  in 
1898.  Barringtons  then  passed  to  Richard's  eldest  son 
Lt.-Gen.  Sir  Francis  Lloyd,  who  died  without  issue  in 
1926.  The  manor  then  passed  to  the  Revd.  Rossendale 
Lloyd,  brother  of  Sir  Francis.  ^^  Soon  after  this  the 
manorial  rights  were  sold  to  Philip  Savill,  from  whom 
they  passed  to  his  son  Mr.  Lawrence  L.  Savill  of 
Comenden  Manor  (Kent)  who  is  their  present  owner. *5 
The  freehold  of  the  Barringtons  estate,  however,  re- 
mained in  the  Revd.  Rossendale  Lloyd  who  died  in 
1940  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Mr.  Andrew  F. 
Lloyd.86 

Rolls  House,  the  capital  mansion  of  the  Barringtons 
estate  in  modern  times,  is  now  (1953)  in  process  of 
demolition,  much  of  the  older  part  having  already  dis- 
appeared. It  was  a  two-story  building  with  attics, 
partly  timber-framed  and  partly  of  brick.  The  former 
kitchen  block  was  built  about  1600  and  late  in  the  17th 
century  the  north-east  and  north-west  wings  were  built 
or  rebuilt,  making  the  house  L-shaped.  Early  in  the 
1 8th  century  a  long  addition  was  made  on  the  south-east 
side  of  the  north-east  wing  and  there  were  later  additions 
on  the  south  and  south-west.*'' 

The  manor  oi  BUCKHURST  alias  MUNKEN- 
HILL  alias  MONKHAMS  probably  formed  part  of 
Barringtons  (see  above)  until  1 135,  when  William  de 
Montiichet  granted  to  the  abbey  of  Stratford  Lang- 
thorne  his  wood  of  Buckhurst.**  The  grant  was  later 
confirmed  by  Henry  II.*'  The  abbey's  estate  was 
increased  by  other  grants:  in  12 17  Matthew  de  St. 
Tronius  and  Rose  his  wife  quitclaimed  to  the  abbey  a 
third  part  of  55  acres  in  Chigwell  which  was  her  dower 
from  her  former  husband  Geoffrey  Levenoth,  and  in 


1230  William  Fitz  Edric  granted  to  the  Abbot  of 
Stratford  |  carucate  and  8J  acres  in  Chigwell. 9"  In 
1240  the  Abbot  of  Stratford  came  to  an  agreement 
with  the  Abbot  of  Waltham,  a  neighbouring  land- 
owner, concerning  the  agistment  of  cattle."  In  1253 
Henry  III  granted  the  Abbot  of  Stratford  free  warren 
in  his  demesne  in  Chigwell  and  Woodford.'^  The 
boundary  of  the  parish  at  Buckhurst  Hill  was  for  long 
ill  defined  and  the  manor  of  Buckhurst  seems  to  have 
extended  into  Woodford. 

Stratford  Abbey  retained  Buckhurst  until  the  Dis- 
solution."3  In  1 521  John  Saunders  had  a  41-year 
lease  from  William  Etherway,  then  abbot,  of  a  tene- 
ment called  'Buckhurst  alias  Monkyn'.'*  By  1 527  the 
lease  had  passed  to  Ralph  Johnson  of  Woodford. '5  In 
1547  the  king  granted  a  tenement  called  Buckhurst 
and  a  grove  called  Monk  Grove,  formerly  belonging  to 
Stratford  Abbey,  to  John  Lyon  alderman  of  London 
and  Alice  his  wife,  to  hold  by  jj  knight's  fee.'*  Sir 
John  Lyon  died  in  1564  seised  of  this  property."  He 
was  succeeded  by  Richard  Lyon,  son  of  his  brother 
Henry,  who  died  in  1579.'*  Richard's  son  Henry 
Lyon  died  in  1590."  In  161 1  Henry's  son  George 
Lyon  leased  the  manor  to  the  sitting  tenant  Joan 
Newman  for  21  years.'  In  16 16  John  Lyon  sold  the 
property  to  Thomas  Hill  of  London,^  and  Hill  sold  it 
in  1649  to  William  and  George  Nutt  who  were 
brothers.3 

George  Nutt  was  dead  by  1656  when  his  son  George 
sold  his  interest  in  Monkhams  to  his  uncle  William 
Nutt.*  In  1669  William  Nutt  settled  it  on  his  son  on 
the  marriage  of  the  latter.'  The  younger  William  died 
in  172 1,  leaving  the  manor  to  his  son  William  who  sold 
it  in  1725  to  William  Cleland  of  Woodford.*  Cleland 
sold  Monkhams  in  1735  ^^  Sir  Joseph  Eyles,  Kt.,  who 
was  already  owner  of  the  neighbouring  estate  of  Lux- 
borough  (see  below)  .7  Eyles  died  in  1740  and  his 
widow  and  executors  sold  the  manor  in  1 746  to  Robert 
Knight,  I  St  Baron  Luxborough,  whose  father  had 
bought  Luxborough  from  them  three  years  earlier.* 
Lord  Luxborough  sold  both  properties  in  1750  to 
James  Crokatt.9  Crokatt  sold  them  in  1767  to  Baker 
J.  Littlehales,  who  conveyed  them  a  few  days  later  to 
Sir  Edward  Walpole,  K.B.'"  Walpole  sold  them  in 
1775  to  Samuel  Peach."  In  1781  Peach  went  bank- 
rupt and  Buckhurst  and  Luxborough  were  bought 
from  his  creditors  by  Sir  Edward  Hughes,  whose 
widow  Ruth  sold  them  in  1 799  to  James  Hatch,  lord 
of  Chigwell  Hall.'^  Thereafter  they  passed  along  with 
Chigwell  Hall.  In  1839  the  farm  of  Monkhams 
included  178  acres  and  was  let  by  James  Mills  to 
William  Death. '3  The  farm  survived  until  1936,  when 
it  was  broken  up  for  building.  The  house,  which  was 
then  demolished,  stood  at  the  south-west  corner  of 
Lords  Bushes. '■»  Its  site  is  now  Farm  Way  and  Farm 
Close. 


"  C6/139/54,  142/39;  CP25(z)/552 
Mich.  1657.         '6  E.R.O.,  D/DU  97/1. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M104;  P.C.C.  90 
Pyne. 

"  CP25(2)/830  Trin.  12  Wm.  III. 

"  Morant,  £««r,  i,  167.  '"  Ibid. 

"  P.C.C.  204  Warburton.  For  the 
admiral  see  above.  Worthies. 

«^  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 

«3  E.R.O.,  D/DU  97/9. 

8«  Burke' i  L.G.  (17th  edn.),  p.  1538. 

*'  Inf.  from  L.  L.  Savill,  Esq. 

"  SarVjL.G.  (i7thedn.),  p.  1538. 

''  hiu.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  48. 

"  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  130.  For  this  manor 


see  A.  R.  J.  Ramsey,  Monkhams  (Woodford 
Hist.  Soc).  8«  Ibid. 

«»  Feet  off.  Essex,  i,  49,  86. 

»■  Harl.  MS.  4809,  fo.  3,  4. 

«  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1226-57,  433. 

'^  In  1 29 1  the  abbey's  property  in  Chig- 
well was  valued  at  ^12  lys.  zd.l  Tax 
Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  25. 

»♦  Ci/i  165/23-25. 

«  E.R.xlv,  168. 

»<>  Cal.  Pat.  1547-8,  41 ;  Cal.  S.P.  Dom. 
1 547-80,  4. 

"  C142/14./39.         "S  C142/194/47. 

*'  Lysons,  En'virons  of  London  (1796), 
119. 

28 


I  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T347  (deed  of  1649); 
C3/359/34.  ^  Ibid. 

3  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T347.  ■»  Ibid. 

5  E.R.O.,  D/DBT345. 

0  P.C.C.      200      Marlboro';      E.R.O., 
D/DDa  T42,  43 

'  Guildford  Museum  Deeds  51/3/50. 

'  Ibid.    Knight's  father  had  originally 
purchased  Luxborough  (see  below)  in  1 716. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T42. 
■o  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

'2  E.R.O.,     D/DDa     T39,     40;     ibid. 
D/DBT352. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 

'*  Ramsey,  Monkhams,  10. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


The  manor  of  GRANGE,  which  gave  its  name  to 
Grange  Hill,  was  originally  part  of  Chigwell  Hall  (see 
above).  In  1258  William  de  Goldingham  and  Aline 
his  wife  confirmed  to  Robert,  Abbot  of  Tilty,  gifts  to 
the  abbey  of  3  messuages  and  2344  acres  of  land  in 
Chigwell. '5  The  original  donors  were  Herbert  the 
chaplain,  John  Fitz  Gilbert,  Margery  de  Chigwell, 
and  John  the  Miller  and  Agnes  his  wife,  all  of  whom 
were  evidently  tenants  of  Chigwell  Hall.  The  land  so 
granted  became  a  grange  of  Tilty  Abbey  and  remained 
in  the  possession  of  the  abbey  until  the  Dissolution.'* 
In  1536  William  Baker  of  Epping,  carpenter,  rendered 
his  first  account  to  the  king  as  lessee  of  Chigwell  Grange. 
He  held  the  manor  on  a  3 1 -year  lease  from  Michaelmas 
1532,  at  an  annual  rent  of  ^^3  10/."  In  1538  the 
manor  was  bought  from  the  Crown  by  Thomas 
Addington  of  London,  skinner,  for  j^6o.>8  Addington 
died  in  1543  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas." 
The  younger  Thomas  conveyed  the  manor  to  James 
Altham  of  London,  clothworker,  at  a  date  not  exactly 
known,  and  in  1555  Altham  granted  it  to  Anthony 
Browne  of  South  Weald.^"  In  1555  the  manor  was 
said  to  consist  of  4  messuages,  60  acres  of  land,  200 
acres  of  meadow,  40  acres  of  pasture,  and  10  acres  of 
wood:  it  would  thus  appear  to  have  been  reduced  by 
about  100  acres  since  the  13th  century.  Later  in  1555 
Browne  sold  14J  acres  of  land  in  Chigwell,  of  which 
1 1 J  acres  were  part  of  the  manor  of  Grange,  to  John 
Stonarde  and  others.  This  small  holding  later  became 
the  endowment  of  a  road  charity  founded  by  Joan 
Sympson.2' 

In  1558  Browne  endowed  his  newly  founded  gram- 
mar school  at  Brentwood  with  this  manor  and  other 
property,  confirming  the  grants  by  his  will  of  1565.^^ 
The  grammar  school  remained  owners  of  this  estate 
until  about  1900,  since  when  various  sales  have  taken 
place,  mostly  for  building.  In  1839  the  property  con- 
sisted of  some  140  acres.^3  Grange  farm-house  was 
about  300  yds.  east  of  the  junction  between  Hainault 
Road  and  Manor  Road.^'* 

The  manor  of  KING'S  PLACE  alias  LANG- 
FORDS  alias  POTELLS,  at  Buckhurst  Hill,  prob- 
ably originated  in  the  purchase  by  Edward  III  (through 
his  son  John  of  Gaunt)  in  1360  of  a  messuage  and  92 
acres  of  land  from  Matthew  de  Torkeseye.^5  In  1372 
Alexander  de  Goldingham,  lord  of  Chigwell  Hall, 
released  to  the  king  all  his  rights  in  this  property  'now 
commonly  called  the  Neweloggelands  in  Chigwell'.^' 
From  this  release  it  is  clear  that  Matthew  de  Torkeseye 
had  held  the  estate  as  a  tenant  of  the  manor  of  Chigwell 
Hall.  In  1378  Alan  de  Buxhull  was  granted  custody 
of  the  king's  new  lodge  in  Waltham  Forest,  free  of  rent 
on  condition  that  he  kept  the  houses  in  repair.^'  In 
1476  Edward  IV  enlarged  the  estate  by  the  purchase 


of  a  neighbouring  estate  from  Robert  Langford  and 
others.28  Soon  after  this  Edward  IV  granted  the  custody 
of  the  whole  property  for  hfe  to  Sir  John  Risley  and  in 
1485  Henry  VII  confirmed  the  grant.^'  Risley  ap- 
pears to  have  later  received  a  grant  of  the  estate  in  tail 
male,  but  he  died  without  a  male  heir  and  in  1513 
King's  Place  was  granted  in  tail  male  to  William 
Compton.30  Compton  was  later  knighted  and  died  in 
1528,  leaving  a  son  and  heir  Peter,  who  died  in  1539." 
Peter's  son  Henry  was  created  Baron  Compton  in  1572 
and  died  in  1589.3^  WiUiam,  2nd  Baron  Compton, 
negotiated  with  the  queen  in  1596  for  the  reversion  of 
the  manor  of  King's  Place  (in  default  of  the  issue  of  the 
1st  baron),  but  nothing  appears  to  have  come  of  this.^J 
Early  in  1597  the  queen  granted  the  reversion  to 
Thomas  Spencer  and  Robert  Atkinson. J-t  During  the 
1 6th  century  the  estate  was  leased  to  at  least  two  dif- 
ferent tenants.  In  his  will  dated  1 541  William  Rolte, 
tenant  of  Chigwell  Hall,  mentioned  his  lease  of  King's 
Place.35  In  1576  Richard  Hayle  left  his  lease  of  the 
property  to  his  wife  Agnes.'* 

Although  there  was  no  failure  of  the  heirs  male  of 
the  I  St  Baron  Compton  King's  Place  seems  to  have 
passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  2nd  baron  soon  after 
1597.  In  161 2  Thomas  Covell  described  himself  in 
his  will  as  of  King's  Place. 3'  His  daughter  Elizabeth 
had  married  Roger  Forster  in  1610.38  She  died  in  or 
before  1622,  when  Forster  married  Mary,  eldest 
daughter  of  John  Penington.^'  In  1624  King's  Place 
was  settled  on  Forster  and  Mary.*"  Forster  died  in 
1633  and  Mary  married  Michael  Ernie,  who  died  in 
1645.'"  Mary  finally  married  Sir  Thomas  Perient  and 
lived  at  King's  Place  until  her  death.''^ 

The  estate  was,  however,  settled  in  1657  on  her 
daughter  Mary  Ernie  on  the  marriage  of  the  latter 
to  Henry  Goodricke  of  Grays  Inn.''^  Mary  and  Henry 
are  said  to  have  sold  it  a  year  later  to  William  Livesaye,+* 
whose  son  and  namesake  later  sold  it  to  Elizabeth 
Colwall,  widow,  with  successive  remainders  to  her 
sons  John  and  Arnold.  John  Colvvall  died  without 
issue  before  1680,  when  his  mother  settled  King's 
Place  upon  Arnold  Colwall-''^  By  1705  the  manor  had 
passed  to  Arnold's  son,  Daniel  Colwall  of  the  Friary, 
Guildford  (Surr.)."**  Arnold's  widow  Susanna  married 
Foot  Onslow  and  appears  to  have  had  some  interest  in 
King's  Place  in  1705  and  1708.''' 

In  1716  Thomas  Gibson  and  John  Jacob,  trustees 
under  Daniel  Colwall's  will,  sold  the  property  to 
Percival  Chandler,  who  lived  at  the  farm  until  about 
I730.'t8  He  is  said  to  have  sold  King's  Place  in  1 741 
to  Oliver  Marton,  who  died  in  1744.'"  Marton  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Edward,  who  died  in  1758, 
leaving  the  property  to  his  brother  the  Revd.  Oliver 
Marton. 50   A  year  later  Oliver  sold  King's  Place  to 


"  Feet  of  F,  Essex,  i,  225. 

"  In  1 29 1  it  was  valued  at  ^4.  lis.  ^d.: 
Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  25*. 

"  E.R.  xix,  I. 

'8  C142/70/32.  '0  Ibid. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1554-5,  234.,  255.  Later  in 
1555  Anthony  Browne  was  granted 
custody  of  the  person  and  lands  of  Ralph 
Addington,  son  of  the  younger  Thomas, 
who  was  a  congenital  idiot:  ibid.  73. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1554.-5,  12;  E.R.  xix,  i. 
See  above,  p.  19;  Charities. 

^2  P.C.C.  20  Stonarde. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 

2*  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Ixvi. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,   iii,   128;   E.A.T. 

N.S.  X,  313-14. 


^'£40/11027;  Cal.  Close,  1369-74, 
470.  "  Cal.  Pat.  1377-81,  199. 

28  E.A.T.  M.S.  X,  314.  The  Langfords 
estate  can  probably  be  identified  with 
Potells,  which  got  its  name  from  the 
family  of  Richard  Potel  (1285):  P.N. 
Essex,  54. 

2«  Cal.  Pat.  1485-94,  103. 

30  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  i,  p.  493. 

3'  C142/47/58;    Complete    Peerage,    iii, 

39°- 

32  Complete  Peerage,  111,  390. 

"  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1595-7,  308;  F.C.H. 
fVarivs.  V,  65. 

3«  Morant,  Essex,  l,  170. 

35  P.C.C.  9  Alenger. 

36  P.C.C.  6  Carew. 

29 


37  P.C.C.  2  Capell. 

38  Par.  Reg.  35  Ibid, 
■f  E.R.O.,  D/DBT271. 

*■  Mar.  Lie,  Bp.  of  Loniion  (Harl.  Soc. 
xxvi),  224. 

■•2  Par.  Reg.  Holy  Trin.  Minories, 
London. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/DACT85,  86. 

*♦  Lysons,  En-virons  of  London  (18 10),  i, 
645. 

♦  5  Guildford  Museum,  Onslow  Deeds 
865,  872-3.  ♦<*  Ibid. 

♦'  Ibid.,  CP25(2)/923  East  7  Anne. 

*8  Lysons,  Environs  of  London  (18  to),  i, 
645;E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/1. 

♦9  Lysons,'ibid. 

50  Burke's  L.G.  (15th  edn.),  p.  1544. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Robert  Jones  of  Babraham  (Cambs.).s'  Jones  died  in 
1774,  leaving  an  only  daughter  Anne  who  married 
General  J.  W.  Adeane,  who  inherited  all  Jones's 
property."  The  general  died  in  1782  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  Robert  Jones  Adeane. 53  On  Robert's 
death  in  1 8 10  King's  Place  passed  to  Henry  J.  Adeane, 
who  died  in  1847. '«  In  1839  the  property  consisted 
of  1 56  acres.55  In  1853  the  executors  of  H.  J.  Adeane 
sold  it  to  the  National  Freehold  Land  Society  who 
shortly  after  broke  it  up  for  building  development.'* 
The  name  of  this  ancient  manor  is  retained  in  King's 
Place  and  King's  Avenue,  Buckhurst  Hill. 

The  manor  of  L  UXBORO  UGH  probably  took  its 
name  from  the  family  of  Loughteborough  which  lived 
in  Chigwell  in  the  14th  century.  William  de  Loughte- 
borough was  named  in  a  Forest  Roll  in  1324  and  in 
1 3 16  Henry  Doule  and  Eve  his  wife  quitclaimed  to 
William  de  Loughteborough  a  messuage  and  132  acres 
in  Chigwell.57  Robert  de  Loughteborough  and 
Margaret  his  wife  were  assessed  to  the  subsidy  of 
1390.58  In  1559  Francis  Saunders  and  Margaret 
Valentyne,  widow,  sold  the  manor  of  'Loughbroughes' 
to  John  Stoner,  who  built  himself  a  house  there.s' 
Stoner  died  in  1 579,  leaving  the  manor  and  the  house 
to  his  wife  Anne  with  reversion  to  his  only  daughter 
Susan,  wife  of  Sir  Robert  Wroth,  lord  of  Chigwell  Hall 
(see  above).*"  In  1580  Anne  conveyed  her  interest  to 
Robert  and  Susan,*'  and  Luxborough  passed  along 
with  Chigwell  Hall  until  1642,  when  the  estates  of 
John  Wroth  were  divided.  Luxborough  then  passed 
to  John,  elder  son  of  Henry  Wroth  and  nephew  of  the 
above  John  Wroth,  by  virtue  of  a  settlement  made  in 
1640  on  the  marriage  of  John  the  nephew  with  Anne 
Gallard,  widow.*^  Anne's  will,  dated  1675,  was  cited 
in  legal  proceedings  in  i676.*3  She  left  Luxborough 
for  life  to  her  son  by  her  first  marriage,  John  Gallard, 
with  successive  remainders  to  her  son  John  Wroth  for 
life  and  her  grandson  John  Wroth  for  ever.**  Her 
husband  John  Wroth  had  died  in  i662.*5  John  Wroth 
her  son  died  in  1708.**  In  17 16  her  grandson  John 
Wroth  sold  Luxborough,  then  heavily  mortgaged,  to 
Robert  Knight,  cashier  of  the  South  Sea  Company.*' 
After  the  failure  of  the  company  in  1720  Knight's 
Estates,  with  those  of  the  governors  and  directors,  were 
vested  in  trustees  and  in  1724  the  manor  of  Lux- 
borough was  bought  from  these  by  Sir  Joseph  Eyles, 
Kt.**  Eyles  died  in  1740  and  in  1743  his  trustees  con- 
tracted to  sell  the  property  to  Knight,  who  had 
returned  from  abroad  on  receiving  a  royal  pardon  for 
his  activities  in  the  South  Sea  Company.*'  Knight 
died  in  1744,  before  the  completion  of  the  sale.  Before 
his  death  he  had  settled  his  estates  on  his  son,  Robert 


Knight  later  created  Baron  Luxborough,  and  the 
manor  passed  to  the  son  on  completion  of  the  sale.'" 
In  1746  Eyies's  trustees  also  sold  Buckhurst  to  Lord 
Luxborough,  and  the  two  manors  subsequently 
descended  together,  becoming  part  of  the  Chigwell 
Hall  estate  in  1799.'' 

The  16th-century  manor  house  at  Luxborough  built 
by  John  Stoner  was  rebuilt,  probably  in  1716—20,  by 
Robert  Knight.'^  Prints  of  1787  and  1788  show 
respectively  the  south  and  east  fronts  of  the  house.'' 
It  was  of  two  stories  and  appears  to  have  been  of  brick 
with  stone  or  plaster  dressings.  To  the  north  and  east 
were  lower  two-story  ranges  of  stables  and  outbuildings. 
The  south  or  garden  front  had  a  central  doorway  with 
a  small  classical  porch.  The  entrance  front  on  the  east 
side  was  more  impressive.  Between  two  projecting 
wings  was  a  recessed  portico  of  five  bays.  Corinthian 
columns  the  full  height  of  the  building  supported  an 
entablature  and  pediment.  Flanking  this  the  parapet 
was  balustraded.  The  house  was  demolished  about 
1 800  by  James  Hatch.'* 

The  small  manor  of  STOCKTONS  alias  SER- 
JEANTS lay  in  Gravel  Lane.  John  Stokton  was 
mentioned  in  the  Woolston  court  rolls  in  I462.'5  He 
was  later  knighted  and  became  Lord  Mayor  of  London 
in  1470.'*  He  died  about  1473,  leaving  his  Chigwell 
property  to  his  younger  son  William,  who  died  in 
1483."  In  1 543  Edward  Brockett  conveyed  Stocktons 
to  John  Potter.'*  Potter  died  about  1 546,  leaving  all 
his  lands  in  Chigwell  to  his  son  Thomas,  who  jointly 
with  his  wife  Margaret  conveyed  Stocktons  in  1567  to 
John  Watson  and  Elizabeth  his  wife.'"  In  1 1;90  Henry 
Fuller  of  North  Weald  Bassett  left  Serjeants  to  his  son 
Richard.*"  Henry  Fuller  of  Serjeants  was  mentioned 
several  times  in  the  Woolston  court  rolls  between  16 14 
and  1 62 1  *'  and  the  property  seems  to  have  remained  in 
the  Fuller  family  until  the  end  of  the  17th  century. 
About  1700  John  Fuller  sold  it  to  Edward  Green  who 
died  in  1707,  leaving  his  'farm  in  Gravel  Lane'  to  his 
son  John.*^  John  Green  died  soon  after,  leaving  it  to 
his  mother  Ann  Green.*'  In  1 709  she  left  her  freehold 
estate  called  Serjeants  to  her  son  Charles  Green.**  By 
1763  it  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Harveys, 
owners  of  the  manor  of  Barringtons:  in  that  year  it  was 
let  by  Emma  Harvey,  as  guardian  of  her  son  William 
Harvey.  *5  The  lease  described  the  property  as  fields, 
barns,  &c.,  containing  21  acres.  After  the  i6th  century 
the  farm  was  never  termed  a  manor.  In  1687  it  was 
even  questioned  whether  it  was  a  freehold.** 

In  1066  the  manor  of  WOOLSTON  was  held  by 
Earl  Harold.  It  was  then  taken  by  King  William  and 
in  1086  was  held  by  him  in  demesne.*'   During  the 


5»  Lysons,  ibid.  '^  Ibid. 

"  Burke's  L.G.  (15th  edn.),  p.  1 1. 

5*  Ibid. 

55  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 

5'  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/17-20. 

5'  E32/16;  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  165. 

5'  E179/147/60. 

5'  CP25(2)/i26/i6o7;  for  the  house  see 
below. 

'»  P.C.C.  50  Arundell. 

"  E.R.  xiv,  2. 

*=  £.y*.r.N.8.viii,  347-8. 

«>  C10/181. 

♦*  Ibid.  '5  Ibid. 

«'  E.A.T.-n.i.v'm,  181. 

«'  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T37.  For  the 
Knights  see  Complete  Peerage.,  iii,  1 10. 

'*  Ibid.  For  Eyles  see  Burke's  Extinct 
and  Dormant  Baronetcies,  190.  He  was 
Sheriff  of  London  1726.    His  brother  Sir 


John  Eyles,  Bt.,  was  a  governor  of  the 
South  Sea  Co.  Sir  Joseph  bought  Buck- 
hurst (see  above)  in  1735. 

<">  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T37. 

'»  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T37. 

'^  See  Buckhurst. 

'^  Hist,  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  II. 

'3  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Chigwell.  They  are 
from  Harrison's  Picturesque  Views  of  the 
Principal  Seats  (c.  1790)  which  states, 
probably  in  error,  that  Lord  Luxborough 
built  the  house.  And  see  plate  facing  p.  30. 

'*  Ogborne,  Hist.  Essex,  245-6.  The 
house  is  shown  on  the  O.S.  i  in.  Map  (ist 
edn.)  for  which  surveys  were  made  about 
1797.  Hatch  died  in  1806,  having  ac- 
quired the  house  in  1799. 

'5  E.R.O.,  T/P  17.  No  mention  has 
been  found  of  tenants  in  Chigwell  named 
Serjeant  from  whom  the  alternative  name 


may  have  come.  A  Roger  le  Serjaunt  is 
thought  to  have  given  his  name  to 
Sergeants'  Green  in  Waltham  Holy  Cross, 
which  is  not  far  from  Chigwell:  P.N. 
Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  32. 
'^  Strype,  Sto%u's  Survey  of  London,  i, 

"  P.C.C.  9  Wattys;  E.R.O.,  T/P  17. 
'8  CP25(2)/i3/73. 

'9  Archd.  Essex  55  Bastwyck;  CP25(2)/ 
127/1631. 
80  P.C.C.  76  Nevell. 
8'  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M99-100. 

82  P.C.C.  57  Lane. 

83  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M104. 
8*  Archd.  Essex  51  Luck. 

85  Nat.  Libr.  of  Wales :  MSS.  of  Andrew 
Lloyd. 
8'  C8/394/25. 
87  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  432A. 


30 


Dews  Hall,  Lambourne 
Refronted  c.  1 740,  demolished  c.  1 840 


LuxBORouGH  House,  Chicwell 
Rebuilt  1716-20,  demolished  c.  1800 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


1 2th  century  the  manor  was  granted  to  the  Sanford 
family  to  hold  in  serjeanty  by  virtue  of  the  office  of 
chamberlain  to  the  queen. 88  A  John  de  Sanford  held 
the  manor  in  1210— 12*9  and  Cecily  de  Sanford  in 
i2ig.9o  Gilbert  de  Sanford  held  Woolston  in  1236, 
in  which  year  he  officiated  at  the  coronation  of  Eleanor 
of  Provence."  He  was  still  hving  in  1248,'^  but  was 
dead  by  April  1249  when  the  wardship  of  his  daughter 
and  heir  Alice  de  Sanford  was  bought  by  Fulk  Basset, 
Bishop  of  London. 93  In  June  1249  the  bishop  sold 
the  wardship  to  Hugh  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  who 
married  Alice  to  his  son  and  heir  Robert.'*  In  1259 
John  de  Rivers,  lord  of  Ongar  hundred,  granted  to 
Robert  de  Vere  and  Alice  his  wife  a  release  of  41/.  rent 
at  their  view  of  frankpledge  at  Woolston. 's  In  1265 
Robert's  estates  were  forfeited  for  his  part  in  the 
Barons'  War ;  the  tovraship  of  Woolston  was  then  said 
to  be  worth  £(>  6s.  8J.  a  year.'*  Robert  recovered  his 
estates  under  the  Dictum  of  Kenilworth,  but  before 
this,  in  October  1265,  all  Alice's  hereditary  lands  had 
been  restored  to  her.''' 

In  1284  Robert  and  Alice  granted  the  reversion  of 
Woolston  after  their  deaths  to  their  daughter  Joan  and 
her  husband  William  de  Warenne,  son  and  heir  of 
John  de  Warenne,  Earl  of  Surrey  (d.  1304).'^  Robert 
died  in  1296;  Woolston  was  then  being  held  of  him 
and  Alice  by  William  le  Plomer."  Alice  died  in  1 3 1 2. 
She  had  outlived  both  her  daughter  Joan  and  William 
de  Warenne  and  Woolston  passed  to  John,  Earl  of 
Surrey,  son  of  Joan  and  William.'  Before  1321  John 
conveyed  the  manor  to  his  sister  Alice  and  her  husband 
Edmund  Fitz  Alan  Earl  of  Arundel.^  Woolston  did 
not  escheat  after  the  execution  of  Arundel  in  1326  be- 
cause it  was  his  wife's  inheritances  Alice  died  between 
1330  and  1338,  and  the  manor  passed  to  her  son 
Richard  Fitz  Alan,  who  had  been  restored  to  the  earl- 
dom of  Arundel  in  1330.''  In  1345  Woolston  was 
being  held  for  life  by  Isabel  Dispenser,  the  divorced 
wife  of  Richard. 5  Richard  died  in  1376.*  The  manor 
passed  to  his  son  Richard,  Earl  of  Arundel,  who  was 
executed  in  1397.'  The  attainder  of  this  earl  was 
reversed  in  1400  and  his  titles  and  estates  were  restored 
to  his  son  Thomas,  who  in  1405  granted  Woolston  for 
hfe  to  his  servant  John  Wele.*  Thomas  died  in  141 5 
and  John  Wele  in  1420.'  Shortly  before  he  died  Wele 
was  involved  in  a  Chancery  action  against  the  king  in 
respect  of  Woolston.'"  In  142 1  the  manor  was 
divided  between  Thomas's  three  daughters,  Elizabeth, 
Duchess  of  Norfolk,  Joan,  Lady  Bergavenny,  and 
Margaret,  wife  of  Rowland  Lenthal." 

In  1425,  shortly  before  her  death,  the  Duchess  of 


••  J.  H.  Round,  Kingi  Sergeants  and 
Oficers  of  State  ^  I  32  f.  Woolston  was  one 
of  five  manors  appurtenant  to  this  ser- 
jeanty, the  others  being  Margaretting  and 
Fingrith  (in  Blackmore)  in  Essex,  and 
Great  Hormead  and  Nuthampstead  (in 
Barkway)  in  Herts. 

89  RedBk.  ofExch.  $07;  Bk.ofFee!,iii. 

»»  Bk.  of  Fees,  275. 

»'  Ibid.  589;  J.  H.  Round,  op.  cit.  133. 

"  Bk.  of  Fees,  1361,  1412. 

95  Complete  Peerage,  x,  214. 

0*  Ibid. 

95  Harl.  Chart.  55  D.  24. 

96  Cal.  Chart.  R.  ii,  57;  Cat.  Inq.  Misc. 
i,  p.  200. 

9'  Complete  Peerage,  x,  216. 

98  Cal.  Pat.  1281-92,  173. 

99  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iii,  p.  230;  Cal.  Fine  R. 
1272-1307,  378. 

*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  v,  p.  2 1 6. 


»  Feet  off.  Essex,  ii,  204. 
3  Complete  Peerage,  i,  242. 
♦  Ibid.  243. 

5  Cal.  Pat.  1343-5,488. 
'  Complete  Peerage,  i,  244. 
'  C136/101. 

8  CT38/45. 

9  Ibid. ;  Complete  Peerage,  i,  246. 
'»  Cal.  Close,  1419-22,  116. 
"  Cal.     Fine     R.      1413-22,     389-90. 

Elizabeth  was  widow  of  Thomas  de 
Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk  (d.  1399). 
Joan  was  widow  of  William  Beauchamp, 
I  St  Lord  Bergavenny. 

"z  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iv,  6;  Cal.  Pat. 
1422-9,  341. 

■3  Cal.  Close  1429-35,  338-9 ;  Ci  39/62; 
C139/142. 

'■•  Ibid.;  Ca/.  Fine  R.  1445-52,  222. 

■5  Cal.  Pat.  1446-52,  512. 

'6  J.  C.  Wedgcwood,  Hist.  Parliament: 

31 


Norfolk  granted  her  third  part  of  Woolston  to  Norman 
Babington  and  Margaret  his  wife.'^  Norman  died 
holding  it  in  1434  and  Margaret  held  it  at  her  death 
in  145 1. '3  It  then  passed  to  Norman's  brother  Sir 
William  Babington.'*  In  the  same  year  Sir  William 
settled  the  manor  upon  his  sons  William,  Robert,  and 
Thomas  Babington  and  the  heirs  of  Robert.''  Sir 
WiUiam  died  in  1454,  his  son  William  in  1474  and 
Thomas  in  1471,'*  but  it  is  not  known  how  this  third 
of  the  manor  passed  between  1471  and  1485,  when  it 
had  come  to  William  Scott  (see  below). 

In  1428  Joan  Lady  Bergavenny  enfeoffed  Robert 
Darcy  and  others  with  her  third  part  of  Woolston. '^ 
In  1457  the  surviving  feoffees  settled  the  property  on 
Joan's  grandson,  Thomas  Ormond,  with  successive 
remainders  to  his  brothers  John  Ormond  and  James, 
Earl  of  Wiltshire."  In  1476  Thomas  Ormond  con- 
veyed it  to  William  Scott  and  Robert  Hardyng." 

After  the  death  of  Margaret  Lenthal  her  third  part 
of  the  manor  was  held  by  her  husband  until  he  died  in 
1450.  It  then  passed  to  John  de  Mowbray,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  grandson  of  the  above  Elizabeth,  Duchess  of 
Norfolk,  and  to  George  Neville,  later  Lord  Bergavenny, 
great-grandson  of  Joan,  Lady  Bergavenny.*"  In  the 
division  of  Margaret  Lenthal's  inheritance  between 
Mowbray  and  Neville  the  third  part  of  Woolston  was 
assigned  to  Mowbray.*'  In  1468  John  de  Mowbray, 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  conveyed  the  property  to  Thomas 
Hoo  and  others.**  This  was  the  first  of  a  complicated 
series  of  conveyances  between  various  parties,  including 
George  Neville,  by  which  this  third  of  Woolston  was 
conveyed  to  WiUiam  Scott  and  Robert  Hardyng.*' 

By  1485  all  three  parts  of  the  manor  had  been  united 
in  the  hands  of  William  Scott,  who  had  been  acting  as 
lord  three  years  earlier  when  he  signed  an  agreement 
between  his  baihff  and  his  tenants,  detailing  the  ser- 
vices to  be  performed  by  the  latter.**  He  died  in  149 1, 
leaving  Woolston  to  his  fifth  son  George,  who  died 
without  issue  in  I534.*5  George  probably  lived  at 
Woolston  Hall.  At  his  death  the  manor  was  said  to 
include  10  acres  of  arable,  24  acres  of  meadow,  80 
acres  of  pasture,  8  acres  of  wood,  and  £<)  rent.** 

George  Scott's  heir  was  Walter  Scott,  lord  of  the 
manor  of  Stapleford  Tawney  (q.v.),  who  was  the 
grandson  of  John  Scott  (d.  1 527),  eldest  son  of  William 
Scott  (d.  i49i).*7  Walter  Scott  died  in  1550  and  his 
son  Roger  in  1 585.**  George,  son  of  Roger  Scott,  died 
in  1589.*'  Neither  Walter  nor  Roger  nor  George 
acted  as  lord  of  the  manor,  for  by  the  will  of  George 
son  of  William  Scott  a  99-year  lease  of  Woolston  had 
been  granted  to  William's  sixth  son  Hugh.'"    Hugh 

Biographies  i43g-isog,  31-32. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iv,  12;  Cal.  Pat. 
1422-9,  486;  E.R.O.,  D/DP  T51. 

■8  Cal.  Pat.  1452-61,  355;  E.R.O., 
D/DPT51. 

■9  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A470.  Hardyng  was 
a  London  goldsmith  and  was  probably  act- 
ing as  Scott's  financial  agent. 

"  C139/143. 

2'  Cal.  Fine  R.  1445-52,  266. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DPT51. 

"  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A468,  469. 
The  conveyances  cover  the  period  1468— 
73.  M  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M95. 

'5  P.C.C.  19  Dogett;  Cal.  Inq.  p.m. 
Hen.  P'll,  i,  p.  334.  For  the  early  history 
of  the  Scotts  see  E.R.  Ixii  (Jan.),  pp.  42-44. 

^<>  C142/82/4.  "  C142/82/4. 

28  C142/208/181. 

29  Crisp,  Par.  Reg.  of  Stapleford  Tatvney, 
38.  »  P.C.C.  28  Hogen. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


acted  as  lord  of  the  manor  until  his  death  in  1 540,  and 
so  also  did  his  son  George.^' 

When  George  son  of  Roger  Scott  died  in  1589  he 
left  Woolston  in  his  will  to  his  two  daughters  Elizabeth 
and  Mary.32  This  bequest  was,  however,  invalid 
owing  to  a  settlement  made  under  the  will  of  William 
Scott  (d.  1491).  By  that  settlement  the  manor  passed 
to  George  Scott,  son  of  Hugh,  who  was  already  the 
tenant  of  Woolston  under  the  99-year  lease.  This 
George  Scott  was  living  at  Woolston  Hall  when  he 
became  its  owner.^J  He  died  a  few  months  later,  in 
December  I589.3'«  He  had  made  his  will  before 
inheriting  the  freehold,  leaving  his  lease  of  Woolston 
to  his  grandson  George  son  of  William  Scott.  Accord- 
ing to  the  settlement  of  1 49 1  the  heir  to  the  freehold 
was  William  Scott,  eldest  son  of  the  George  Scott  who 
died  in  December  1589.  William  never  acted  as  lord 
of  the  manor.  He  died  in  1597."  George,  son  of 
William  Scott,  who  had  inherited  the  lease  of  the 
manor,  acted  as  lord  from  1590  onwards.^*  He  died 
in  1648.37  He  never  lived  at  Woolston  Hall,  which 
was  let  to  various  tenants.ss  About  1640  he  had 
settled  Woolston  on  his  son  and  heir  George  Scott, 
who  inherited  the  manor  in  1648  and  died  in  1683.3' 
The  last  named  George  Scott  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  William,  who  died  in  i72  5.'">  William's  elder  son 
George  inherited  the  manor  but  died  unmarried  in 
1727.*'  He  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Thomas 
who  died  in  ijjj.*^  Thomas's  son,  George  Scott,  was 
a  minor,  and  manor  courts  were  held  until  1741  in  the 
name  of  his  guardian.  Sir  Robert  Abdy,  Bt.'*'  George 
died  childless  in  1780,  leaving  Woolston  to  his  second 
cousin  Robert  Bodle  of  Clare  Market,  London,  a 
picture-frame  maker.'*^ 

Robert  Bodle  died  in  1785,  leaving  Woolston  in 
trust  for  the  benefit  of  his  son  Robert,  who  came  of  age 
in  I79i.'*5  The  younger  Robert  held  Woolston  until 
his  death  in  185 1.  In  1839  his  estate  consisted  of  350 
acres  in  Chigwell  parish.**  He  left  two  daughters,  of 
whom  the  elder,  Mary  Elizabeth,  inherited  the  manor 
but  died  unmarried  in  i872.'*''  The  younger  daughter, 
Louisa,  had  married  George  Watlington  as  his  second 
wife,  but  died  without  issue  before  her  sister.  After 
the  death  of  Mary  Elizabeth  Woolston  passed  to  John 
Watlington  Perry  Watlington,  son  of  Thomas  Perry 
by  his  wife  Maria  Jane,  daughter  of  George  Watlington 
by  his  first  wife.  J.  W.  Perry  Watlington  died  childless 
in  1882,  and  his  estates  passed  to  his  sister  Louisa  wife 
of  Robert  Peel  Ethelston.  She  died  in  1892,  leaving 
Woolston  to  her  second  son  Robert  W.  Ethelston.  He 
died  in  1914  and  the  manor  was  subsequently  vested 
in  trustees.''^  Shortly  before  1939  Woolston  Hall  was 
sold,  possibly  for  the  first  time  since  the  12th  century. 


It  is  now  a  sports  club  belonging  to  the  Co-operative 
Wholesale  Society.*'  The  building  is  L-shaped  in  plan, 
with  the  main  front  facing  south-east.  It  is  of  two 
stories  with  attics,  partly  timber-framed  and  plastered 
and  partly  of  brick.  It  was  built  about  1600,  possibly 
incorporating  remains  of  an  earlier  house.  The  south- 
west front  has  an  early  18th-century  eaves  cornice  and 
a  Doric  porch  with  paired  outer  columns.  The  house 
was  'modernized  and  improved'  early  in  the  19th 
century,  probably  by  Robert  Bodle. so  Over  the  mantel 
shelf  in  the  entrance  hall  is  an  oil  painting,  installed  by 
George  Scott  (d.  1780)  depicting  his  arms  impaling 
those  of  his  wife  Jane  (Gibson)  and  several  trophies.si 
Chigwell  church  (see  below)  has  existed  at  least 

since  the  1 2th  century.  The  advowson 
CHURCHES   was    originally    appurtenant    to    the 

manor  of  Chigwell  Hall  (see  above). s^ 
By  about  1254  a  vicarage  existed  as  well  as  a  rectory.ss 
The  names  of  the  vicars  have  been  recorded  from  the 
early  14th  century.  They  were  presented  by  the  rectors 
and  at  first  held  only  permissive  office.  In  1374,  how- 
ever, a  vicarage  was  formally  ordained  by  the  Bishop  of 
London  on  the  application  of  Henry  Marmion  then 
rector  and  Richard  de  Benlace,  then  vicar.s*  Shortly 
before  this,  in  1362,  Sir  John  de  Goldingham,  lord  of 
Chigwell  Hall,  conveyed  the  advowson  of  the  rectory 
to  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,5s  but  there  is 
no  evidence  that  the  grant  became  effective.  In  the 
same  year  as  the  grant  Alexander  de  Goldingham,  son 
of  Sir  John,  presented  to  the  rectory,  and  he  did  so  on 
several  later  occasions  up  to  1386.56  In  1388  Sir 
Alexander  conveyed  the  advowson  to  John,  Lord 
Bourchier.s'  Bourchier  presented  in  1392  and  his  son 
Bartholomew,  3rd  Lord  Bourchier,  in  1400.58  In 
1404  Bartholomew  conveyed  the  advowson  to  John 
son  of  William  Doreward  of  Bocking.5'  This  grant 
was  confirmed  in  1425  by  Sir  Walter  de  Goldingham.*" 
In  1439  John  son  of  John  Doreward  gave  the  advowson 
to  the  priory  of  St.  Botolph,  Colchester,  and  in  1440 
the  rectory  was  appropriated  to  the  priory,  which  pre- 
sented to  the  vicarage  of  Chigwell  in  1442  and  1443.*' 
The  appropriation  was  short-lived.  In  1447  a  new 
rector  was  presented  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
and  in  145 1  a  new  vicar  was  presented  not  by  the 
priory  but,  as  previously,  by  the  rector.*^ 

In  1460  the  priory  presented  Ralph  Bird  to  the 
rectory.*3  In  1465  the  king  granted  the  rectory  to 
Kemp's  Chantry  in  St.  Paul's  cathedral,  newly  founded 
by  Thomas  Kemp,  Bishop  of  London.**  The  office  of 
priest  in  this  chantry  was  united  with  that  of  penitentiary 
in  the  cathedral.  In  1470  Ralph  Bird  became  Pre- 
bendary of  St.  Pancras  in  the  cathedral.*s  Soon  after 
this  the  prebend  was  formally  united  with  the  offices 


"  E.R.  Ixii  (Apr.),  p.  53. 
"  P.C.C.  24.  Leicester. 

33  E.R.  Ixii  (Apr.),  pp.  53-54. 

34  P.C.C.  98  Leicester. 

35  Chigwell  Par.  Reg. 

3'  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M98.  On  several 
occasions  during  George  Scott's  lifetime 
the  manor  was  vested  in  trustees. 

3'  P.C.C.  75  Essex. 

3'  E.R.  Ixii  (July),  p.  4.0. 

39  P.C.C.  75  Essex;  P.C.C.  22  Hare. 

*»  P.C.C.  i64Romncy. 

*■  Chigwell  Par.  Reg.;  P.C.C.  74 
Farrant. 

•»2  Par.  Reg. 

<3  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M108. 

**  P.C.C.  417  Collins.  William  Bodle, 
father  of  Robert,  had  married  Elizabeth, 


daughter  of  George  Scott,  brother  of  the 
William  Scott  who  had  died  in  1725: 
Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  706. 

■•5  P.C.C.  491  Ducarel. 

«6  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 

■»'  Par.  Reg. 

•»8  Burke's  L.G.  (15th  edn.),  712; 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

«  E.R.  Ixii  (Sept.),  p.  45. 

50  Ibid. 

51  Ibid.  For  recent  photos,  of  Woolston 
Hall  see  E.R.  Ixii  (Apr.)  49,  (July)  37. 
For  some  details  of  the  furnishings  of  the 
house  in  1588  see  E.A.T.  n.s.  xi,  338. 
The  house  then  included  a  'great  chamber', 
a  'garden  chamber',  a  'gallery  chamber', 
a  'green  chamber',  a  kitchen  and  a  brew- 
house. 


5^  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  140—2. 

53  E.A.T.  ti.s.  xviii,  18. 

s*  Reg.  Sudbury  (Cant.  &  York  Soc), 
i,  176—9;  Marmion  died  in  1375.  For  his 
will  see  E.A.T.  N.s.  xi,  1 1 . 

55  Challenor  Smith,  Additions  to  Neiv- 
court^  29. 

5'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  142. 

5'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  209. 

s8  Newcourt,  ibid. 

59  Ca/.  Close,  1402-5,  297-8. 

'"'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iv,  5. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  140-2. 

"  Ibid. 

'3  Ibid. 

'*  Ibid.  141. 

'5  Ibid,  i,  195. 


32 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


of  penitentiary  and  priest  of  Kemp's  chantry,  and 
subsequent  prebendaries  of  St.  Pancras  were  sinecure 
rectors  of  Chigwell  and  presented  to  the  vicarage  until 
1848,  when  the  rectory  was  vested  in  the  Ecclesiastical 
Commissioners  and  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage  in  the 
Bishop  of  London.**  The  patronage  has  subsequently 
been  exercised  by  the  bishops  of  the  diocese  in  which 
Chigwell  has  been,  and  the  present  patron  is  thus  the 
Bishop  of  Chelmsford.*' 

In  about  1254  the  value  of  the  rectory  was  stated  to 
be  15  marks  and  that  of  the  vicarage  10  marks.**  In 
1291  the  church  was  valued  at  25  marks.*'  When  the 
church  was  appropriated  in  1440  its  annual  value  was 
said  not  to  exceed  ^^^24  and  the  vicarage  was  then 
valued  at  18  marks.'"  In  1535  the  vicarage  was  valued 
at  ;£i8."  In  1839  the  rectorial  tithes  were  commuted 
for  ;£900,  and  the  vicarial  tithes  for  £500.  There  were 
then  54  acres  of  rectorial  glebe  and  10  acres  of  vicarial 
glebe.'^ 

In  and  after  the  i6th  century  the  impropriators 
usually  farmed  out  the  rectorial  glebe  and  tithes.  Thus 
in  1540  the  rectory  was  leased  for  31  years  to  Hugh 
Fen  of  Stepney.'^  In  1 5  64  William  Colshill  and  Barbara 
his  wife,  who  had  succeeded  to  Fen's  interest  in  the 
lease,  conveyed  it  to  Nicholas  Fulham  of  Chigwell.'* 
In  1569  Fulham  sold  the  lease  to  Robert  Spakman.'s 
From  1635  to  1660  Thomas  Andrews,  a  relative  of 
Roger  Andrews,  vicar  in  1605-6,  was  lessee  of  the 
rectory.'*  William  Andrews  was  lessee  in  1697— 
1729."  In  1753  the  rectory  was  being  leased  by 
James  Crokatt  of  Luxborough."  On  his  death  it 
passed  ( 1 776)  to  his  daughter  Jane,  wife  of  Sir  Alexander 
Crauford,  ist  Bt."  In  1791  a  new  lease  was  granted 
to  Sir  Alexander  for  the  term  of  the  lives  of  his  children 
James,  John,  and  Cecilia.'"  The  reversion  of  the  lease 
was  offered  for  sale  in  1800  for  j^i  3,000.  It  was 
bought  by  George  Clark  of  West  Hatch*'  on  whose 
death  it  was  sold  to  William  le  Gros,  also  of  West 
Hatch.*^  Le  Gros  died  in  1820  and  John  Boote 
bought  the  lease.*'  Boote  held  it  until  1848  when  the 
rectory  came  into  the  hands  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Com- 
missioners. They  evidently  bought  out  the  unexpired 
portion  of  Boote's  lease  about  the  same  time.** 

The  Guild  of  the  Holy  Trinity  had  an  altar  in  the 
parish  church.  *5  At  the  time  of  its  dissolution  in  1 548 
the  guild  owned  a  house  and  some  9  acres  of  land,  and 
also  had  60  sheep  and  10  cows.  The  net  annual  value 
of  these  endowments  was  ;^i  10/.  6<2'.**  The  land  con- 
sisted of  Fishes,  Little  Berdes,  and  Brockesfeld  (Brook- 
house  Seld).  It  had  been  given  by  Thomas  Ilderton, 
stockfishmonger  of  London  (d.  1527-8),  for  the  pur- 
pose of  endowing  a  priest  to  sing  at  Trinity  altar. 
Ilderton  also  left  the  10  cows  to  the  guild.*'  The  sheep 
were  the  gift  of  William  Butler.  When  the  property 
of  the  guild  was  valued  by  the  royal  officials  in  1548 
the  net  income  was  assessed  at  41/.  6/,  the  value  of  the 


stock  at  £8  and  the  total  value  for  purchase  at  ^^5  3  1 3/. 
In  the  same  year  the  property  was  sold  to  John  Whyte- 
horne  and  John  Bayly  of  Chard  (Som.).**  It  is  not 
clear  when  the  guild  had  been  founded.  The  earliest 
reference  to  it  is  in  1 5 17,  in  the  will  of  one  John 
FuUham.*9 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  MJRr  THE  VIRGIN 
consists  of  nave,  chancel,  south  aisle,  and  chapel.  The 
timber  bell-turret  at  the  west  end  of  the  aisle  is  sur- 
mounted by  a  small  copper  spire.  There  is  a  south 
porch  and  a  vestry  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel. 
The  walls  are  of  flint  rubble  covered  with  cement  and 
have  dressings  of  limestone.  The  roofs  are  tiled.  In 
the  churchyard,  between  the  south  porch  and  the  main 
road,  is  a  double  row  of  ancient  yew  trees. 

In  its  original  form  the  church  dates  from  the  late 
1 2th  century,  when  it  would  have  covered  the  ground 
now  occupied  by  the  south  aisle,  which  was  then  the 
nave,  with  a  chancel  somewhat  smaller  than  the  present 
chapel.  Of  this  early  church  only  the  south  wall  now 
remains.  In  this  wall  is  a  fine  Norman  doorway  with 
semicircular  arch  ornamented  with  double  chevrons, 
panelled  tympanum,  segmental  soffit,  and  free-shafted 
jambs.  The  window  immediately  to  the  east  of  this 
door  also  probably  dates  from  the  12th  century  but  has 
an  inserted  mullion  and  is  modern  externally.  On  the 
inside  of  the  south  wall  on  the  east  of  the  door  is  a 
holy-water  stoup  from  which  the  basin  has  long  dis- 
appeared. 

In  the  15  th  century  a  north  aisle  was  added,  the 
original  north  wall  being  opened  to  insert  the  existing 
arcade  of  four  bays,  of  which  the  two  centre  arches  are 
moulded,  with  moulded  piers,  capitals,  and  bases.  The 
Scott  family  of  Woolston  Hall  (see  above)  claimed  the 
chapel  of  this  aisle  as  their  private  property.'"  As  they 
first  obtained  possession  of  the  manor  about  1475  it  is 
not  unlikely  that  they  were  responsible  for  this  addition 
to  the  church.  About  the  same  time  the  chancel  was 
probably  lengthened  and  the  western  bell-turret  added 
to  the  end  of  the  former  nave.  The  turret  is  made  of 
eight  stout  vertical  timber  posts  with  curved  braces  and 
the  whole  frame  stands  independently  of  the  fabric, 
being  walled  round  at  the  time  of  its  erection,  with  a 
window  of  three  pointed  lights  in  the  west  wall.  Soon 
after  this  the  aisle  was  extended  from  the  old  north 
door  (opposite  the  present  south  door)  to  bring  its  west 
wall  level  with  the  bell-turret.  This  extension  was 
carried  out  by  Thomas  Ilderton,  the  benefactor  of  the 
Trinity  Guild  (see  above),  who  gave  instructions  in  his 
will  (1527)  that  he  should  be  buried  in  the  aisle  and 
that  an  inscription  on  his  grave  should  record  the 
extension  for  which  he  had  been  responsible  and  also 
his  gifts  to  the  guild."  This  brass  inscription  existed 
as  late  as  18 10  but  has  since  disappeared.'^  At  about 
the  same  time  as  these  works  were  carried  out  the  nave 
was  probably  re-roofed.    Many  of  the  existing  roof 


"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/12.  Several 
prebendaries  between  1470  and  1848 
presented  themselves  to  the  vicarage. 

"  Crockford's  Cler.  Din.  passim ;  Chcl. 
Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  (1952). 

6«  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  18. 

M   Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  2ii. 

70  Newcourt,  i?tf^tfr/.  ii,  140. 

'■  Fahr  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78.  At  that  time  the 
Revd.  .\.  R.  Chauvel,  Prebendary  of  St. 
Pancras,  was  also  vicar. 

'3  Cat.  And.  D.  iii,  A.  5524;  Newcourt, 
Reperl.  ii,  141. 

'«  Ibid.  "  C3/62/52. 


T>  E.R.O.,  D/AEV/5,  7. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEV/16-21. 

'8  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T337. 

79  Lysons,  Environs  of  London  (18 10),  i, 
64.8.  8»  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T337. 

*'  Lysons,  op.  cit.  i,  648.  For  a  survey 
of  the  glebe  of  the  rectory  and  of  all  tithe 
payers  c.  1800  see  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/3/3. 

"  Ibid. 

M  Ifhite'!  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  415; 
E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/2-11;  E.R.O., 
D/CT  78. 

84  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/12;  ibid.  166/ 

3/3- 

85  E.A.T.  N.s.  X,  236-8. 

3Z 


8'  Ibid.  The  gross  income  was  43J.  ^d. 
Reserved  rents  of  ys,  lod.  and  an  annual 
payment  of  55.  to  the  poor  were  chargeable 
against  this. 

8'  Ibid.  238.  For  Ilderton's  will  see 
ibid.  316.  He  also  extended  the  north 
aisle  (see  below). 

88  E.A.T.N.s.x,ZiSiCal.Pat.  1547-8, 
287. 

89  Archd.  Essex  3  Sell. 

9»  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M82,  L3.  Many 
members  of  the  family  were  buried  in  this 
chapel.  «'  E.A.T.  ■!).$.  X,  316. 

92  Lysons,  Environs  of  London  (1810),  i, 
647- 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


timbers  in  the  present  south  aisle  date  from  this 
period. 

Early  in  the  i6th  century  the  church  must  have 
been  in  good  repair,  but  a  century  later  the  chancel 
was  said  to  be  ruinous.'-J  About  1600  a  gallery  was 
built  at  the  west  end  of  the  old  nave,  on  the  order  of 
Samuel  Harsnett  (vicar  1 597-1605,  later  Archbishop 
of  York).'*  At  the  Archdeacon's  Visitation  in  1638  it 
was  ordered  that  the  chancel  floor  should  be  raised  by 
three  steps  and  properly  paved,  that  a  new  rail  should  be 
made  round  the  communion  table,  the  belfry  boarded 
with  deal  and  the  spire  shingled.'' 

In  1704  the  church  was  undergoing  repair.'*  In 
1722  a  second  gallery,  for  the  charity  girls  (see  below, 
Schools),  was  built  at  the  west  end  of  the  north  aisle. 
In  1745  a  subscription  was  raised  for  'ornamenting  the 
steeple',  when  presumably  the  weather-vane  was 
added."  The  roof  of  the  old  nave  was  repaired  in 
1800:  this  involved  repair  of  some  of  the  old  roof 
timbers  and  the  replacement  of  the  lead  covering  with 
tiles.'*  Meanwhile,  in  1793,  another  gallery  had  been 
added,  and  in  1805  a  fourth  was  built."  One  of  the 
new  galleries  was  probably  that  at  the  east  end  of  the 
north  aisle  which  was  the  private  pew  of  the  Hatch 
family,  lords  of  Chigwell  Hall  (see  above).' 

The  spire  was  re-shingled  in  1835.^  By  this  time  the 
accommodation  of  the  church  was  becoming  insuffi- 
cient for  the  needs  of  a  growing  population.  In  1853 
there  was  a  proposal  to  extend  the  church  by  the  addi- 
tion of  a  south  aisle.3  This  plan,  which  would  have 
destroyed  the  south  door  and  all  the  remaining  Norman 
fabric,  was  abandoned,  but  in  1854  there  was  con- 
siderable restoration.  This  included  alterations  to  the 
windows  in  the  south  wall.  It  was  carried  out  under 
the  direction  of  F.  T.  DoUman.*  The  church  was  not 
actually  enlarged  until  1886,  when  Sir  Arthur  Blom- 
field  prepared  plans  upon  which  the  present  nave  and 
chancel  are  based.'  The  old  nave  became  the  present 
south  aisle  and  the  old  north  aisle  was  demolished  to 
make  way  for  the  present  nave,  which  is  considerably 
larger.  In  1 896  the  nave  and  chancel  were  redecorated 
and  the  alabaster  reredos  and  pulpit,  both  designed  by 
G.  F.  Bodley,  were  installed.*  The  oak  screen  in  the 
south  aisle  is  a  War  memorial,  unveiled  in  1920.7 

In  1552  there  were  three  bells,  to  which  three  more 
were  added  in  1693.  The  three  original  bells  were 
replaced  in  1737,  1743,  and  1771.  All  five  bells  were 
recast  in  1910,  and  at  the  same  time  a  sixth  was  added.' 

The  church  plate  is  among  the  finest  in  Essex.  There 
are  two  silver  cups,  one  given  in  1607  by  John  Pening- 
ton  of  Chigwell  Hall,  the  other  inscribed  'a  widow's 
gift  A.  A.  1633'  (she  was  Alice  Andrews,  a  relative  of 
Roger  Andrews,  vicar  1605-6,  and  Thomas  Andrews, 
lessee  of  the  rectory  1635-60).  There  are  four  silver 
patens  of  1609,  1632,  1633  and  1832,  and  a  silver 
flagon  inscribed  with  the  arms  of  William  Scott  of 


"  E.R.O.,  D/AEA/14. 

9*  Ckignvell  Register  (1907),  14.. 
«5  E.R.O.,  D/AEV/7.  ««  Ibid.  17. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11.    The  copper 
covering  was  not  paid  for  by  this  sub- 
scription.  This  came  much  later. 
98  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/10. 
M  Ibid.  166/5/6. 
■  E.j4.T.  U.S.  xii,  137  f.    Probably  the 
1805  gallery,  since  James  Hatch  acquired 
Chigwell  Hall  in  1 800. 
»  E.R.O.,  166/5/6. 
'  Ibid.  1 66/8/ 1 1. 
*  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  138. 
5  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 


<■  E.R.  V,  65. 


*  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  209 ;  E.R.  xix,  204. 
«  CA.  Plate  Essex,  98.   The  1607  plate 
illustrated,  p.  122. 

">  For  Harsnett  see  E.R.  xxi,  2 1  and  li,  9. 
For  his  brass  see  f^.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  544. 
It  was  originally  set  over  his  grave  in  the 
old  chancel,  now  the  south  chapel. 

'^  Rampston  was  buried  in  Chingford 
church:£.^.r.  N.s.  X,  186. 

'^  For  Ilderton's  brass  see  above.  For 
the  unknown  man  see  E.A.T.  N.s.  x,  185. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  X,  237,  312;  xi,  10,  150, 

335- 
'♦  St.  Winifred's  was  the  gift  of  Mr.  J. 


Woolston  Hall  and  dated  17 13.  The  1632  paten  was 
also  given  by  Alice  Andrews.' 

In  the  chancel  is  the  well-known  brass  to  Samuel 
Harsnett  (d.  163 1),  Vicar  of  Chigwell  and  later  suc- 
cessively Bishop  of  Chichester,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  and 
Archbishop  of  York.'"  There  is  a  brass  in  the  nave  to 
Robert  Rampston  (1585),  a  benefactor  to  the  poor  of 
this  and  other  neighbouring  parishes."  In  the  south 
chapel  is  a  wall  monument  to  Thomas  Colshill  (1595), 
Surveyor  of  the  Customs  under  Edward  VI,  Mary,  and 
Elizabeth,  and  Mary  (Crayford)  his  wife.  On  the 
south  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  monument  to  George  Scott 
(1683)  and  Elizabeth  (Cheyne)  his  wife.  (1705). 
Along  the  roof  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  series  of  painted 
hatchments  of  arras  relating  to  families  that  have  been 
prominent  in  the  parish,  including  those  of  Scott  of 
Woolston,  and  Hatch-Abdy  of  Chigwell  Hall.  The 
brasses  of  Thomas  Ilderton  (1527—8)  and  an  un- 
known man  {c.  1 5 10),  which  were  formerly  in  the 
church,  have  now  disappeared.'^ 

Numerous  small  bequests  to  the  church  of  Chigwell 
in  the  15th  and  i6th  centuries  were  recorded  in  the 
series  of  articles  on  'Old  Chigwell  Wills'  by  W.  C. 
Waller.'3 

The  ancient  parish  of  Chigwell  was  divided  in  the 
19th  century  by  the  creation  of  new  parishes  at  Buck- 
hurst  Hill  and  Chigwell  Row  (see  below).  In  1935 
the  small  church  of  ST.  WINIFRED  was  built  at 
Grange  Hill  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to  St.  Mary's,  Chigwell. 
It  is  a  small  brick  building  faced  with  cement.  Adjoin- 
ing it  is  an  iron  mission  room,  erected  about  i886.''* 

The  parish  church  of -Sr.  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST, 
Buckhurst  Hill,  was  built  in  1837  as  a  chapel  of  ease. 
In  the  following  year  Buckhurst  Hill  was  constituted 
a  separate  ecclesiastical  district."  In  1848  the  minister 
there  had  an  income  oi  £60  a  year,  of  which  ;^40  came 
from  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners  and  the  re- 
mainder from  pew  rents.'*  Buckhurst  Hill  became  a 
separate  parish  in  1867.  The  living  was  endowed  with 
j{^200  tithes  by  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners  (as 
owners  of  the  rectorial  tithes  of  Chigwell)  and  was 
declared  a  rectory  under  the  District  Church  Tithes 
Act,  1865.'''  The  patron  of  the  new  rectory  was  the 
Vicar  of  Chigwell  until  about  l93i,whentheadvowson 
passed  to  the  Bishop  of  Chelmsford.'* 

The  church  consists  of  nave,  chancel,  aisles,  north 
porch,  and  tower  with  pinnacles  and  spire.  It  origin- 
ally consisted  of  nave,  chancel,  and  tower,"  and  has  been 
several  times  enlarged.^"  It  is  a  stone  building  in  the 
Early  English  style. 

The  mission  church  of  ST.  STEPHEN,  Albert 
Road,  Buckhurst  Hill  was  built  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to 
St.  John's  in  1876.^'  The  mission  church  of  ST. 
ELISABETH,  Chestnut  Avenue,  Buckhurst  Hill, 
which  is  also  in  this  parish,  was  opened  in  1938." 
They  are  both  small  brick  buildings. 

'  E.R.  XXX,  46. 


Sanders ;  for  the  iron  room  see  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex  {1SS6,  1890). 

'5  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1859,  1933). 

■6  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/3/3. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895);  E.R.O., 
D/P  166/3/3.  The  Act  was  28  &  29 
Vict.  C.42. 

**  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex,  passim. 

■9  prate's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

">  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933);  Buckhurst 
Hill,  pub.  J.  W.  Phelp  {c.  1 897 :  a  local 
handbk.). 

^'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

22  Inf.  from  Canon  I.  Whitehouse, 
Rector  of  Buckhurst  Hill. 


34 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


In  1848  a  room  in  the  old  workhouse  at  Chigwell 
Row  was  being  used  for  services.  It  had  accommoda- 
tion for  100  but  was  then  overcrowded.^-!  Chigwell 
Row  became  a  separate  ecclesiastical  district  in  1 860.^ 
The  parish  church  was  built  in  1867,  and  in  the 
same  year  Chigwell  Row  became  a  separate  parish.^5 
The  living,  like  that  of  Buckhurst  Hill,  was  declared 
a  rectory,  having  been  endowed  with  tithes  which  in 
1886  were  estimated  to  produce  j^343  a  year,  and  6 
acres  of  glebe.^*  The  advowson  was  at  first  vested  in 
the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  but  from  about  1 874  has  been 
exercised  alternately  by  the  bishop  and  the  Crown.^' 

Bartholomew  Hartley  Foulger  of  Chigwell  Row, 
by  will  proved  1930,  left  ^1,000  for  the  upkeep  of  the 
churchyard,  provided  that  certain  graves  and  his  family 
memorial  tablet  were  kept  in  repair.  In  1950  the  whole 
income  was  spent  on  the  churchyard.^* 

The  Revd.  Alfred  W.  Gross  of  Woodford  Wells,  by 
will  proved  193 1,  left  X^ioo  duty-free  to  maintain 
Chigwell  Row  church  and  churchyard.  In  1950  the 
whole  income  was  spent  on  the  churchyard.^' 

The  church  oi  ALL  SAINTS  is  a  stone  building  in 
Gothic  style.  It  originally  contained  nave,  chancel, 
aisles,  and  west  porch.   A  tower  was  added  in  1903.30 

The  church  of  ST.  PAUL,  Hainault,  was  built  in 
195 1,  and  in  1953  became  the  centre  of  a  new  Con- 
ventional District  which  includes  parts  of  the  parishes 
of  Chigwell  Row,  Chigwell,  and  the  Ascension,  Collier 
Row,  together  with  part  of  the  Conventional  District 
of  St.  Francis  of  Assisi,  Barkingside.s' 

A  private  chapel  at  Tumours  Hall,  Gravel  Lane, 
was  used  for  public  worship  for  some  years  about 
1912.32 

The  Convent  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  and  Mary 
(formerly  the  Manor  House)  at 
ROMAN  Woodford  Bridge  was  consecrated 

CATHOLICISM  in  1925.  It  is  served  from  Wood- 
ford.33  A  school  is  carried  on  in 
connexion  with  the  convent.3'*  The  church  of  the 
Assumption  was  opened  in  Manford  Way,  Hainault, 
in  November  1953.35 


PROTESTANT 
NONCONFORMITT 


On  31  May  1804  a  nonconformist  chapel  was 
opened  at  Chigwell  Row.3* 
The  minister  was  a  Mr. 
Booth.  Among  the  original 
trustees  were  Joseph 
Fletcher,  shipbuilder  of  Shadwell  Dock,  and  Isaac 
Gould  of  Loughton.  Henry  Fletcher  had  bought 
Clare  Hall  in  1801,  and  its  name  had  been  changed 
to  Chapel  House.3'  The  chapel  was  usually  described 
during  the  19th  century  as  Independent  and  supported 
the  Essex  Congregational  Union.  In  1829  the  minister 
reported  that  his  congregation  numbered  200-50,  of 
whom  100  'may  properly  be  called  dissenters,  accord- 
ing to  our  system'. 3 8  In  1831  the  chapel  opened  a 
school  (see  Schools).  During  the  early  1840's,  under 
its  minister  the  Revd.  T.  Hill,  it  made  itself  responsible 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/3/3.  "  See  below,  Schools. 

M  Kellfi  Dir.  Essex  (1870).  "  Calk.  Dir.  (1954),  129. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  (1886). 

"  Ibid.  (18701). 

'»  Char.  Com.  Recs. 

"  Ibid. 

30  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

"  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  P.  H.  Wingham. 

3^  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (19 1 2);  inf.  from 
Mrs.  Beattie  of  Tumours  Hall.  The 
chapel  is  still  used  for  private  services. 

"  Brentwood  R.C.)  Diocesan  Tear  Bk. 
>953- 


for  the  mission  at  Abridge  (in  Lambourne,  q.v.).'« 
During  the  next  ten  years  the  Chigwell  Row  church 
was  in  difficulties.t"  In  1857  the  British  School  was 
temporarily  closed  and  the  church  itself  barely  sur- 
vived. In  the  following  year,  however,  the  school  was 
reopened  and  the  church  was  said  to  be  reviving.*' 

The  church  experienced  further  difficulties  during 
the  next  few  years,  partly  as  the  result  of  Anglican 
opposition.*^  About  1866,  however,  it  began  to  sup- 
port a  mission  in  Chigwell  Road,  which  later  developed 
into  a  small  church  (see  below).*3  The  church  at 
Chigwell  Row  could  usually  afford  to  keep  a  minister 
at  this  period.  In  or  about  1882  it  once  again  under- 
took to  support  the  Abridge  church.**  In  1904  there 
were  37  members,  80  Sunday  school  pupils,  and  3 
teachers.*5  In  1925  the  numbers  were  52,  53,  and  10 
respectively.**  The  society  is  now  (1952)  a  United 
Free  Church  with  80  members,  50  Sunday  school 
pupils,  and  18  teachers.  It  has  had  a  lay  pastor  since 
1938.*' 

The  church  is  a  rectangular  building  of  gault  brick 
with  stone  or  cement  dressings.  If  this  is  the  original 
building  of  1804  the  front  must  have  been  altered 
during  the  second  half  of  the  19th  century.  Beside  it 
is  an  iron  building  used  as  a  schoolroom.  This  was 
brought  from  Leytonstone  in  1880.** 

In  1866  the  Essex  Congregational  Union  was 
making  a  small  grant  to  help  mission  work  in  Chigwell.*' 
In  the  following  year  it  was  reported  that  a  room  in 
Chigwell  Road  had  been  opened  for  worship  and  that 
congregations  numbered  about  130.  Services  were 
held  by  the  Revd.  F.  Neller,  of  the  Chigwell  Row 
Congregational  Church.^"  In  1870  the  mission  was 
flourishing,  but  the  landlord  had  given  the  members 
notice  to  quit.s'  About  1875  the  Chigwell  Road 
society  appears  to  have  become  associated  with  one  at 
Woodford  Bridge:  in  that  year  they  had  a  joint  super- 
intendent, E.  W.  Skinner.52  From  this  time  support 
was  being  given  by  the  Woodford  Congregational 
Church.s3 

In  1890  the  two  missions  were  united  under  the 
superintendence  of  G.  H.  Giddins,  minister  of  the 
Ray  Lodge  Congregational  Church,  Woodford,  which 
church  had  itself  been  founded  by  the  Woodford  Con- 
gregational Church. 5*  Land  was  bought  in  Smeaton 
Road,  Chigwell,  near  Woodford  Bridge,  and  an  iron 
chapel  was  given  by  T.  W.  Orr.  Financial  support  by 
W.  H.  Brown  enabled  a  resident  missionary  to  be 
retained  from  1903  to  1932.55  The  chapel  remained 
under  the  care  of  the  Woodford  Congregational  Church 
when  Ray  Lodge  became  independent  in  1930,  and  in 
1947  became  a  branch  of  the  Woodford  Green  United 
Free  Church,  in  which  the  Woodford  Congregational 
Church  was  merged. 5*  There  is  a  lay  pastor  at  the 
Smeaton  Road  church.  The  iron  building  was 
damaged  by  enemy  action  during  the  Second  World  ■ 
War.57 


3*  Evangelical  Mag.  xii  (1804.),  p.  334. 

37  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M81. 

38  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2/23. 

39  Essex  Congr.   Union  Rep.   1847,  pp. 
20-21. 

■to  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/3/3. 

•»■  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1858. 

<2  Ibid.  1859,  i860,  1861. 

<3  Ibid.  1866  f. 

"  Ibid.  1882. 

■•5  Congr.  Tear  Bk.  1904. 

♦«  Ibid.  1925. 


<'  Congr.  Tear  Bk.  1952. 

**  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep,  1880. 

«  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1866. 

50  Ibid.  1867.  The  room  was  in  the 
house  of  a  Mr.  Root. 

s'  Ibid.  1870. 

5=  Ibid.  1875. 

53  A.  G.  Kidd,  'The  Pioneers,  a  Short 
Hist,  of  the  Woodford  Green  United  Free 
Church'  (Typescript,  1948). 

5<  Ibid. 

55  Ibid. 

5'  Ibid.      ■ 

5'  IHd. 


35 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


The  first  nonconformist  meetings  at  Buckhurst  Hill 
took  place  soon  after  the  extension  of  the  railway  from 
Woodford.  In  i860  Mr.  Gingell,  of  Hill  Farm,  Buck- 
hurst Hill,  a  Baptist  missioner  at  Epping,  built  two 
cottages  near  his  home.  In  one  of  them  his  daughters 
opened  a  Sunday  school.'*  About  1863  he  built  a 
mission  room  in  Alfred  Road,  where  he  and  Noah 
Heath  held  services,  assisted  by  students  from  Spur- 
geon's  College,  London.'"  In  1864  the  Woodford 
Congregational  Church  started  a  Sunday  school  at 
Buckhurst  Hill.*°  Congregational  services  were 
opened  soon  after  this  in  a  room  next  door  to  the  'Bald 
Faced  Stag'  and  also  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Straker, 
'Fairlands',  Epping  New  Road.*"  In  1866  all  the 
above  missions  united  to  form  the  Buckhurst  Hill  Con- 
gregational Church.  In  that  year  a  schoolroom  was 
opened  in  Palmerston  Road,  at  a  cost  oC  £l^.So  for  the 
land  and  £1,700  for  the  building.*^  About  £1,500 
was  already  promised  by  supporters  of  the  new 
church.'s  The  church  was  at  first  associated  with  that 
at  Woodford,  but  in  1868  William  Dorling  came 
to  Buckhurst  Hill  as  the  first  minister.*''  Three  years 
later  he  left  the  church  after  a  disagreement  with  some 
of  the  members  and  took  part  of  the  congregation  with 
him  to  form  the  King's  Place  Independent  Church 
(see  below).  In  1872  W.  H.  Charlesworth  became 
minister  at  Palmerston  Road  and  in  1 874  a  new  church 
was  built  there  at  a  cost  of  £6,ooo.*5  Charlesworth 
remained  until  1890.  In  1904  there  were  75  church 
members,  80  Sunday  school  pupils,  and  10  teachers.** 
A  new  organ  was  installed  in  1907  at  a  cost  of  £350 
and  in  191 3  the  schoolroom  was  enlarged.*'  In  19 14 
there  were  100  members,  65  pupils,  and  11  teachers.** 
The  church  celebrated  its  jubilee  in  1924  and  a  brief 
history  was  compiled  to  mark  the  event.*'  In  1925 
there  were  117  members,  160  pupils,  and  20  teachers.'''' 
A  mission  station  was  opened  at  Roding  Valley  in  1948 
and  in  1952  the  church  had  in  all  164  members,  140 
pupils,  1 8  teachers,  and  2  lay  preachers.  The  minister, 
the  Revd.  N.  F.  Perry  had  been  there  since  1947." 

The  church  is  an  imposing  stone  building  consisting 
of  nave,  chancel  (facing  north),  transepts,  and  south 
tower  with  pinnacles.  Behind  it  to  the  north  is  the 
earlier  schoolroom,  of  red  brick  with  a  slate  roof. 

In  1 87 1  the  Revd.  W.  Dorling  seceded  from 
Palmerston  Road  and  took  some  of  the  members  with 
him  to  form  the  King's  Place  Independent  Church. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  character  and  advanced 
thought,  a  powerful  preacher  and  an  able  writer  for 
Tie  Christian  World.  His  resignation  from  Palmerston 
Road  was  the  result  of  a  controversy  that  had  arisen 
within  that  church  concerning  the  doctrine  of  the 
'larger  hope',  of  which  Dorling  was  a  strong  advocate. 
This  doctrine  was  distasteful  to  part  of  his  congregation, 


which  preferred  that  of  eternal  punishment.  Among 
his  supporters,  however,  was  a  large  and  influential 
section  of  the  church.'^  These  people  acquired  a  site 
at  the  other  (east)  end  of  Palmerston  Road  opposite 
King's  Place  and  there  built  an  iron  church  which  was 
opened  in  October  1871.  Dorling  was  appointed 
'Pastor  of  the  said  chapel  for  life  or  until  he  should 
voluntarily  resign  the  .  .  .  ofiice'.'-s  The  King's  Place 
church  was  known  locally  as  'Mr.  Dorling's  church'. 
It  is  remarkable  that  those  who  contributed  to  its 
erection  were  largely  those  who  had  subscribed  towards 
the  original  building  at  Palmerston  Road  in  1866.'-* 

Dorling  remained  pastor  at  King's  Place  for  3  5  years, 
retiring  in  1906.  He  died  in  I9I2.'5  His  congrega- 
tion had  in  1887  built  a  brick  church  on  the  site,  ap- 
parently retaining  the  original  iron  church  until  1900, 
when  they  sold  it  to  the  Baptists.  After  Dorling's  retircr 
ment  the  brick  church  was  also  sold  to  become  the 
Palmerston  Road  Baptist  Church  (see  below).  The 
proceeds  of  the  latter  sale  went  to  Cheshunt  College, 
where  Dorling  had  been  trained  for  the  ministry.'* 

The  Queen's  Road  Baptist  Church,  Buckhurst  Hill, 
was  formed  about  1861,  when  the  Revd.  H.  Cousens 
became  minister."  In  1866  a  church  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  £1,200,  with  accommodation  for  250.'*  In 
1869  there  were  37  members.''  Cousens  remained 
until  1885,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Revd.  E.  G. 
Ince,  who  came  from  Australia.*"  Soon  after  1890  the 
church  was  closed.*'  It  later  became  known  as  Buck- 
hurst Hill  Hall  and  was  used  for  public  meetings  and 
entertainments.  It  was  enlarged  in  1912.*^  It  is  now 
used  as  a  branch  of  the  County  Library.  It  is  a  small 
red-brick  building. 

Soon  after  the  closing  of  the  Queen's  Road  Baptist 
Church  meetings  were  resumed  by  some  of  the  mem- 
bers under  the  leadership  of  Noah  Heath.  They  hired 
Rigg's  Retreat,  Princes  Road,  from  1894  to  1897  and 
in  1899  founded  a  church,  with  the  Revd.  J.  R.  Cox 
as  minister. *3  In  1902  an  iron  building  was  erected  in 
Princes  Road.  The  church  lost  some  members  soon 
after  this  to  the  Palmerston  Road  Baptist  Church  (see 
below).*''  In  1906  Cox  was  succeeded  by  his  son  F.  A. 
Cox  and  in  19 10  there  were  55  members,  70  children 
in  the  Sunday  school,  and  7  teachers.*'  By  1930  there 
were  only  25  members,  45  children,  and  3  teachers.** 
From  1924  to  about  1933  F.  .A..  Cox  was  again  minister, 
but  the  church  appears  to  have  closed  about  1934.*' 
It  stood  near  the  west  end  of  Princes  Road  on  the  north 
side.** 

The  Baptist  church,  Palmerston  Road,  Buckhurst 
Hill,  was  founded  in  1900,  when  the  iron  building 
that  had  been  the  original  King's  Place  Congregational 
Church  was  bought  by  the  London  Baptist  Associa- 
tion.*'   Many  early  adherents  came  from  the  Princes 


5'  G.  Teverson,  Brief  Chronicle  of  so 
Tears  Service^  i8y4—ig24  (a  history  of 
Palmerston  Rd.  Congregational  Church, 
Buckhurst  Hill) ;  W.  T.  Whitley,  Baptists 
of  hondon^  189. 

5^  Ibid.  For  the  later  history  of  the 
Alfred  Road  Hall  see  below. 

'°  A.  G.  Kidd,  'The  Pioneers'. 

"  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep,  1866;  G. 
Teverson,  Brief  Chronicle. 

^^  Teverson,  op.  cit. 

''  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1866. 

'*  Congr.  Tear  Bk.  1867,  1868,  1869. 
Mr.  A.  W.  Dorling  of  Woodford  Green, 
grandson  of  the  Revd.  W.  Dorling,  now 
owns  the  original  letter  inviting  his  grand- 
father to  Palmerston  Road  at  an  annual 


sa/ary  of  ,^300,  guaranteed  for  the  first 
three  years.  ^s  Teverson,  op.  cit. 

<>*>  Ibid.;  Congr.  Year  Bk.  1904. 

67  Teverson,  op.  cit. 

'8  Congr.  Year  Bk.  19 14. 

<">  G.  Teverson,  Brief  Chronicle  of  50 
Years  Service. 

'»  Congr.  Year  Bk.  1925.  i 

"  Ibid.  1952. 

'2  Inf.  from  Mr.  A.  W.  Dorling. 

"  Ibid.;  Congr.  Year  Bk.  1913  (obit,  of 
Revd.  W.  Dorling). 

'4  Inf.  from  Mr.  A.  W.  Dorling. 

75  Ibid.  A  note  on  his  career  was  printed 
in  Congr.  Year  Bk.  1 9 1  3  ;  The  Christian 
PVorld  2  Apr.  193 1  contained  a  note  on 
the  centenary  of  his  birth.  '*  Ibid. 


"  Bapt.  Handhk.  1 869 ;  W.  T.  Whitley, 
Baptists  of  London.,  189. 
'8  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 
'9  Bapt.  Handhk.  1869. 
80  W\nt\ey,  Baptists  of  London,  189. 
8"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {i%()^). 

82  Ibid.  1933. 

83  W.  T.  Whitley,  Baptists  of  London, 
2+4.  84  Ibid. 

85  Bapt.  Handhk.  1910. 

8*  Ibid.,  1930.  It  seems  possible  that  the 
church  was  closed  for  a  time  about  19 17— 
20 :  Whitley,  Baptists  of  London,  244 ; 
Bapt.  Handhk.  1916-20. 

8'  Bapt.  Handhk.  1933,  1934. 

88  O.S.  6  in.  Map  ( 1 92 1  edn.),  sheet  Ixix. 

">  Whitley,  Baptists  of  London,  249. 


36 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


Road  Baptist  Church.  A  Baptist  church  was  formally 
constituted  in  1909,  taking  over  the  brick  building  of 
the  King's  Place  Congregational  Church,  which  had 
closed  in  1906."'  By  1930  there  were  56  members, 
45  Sunday  school  pupils,  and  13  teachers."  In  195 1 
there  were  74  members,  87  pupils,  and  16  teachers. '^ 
For  most  of  its  history  the  church  has  supported  a 
minister. 

The  church  is  of  red  brick,  in  similar  style  to  the 
Methodist  church  (see  below)  which  was  built 
two  years  earlier.  Beside  it  is  the  earlier  iron 
church. 

For  a  short  time  before  1827  there  was  a  Wesleyan 
Methodist  congregation  meeting  at  Chigwell.  This 
had  certainly  ceased  by  iSig.'^^  This  mission  had 
probably  been  carried  on  by  members  of  the  North 
East  London  Circuit,  which  a  few  years  later  built  a 
small  church  at  Abridge  in  Lambourne  (q.v.). 

No  other  reference  has  been  found  to  Methodism  in 
Chigwell  until  1878.  In  that  year  Edward  Pope, 
founder  of  the  Loughton  Methodist  Church  (q-v.), 
bought  land  for  ^200  in  Queen's  Road,  Buckhurst 
Hill,  upon  which  an  iron  church  was  erected. '♦  In 
1880  this  was  put  in  trust  and  included  in  the  Wanstead 
and  Woodford  Circuit.  In  1886  a  new  brick  church 
was  built  to  the  design  of  Charles  Bell  of  New  Broad 
Street,  London,  at  a  cost  of  ;^i  ,940.  In  1898  new  floor- 
ing was  installed  for  £t^o.  In  February  1908  the 
organ  of  the  Palmerston  Road  Congregational  Church 
was  bought  for  £<)$'<  the  old  organ  was  sold  to  the 
Loughton  Wesleyan  Church  for  ;{^45. 

In  1 9 10  it  was  decided  to  station  a  minister  at  Buck- 
hurst Hill.  A  house  was  leased  in  191 7  and  bought  two 
years  later. 

In  1928  the  jubilee  of  the  church  was  celebrated 
by  the  building  of  the  Jubilee  Room,  behind  the  school- 
room. This  cost  £s^o.  In  1934  the  Buckhurst  Hill 
minister  was  transferred  to  Loughton  and  a  lay  pastor, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Gaisford,  was  appointed  to  Buckhurst  Hill. 
This  arrangement  continued  until  1937,  when  Mr. 
Gaisford  left.  The  church  now  (1953)  shares  a  minister 
with  the  Hermon  Hill  church  at  Wanstead.  Its 
membership  is  90.  The  building  is  of  red  brick,  in 
Gothic  style. 

A  new  Methodist  church  was  opened  in  Burrow 
Road,  on  the  Hainault  estate  in  1952. '5 

The  present  Salvation  Army  hall  at  the  north  end 
of  Alfred  Road,  Buckhurst  Hill,  is  probably  the  build- 
ing erected  about  1863  by  Mr.  Gingell  (see  above, 
Palmerston  Road  Congregational  Church).  The 
Salvation  Army  has  used  it  for  at  least  20  years.'*  It 
is  a  small  building  of  stock  brick. 

The  Plymouth  Brethren  have  a  small  hall  in  Queen's 
Road,  Buckhurst  Hill;  it  is  of  stock  brick  and  was  built 
in  1884." 

Princes  Hall,  Princes  Road,  Buckhurst  Hill,  has 
been  used  for  religious  meetings  since  1886  or  earlier.'^ 
It  is  a  small  red-brick  building. 


The  surviving  court  rolls  of  the  manor  of  Woolston 

Hall  run  from  1423  to  1749" 

PARISH  and   are    continued    by    court 

GOFERNMENT    books   for   the   period    1750- 

jiND  POOR  1863.'    There  are  no  rolk  for 

RELIEF  1460-82    and    1509-46    and 

there  are  a  few  short  gaps  later 
in  the  series.  The  manor  court  took  an  active  part  in 
local  affairs  until  the  end  of  the  17th  century.  Ale- 
tasters  were  appointed  regularly  until  1640  and  con- 
stables until  1840.  In  the  early  19th  century,  when 
there  was  a  single  constable,  he  combined  this  office 
with  that  of  woodward,  and  the  court  continued  to 
appoint  a  woodward  by  that  title  alone  up  to  1862. 
There  appears  to  have  been  a  manorial  grange  and 
bakehouse  which  was  derelict  by  1463.*  The  court 
dealt  with  minor  nuisances  and  occasionally  with  cases 
of  assault.  In  1578  the  Poor  Relief  Act  of  1576^  was 
invoked  to  deal  with  an  'idle  woman'  harboured  in  the 
house  of  a  manorial  tenant.  In  1427  and  1606  it  was 
presented  that  the  lord  of  the  manor  ought  to  repair 
bridges,  but  in  1682  the  parish  surveyors  were  pre- 
sented for  failing  to  repair  a  footbridge. 

There  are  court  rolls  for  the  manor  of  Chigwell  Hall 
for  the  periods  1 595-1619  and  1687-1721  and  books 
for  1734-99  ^"'J  i882-i90i.'»  So  far  as  can  be  judged 
from  these  rolls  alone  this  court  during  the  17th 
century  and  later  dealt  only  with  business  relating  to 
the  copyhold  tenements  of  the  manor.  There  are  no 
records  of  the  appointment  of  local  officials  in  the 
court,  but  in  1790  the  parish  vestry  nominated  two 
constables,  one  for  Chigwell  Hall  lordship  and  one  for 
Barringtons  lordship  (see  below). 5  Neither  was  the 
same  man  as  was  appointed  constable  by  the  Woolston 
court  in  the  same  year. 

Existing  court  rolls  of  the  manor  of  Barringtons  cover 
the  period  1652-175 1.*  On  every  occasion  except  one 
during  this  period  the  court  met  only  as  a. court  baron. 
In  1695  it  also  viewed  frankpledge,  and  appointed  a 
constable.  The  appointment  by  the  vestry  in  1790, 
however,  suggests  that  a  constable  was  appointed  for 
this  manor  on  occasions  after  1695  which  were  not 
recorded  in  the  rolls. 

There  is  little  information  concerning  poor  relief 
before  the  i8th  century.  The  Guild  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  (see  above.  Church)  took  a  regular  part  in 
relieving  the  poor.  The  poor  men's  chest  in  the  parish 
church  is  mentioned  in  1 5  50,'  and  the  collectors  of  the 
poor  in  1564.' 

Vestry  minute  books  have  survived  for  1712-49, 
1 789-1 804,  and  1847-94.9  There  are  overseers' 
accounts  for  1821-36  and  an  almost  complete  series 
of  bills  for  i784-i836."> 

For  a  large  and  fairly  populous  parish  attendance  at 
the  vestry  was  normally  not  numerous;  there  were 
rarely  more  than  twelve  ratepayers  present.  Meetings 
were  usually  held  in  the  vestry  room,  but  in  1870  and 
1872  exceptionally  large  attendances  necessitated  an 


'»  Ibid. 

»'  Bapt.  Handbk.  1930. 

»^  Ibid.  1951. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/1/66. 

^*  The  following  acct.  is  based  on  an 
address  by  A.  W.  Leach  at  Wanstead, 
1919  (reported  in  Mins.  of  Local  Preachers 
Mtg.  Wanstead  and  Woodford  Circuit), 
Trust  Deeds  and  other  church  records. 

95  Inf.  from  Rcvd.  P.  H.  Wingham. 

96  Inf.  from  local  resident. 
«'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {i%%6). 


98  Ibid.  1886  f. 

99  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M9+-109. 

>  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  M80,  81,  D/DZn 
I,  2. 

2  E.R.O.,  T/P  17. 

J   18  Eliz.  1,0.3. 

■•  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Mi-I2. 

5  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/10. 

<•  E.R.O.,  D/DU  97/1-6. 

'  Will  of  John  Hill:  Archd.  Essex  2.1 
Thonder;  Will  of  Nicholas  Sympson: 
Comm.  Ct.  London  144  Clyffe. 

37 


8  Will  ofThomasHewett:  Archd.  Essex 
114.  Newington.  For  Charity  relief  see 
Charities,  below. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/1,  10,  II. 

**>  Ibid.  166/12/1-7,  10-12.  There  are 
many  other  miscellaneous  parish  records : 
see  Essex  Par.  Recs.  78.  Unless  otherwise 
stated  information  below  is  from  the 
vestry  minutes  and  overseers'  accounts 
and  bills. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


adjournment  to  the  'King's  Head'.  At  the  1872  meet- 
ing more  than  200  attended  to  discuss  an  advance  to 
the  Chigwell  School  Board.  In  the  later  1 9th  century 
the  ratepayers  of  Buckhurst  Hill,  who  outnumbered 
those  in  the  rest  of  the  parish,  disliked  travelling  to 
Chigvi'ell  for  vestry  meetings,  especially  because  there 
was  still  no  direct  road  between  those  two  parts  of  the 
parish. 

There  seems  to  have  been  no  particular  system  of 
rotation  in  appointing  parish  officers.  Until  1770 
churchwardens  were  appointed  for  two  successive 
years  but  afterwards  they  often  served  for  longer  terms. 
From  1730,  or  earlier,  one  churchwarden  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  vicar  and  the  other  by  the  parish.  Over- 
seers of  the  poor  usually  served  only  for  one  year,  two 
being  appointed  each  Easter.  There  is  a  vague  sug- 
gestion that  during  the  1 8th  century  one  was  appointed 
for  the  lordship  of  Chigwell  Hall  and  the  other  for 
that  of  Woolston.  Three  surveyors  of  highways  were 
appointed  each  year,  one  each  for  the  lordships  of 
Chigwell  Hall,  Woolston,  and  Barringtons.  This 
office  was  often  taken  by  the  gentry,  and  in  the  middle 
of  the  18th  century  William  Harvey,  lord  of  Barring- 
tons,  served  his  own  lordship  for  many  years.  There  is 
no  evidence  that  the  vestry  nominated  constables  before 
1790.  A  resolution  of  1721  prohibited  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  deputy  by  any  parish  officer  without  the 
vestry's  approval.  A  paid  assistant  overseer  was  ap- 
pointed in  1827  and  served  continuously  until  1839, 
when  he  became  the  relieving  officer  for  Epping  Dis- 
trict under  the  Epping  Board  of  Guardians.  An 
assistant  overseer  was  again  appointed  in  1 840,  and  in 
1852  he  was  also  made  collector  of  the  poor  rate  and 
paid  a  commission  of  3  per  cent,  of  the  rates  collected." 

In  1727  there  were  2  men,  5  women,  and  5  children 
receiving  regular  poor  relief  A  year  later  a  house  in 
Chigwell  was  converted  into  a  workhouse  and  in  1733 
the  vestry  resolved  to  send  all  out-pensioners  there.  In 
1730  a  workhouse  master  had  undertaken  to  maintain 
the  poor  for  a  lOi/.  rate,  but  this  arrangement  seems  to 
have  lasted  only  a  few  years.  In  1745  all  pensioners 
were  ordered  to  wear  the  parish  badge.  The  work- 
house remained  adequate  for  the  needs  of  the  parish 
until  1790,  when  a  larger  house  in  Gravel  Lane  was 
taken  on  lease.  This  was  used  as  the  parish  workhouse 
until  1836  when  it  was  taken  over  by  the  Epping 
Union, '2  which  used  it  until  the  new  Union  house  was 
opened  in  1838. '^  In  1796  the  poor  were  farmed  out 
to  a  workhouse  master  at  15  guineas  a  year;  he  also 
received  2  guineas  for  acting  as  parish  beadle. 

Of  the  94  surviving  settlement  certificates  dated 
between  1699  and  1791  received  by  the  parish  officers 
60  were  issued  by  parishes  in  south-west  Essex,  12 
elsewhere  in  the  county  (mostly  in  the  north-west),  6 
in  Hertfordshire,  Cambridgeshire,  Norfolk,  and  Suffolk, 
12  in  London,  Middlesex,  Surrey  and  Kent.  One  was 
for  a  blacksmith  from  Taunton  and  one  for  a  barber 
and  wig-maker  from  Berwick-on-Tweed.  The  others 
were  from  Wellingborough  (Northants.)  and  Steeple 
Aston  (Oxon.)."* 

The  106  surviving  apprenticeship  indentures  drawn 
up  between  1671  and  1809  show  that  most  pauper 
children    were    apprenticed    to    masters    within    the 


parish. '5  For  many  years  the  ratepayers  took  these 
children  as  apprentices  on  a  rota  system.  In  1727  a 
woman  paid  a  fine  of  ;^io  to  avoid  takmg  a  child 
allotted  to  her.  In  1730  it  was  resolved  not  to  pay 
relief  to  travellers  through  the  parish  even  though  they 
carried  passes;  it  was  considered  that  as  the  main  road 
through  Chigwell  led  only  to  Ongar  such  passengers 
had  no  need  of  assistance. 

In  1792  one  of  the  overseers  was  Joshua  Jenour,  a 
well-known  author  and  pamphleteer  and  a  man  of 
advanced  views.'*  In  that  year  he  planned  to  build  a 
pest-house  out  of  the  poor  rates.  As  he  had  not  con- 
sulted either  his  fellow  officers  or  the  vestry,  the  church- 
wardens ordered  him  to  desist.  He  moved  a  resolution 
at  a  subsequent  vestry  meeting  that  the  house  should  be 
built,  but  this  was  defeated.  Among  his  supporters  were 
three  local  doctors,  while  the  opposition  came  mainly 
from  the  farmers  and  larger  ratepayers.  In  1794  the 
vestry  supported  a  plan  proposed  by  John  Conyers  for 
the  relief  of  the  poor  of  the  hundreds  of  Ongar,  Harlow, 
and  Waltham,  but  later  withdrew  support.  In  1795 
the  high  price  of  flour  was  met  by  subsidizing  from  the 
rates  the  bread  bought  by  the  poor  from  local  bakers, 
and  by  the  agreement  of  the  wealthier  inhabitants  to 
use  flour  from  which  7  lb.  bran  a  bushel  had  been 
extracted.  In  1 800  it  was  decided  to  provide  the  poor 
with  substitutes  for  flour,  mainly  rice  and  potatoes,  and 
the  ratepayers  were  urged  to  use  similar  substitutes 
themselves. 

The  overseers'  expenditure  in  the  year  ending  at 
Easter  1724  was  ^^151,  and  in  1745  £180.  In  1783 
the  total  poor  rate  was  ^485."  Expenditure  rose  to 
j{^7i6  in  1791  and  in  1801  the  poor  rate  was  yri,o86.'8 
Between  1 801  and  1 821  the  rate  fluctuated  consider- 
ably; it  was  highest  in  1820  (£2,519)  and  lowest  in 
1 811  ((£630),  but  was  usually  between  /^i,ooo  and 
£2,000."  Overseers' expenditure  was  £1,339  in  1823 
and  £1,614  in  1836. 

There  are  few  references  to  the  work  of  the  sur- 
veyors of  highways.  Some  of  their  activities  are 
described  above  (see  p.  19).  Nor  is  there  much 
information  about  the  constables.  In  17 14  the  vestry 
ordered  that  the  stocks,  watch  house,  and  whipping- 
post should  be  repaired.  John  Rowe,  constable  in 
1828-32, arrested  while  in  office  207  offenders,  includ- 
ing burglars,  highway  robbers,  and  cattle  thieves. 
Probably  most  of  the  offences  took  place  not  in  Chig- 
well itself  but  in  the  forest  at  Buckhurst  Hill  or 
Chigwell  Row,  both  notorious  haunts  of  criminals.'" 
In  1 840  Chigwell  became  part  of  the  Metropolitan 
Police  District.^"  In  1 8  5 1  there  were  a  sergeant  and 
four  constables  in  the  parish.^'  In  191 1  there  were  3 
sergeants,  2  acting  sergeants,  and  18  constables, 
attached  to  J  Division,  Metropolitan  Police.^^  Chigwell 
Hall  is  now  the  sports  club  for  No.  5  District,  Metro- 
politan Police. 

The  history  of  Chigwell  School,  founded  in  1629 
by  Samuel  Harsnett,  Archbishop  of  York, 
SCHOOLS  was  described  in  an  earlier  volume  of  this 
History?^  It  is  now  an  independent 
public  school.  A  new  dining-hall  and  workshop  build- 
ing was  opened  in  191  o;^'*  a  memorial  chapel  was 
added  in  i924;25  an  assembly  hall  was  built  to  mark 


"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/6,  166/8/11 

"  E.R.O.,  G/EM  I. 

"  E.R.O.,  G/EM  2. 

■«  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/13/1B. 

'5  Ibid.  166/14/1. 

■'  1755-1853:866  AA'.B. 


■'  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/i.  The  poor  rate 
had  to  meet  some  charges  other  than 
relief  of  the  poor,  such  as  rates  for  county 
bridges.  '«  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  1/9. 

'»  Ibid.  1/12. 

■9"  Kent  and Eisex Mercury,  2  Aug.  1832. 


2»  Land.  Gaz.,  13  Oct.  1840,  p.  2250. 

21  H.O.  107/1770,  195/1. 

22  Essex  Almanac,  1911. 
"  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  544  f. 
"  E.R.  xix,  161. 

^5  Ibid,  xxiiv,  103. 


38 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


the  tercentenary  of  the  school  (1929)  and  in  1948 
Grange  Court  was  acquired  as  a  junior  school.  In 
1953  there  were  350  boys,  under  the  headmaster,  17 
assistant  masters,  and  i  mistress.^*  Buckhurst  Hill 
County  High  School  for  boys  was  opened  in  1938.  In 
1953  there  were  549  boys  under  the  headmaster  and 
19  assistant  masters." 

In  171 1  there  was  a  Charity  School  at  Chigwell 
attended  by  10  poor  girls  who  also  received  caps,  bands, 
and  aprons  from  a  private  benefactor.^*  In  17 13  the 
school  was  receiving  ;^i6  a  year  from  subscriptions  and 
a  girl  had  recently  been  put  out  as  an  apprentice.^" 
There  were  still  only  10  pupils  in  about  1768,  when 
the  school  was  supported  mainly  by  the  collection  at  an 
annual  sermon. 30  By  the  early  19th  century,  however, 
'the  Charity  School'  (presumably  the  same)  was 
attended  by  72  girls. 3'  It  was  then  endowed  with  ;^I32 
Stock  and  was  called  the  Blue  School  because  a  dozen 
or  more  children  received  a  blue  uniform. ^^ 

In  1 8 1 8  the  Blue  School  was  united  with  a  School 
of  Industry  for  girls,  founded  in  1 8 1 5 .  The  latter  had 
been  supported  by  subscriptions,  charity  sermons,  and 
by  the  proceeds  of  the  pupils'  work,  which  amounted 
to  j^7  in  1815-16  and  ^{^16  in  1817-18.  It  was  held 
in  a  house  which  in  1 8 1 5— 1 6  was  rented  for  £c)  a  year, 
and  its  mistress  was  paid  ^^14  14^'.  in  181 5-16  and 
;^27  6s.  in  1 8 17-18.  From  its  foundation  it  had  been 
in  union  with  the  National  Society,  and  this  association 
was  maintained  after  the  amalgamation  with  the  Blue 
School,  the  first  title  of  the  new  school  being  the 
National  School  of  Industry  for  Girls.  In  the  new 
school  the  'blue  girls'  continued  to  wear  their  uniform 
as  long  as  they  behaved  well.  Misconduct  was  pun- 
ished by  the  transfer  of  the  uniform  to  others  considered 
more  deserving.  The  endowment  of  the  Blue  School 
was  transferred  to  the  new  school  and  a  further  legacy 
of  ^100  seems  to  have  been  received  in  1818  from  a 
Mr.  Lewis.33 

Until  about  1838  the  number  of  pupils  seems  to 
have  remained  constant  at  about  45."  After  18 18  the 
salary  of  the  mistress  rose  to  ^^30  together  with  lO- 
per  cent,  of  the  children's  earnings  and  a  coal  allowance. 
Subscriptions  rose  steadily  and  income  continued  to 
be  received  from  the  children's  work.35  The  school 
was  supervised  by  a  Ladies  Committee.  In  1836  this 
decided  to  build  a  new  school,  with  accommodation 
for  100  girls,  in  order  to  provide  for  the  increasing 
population.  The  vicar  gave  a  site  on  the  Vicarage 
Field.36  The  committee  realized  £202  from  the  sale 
of  endowments,  collected  j^i  73,  and  received  ^5  5  from 
the  government,  £21^  from  the  National  Society  and 
;^io  from  the  Diocesan  Board.^^  The  new  schoolroom 
was  built  opposite  the  grammar  school.^*  It  was 
opened  as  a  National  School  in  1838.39 

The  Ladies  Committee  continued  to  manage  the 
school.  It  was  energetic  and  successful  in  obtaining 
subscriptions  and  other  local  support.  But  the  standard 
of  teaching  was  low.    In  1841  an  inspector  found  a 


poor  achievement  in  the  three  main  subjects*"  and  in 
1852  another  inspector  reported  that  the  curriculum 
was  limited  and  that  the  teaching  methods  were  those 
of  the  early  monitorial  system.*'  The  school  also  had 
a  bad  reputation  locally  at  this  time.  In  1848  the 
retiring  Vicar  of  Chigwell  described  it  as  very  ineffi- 
cient .  .  .  'principally  because  of  some  antiquated  rules 
enforcing  the  wearing  at  church  of .  .  .  ugly  caps  and 
short-cropped  hair — this  offends  the  little  tradespeople, 
who  prefer  sending  their  daughters  2^  miles  to  a  British 
and  Foreign  [i.e.  Dissenting]  school  at  Chigwell 
Row' .12 

In  1875  the  school  appears  to  have  received  its  first 
annual  grant  from  the  government.  The  average 
attendance  was  then  only  47 .^^  The  population  of  the 
parish  was  increasing  rapidly,  however,  and  attendance 
rose  to  75  in  1886  and  114  in  I902.«  The  annual 
grant  rose  from  £2%  in  1875  to  ^^54  in  1886  and  ^^i  19 
in  i902.'ts  In  1904  there  were  155  children  under  3 
teachers  and  a  monitor,  and  the  average  attendance 
was  131.'**  In  order  to  provide  for  the  increased  num- 
ber of  pupils  the  school  was  enlarged  in  1891  to  ac- 
commodate 200.*'  Under  the  1902  Education  Act  it 
passed  under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Educa- 
tion Committee,  Epping  District,  as  a  non-provided 
school.  The  average  attendance  fell  to  10 1  in  191 5  and 
85  in  1929,  but  rose  to  138  in  1938.  In  1935,  at  the 
request  of  the  managers,  the  name  of  the  school  was 
changed  to  St.  Mary's  Girls  and  Infants  Church  of 
England  School.  In  1947  the  school  was  granted  con- 
trolled status.  In  1948  it  was  reorganized  for  junior 
girls  and  infants  and  in  1950  it  was  closed  in  accordance 
with  the  County  Development  Plan.**  The  building 
is  opposite  the  grammar  school.  It  is  single-storied,  of 
red  brick  with  a  tiled  roof. 

In  1 807  there  was  a  Church  of  England  Sunday 
school  in  Chigwell,  apparently  for  boys  and  girls.*'  In 
1820,  after  the  establishment  of  the  National  day 
school  for  girls,  the  Sunday  school  seems  to  have  been 
reserved  for  boys.  It  was  then  in  union  with  the 
National  Society  and  had  some  50  pupils. so  It  did  not 
lead  to  the  formation  of  the  usual  type  of  National  day 
school  for  boys  because  the  English  School,  which  was 
part  of  Archbishop  Harsnett's  foundation,  already  pro- 
vided the  necessary  facilities.s'  The  English  School 
was  sometimes  called  the  National  School.s^  In  or 
shortly  before  1881  the  English  School  was  dis- 
continued. In  that  year  the  parish  vestry  passed  a 
resolution  deploring  this  fact  and  protesting  against  the 
refusal  of  the  governors  of  Harsnett's  Schools  to  allow 
the  Chigwell  School  Board  (founded  1 87 1 :  see  below) 
the  free  use  of  the  English  School  building  and  the 
annual  grant  of  ^^20  that  had  been  paid  to  the  English 
School.  The  resolution  pointed  out  that  this  refusal 
contravened  one  of  the  clauses  of  the  scheme  drawn  up 
by  the  Charity  Commission  for  the  management  of 
Harsnett's  Schools. '^  The  protest  was  forwarded  to 
the  Commission  and  appears  to  have  been  successful 


"  Tuhlic  Scis.  Year  Bk.  {1953). 

^'  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

28  S.P.CK.  Acct.  of  Char.  Schs.  (171 1), 
22.  "  Ibid.  (17 1 3),  26. 

3°  Morant,  Essex,  i,  170. 

3'  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  z/4. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/28/3. 

"  Ibid.;  Nat.  Soc.  Reps.  1820,  1828. 

3*  Ibid,  j  Educ.  Enquiry  Abstr.  H.C.  62, 
p.  270(1835),  xli. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/28/3. 

3'  Ex.  inf.  Nat.  Soc. 


37  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/28/3. 

38  Ex.  inf.  Nat.  Soc;  E.R.O.,  D/CT  78. 

39  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/28/4.. 
«  Ibid.  166/28/3,4. 

♦'  Mins.  Educ.  Ctlee.  of  Council,  1852, 
vol.  ii  [1624.],  p.  286,  H.C.  (1852-3), 
Ixxx(i).  «  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/3/3. 

♦3  Rej,.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1875 
[C.  1513-1],  P-  53'.  H.C.  (1876),  xxiii. 

«  Ibid.  1886  [C.  5123-1],  p.  518,  H.C. 
(1887),  xxviii;  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ. 
igo2  [Cd.  1490],  p.  68,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 


«s  Ibid. 

♦'  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handii.  1904,  p. 
145.  ■"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 

♦8  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/61;  inf.  from 
Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

*'  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

5»  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1820. 

5"  F:C.H.  Essex,  ii,  544-6;  E.R.O., 
D/P  .66/3/3. 

52  e.g.  in  1862-3:  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex 
(1862),  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863). 

53  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/n. 


39 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


at  least  as  to  the  building,  for  in  1886  the  English 
School  was  stated  to  be  under  the  supervision  of  the 
school  board. 5*  It  was  handed  back  to  the  grammar 
school  in  1898.55 

In  1886,  however,  the  school  board  completed  the 
building  of  a  new  boys'  school  in  Chigwell  village,  on 
a  site  to  the  east  of  the  High  Road,  at  a  total  cost  of 
^2,893.56  There  was  accommodation  for  153  boys. 
The  average  attendance  rose  from  55  in  1886  to  105 
in  1902  and  the  annual  grant  from  ^^32  to  j^i2l.5' 
By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed  under 
the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Epping  District.  In  1904  there  were  128  boys  under 
4  teachers.58  Numbers  fell  to  85  boys  in  1930.59 
When  St.  Mary's  School  was  closed  in  1 9  5  o  the  County 
School  was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants 
and  in  May  1952  there  were  199  children  on  the  roll 
and  6  teachers.*" 

In  183 1  the  nonconformists  in  Chigwell  Row  set 
up  a  day  school  at  which  in  1833  there  were  some  50 
pupils  who  paid  a  fee  of  zd.  a  week.*'  In  1 8 39  its  sup- 
porters built  a  permanent  schoolroom  near  Miller's 
Lane.  The  government  made  a  building  grant  of  ^^80 
and  the  school  was  completed  in  1 844.  The  trust  deed 
stated  that  the  purpose  of  the  school  was  to  educate  the 
poor  according  to  the  principles  of  the  British  Schools 
Society.*^  During  its  early  years  the  school  gained  some 
pupils  at  the  expense  of  the  National  School  for  Girls 
at  Chigwell,  which  was  unpopular  among  the  small 
tradesmen  of  that  village.*^  In  spite  of  this  it  en- 
countered difficulties  and  in  1857  seems  to  have  been 
closed.  In  May  1858  it  was  reopened  with  the  help  of 
the  Essex  Congregational  Union:  there  were  then  over 
70  pupils.*'*   But  difficulties  continued.*5 

In  1 87 1  a  school  board  of  5  members  was  set  up  for 
the  parish  of  Chigwell.**  In  1873  the  supporters  of 
the  British  School  transferred  their  building  to  the 
board,  retaining  their  right  to  use  it  for  religious  pur- 
poses.*7  There  were  then  some  52  children  in  atten- 
dance.** In  1885  the  school  was  rebuilt,  after  a  fire,  to 
accommodate  some  165  children.*' 

Average  attendance  rose  from  86  in  1886  to  104  in 
1902  and  the  annual  grant  from  ;^7i  to  ^^loi.'"  By 
the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed  under  the 
administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Epping  District,  as  a  provided  school.  It  was  re- 
organized for  girls  and  infants,  the  accommodation 
being  estimated  in  191 1  at  90  places  for  girls  and  60 
for  infants.  The  average  attendance  was  88  in  1910, 
72  in  1929,  and  56  in  1938.  In  1948  it  was  re- 
organized for  junior  girls  and  infants,  the  seniors  being 
transferred  to  Grange  Hill  Temporary  Secondary 
School."  In  May  1952  there  were  93  pupils  and  3 
teachers.'^  The  increase  was  due  to  the  building  of 
the  Hainault  estate.    The  school  is  on  the  north  of 


Lambourne  Road  near  the  Lambourne  boundary.  It  is 
single-storied,  of  red  brick  with  a  tiled  roof  and  has  a 
teacher's  house  attached. 

By  1845  there  was  a  National  School  at  Chigwell 
R0W.73  It  was  apparently  held  in  a  cottage.  In  1852 
local  Churchmen  raised  ^^190  or  more  towards  the 
cost  of  a  permanent  schoolroom.  The  government  gave 
£10,  the  National  Society  ^£25,  and  the  owner  of  the 
site  gave  the  land.  The  building  was  finished  in  1853.'+ 
It  was  used  as  an  infant  school  in  connexion  with  the 
National  School  at  Chigwell.'s  It  still  existed  in  1874 
but  it  was  discontinued  shortly  after,  presumably  be- 
cause of  the  establishment  of  the  new  board  school.'* 
The  building  was  subsequently  used  for  parochial  pur- 
poses, and  was  known  as  All  Saints  Schoolroom.''  It 
is  of  red-brick  and  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Lam- 
bourne Road  near  All  Saints  Church. 

St.  John's  National  School,  Buckhurst  Hill,  was 
built  in  1838  by  local  Churchmen.  The  lord  of  the 
manor  gave  a  site  next  to  the  church  and  the  National 
Society  contributed  ^35.  The  building  cost  ^{^209, 
most  of  which  was  defrayed  by  local  subscribers.'*  By 
1840  there  were  about  50  pupils,  nominated  by  sub- 
scribers. Parents  paid  zd.  a  week  for  the  first  and  \d. 
each  for  other  children."  In  1846  there  were  43 
children  under  a  mistress  who  was  paid  £\<^  a  year  and 
3  monitresses.*"  In  1866  the  Charity  Commissioners 
authorized  a  new  scheme  of  management  which  gave 
control  of  religious  teaching  to  the  minister  (later  the 
Rector  of  Buckhurst  Hill)  and  the  management  to  the 
Vicar  of  Chigwell,  the  minister,  and  6  representatives 
of  the  subscribers.*'  In  1869  Edward  North  Buxton 
gave  additional  premises  in  Albert  Road.  These  were 
used  for  an  infants'  school.*^ 

The  district  of  the  Chigwell  school  board,  founded 
in  1871,  included  Buckhurst  Hill,  and  a  board  school 
(see  below)  was  promptly  built  there.  The  National 
School  maintained  its  voluntary  character  and  continued 
to  use  the  building  next  to  the  church.  The  managers, 
however,  let  the  Albert  Road  infants'  school  to  the 
board  at  a  nominal  rent,  retaining  the  right  to  use  the 
building  on  Sunday  and  two  week-nights.*-'  The 
average  attendance  at  the  National  School  rose  from  7 1 
in  1872  to  158  in  x886,  and  the  annual  grant  from  ^48 
to  ^^140.*^  By  1882  or  earlier  the  school  had  ceased  to 
take  boys,  but  in  spite  of  this  the  rapid  increase  neces- 
sitated its  enlargement  and  this  was  carried  out  in 
l887.*5  The  average  attendance  continued  to  rise:  in 
1899  there  were  237  girls  and  88  infants.**  In  1904 
there  was  official  accommodation  for  394,  but  there 
were  403  children  on  the  roll,  under  1 1  teachers  and 
3  monitresses.*'  By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the 
school  passed  under  the  administration  of  the  Essex 
Education  Committee,  Epping  District,  as  a  non- 
provided  school.   The  average  attendance  fell  to  298 


5«  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886).  The  vestry 
minutes  for  1 88 1—6  also  contain  references 
to  'the  Board  School,  Chigwell'  which 
must  mean  the  English  School. 

J5  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/28/10. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/60. 

5'  Rep.  of  Educ.  Ctlee.  of  Council,  1886, 
p.  518;  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.  igo2, 
p.  68. 

5'  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handhk.  1904, 
p.  US. 

s»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/60. 

<•"  Ibid.;  inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

"  Educ.  Enijuiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  270 
(1835),  xli. 

*»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/62. 


^3  See  above. 

'♦  Essex  Congr.  Union  Reps,  1858,  p.  11. 

'5  Ibid,  i860,  p.  7. 

^^  County  Companion,  1 880. 

"  Min.  of  Educ  File  13/62;  Chelmsford 
Chronicle,  26  Jan.  1872. 

^8  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1874 
[C.  1265-1],  p.  322,  H.C.  (1875),  xxiv. 

69  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/62;  Rep.  of 
Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1886,  p.  518. 

">  Ibid.;  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.  igo2, 
p.  68.  '■  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/62. 

'*  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee, 

'3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (184S). 

'^  Inf.  from  Nat.  Soc. 

'5  Kelly'sDir.  Essex{i%sS,  1862,  1870). 


^<•  Ibid.  1874,  1878. 

"  Ibid.  1902. 

'8  Inf.  from  Nat.  Soc.  "  Ibid. 

8"  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  4-5. 

8'  Min.  of  Educ.  File  1^14-6. 

SMbid.  13/45. 

'3  Min.  of  Educ.  Files  13/45,  46. 

*■•  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1872 
[C.  812],  p.  407,  H.C.  (1873),  xxiv;  ibid. 
1886,  p.  518. 

8s  Inscription  on  school  building;  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (iSSi). 

86  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 

8'  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handhk.  1904,  p. 
144. 


40 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


in  1914  and  225  in  1930.  In  1938  it  was  reorganized 
for  junior  girls  and  infants. ^3  In  May  1952  there 
were  326  children  and  1 1  teachers.*'  The  school  was 
given  controlled  status  in  1951.90 

The  school  board  for  Chigwell  parish  was  at  first 
strongly  opposed  locally  and  in  1872  a  petition  for  its 
removal  was  sent  to  the  government."  This  failed, 
but  with  other  protests  it  may  have  caused  the  board 
to  drop  its  plan  to  build  a  school  to  replace  the  National 
School  at  Buckhurst  Hill.  In  1872  the  Board  built  a 
school  in  Princes  Road  and  accepted  the  use  of  the 
infant  department  of  the  National  School  (see  above), 
paying  only  a  nominal  rent  but  accepting  responsibility 
for  repairs.'^  The  board  school  at  first  accepted  both 
boys  and  girls,  but  from  about  1886  it  took  only  boys, 
the  girls  attending  the  National  School. '3  Attendance 
at  the  board  school  rose  from  an  average  of  1 39  in  1873 
to  246  in  1886  and  the  annual  grant  from  ^^95  to 
^236.'''  In  1884  the  infants'  school  was  enlarged  to 
about  164  places  and  in  1894  the  boys'  school  to  about 
362  places. 95  By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  schools 
passed  under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Educa- 
tion Committee,  Epping  District.  In  1904  there  were 
290  boys  on  the  roll,  under  9  teachers,  of  whom  2  were 
certificated,  and  153  infants  under  5  teachers,  i  of 
whom  was  certificated.'*  Attendance  dechned  to  229 
boys  and  91  infants  in  1938,  when  the  schools  were 
reorganized  for  junior  boys  and  infants,  and  in  1940 
the  boys'  and  infants'  departments  were  amalgamated 
in  a  single  establishment. '^  In  May  1952  there  were 
326  children,  under  13  teachers.'*  The  building  in 
Princes  Road  is  single-storied,  of  yellow  brick  with  a 
slate  roof  Attached  is  a  teacher's  house  of  similar  con- 
struction. 

Owing  to  the  building  of  the  large  London  County 
Council  housing  estate  at  Hainault  the  Essex  County 
Council  has  since  1945  been  carrying  out  a  programme 
of  school  development  in  this  area  which  was  still 
incomplete  in  1952—3.  The  following  schools  were 
established  during  this  period." 

The  Grange  County  Secondary  Modern  School 
(mixed),  Manford  Way,  was  opened  in  September 
1950.  In  May  1952  it  had  421  pupils  and  24  teachers. 

Manford  Way  County  Primary  School  was  opened 
in  November  1948.  In  May  1952  the  junior  school 
had  468  pupils  and  1 2  teachers  and  the  infants'  school 
had  320  pupils  and  9  teachers. 

The  Coppice  County  Primary  School,  Manford 
Way,  opened  an  infants'  department  in  September 
1952  and  in  the  following  November  had  213  pupils. 
The  junior  department  was  to  be  opened  in  1953. 

Grange  Hill  County  Primary  School,  Woodman 
Path,  is  a  temporary  school,  opened  in  February  1948 
with  accommodation  for  240  juniors  and  160  infants. 


In  September  1950  there  was  accommodation  for  760 
children.  In  May  1952  there  were  888  pupils  at  the 
school. 

A  branch  of  St.  Anthony's  Roman  Catholic  School 
was  established  at  Woodman  Path  in  September  1952, 
and  in  November  1952  had  344  pupils.  This  and  all 
the  above  primary  schools  are  for  mixed  juniors  and 
infants. 

There  have  also  been  a  number  of  private  schools  in 
the  parish  of  Chigwell.  In  1588  John  Cambes  of 
Chigwell  was  presented  before  the  Archdeacon  of 
Essex  for  'that  he  teacheth  a  scoole'.'  In  1795  a  Mrs. 
King  advertised  the  opening  of  a  school  in  Chigwell 
for  young  ladies.^  In  18 10  there  was  a  boarding 
academy  for  young  gentlemen  at  Chigwell  under  the 
supervision  of  John  Ray,  the  fee  being  30  guineas  a 
year.3  Ray  died  in  18 16,  when  the  school  apparently 
closed.'* 

About  1824  F.  C.  L.  Khngender  opened  a  school  at 
Buckhurst  Hill  House,'  held  on  lease.  By  1831  he 
had  raised  mortgages  totalling  j^i.ooo  on  the  property* 
and  in  1833  he  offered  the  premises  for  sale  at  ^1,690, 
asking  nothing  for  any  goodwill  attached  to  the  school.^ 
He  was  adjudged  bankrupt  in  1834.*  Francis  Worral 
Stevens,  who  had  been  a  master  at  Bruce  Grove, 
Tottenham  (Mdx.),  under  Rowland  Hill,  took  over 
the  school  and  continued  it  until  1848.'  The  house 
was  then  empty  for  a  year  but  the  school  was  reopened 
in  1 8  5 1  by  Thomas  Bickerdike  who  in  that  year  had 
an  assistant  master  and  1 5  boarders  between  9  and  14 
years  of  age.""  Bickerdike  left  Buckhurst  Hill  in 
1853  and  the  house  was  not  afterwards  used  as  a 
school." 

Between  1850  and  1859  there  was  a  school  near 
Broomhill  run  by  Mary  Moss.'^  In  1851  she  had  15 
boarders  of  both  sexes  between  3  and  10  years  of  age." 
Miss  Howell  and  Miss  Lake  had  a  girls'  day  school  in 
the  High  Road  from  1848.'*  In  1854  they  moved  into 
part  of  the  premises  of  Harsnett's  Grammar  School 
and  remained  there  until  1865. ■' 

Hannah  Hurren  had  a  day  and  boarding  school  at 
Chigwell  Row  from  1848  to  1850.'*  From  1856  to 
1869  the  Revd.  William  Earle,  M.A.,  had  a  boys' 
school  at  Grange  Court  in  Chigwell  village."  In  1878 
the  Misses  Ann  and  Catherine  Howell  had  a  private 
school  at  Broomhill,  the  Revd.  W.  L.  Wilson  a  col- 
legiate school  at  Oakhurst  in  Horn  Lane  and  there 
were  five  private  schools  at  Buckhurst  Hill.'*  Oakhurst 
later  became  a  school  and  home  for  destitute  Armenian 
boys  under  the  Revd.  G.  Thoumaian."  From  the  late 
19th  century  the  Sisters  of  the  Sacred  Hearts  of  Jesus 
and  Mary  have  kept  a  school  at  the  Manor  House  in 
High  Road,  near  Woodford  Bridge.^"  In  1950  there 
were  also  two  private  schools  at  Buckhurst  Hill.^' 


**  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/46. 

"  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

»»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/46. 

»'  Ibid.  13/45.  See  also  E.R.O.,  D/P 
166/8/11  :  9  May  1872,  for  a  resolution 
of  the  vestry  protesting  against  the  pro- 
posed expenditure  of  the  school  board. 

»»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  1 3/45 ;  Chelmsford 
Chronicle^  26  Jan.,  12  July,  15  Nov.  1872. 

«3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {iSSi,  1886,  1890). 

»«  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1873 
[C.  loig-i],  p.  407,  H.C.  (1874),  xviii; 
ibid.  1886,  p.  518. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  i  3/45  ;  Schs.  under 
Bd.  of  Educ.  igo2y  p.  68. 

'"  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handhk.  1904,  p. 
144. 


"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/45. 

»8  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

90  The  following  account  is  based  on 
information  from  the  Ministry  of  Educa- 
tion, Essex  Education  Cttee.  and  Miss 
E.  A.  Phillips,  Headmistress  of  Staples 
Road  Infant  School,  Loughton. 
■  E.R.O.,  D/AEV/14. 

2  Chigwell  Church  Mag.  Feb.  1939. 

3  Essex  Union.,  9  Jan.  18  to. 
♦  Chigwell  Par.  Reg. 

5  E.R.O.,  D/DDaMi3. 
<■  Ibid. 

'  Kent  and  Essex   Mercury,   29    Oct. 
1833. 

8  Essex  Union,  18  Feb.  1834. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  M13. 


■o  H.O.  107/1770,  igsl'- 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/17. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/14-23. 

"  H.O.  107/1770, 195/1. 

'«  ff'hite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  417. 

■5  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/12-29. 

■*  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  417; 
E.R.O.,  D/P  166/11/12-14. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  i66/«/ii,  166/11/20- 
33.  This  house  has  recently  been  bought 
by  the  governors  of  Chigwell  School. 

'8  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1878). 

'»  Ibid.  (1899). 

"  Ibid.  (1899). 

^"  Chigwell  U.D.  Official  Guide  (2nd 
edn.),  p.  34. ' 


ES.  IV 


41 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Nothing  certain  is  known  concerning  the  foundation 
of  Coulson's  Almshouses,  which  adjoin 
CHARITIES  Chigwell  School  to  the  north-east. 
The  words  'Coulson's  Almshouses 
1557'  inscribed  upon  the  building  were  evidently 
added  at  the  rebuilding  of  1858.  In  1849  the  gram- 
mar school  records  were  said  to  include  a  document 
of  1 61 9  implying  that  the  almshouses  built  by  Thomas 
Coulson  then  stood  on  the  east  of  the  school.^^  A 
family  called  Coulson  had  lived  in  the  parish  since  1 592 
at  least.^5  One  of  the  houses  in  1 849  also  bore  the  date 
1664,  but  this  may  have  commemorated  an  extension 
to  the  buildings.^*  In  the  late  1 8th  century  the  owners 
of  land  called  Cardhams  paid  a  rent  charge  of  ^^4  for 
the  maintenance  of  four  poor  widows  and  also  repaired 
the  almshouses  and  nominated  the  inmates.  In  1803 
the  owner  was  not  allowed  to  nominate  them  because 
he  did  not  live  in  the  parish  and  he  refused  to  repair 
the  houses  unless  his  obligation  could  be  proved. ^5  This 
could  apparently  not  be  done  and  a  subscription  was 
raised  for  the  purpose  in  1820.26  j^  jg^j  tjie  rent- 
charge  was  reassigned  to  Brookhouse  Farm:^'  it  was 
thereafter  paid  until  its  redemption  in  1938  for  ;^i6o 
which  was  invested.^* 

In  1834  the  almshouses  consisted  of  three  two- 
roomed  tenements  under  one  roof.  The  parishioners 
then  nominated  the  inmates.^'  After  various  earlier 
attempts,  the  almshouses  were  reljuilt  in  1 8  5  8  by  public 
subscription  in  their  present  enlarged  form.  In  1864 
the  vestry  added  to  the  endowment  ^100  received  by 
them  in  consideration  of  the  closure  of  a  footpath. 
This  was  used  to  pay  each  almswoman  6s.  %d.  a 
quarter.3o  ^  further  gift  of  j^20  was  added  in  1869. 
In  195 1—2  the  charity's  income  was  £j  js.  Over  ^10 
was  spent  on  the  almshouses  and  their  occupants,  the 
excess  being  met  out  of  the  other  funds  of  the  United 
Charities  (see  below).^' 

By  his  will  of  1585  Robert  Rampston  of  Chingford 
left  rent  charges  to  be  applied  for  the  benefit  of  the 
poor  in  various  Essex  parishes. ^^  That  for  Chigwell  is 
£z  a  year,  charged  on  Stone  Hall  in  Little  Canfield. 
In  1835  it  was  spent  on  bread  which  was  distributed 
about  Lady  Day  to  poor  persons  in  proportion  to  the 
size  of  their  families.  In  195 1—2  it  was  used  for  the 
general  purpose  of  the  United  Charities. 

Mary  Fountain,  by  will  proved  1 804,  left  ^^90  after 
expiry  of  a  life  interest,  in  trust  for  two  blind  women 
of  the  parish. 33  The  will  was  unsuccessfully  disputed 
in  Chancery  and  the  legacy  was  paid  in  1817.  In  1834 
there  were  no  qualified  beneficiaries  in  Chigwell  and 
the  income  was  intermittently  paid  to  two  blind  women 
in  Whitechapel.  In  195 1—2  the  income  was  £2  6s.  %ii. 
and  gifts  of  £1  each  were  made  to  two  blind  women, 
one  in  Chigwell  and  one  in  Buckhurst  Hill. 

James  Hatch,  lord  of  Chigwell  Hall  manor,  by  will 
proved  1807,  left  j^i,ooo  in  trust  to  maintain  his  tomb 
at  Little  Ilford,  to  make  an  inscription  in  Chigwell 
church   recording    the    bequest,    and    for    the    most 


deserving  poor  of  Chigwell  not  in  receipt  of  parish 
relief 3<  The  provision  for  the  tomb  was  invalid,  but 
payments  were  apparently  made  for  it  at  various  times. 
In  1834  £10  was  distributed  in  small  cash  gifts.  In 
195 1-2  the  income  was  £,2St  of  which  ;£20  were 
distributed  in  gifts  of  j^i  each. 

Mary  Grainger,  by  will  proved  1808,  left  ^1,000 
in  trust  for  eight  poor  widows  of  Chigwell  of  over  50 
years  of  age.35  Preference  was  to  be  given  to  the  moral 
and  industrious  and  distribution  was  to  take  place  on 
St.  Thomas's  Day.  In  1835  ^31  los.  was  distributed. 
In  195 1-2  the  income  was  ^{^22  10/.,  of  which  j^20 
was  distributed  in  eight  gifts  of  ^^2  \os. 

Mrs.  Barbara  Fisher  in  1809  bequeathed  ;^ioo  to 
the  poor  of  Chigwell.36  In  1834  the  interest  was  used 
to  buy  bread  which  was  distributed  to  the  poor  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  their  families.  In  195 1-2  the  income 
of  C'i  6j-  was  used  for  the  general  purposes  of  the 
United  Charities. 

Mrs.  Rosetta  Waddell,  by  will  proved  1866,  left 
£25  for  the  benefit  of  the  deserving  poor  of  the  parish 
who  were  not  receiving  parish  relief.3'  In  1896  the 
income  was  used  to  supplement  the  endowment  of  the 
almshouses,  in  gifts  to  the  almswomen.  In  195 1-2  it 
amounted  to  13/.  and  was  used  for  the  general  pur- 
poses of  the  United  Charities. 

By  a  scheme  of  1899  all  the  above  charities  were 
united  under  one  board  of  trustees  who  were  to  carry 
out  the  original  purposes  of  each.^s  In  195 1-2,  in 
addition  to  the  payments  specifically  mentioned  above, 
a  payment  of  £j  4/.  was  made  to  Chigwell  County 
Primary  School.  Apparently  the  trustees  believed  that 
this  sum  had  formerly  been  paid  to  St.  Mary's  Girls' 
School,  but  there  appears  to  be  no  mention  of  such  a 
payment  in  the  scheme  of  1899  or  elsewhere  in  the 
Charity  Commission  Records. 

Joan  Sympson,  by  will  proved  1562,  left  £io  for 
the  repair  of  the  highway  between  Chigwell  and 
London.3  9  This  was  added  to  a  trust  which  she  had 
founded  three  years  earlier.  In  1 871  a  small  piece  of 
land,  apparently  allotted  earlier  in  respect  of  common 
rights,  was  sold  for  £^^.^°  In  1938  a  field  comprising 
the  whole  landed  property  of  the  charity  was  sold  for 
j/^3,150.  By  195 1  the  charity  held  ^1,080  stock.  In 
the  early  19th  century  the  charity  appears  to  have  been 
virtually  dead,  probably  because  the  road  was  then 
being  repaired  by  a  turnpike  trust.*'  Trustees  were 
appointed  in  1857  and  later  in  the  century  the  charity's 
income  was  used  to  repair  the  footpath  along  the 
Abridge-Woodford  road.  In  the  20th  century  the 
charity  has  paid  the  county  council  for  the  repair  of 
the  road.  Much  of  the  income  has  been  reinvested: 
in  1947  none  was  spent. 

The  Harsnett  Charity  (1629),  the  main  provision  of 
which  was  for  the  foundation  of  the  schools  at  Chigwell, 
included  an  endowment  of  ^^lo  a  year  to  be  spent  on 
bread  to  be  given  to  those  poor  people  of  the  parish 
who  attended  church,  and  20^.  a  year  to  the  parish 


"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11.  The  date 
must  have  been  an  error  since  the  school 
was  not  founded  until  1629. 

23  Chigwell  Par.  Reg. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 

25  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 

pp.  223-5  ("835).  «i  (>);  E-R-0.,  D/P 

166/8/11. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11. 
"  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  223-5. 
28  char.  Com.  files. 
»  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  223-5. 


30  E.R.O.,  D/P  166/8/11;  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex  (1899,  1933). 
3^  Ciiar.  Com.  files. 

32  P.C.C.  40  Brudenell;  Rep.  Com.  Char. 
(Essex),  ibid.;  Char.  Com.  files. 

33  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex);  Char.  Com. 
Recs.;  MS.  Book  'An  Acct.  of  Donations 
&c.,  to  the  Poor  of  Chigwell',  in  possession 
of  the  Trustees  of  Chigwell  United 
Charities.  For  Mrs.  Fisher  see  below, 
Fisher's  Charity. 

34  Ibid. 


35  Ibid. 

36  Ibid. 

3'  Char.  Com.  files;  'Acct.  of  Dona- 
tions &c.' 

38  Char.  Com.  files;  Chigwell  Par. 
Mag.,  Sept.  1926. 

39  Char.  Com.  files;  E.R.  xix,  1-7,  70- 
77;  E.A.T.  N.s.  xi,  153.  See  also  Topo- 
graphy, above. 

■»"  See  Agriculture,  above. 
4'  There  is  no  mention  of  this  charity  in 
the  1835  Report. 


42 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIGWELL 


clerk  for  ringing  the  church  bell  daily  at  6  a.m.''^  In 
1834  both  these  payments  were  still  being  made, 
though  the  clerk  was  no  longer  required  to  ring.  A 
Chancery  order  of  1863  ignored  the  provision  for  the 
clerk,  which  thereafter  lapsed,  but  continued  the  pay- 
ment for  bread.  In  1871  this  also  was  stopped  by  an 
Endowed  Schools  Scheme  which  ruled  that  the  ^lo 
was  to  be  applied  to  educational  purposes.  An  old 
bread  cupboard  used  in  connexion  with  this  charity 
was  for  many  years  attached  to  the  inside  wall  of  the 
church  near  the  south  door.  About  1900  it  was  found 
to  be  delapidated  and  was  moved  to  the  vestry .■♦3 


John  Crowfoot,  by  will  proved  1903,  left  /Cs°°  '" 
trust  for  the  distribution  of  coal  at  Christmas  among  the 
poor  of  the  parish  of  All  Saints,  Chigwell  Row.«  For 
some  years  part  of  the  income  was  used  to  give  a 
bonus  to  the  parish  coal  club,  but  in  1950  the  whole 
income  of  ^14  5/.  ^J.  was  used  to  buy  coal  for  22 
people. 

Philip  Savill,  by  will  proved  1922,  left  ;^i,ooo  in 
trust  for  gifts  to  100  deserving  poor  of  the  parish  of 
Chigwell  Row,  preferably  Anglicans.*'  In  1950  the 
income  was  £2$,  which  was  distributed  in  cash  to  12 
people. 


FYFIELD 


Fyfield  is  about  2  miles  north  of  Chipping  Ongar,' 
and  has  an  area  of  2,450  acres.^  Its  name  is  derived 
from  the  5-hide  unit  of  assessment  used  by  the  Anglo- 
Saxons.3  In  several  respects  it  is  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting parishes  in  the  hundred.  There  is  an  unusual 
number  of  moated  sites  and  pre- 18th-century  houses. 
Four  houses,  Fyfield  Hall,  Lampetts,  Dame  Anna's 
Farm,  and  the  rectory,  date  from  the  Middle  Ages.  The 
church,  which  dates  from  the  12th  century,  is  one  of 
the  few  in  the  district  with  a  central  tower  and  north  and 
south  aisles.  Considerable  sums  must  have  been  spent 
on  its  erection  and  on  alterations  and  additions  in  the 
13  th  and  14th  centuries.  Fyfield  thus  seems  to  have 
been  a  place  of  some  importance  and  wealth  in  the 
Middle  Ages  and  this  is  borne  out  by  the  taxation 
statistics  printed  below  (pp.  300  f).  As  late  as  1671  it 
was  more  densely  populated  than  any  other  place  in  the 
hundred  except  Chipping  Ongar  and  Moreton  (see 
below,  pp.  306 f.).  In  1801  the  population  was  jii.'* 
Fyfield  was  then  sixth  of  the  parishes  in  the  hundred  in 
order  of  population  density.'  The  population  rose 
slowly  to  629  in  1861.*  It  subsequently  declined  to 
468  in  1 88 1.'  There  was  some  later  fluctuation  but  in 
1921  it  was  again  468.*  There  was  an  increase  to  693 
in  193 1 '  and  in  195 1  the  population  was  710.'"  The 
present  density  is  much  lower  than  in  those  parishes 
of  the  hundred  where  there  has  been  great  building 
development  but  is  still  higher  than  in  most  of  the 
rural  parishes.  At  the  end  of  the  i8th  century  the 
principal  centre  of  population  was  Norwood  End,  in 
the  north  of  the  parish.  Since  that  time  most  of  the 
houses  there  have  disappeared  and  the  population  is 
now  concentrated  mainly  in  the  village  of  Fyfield  near 
the  centre  of  the  parish.  This  is  one  of  the  few  nucleated 
villages  in  the  hundred  and  near  it  to  the  east  are  the 
parish  church  and  the  ancient  manor  house  of  Fyfield 
Hall. 

There  are  hills  rising  to  about  260  ft.  above  sea-level 
in  the  south-east  and  280  ft.  in  the  north-west.  In  the 
valley  between  these  two  hills  is  the  River  Roding  which 
enters  the  parish  in  the  east  and  flows  south  to  form 
part  of  the  southern  boundary  before  leaving  Fyfield  in 
the  south-west.  At  this  point  the  land  is  below  1 50  ft. 
Witney  Wood  is  in  the  south-east,  and  there  are  some 
small  patches  of  woodland  in  the  north-west.  The  road 


*'  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex) ;  Char.  Com. 
files. 
•♦3  Inf.  from  the  late  Howard  Wall. 
+♦  Char.  Com.  files. 
45  Ibid. 
'  O.S.  2}  in.  Map,  sheet  S'^JS°- 
*  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 
3  Chief  Elements  in  Eng.  Place-Names 
E.P.N.S.  i  (2)),  36. 


3  so- 


il f. 


♦  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  ' 
5  Ibid. 
'  Ibid. 
'  Ibid. 

*  Ibid.;  Census,  191 
«  Census,  193 1. 

">  Census,  195  I. 

>'  Inf.    from    Mr.    Filshie    of   Witney 
Green. 

43 


from  Chipping  Ongar  enters  the  parish  in  the  extreme 
south-west  and  runs  north-east  to  the  Rodings  and 
Dunmow.  Close  to  the  south-west  corner  a  drive  leads 
off  the  east  side  of  the  road  to  Folyats,  an  irregularly 
shaped  roughcast  house  built  about  1914  by  J.  W. 
Newall  of  Forest  Hall  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.).  The  site 
was  chosen  for  its  fine  view  over  the  Forest  Hall  estate." 
About  I  mile  farther  along  the  road  a  lane  leads  east- 
wards to  Herons  Farm.'^  The  West  Ham  Open  Air 
School  stands  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  about  2  50  yds. 
beyond  the  turning  to  Herons.  A  little  farther  to  the 
north  is  the  hamlet  of  Clatterford  End.  Here  there  is 
an  L-shaped  block  of  cottages  of  late  17th  or  early  1 8th- 
century  date,  with  pargeted  plaster  panels  of  zigzag 
pattern.  Clatterford  Hall,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road, 
is  a  red-brick  house,  probably  of  the  late  i8th  or  early 
19th  century.  There  have  been  picturesque  alterations 
at  various  later  dates.  Clatterford  House  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road  has  similar  chimney-pots.  It  was  prob- 
ably built  about  the  middle  of  the  19th  century.'^ 

Beyond  Clatterford  End  Ongar  Road  is  joined  by  a 
road  which  leads  westward  to  Moreton  and  by  a  lane 
which  leads  northward  to  Lampetts. '*  About  J  mile 
along  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  to  Moreton  is  Penny- 
feathers.  This  house  stands  on  a  moated  site  and  appears 
to  date  from  the  late  17th  or  early  i8th  century. 
Farther  west  on  the  same  road  are  four  pairs  of  council 
houses. 

Nearly  J  mile  north-east  of  the  road  junction,  on  the 
south  side  of  Ongar  Road,  is  the  village  of  Fyfield.  The 
post-office  is  at  the  north  end;  from  there  a  road  known 
formerly  as  the  Street  and  now  as  Queens  Street,  runs 
southward.  On  the  east  side  of  Queens  Street  is  a  row 
of  houses  of  which  the  most  northerly  is  the  Queens 
Head  Inn.  These  have  external  details  mostly  of  the 
1 8th  and  early  19th  centuries  but  the  structures  are 
older.  At  the  south  end  stands  the  block  of  two  houses, 
called  Bruetts,  devised  by  Anthony  Walker  in  1687  for 
the  use  of  the  church  clerk''  and  of  the  schoolmaster."' 
North  of  Bruetts  is  another  house  known  as  Brewitts. 
This  appears  to  be  a  16th-century  structure  with  later 
additions.  It  is  said  that  there  was  once  a  tannery  at  the 
back  of  it.'7  All  the  buildings  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Street  have  been  built  since  the  middle  of  the  19th  cen- 
tury. They  include  the  Mission  Hall.'* 

'2  See  below,  Manor  of  Herons. 

'3  It  does  not  appear  on  the  Tithe  Map 
of  18+2:  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 

'♦  See  below,  Manor  of  Lampetts. 

'5  See  below,  Charities. 

'6  See  below  Schools. 

"  Inf.  from  Mrs.  B.  S.  Blowes,  present 
occupier. 

■8  See  below.  Nonconformity. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


South  of  the  school  the  road  turns  sharply  eastward 
by  Fyfield  Bridge  and  continues  to  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  parish  as  Willingale  Lane.  West  of  the  bridge  a 
drive  leads  northward  to  Fyfield  Hall."  Nearly  oppo- 
site the  drive  is  the  church.^"  At  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  churchyard  stands  the  building  which  in  the  late 
19th  century  was  known  as  the  Vicarage.^'  There  is  a 
water-mill^^  on  the  River  Roding  about  200  yds.  south- 
west of  the  church.  Until  early  in  the  20th  century 
there  was  a  windmills  about  200  yds.  west  of  the 
water-mill;  the  track  leading  to  the  windmill  still  exists. 
A  little  to  the  east  of  the  church  a  lane  known  as  Church 
Lane  leads  southward  to  Cannon's  Green,  formerly 
Bury  Green.  Wethers,  formerly  White  Hall,  stands  at 
the  north  end  of  Church  Lane  on  its  east  side.  This 
house  contains  a  fine  oak  staircase  of  late  i6th-  or  early 
17th-century  origin.  Near  the  staircase  is  the  base  of  an 
original  chimney.  The  house  was  altered  and  probably 
much  reduced  in  size  in  the  early  1 8th  century.  Later 
still  brick  wings  were  built  at  the  back.  On  the  west 
side  of  Church  Lane,  opposite  Wethers,  is  a  row  of 
three  cottages  which  has  gabled  dormers  and  one  chim- 
ney with  diagonal  shafts.  At  present  only  one  tenement 
is  occupied.  South  of  the  row  is  a  single-story  three- 
roomed  cottage  which  was  church  property  from  at 
least  the  17th  century  until  1947.^^  It  probably  dates 
from  the  i6th  century.  Since  1947  it  has  been  re- 
thatched  and  plastered  and  thoroughly  reconditioned. 
South  of  this  cottage  there  are  seven  pairs  of  council 
houses.  The  cottages  at  Cannon's  Green  are  mostly  of 
the  1 8th  or  early  19th  centuries.  Two  of  these  have 
some  curious  coursed  rubble  walling  consisting  of 
knapped  flints  mixed  with  broken  brick,  possibly 
material  from  a  demolished  building.  One  of  the  two 
may  have  belonged  to  the  church  in  1835.^5  Near  the 
church  to  the  east  is  Fyfield  House,  a  brick  building 
which  dates  from  about  1830.  Almost  opposite  Fyfield 
House  is  the  rectory .^^  At  Witney  Green,  about  ^  mile 
east  of  the  church,  there  was  in  about  1768  a  'fair  man- 
sion house,  some  time  the  seat  of  George  Pochin 
Esquire,  SherrifFof  this  county  in  1700'."  The  present 
farm-house  appears  to  be  mostly  of  the  early  19th  cen- 
tury with  an  addition  of  about  i860,  but  at  least  one 
wing  has  evidently  been  demolished.  In  the  yard  is  a 
fine  symmetrical  red-brick  stable  range  dated  1777. 
An  old  farm-house  and  buildings,  all  demolished  in 
1886,28  stood  about  100  yds.  to  the  north.^'  Little 
Witney  Green,  opposite  Witney  Green  on  the  west 
side  of  Willingale  Lane,  is  in  course  of  demolition.  It 
appears  to  have  been  a  small  timber-framed  house  of 
the  early  17th  century. 

North  of  the  village  the  road  from  Ongar  is  known 
as  Dunmow  Road.  Ponders  Lodge  Farm,  on  the  east 
side  of  this  road  near  the  post-office,  is  a  two-story 
timber-framed  house  with  a  T-shaped  plan.  Part  of  the 
front  oversails  and  has  curved  brackets  to  the  soffit 
probably  dating  from  about  i  500.  The  large  chimney 
and  back  wing  may  be  later  additions.  The  sash  win- 
dows and  pargeting  patterns  on  the  plaster  are  of  the 
1 8th  century.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  there 
are  several  cottages  which  date  from  the  17th  century 
and  earlier.    A  little  to  the  north  of  Ponders  Lodge 


Farm  is  the  Black  Bull  Inn,  beyond  which  there  is  a 
single-story  weather-boarded  cottage  belonging  to  the 
church  and  perhaps  dating  from  the  17th  or  i8th  cen- 
tury. 

Opposite  the  Black  Bull  Inn  a  road  leads  north- 
westwards to  Norwood  End.  This  area  of  the  parish  is 
now  more  sparsely  populated  than  it  was  in  1777.30  At 
Holme  Garden  in  Norwood  End  there  is  a  moat  en- 
closing an  area  which  is  about  1 50  yds.  across  and  con- 
sists of  two  adjacent  sites  of  roughly  rectangular  shape. 
In  1770  there  was  a  local  tradition  that  Henry,  Lord 
Scrope  (d.  141 5)  had  a  'magnificent  seat'  on  this  spot.^' 
On  the  west  side  of  the  road,  opposite  the  moat,  stands 
the  Nook,  a  small  timber-framed  building  which  prob- 
ably dates  from  the  early  19th  century.  It  has  the 
appearance  of  a  small  school  or  nonconformist  chapel 
of  that  period  and  is  said  to  have  been  a  'nonconformist 
academy'.32  It  is  now  a  private  dwelling  and  is  in  pro- 
cess of  being  rebuilt.  A  little  to  the  north  of  the  Nook 
a  track,  formerly  a  lane,  leads  south  to  Green's  Farm 
and  then  to  Makings  Farm.  Green's  Farm  stands  on 
a  moated  site  and  appears  to  date  from  the  late  17th  or 
early  i8th  century.  Makings  Farm  probably  dates 
from  the  early  17th  century.  It  is  much  altered  but 
retains  a  chimney  with  diagonal  shafts.  North-west  of 
Holme  Garden  is  Dame  Anna's  Farm.  This  stands  on 
a  moated  site  and  is  a  timber-framed  two-story  house  of 
medieval  origin.  It  appears  to  have  consisted  originally 
of  an  open  hall  possibly  with  a  two-story  wing  at  the 
west  end.  The  vertical  timbers,  which  are  exposed 
internally,  are  close-set  and  heavy.  The  screens  passage 
across  the  east  end  of  the  hall  is  still  in  existence.  The 
screen  itself  is  of  chamfered  oak  studs  alternating  with 
tall  single  panels,  probably  of  i6th-  or  early  17th- 
century  date.  There  is  a  two-story  porch  at  the  front 
of  the  house  and  a  small  staircase  wing  at  the  back; 
these  two  features  may  have  been  added  when  a  ceiling 
was  inserted  in  the  hall.  The  heavy  beams  supporting 
this  ceiling,  now  sagging,  are  probably  of  the  i6th  cen- 
tury. The  brick  chimney  with  four  diagonal  shafts 
appears  to  have  been  inserted  near  the  west  end  of  the 
hall  at  the  same  period.  There  are  indications  that  the 
east  end  of  the  house  is  also  a  rather  later  addition,  as 
two  separate  partitions  exist  side  by  side  to  the  east  of 
the  screens  passage.  The  westernmost  of  these  has  two 
curved  braces  to  the  tie-beam  which  are  visible  on  the 
first  floor.  The  upper  story  of  the  gabled  porch  over- 
sails  on  three  sides  and  has  curved  brackets  to  the  soffit. 
The  moulded  oak  door-frame  is  of  i6th-  or  early  17th- 
century  date.  In  the  window  east  of  the  porch  is  a  frag- 
ment of  heraldic  glass  of  the  17th  or  1 8th  century.  This 
has  the  incomplete  inscription  'Chard  and  Brom'.  Prob- 
ably in  the  present  century  the  west  part  of  the  front 
was  faced  with  red  brick.  Three-light  sash  windows 
were  inserted,  those  on  the  ground  floor  having  large 
decorative  lintels  of  stone  or  cement.  There  is  a  brick 
single-story  addition  at  the  east  end  of  the  house.  From 
Dame  Anna's  Farm  a  lane  leads  north-westwards  to 
Hales  Farm,  formerly  Old  Hides  Farm,  which  probably 
dates  from  the  early  17th  century. 

Nearly  J  mile  from  the  Bull  Inn  northward  along 
Dunmow  Road  is  the  site  of  a  big  house,  called  Pickerells, 


'^  Sec  below,  Manor  of  Fyfield. 

"  See  below,  Church. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Sec  below. 

*5  Sec  below. 

*^  See  below,  Church. 

'i  Ibid. 


^'  Ibid. 

^'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  135. 

28  Inf.  from  Mr.  Filshie,  present  oc- 
cupier. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 

3"  Chapman  and  Andre,  Maf>  of  Essex 
J777,  plate  xii.    Cf.  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist 


cdn.),  sheet  xlii. 

3'  Hisl.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  334. 

32  Inf.  from  Rector  of  Fyfield.  Mr. 
Cooke  of  Dame  Anna's  Farm  calls  it 
'Norwood  End  Church'.  See  below,  Non- 
conformity. 


44 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


FYFIELD 


which  in  the  i8th  century  belonged  to  the  Brands  of 
Herons.33  Unlike  Herons,  Pickerells  descended  to 
Thomas,  20th  Lord  Dacre  (d.  i85i).34  By  1835  the 
house  had  disappeared,3s  but  old  foundations  have  been 
found  on  the  site  during  the  last  few  years.s*  The  farm 
which  has  been  called  Pickerells  since  before  1 873^' was 
known  as  Ash's  Farm  until  after  1842  when  it  was 
owned  by  Lord  Dacre.3  8  It  stands  about  300  yds.  to 
the  north  of  the  site  of  the  former  Pickerells  and  prob- 
ably dates  from  the  late  1 7th,  or  early  1 8th,  century, 
with  a  front  addition  of  about  1800. 

The  inhabitants  of  Fyfield  were  at  first  responsible 
for  the  upkeep  of  Fyfield  Bridge,3'  but  in  1616  Robert, 
3rd  Baron  Rich,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Fyfield,  was  said 
to  be  responsible  for  it.'"'  The  parish  was  again  respon- 
sible for  the  bridge  in  the  early  19th  century.  It  is  not 
included  in  the  list  of  county  bridges  about  1800'"  or 
in  1830.42  In  or  shortly  before  1835  it  was  said  that 
the  occupier  of  Fyfield  Hall  estate,  with  the  assistance 
of  the  neighbouring  gentry,  had  recently  erected  a 
bridge  at  Fyfield,  from  plans  and  specifications  by 
George  Bridges,  a  London  builder.^s  In  1835  part  of 
the  bridge  appears  to  have  been  a  county  charge.**  In 
1858  the  county  surveyor  noted  that  the  bridge  was 
built  of  oak  and  that  in  1 856  it  had  been  widened  at  the 
expense  of  the  county  which  was  responsible  only  for 
the  additional  width.^s 

In  1 79 1  a  wagon  went  at  noon  on  Saturdays  from 
Fyfield  to  the  'Saracen's  Head',  Aldgate.**  In  1826-7 
a  coach  ran  from  Ongar  and  Fyfield  on  every  day  except 
Sunday,  to  the  'Bull',  Aldgate,  passing  through  Abridge 
and  Chigwell.'t'  The  vans  of  S.  Clements  and  the 
wagons  of  Thomas  Nichol  also  served  Fyfield  and  other 
villages.**  In  1848  George  Yeallett  was  carrier  to 
London  on  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Saturday.*'  In 
1862  a  coach  went  daily  to  London. so 

In  1 840  a  'memorial'  for  a  postal  service  in  Fyfield 
and  other  parishes  was  sent  to  the  Postmaster-Generals' 
and  in  1845  Fyfield  asked  for  a  receiving  office. s^  The 
request  was  shortly  granted. S3  In  1877  an  application 
for  a  money-order  office  was  refused, s*  but  in  1881 
a  post-office  was  established,  serving  also  Cannons 
Green, 55  with  delivery  extended  in  the  next  year  to 
Norwood  End. 56  A  telegraph  office  was  opened  under 


33  See  below,  Manor  of  Herons;  Hht, 
Essex  hy  Gent,  iii,  333. 

34  E.R.O.,  e/RPl  685-737. 

"  Ref.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  227-8  (1835),  x)ci  (i).  The  explana- 
tion of  the  disappearance  of  the  house  may 
lie  in  the  fact  that  from  1 7  80,  if  not  before, 
until  after  184.2  the  land  belonging  to 
Pickerells  Farm  was  occupied  by  the  Ash 
family  who  also  occupied  other  farms  in 
the  vicinity.  Pickerells  was  possibly 
demolished  for  better  utilization  of  the 
land.  In  184.2  William  Ash  lived  at  Ash's 
farm-house  (sec  below). 

"  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Doe  of  present 
Pickerells. 

3'  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  xlii. 

38  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148.  The  Brands 
owned  'John  Ash  farm'  before  1768; 
Morant,  Essex,  i,  135.  This  was  almost 
certainly  the  farm  described  as  'Ash's 
Farm'  in  1842.  The  latter  was,  however, 
described  as  Golds  in  Chapman  and  Andr6, 
Map  of  Essex  jyy;,  plate  xii.  John  Ash 
occupied  nearly  all  the  Brands'  estate  in 
Fyfield,  including  Pickerells  and  another, 
slightly  larger,  farm,  by  1780.  He  was 
succeeded  in  1827-8  by  Mrs.  Ash  who 
was  still  the  occupier  in  1832.  In  1842 
William  Ash  occupied  'Ash's  Farm'  which 


included    the    land    on 
Pickerells  had  stood. 

39  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  75/33,  142/24. 

40  E.R.O.,  e/SBa  1/26. 
4>  E.R.O.,  2/ABz  2. 

42  E.R.O.,  e/ABz  I. 

43  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  338  n. 

44  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  2. 

45  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

46  Uni'versal  Brit.  Dir.  (1791),  i,  24. 

47  Pigot's  Com.  Dir.  (1826-7),  App.  51. 

48  Ibid.  82.  Cf.  Chipping  Ongar,  p.  158. 

49  irhile's  Dir.  Essex  {i%^i),4it). 
so  JVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863),  726. 

5"  P.M.G.  Mins  1840,  vol.  52,  p.  535. 

52  Ibid.  1845,  vol.  80,  p.  406. 

53  ff kite's  Dir.  Essex  (ii6T,),yzS. 

54  P.M.G.  Mins.  1877,  vol.  168,  min. 

5933- 

55  Ibid.  1881,  vol.  219,  min.  8958. 

56  Ibid.  1882,  vol.  232,  min.  7276. 
5'  Ibid.  1893,  vol.  497,  min.  8078. 
58  Ibid.  1923,  min.  5644. 

!»  Inf.  from  Chief  Constable  of  Essex. 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  first  mentioned  a 
sergeant-in-charge  in  1898. 

60  Inf.  from  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co. 

6>  Inf.  from  Rector  of  Fyfield. 

62  Inf.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 

45 


guarantee  in  189357  and  the  telephone  service  was 
estabhshed  in  1923.58  A  police  officer  is  stationed  in 
the  parish.59 

Water  was  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  in  the  later  19th  century*"  but  there  is  no 
sewerage  system.*'  Electricity  was  supplied  to  most  of 
the  parish  in  1938.*^  The  village  hall  was  built  about 
1920,^3  and  a  sports  ground  was  opened  in  1951.**  A 
branch  of  the  county  library  was  opened  in  1937. 

Fyfield  has  always  been  a  rural  parish  devoted  mainly 
to  agriculture.  No  evidence  has  been  found  to  support 
the  tradition  that  Henry,  Lord  Scrope  (d.  141 5),  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Fyfield,  lived  in  the  parish,*5  nor  is 
there  evidence  that  any  other  lord  of  this  manor  lived 
in  Fyfield  in  medieval  times.  Certainly  no  owner  of  the 
manor  has  been  resident  since  early  in  the  i6th  cen- 
tury.** The  owners  of  Herons  never  lived  in  Fyfield 
except  for  a  period  in  the  1 8th,  and  perhaps  in  the  1 7th, 
century.*'  The  Brands  lived  in  Fyfield  during  the  first 
part  of  the  1 8th  century,*^  but  by  1768  Thomas  Brand, 
then  lord  of  the  manor,  was  no  longer  resident.*'  Sub- 
sequent owners  of  Herons  never  lived  in  Fyfield.'"  The 
owners  of  Lampetts  lived  in  the  parish  in  the  17th  cen- 
tury and  in  the  first  half  of  the  1 8th  century,"  but  after 
the  death  of  John  Collins  in  1750  they  were  not  resident 
until  at  least  the  latter  half  of  the  19th  century.'^ 

In  1842  E.  F.  Maitland  owned  387  acres  in  Fyfield, 
the  Hon.  W.  P.  T.  Long-Wellesley  288  acres,  the 
Revd.  J.  B.  Stane  (of  Forest  Hall  in  High  Ongar,  q.v.) 
263  acres,  J.  B.  Stane  216  acres,  and  the  trustees  of 
Eleanor  Kirwan  238  acres.'^  None  of  these  owners 
farmed  their  land  themselves.'4  J.  M.  Wilson  owned 
112  acres  which  were  part  of  the  manor  of  Envilles  in 
Little  Laver  (q.v.).'s  There  were  three  other  substan- 
tial owners  in  the  parish;  Lucy  Evans  owned  but  did 
not  occupy  Dame  Anna's  Farm  (131  acres);  Thomas, 
Lord  Dacre  owned  but  did  not  occupy  Ash's  Farm 
(116  acres) ;  and  Captain  Harry  Ord  held,  as  trustee  of 
Mrs.  Ord,  Green's  Farm  (70  acres)  which  was  occupied 
by  W.  Whitney,  and  Hale's  Farm  (58  acres)  which  was 
occupied  by  J.  White.'*  There  were  three  other  farms 
of  over  40  acres." 

Fyfield  has  always  been  a  parish  of  mixed  farming 
with  a  heavy  predominance  of  arable.    In  1086  there 

which    the    first 


63  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

'4  Inf.  from  Rector  of  Fyfield. 

65  See  above;  and  below,  Church. 

"  See  below.  Manor  of  Fyfield ;  E.R.O., 
Q/RTh  I,  5;  ibid.  Q/RPl  685-737;  ibid. 
D/CT  148. 

"  See  below.  Manor  of  Herons. 

«8  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  338;  Wright, 
Hist.  Essex,  ii,  339  n.;  see  below,  Church, 
The  Brands  may  have  lived  at  Pickerells, 
a  substantial  house;  see  above;  and 
Morant,  Essex,  i,  135.  A  new  house  was 
built  at  Herons  soon  after  Thomas  Brand 
disposed  of  the  manor :  sec  below.  Manor 
of  Herons. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  135;  Hist.  Essex  by 
Gent,  iii,  334;  Complete  Peerage,  iv,  16— 

'7- 

70  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685-737;  see  below. 
Manor  of  Herons. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/RTh  I,  5;  Morant,  Essex, 
i.  '35;  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  339. 

'2  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685-737;  ibid. 
D/CT  148. 

'3  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 

'4  Ibid. 

'5  Ibid. 

'<■  Ibid.       . 

"  Ibid. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


were  5  ploughs  in  the  manor  of  Fy field;  there  was 
woodland  for  400  swine,  10  acres  of  meadow,  and  also 
a  hive  of  bees.'*  In  184 1  it  was  estimated  that  there 
were  1,655  acres  of  arable,  425  acres  of  meadow,  and 
1 20  acres  of  woodland." 

In  1086  the  manor  contained  a  mill,*"  and  in  1281 
there  was  a  windmill  there.*'  A  windmill  was  in  use  in 
the  parish  until  about  1910*^  when  it  was  blown  down 
and  cleared  away.  It  was  an  open-based  wooden  post 
mill.83  A  mill  on  the  River  Roding  is  still  using  water- 
power  to  grind  cattle  food.'*  The  building  is  weather- 
boarded  and  appears  to  date  from  the  i8th  or  early 
19th  century.  The  mill  house  is  a  double  fronted 
plastered  cottage  probably  built  about  1 840. 

The  Fyfield  Pea  {Lathyrus  tubemus)'^^  has  been 
naturalized  at  Fyfield  since  about  1800.  It  is  a  native 
of  Europe  and  West  Asia.**  It  can  still  be  found  in 
hedges  and  fields  in  Fyfield,  in  particular  in  a  field  east 
of  the  rectory,  but  is  considered  to  be  not  so  plentiful  as 
formerly. 

The  works  of  Ernest  Doe  &  Son,  tractor  repairers, 
are  opposite  Pickerells. 

In  1066  FYFIELD  was  held  by  Leuric  as  a  manor 

and  as  \\  hide  and  30  acres  and  was  worth 

MANORS   ^5.*'    In  1086  it  was  held  by  Roger  of 

John  son  of  Waleran  and  was  worth  [,1  .^^ 

In  1094  the  manor  was  still  held  of  John  by  Roger.*' 

Maud  wife  of  Hasculf  de  Tany  was  heiress  of  John.'o 

It  is  almost  certain  that  Maud  held  the  manor  of 
Fyfield  in  demesne  early  in  the  12th  century."  Grae- 
land  de  Tany,  son  of  Maud,  died  in  1 179-80.92  His 
son  and  heir  Hasculf,  and  the  successors  of  Hasculf,  un- 
doubtedly held  the  manor  in  demesne  of  the  king  in 
chief  by  knight  service,  the  amount  of  which  was  re- 
ported as  I  fee  until  1428  and  afterwards  as  ^  fee.'^ 

Hasculf  de  Tany  died  in  1 192-3.9''  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Gilbert  de  Tany  who  was  probably  his  son 
and  who  died  in  1 22 1  leaving  a  widow  Emma  who  had 
dower  in  Fyfield. '^  In  1221  the  heirs  of  Gilbert  were 
described  as  William  de  Fambridge,  Maud  wife  of 
Adam  de  Legh,  and  Nicholas  de  Beauchamp.'*  In 
1223  Adam  and  Maud  de  Legh  granted  their  rights  in 
the  inheritance  to  Stephen  son  of  Alan  de  Normanby 
and  Alice  his  wife  and  to  the  heirs  of  Alice.*'  This 
Stephen  seems  to  have  been  known  later  as  Stephen  de 
Langton.9*  In  1230  it  was  reported  that  Stephen  de 
Langton  held  \,  and  Nicholas  de  Beauchamp  \,  of 
Gilbert  de  Tany's  barony  of  7J  fees."  A  large  part  of 
Gilbert's  estate  in  Fyfield  was  evidently  allotted  to 
Nicholas  de  Beauchamp,  who  died  in  1 243  in  possession 
of  an  estate  there  consisting  of  254  acres  of  arable,  8 
acres  of  meadow  in  demesne,  6  acres  of  pasture,  a  wood, 
rents  amounting  to  69;.  \d.  a  year,  and  some  works."   It 


is  not  certain  what  happened  to  this  estate  when  Nicholas 
died.  He  left  a  minor,  whose  name  is  unknown,  as  the 
heir  to  his  other  estates.^  Part  of  his  Fyfield  estate,  how- 
ever, may  have  passed  to  Stephen  de  Langton.  Stephen 
and  his  wife  Alice  had  some  interest  in  Fyfield  at  least 
as  early  as  1228,  but  it  is  not  clear  what  was  the  extent 
of  this  interest  before  the  death  of  Nicholas.^  It  is  cer- 
tain, however,  that  in  1258  Stephen  had  in  Fyfield  a 
messuage  and  a  carucate  of  land  which  he  then  granted 
to  Roger  de  Beauchamp  and  to  the  adult  heirs  of  Roger 
to  hold  of  him  by  the  service  oi\  fee  and  a  yearly  rent 
of  1 1 1  J.  ^d.,  1 30  quarters  of  wheat,  and  150  quarters 
of  oats.*  After  Stephen's  death  Roger  was  to  hold  the 
premises  in  fee  and  to  be  quit  of  the  annual  rent.' 
Stephen  was  dead  by  1 26 1.*  In  the  quo  warranto  in- 
quiries of  1274-5  it  was  reported  that  Roger  de  Beau- 
champ held  the  manor  of  Fyfield  of  the  king  in  chief  at 
I  fee  and  that  he  held  the  assize  of  bread  and  ale  and 
view  of  frankpledge,  but  by  what  warrant  was  un- 
known.' Roger  died  in  1281  in  possession  of  an  estate 
in  Fyfield  consisting  of  a  messuage,  2  carucates  arable, 
2o(.?)  acres  of  meadow,  10  acres  of  pasture,  80  acres  of 
wood,  a  windmill,  and  rents  amounting  to  £6  13/.  \d. 
a  year.*  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John.'  In  1295 
John  de  Beauchamp  received  licence  to  enfeoff  Henry 
de  Enfield,  Alice  his  wife  and  John  their  son  with  44 
acres  of  land  which  they  were  to  hold  of  the  king  by 
^  fee.'°  Henry  de  Enfield  was  probably  lord  of  Envilles 
manor  in  Little  Laver  (q.v.).  In  1303  it  was  reported 
that  John  de  Beauchamp  and  his  tenants  held  I  fee  in 
Fyfield."  In  1309  John  de  Beauchamp  settled  the 
manor  of  Fyfield  on  his  son  Nicholas  but  reserved  a  life 
interest  for  himself '^  John  was  still  alive  in  1320,  but 
by  1329  Nicholas  was  in  possession  of  the  manor."  In 
1332  Nicholas  received  licence  toenfeoffjohn  Hotham, 
Bishop  of  Ely,  with  the  manor.'*  In  1334  the  king 
granted  to  John  Hotham  and  his  heirs  free  warren  in 
all  their  demesne  lands  of  the  manor. '5  In  November 
1334  John,  Bishop  of  Ely,  received  licence  to  grant  the 
manor  to  John  son  of  Peter  Hotham.'*  In  1337  Sir 
John  Hotham  received  licence  to  grant  the  manor  to 
his  son  John  and  Ivetta  his  wife  to  hold  to  them  and 
their  issue  with  remainder  to  Ivetta's  brother  Henry, 
son  of  Geoffrey  le  Scrope,  and  his  heirs."  John  died 
without  issue  in  13 51.'*  In  1355  his  widow  Ivetta 
granted  the  manor  to  her  brother  Henry  le  Scrope  to 
hold  during  her  life  at  a  rent  of  ^^62  1 3/.  \d.  during  the 
lifetime  of  Mathias  de  Beauchamp,  who  was  probably 
the  occupier,  and  ^^66  13/.  \d.  after  the  death  of 
Mathias."  Ivetta  was  dead  by  I374.2*'  Her  brother 
Henry,  ist  Lord  Scrope  of  Masham,  then  held  the 
manor  in  his  own  right  until  he  died  in  1392,  leaving  as 
his  heir  his  son  Stephen,  2nd  Lord  Scrope,  who  died  in 


'8  y.C.n.  Essex,  i,  545a. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 
«»  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  545a. 
8*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  pp.  235—6. 
82  E.R.  x\,  168. 

85   Ibid. 

8*  Inf.  from  miller. 

85  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  38. 

86  Clapham,  Tutin,  and  Warburg,  Flora 
of  Brit.  Isles  (1952). 

8'  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  545a. 

88  Ibid. 

89  /4nn.  Mon.  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii,  428,  430- 
I ;  see  below,  Church. 

«»  f^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  545,  note  2 ;  E.A.  T. 
N.s.  viii,  104-5. 

"  Ann.  Mon.  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii,  430-1 ; 
Mon.  Angl.  v,  88-89  j  see  below.  Church. 


'2  Ann.  Mon.  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii,  430-1 ; 
E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  104-5;  P'P^  ^-  "^° 
(P.R.S.  xxix),  6. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  104-5;  Feud.  Aids, 
ii,   136,   160,  222;  Cal.  Close,   1454-61, 

94-95- 

9*  Pipe  R.  1 193  (P.R.S.  N.s.  iii),  8. 

95  Ex.  e  Rot.  Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  71-72 ; 
Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \,  6y. 

9i>  Excerpta  e  Rot,  Fin.  \,  72. 

9'  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  \,  67. 

98  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  74. 

99  P/^OfiJ.  1230  (P.R.S.  N.s.  iv),  137. 

■  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  \,  p.  288  ;  Ex.  e  Rot,  Fin. 
(Rec.  Com.),  i,  402.  Nicholas  also  held 
the  advowson. 

2  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  i,  p.  288. 

5  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  74,  1 1 6,  1 20,  134. 

46 


*  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \,  232.  5  Ibid. 

6  Cal.  Close,   1 261-4,   '6;  Ex.  e  Rot. 
Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  364. 

'  Rot.  Hund.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  153. 

8  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  pp.  235-6. 

9  Ibid. 

'"  Cal.  Pat.  1292-1301,  144. 
'*  Feud,  Aids,  ii,  136. 
'2  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  125. 
'3  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  200—1 ;  Cal.  Pat. 
'3-7-3°. +50. 
'♦  Cal.  Pat.  1330-4,  235. 
'5  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1327-41,  320. 
■'  Cal.  Pat.  1334-8,46. 
"  Ibid.  487. 

^8  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  \x,  pp.  429—30. 
'9  Cal.  Pat.  1354-8,  174. 
"  Cal.  Pat.  1 374-7.  34-35- 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


FYFIELD 


1406.2'  The  king  then  assigned  the  manor  to  Margery 
widow  of  Stephen  in  dower,  for  life,  with  reversion  to 
Henry,  3rd  Lord  Scrope,  son  and  heir  of  Stephen.^^  In 
May  141 3  Margery  granted  the  manor  to  Henry  for 
40  years  at  an  annual  rent,  on  condition  that  the  estate 
should  revert  to  her  if  Henry  should  die  within  her  life- 
timers  Henry  was  beheaded  in  141 5  and  the  king  then 
took  possession  of  the  manor  of  Fyfield  with  the  rest  of 
Henry's  lands.^''  Margery  immediately  petitioned  for 
restitution  of  the  manor  as  her  right  and  in  November 
141 5  obtained  it.^s  She  died  in  1422.^*  The  Crown 
then  took  possession  of  the  manor  the  custody  of  which 
was  in  February  1423  granted  to  Sir  John  de  Langton 
and  John  de  Aske."  In  December  1423  John  le  Scrope, 
brother  and  heir  of  Henry,  3rd  Lord  Scrope,  recovered 
the  lands  which  his  mother  Margery  had  held  in 
dower.r'  Later  John  recovered  the  barony.  When 
John,  Lord  Scrope,  died  in  1455  he  held  the  manor  of 
Fyfield  jointly  with  his  wife  Elizabeth  who  survived 
him.2'  She  died  in  1466  and  the  manor  then  passed  to 
her  son  Thomas,  Lord  Scrope,  who  died  in  1475.3°  In 
1476  Elizabeth  widow  of  Thomas  was  granted  custody 
of  the  manor  during  the  minority  of  her  son  Thomas, 
Lord  Scrope.3>  When  Thomas,  Lord  Scrope,  died  in 
1493  he  was  seised  of  Fyfield  jointly  with  his  wife 
Elizabeth  who  survived  him.^^  Elizabeth  died  in  1 5 17, 
having  outlived  both  her  only  child  Alice,  iuo  jure 
Baroness  Scrope,  and  her  grandchild  Elizabeth.33  The 
heir  to  the  manor  of  Fyfield  was  then  Eleanor,  widow 
of  Ralph,  Lord  Scrope,  who  had  settled  the  reversion 
on  her  before  his  death  in  1 5 1 5.2^  Eleanor  died  before 
25  March  1531.35  The  manor  then  passed  to  the 
daughters  of  Elizabeth,  sister  and  coheir  of  Geofirey, 
loth  Lord  Scrope:  Alice  wife  of  Charles  Dransfeld, 
Elizabeth  wife  of  Nicholas  Strelley,  Dorothy  wife 
of  Lancelot  Esshe,  and  Agnes  wife  of  Marmaduke 
Wyvill.3*  In  1537-8  these  sold  the  manor  to  Sir 
Richard  Rich,  afterwards  ist  Baron  Rich.3'  After- 
wards the  manor  followed  the  same  descent  as  Paslow 
Hall  manor  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  until  the  death  of  the 
EarlofMornington  in  1863.38  It  then  passed  to  Henry,  . 
1st  Earl  Cowley,  a  cousin  of  the  Earl  of  Mornington." 
After  Lord  Cowley's  death  in  1884  the  manor  was  held 
by  his  son  William,  Earl  Cowley,  who  died  in  1895.^" 
By  1898  the  manor  had  passed  to  Andrew  Alfred 
CoUyer  Bristow  of  Beddington  (Surr.)  who  kept  it 
until  his  death  in  1906-12,  after  which  it  was  held  by 
his  trustees  until  after  1937.^' 

In  1842  Fyfield  Hall  farm  consisted  of  288  acres 
which  were  in  the  occupation  of  Thomas  Horner.^^ 
At  that  time  the  farm  was  still  owned  by  the  Wellesley 
family,  lords  of  the  manor  of  Fyfield.''3  By  the  end  of 
1865,  however,  the  farm,  or  at  least  part  of  it,  had  be- 
come separated  from  the  manor.  J.  L.  Newall  who  was 


at  this  time  purchasing  the  Forest  Hall  estate  (see  High 
Ongar),  bought  part  of  Fyfield  Hall  farm  in  1865  and 
the  remainder  in  iij\.**  Afterwards  the  farm  de- 
scended with  Forest  Hall  until  the  estate  was  sold,  in 
several  lots,  in  I9i9.'»5  At  that  time  the  farm  consisted 
of  224  acres  which  were  let  to  G.  and  D.  W.  White  at 
a  rent  of  £342  a  year.''* 

Fyfield  HalH'  is  a  timber-framed  house  of  various 
dates.  The  plan  is  complex,  having  at  the  core  part  of 
an  aisled  hall,  possibly  of  the  early  14th  century.  This 
was  of  two  approximately  equal  bays,  the  axis  running 
east  and  west.  The  south  aisle  is  now  missing.  At  the 
east  end,  also  on  an  east-west  axis,  is  another  medieval 
structure,  probably  of  later  date  than  the  original  hall. 
Parallel  to  the  hall  and  built  against  its  north  aisle  is  a 
two-story  range,  dating  from  about  1500.  Three  more 
gabled  wings  have  been  added  at  different  dates.  One, 
at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  house,  contains  the  stair- 
case and  is  probably  of  the  i6th  or  early  17th  century. 
The  others,  at  the  south-west  corner  and  across  the  east 
end  of  the  north  range,  date  from  the  i8th  century  or 
later.  The  early  plan  is  remarkable  for  its  use  of  the 
east— west  axis  throughout  instead  of  the  more  usual 
cross-wings  of  medieval  times. 

The  timbers  of  the  north  aisle  of  the  14th-century 
hall  are  mostly  in  position,  although  concealed  by  later 
work.^'  Between  the  bays  stands  an  oak  post  from 
which  the  curved  braces  forming  the  two  arches  of  the 
'nave  arcade'  spring.  The  lower  part  of  this  post,  octa- 
gonal on  plan  and  about  1 5  in.  in  diameter,  can  be  seen 
in  a  cupboard  on  the  ground  floor.  The  capital  has  a 
14th-century  moulding  and  the  base  has  long  spur  stops. 
Above  the  level  of  the  springing  the  post  has  a  square 
section  and  is  carried  up  to  support  a  massive  plate  run- 
ning longitudinally  at  the  junction  of  the  'nave'  and 
aisle  roofs.  At  each  end  of  the  hall  the  projection  of  the 
plate  is  over  I  ft.  in  length,  suggesting  that  the  original 
14th-century  building  had  overhanging  gables.  Most 
of  the  original  timbers  of  the  'nave'  roof,  which  is  of  the 
trussed  rafter  type,  are  in  position,  all  heavily  blackened 
with  smoke  from  an  open  hearth.  An  unusual  feature  is 
the  presence  of  straight  wind-braces,  pegged  through 
to  each  rafter  and  crossing  at  the  top.  The  bracing 
members  of  the  central  truss  are  missing  but  the  position 
of  mortices  and  slots  in  the  main  members  strongly  sug- 
gests that  long  straight  braces  crossed  between  the  collar 
and  the  apex  of  the  roof  and  formed  a  scissor  truss. 
There  are  indications  of  smaller  braces  below  the  tie- 
beam.  In  the  north  aisle  the  position  of  a  window  can 
be  determined  by  the  presence  of  mortices  for  diagonal 
muUions  on  the  underside  of  the  wall  plate.  The  south 
aisle  has  been  destroyed,  but  the  central  post  is  still  in 
place.  It  has  been  cut  back  so  that  its  mouldings  and 
octagonal  shape  are  obliterated. 


"  C136/78/1;  0137/56;  C(Jm/>/«/<P«r- 
age,  xi,  561—4. 
"  C145/294;  C139/4;  Complete  Peer- 

C 139/4;      Cal.     Closef 


C139/4;      Cal.     Close, 
251;    Complete   Peerage, 


"  CI45/294-; 
1413-19,251. 

"  C145/294; 
1413-19,  229, 
xi,  566. 

^5  Cal.  Close,  141 3-19,  229,  251. 

**  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  564. 

"  Cal.  FineR.  1422-30,  28. 

'«  Cal.  Fine  R.   1422-30,  66-67. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1454-61,  94-95  ;  Complete 
Peerage,  xi,  566—8. 

3"  C140/21;  C140/53;  Complete  Peer- 
age, xi,  569. 


3"  Cal.  Pat.  1467-77,  582,  599;  Com- 
plete Peerage,  xi,  569-70. 

32  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  i,  p.  396. 

33  C142/33/121;  Complete  Peerage,  xi, 

57'- 
3*  C142/33/121;  Complete  Peerage,  xl, 

571-2. 

35  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  572. 

36  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  M102;  y.C.H. 
rorks.  N.R.  i,  234;  Complete  Peerage,  xi, 
572.  Geoffrey,  Lord  Scrope,  son  of 
Thomas,  Lord  Scrope  (d.  1475)  had  suc- 
ceeded his  brother  Ralph  in  1515  and  died 

unmarried  in  1517- 

37  CP40/1098R0.  i48;CP25(2)/i2/65 
East.  &  Trin.  29  Hen.  VIII;  CP25(2)/ 
12/66    Trin.    30    Hen.    VIII;    E.R.O., 

47 


D/DCw  M102. 

38  E.R.O.,    D/DCw    M115;    Complete' 
Peerage,  ix,  241. 

3»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870  f.);  Complete 
Peerage,  iii,  480—1. 

*°  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1878  f.). 

I'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1898  f.). 

«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 

«  Ibid. 

«  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  225. 

45  Ibid.  ••'  Ibid. 

■17  See  p.  48. 

48  Many  of  the  features  described  were 
discovered  during  a  survey  made  in  1954 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Royal  Com- 
mission on  Historical  Monuments  and  the 
National  Buildings  Record. 


probable  _ 

'Scissor*  Iruu 


Scale  For  Sections 


OmCINAL      HALL 


2-3TORXY    WrNG  CISOO 


5UMION    AA 


Rafters    renewed 


Rafters    renewed 


Probable 
Lovvrc 


h  ^    ^   ^     ^     p 

'4 


tt 


•■.'/'■■      !-:.! 


B    II 


I     I 


i     1     I     t^l     1^1     i 


B    fl    P    H    H 


^ 


3   R   H.:^ 

! 


^ 


5E.CTION     66   Of  ORIGINAL   HALL 


C  CO 


)8th.  or  iptb.c 

WINC 


I  °      !!.  .   .   .   .  n.NOH-TH  II    A  J  5tt i; 


Scale    for    Plan 


30        35       aofect 


M  t  O 

Wl 


E.  V  A  L 

MC 


J 


CR.OUND    FLOOR.    PLAN 

FYFIELD    HALL 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


FYFIELD 


The  structure  east  of  the  hall  is  divided  from  it  by  a 
space  about  6  ft.  wide,  possibly  an  external  passage. 
Part  of  it  was  open  to  the  roof  and  at  one  time  a  central 
truss  was  fitted  with  a  king-post.  There  is  some  smoke- 
blackening  of  the  roof  timbers. 

The  two-story  north  range  is  built  alongside  the  aisle 
wall  but  is  independent  of  it  structurally.  It  is  of  four 
bays,  divided  in  the  roof  by  three  king-post  trusses.  The 
westernmost  king-post  is  rebated  and  hollow-chamfered, 
suggesting  that  at  this  end  there  was  an  open  roof  visible 
from  an  important  upper  room  or  solar.  The  upper 
floor  oversails  along  the  north  side  and  has  curved 
brackets  to  the  soffit.  The  ends  of  the  joists  are  con- 
cealed by  a  moulded  bressummer,  over  40  ft.  long,  en- 
riched with  a  running  design  typical  of  about  1500. 
The  nail-studded  entrance  door  is  probably  original. 

The  reconstruction  of  the  hall  probably  took  place  in 
the  i6th  century.  A  ceiling  was  inserted  and  the  central 
chimney  built.  The  introduction  of  an  upper  story 
needing  light  and  head-room  would  necessitate  the 
demolition  of  the  south  aisle.  The  staircase  wing  may 
be  of  the  same  period  but  the  other  additions  are  later. 
The  chimney  in  the  north  range  was  built  in  two  stages, 
the  older  stack  having  a  shaped  panel  which  probably 
carried  a  date  or  initials.  The  upper  part  of  the  south 
chimney  is  now  dated  1700. 

The  sash  windows,  including  the  splayed  bays  on  the 
south  front,  were  all  inserted  about  1886.  The  timber 
porch  and  the  loggia  were  added  after  1945.  In  the 
garden  to  the  east  of  the  house  there  is  a  rectangular 
fish-pond  known  as  the  'Catholic  Pond'. 

The  manor  of  HERONS  was  in  the  ownership  of  the 
priory  of  Little  Leighs  when  the  latter  was  dissolved  in 
1536.""  Its  earlier  history  is  uncertain  but  its  origins 
are  perhaps  to  be  found  in  several  estates  which  may 
have  been  merged  by  the  priory  at  the  end  of  the  13  th 
century. 

Leighs  priory  may  have  possessed  lands  in  Fyfield 
before  1247.  In  1211-12  Oger  son  of  Ernald  de 
Curton  held  i  fee  in  Tendring  and  Fyfield. 5"  Oger 
apparently  granted  the  fee  to  Thomas  de  Lungevill' 
who  in  1223  conveyed  at  least  part  of  it,  including  lands 
in  Fyfield,  to  William  de  Curton,  brother  of  Oger. 5'  In 
1233  Eustace  de  Curton,  who  may  have  been  the  son 
of  William,  granted  100  acres  of  land  in  Fyfield  to 
Ralph  Gernon,  probably  the  founder  of  Leighs  priory." 
Ralph,  who  apparently  owned  no  lands  in  Fyfield  at  his 
death  in  1247,  may  have  granted  this  estate  to  the 
priory.53 

After  1282  the  priory  may  have  acquired  in  Fyfield 
two  other  estates  each  of  which  had  formed  a  separate 
manor  in  the  i  ith  century.  In  1066  one  was  held  by 
Alwin  as  80  acres  and  as  one  manor  worth  3o;.5'*  In 
1086  this  was  held  of  Count  Eustace  of  Boulogne  by 
'lunanus'  and  was  then  worth  40;.  55  The  other  manor 
was  held  in  1066  by  Brictmar  as  40  acres  and  as  one 


manor  worth  5/.S*  In  1086  this  manor  was  held  of 
Count  Eustace  by  Richard  and  was  worth  lo/.s'  These 
two  manors  were  probably  merged  in  the  1 2th  century. 
The  overlordship  passed  with  the  honor  of  Boulogne  to 
the  Crown  after  the  death  in  1 1 59  of  William,  Count  of 
Boulogne.  The  mesne  tenancy  was  held  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  II  by  Pharamus  of  Boulogne,  great-grandson 
of  Count  Eustace  of  Boulogne. ss  It  descended  to 
Pharamus'  daughter  Sybil  wife  of  Ingram  de  Fiennes 
and  subsequently  to  her  son  William  de  Fiennes.5» 
Afterwards  Ingram  son  of  William  de  Fiennes  appa- 
rently held  the  manor.*"  In  1248  he  granted  to  Ralph 
de  Marcy  i  messuage  and  1 20  acres  of  land  in  Fyfield 
toholdof  himat  a  rent  of  32/.  a  year."  This  estate  was 
equal  in  extent  to  the  combined  acreage  of  the  two 
Fyfield  manors  which  were  held  of  Count  Eustace  in 
1086.  In  1282  William  de  Fiennes,  son  of  Ingram, 
conveyed  some  rights  in  Fyfield  to  Robert  Burnell, 
Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells.*^  It  is  not  clear  what  was  the 
effect  of  this  conveyance.  Soon  afterwards,  however, 
Leighs  priory  may  have  acquired  the  manor  and  added 
to  it  lands  acquired  previously  from  Ralph  Gernon.  In 
1 29 1  the  priory  had  an  estate  in  Fyfield  valued  at 
£7  10s.  ia'.63  In  1 303  and  1 346  it  was  reported  that  the 
priory  held  in  Fyfield  J  fee  of  the  honor  of  Boulogne.** 
This  estate  may  have  derived  its  name  of  Herons  from 
one  who  farmed  it  in  the  14th  or  1 5  th  century.*' 

Immediately  after  the  dissolution  of  Leighs  priory  in 
1536  the  manor  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  Sir 
Richard  Rich,  afterwards  ist  Baron  Rich.**  On  his 
death  in  1567  it  passed  to  his  son  Robert,  2nd  Baron 
Rich,  who  settled  it  on  his  eldest  son  Richard  when 
Richard  married  Katherine  Knevett.*'  Richard's  death 
without  issue  in  1 580  was  followed  by  that  of  his  father 
in  I58i.*8  The  manor  then  passed  to  Robert,  3rd 
Baron  Rich,  who  in  16 12  conveyed  it  to  Robert 
Bourne.*'  In  1643  Richard  Bourne,  who  may  have 
been  a  nephew  of  Robert  Bourne,  conveyed  the  manor 
to  Alexander  Benton  and  Richard  Master.^o  In  1694 
Thomas  Richardson  and  his  wife  Anne  granted  it  to 
-Charles  Nowes  to  hold  during  Anne's  life."  In  1697 
Charles  Nowes  and  his  wife  Ann,  and  John  Brett  Fisher 
and  Judith  his  wife  conveyed  the  manor  to  John  Savill.72 
By  171 1  the  manor  was  owned  by  Timothy  Brand  of 
London.'^  Afterwards  it  passed  to  Thomas  Brand  who 
may  have  been  Timothy's  grandson  and  who  also  owned 
Pickerells  Farm.'''  Before  1768  Thomas  Brand  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Thomas  who  in  1771  married 
Gertrude,  suo  jure  Baroness  Dacre.'5  Before  1780 
Thomas  Brand  granted  Herons  to  Thomas  Brand 
Hollis,  although  he  retained  in  Fyfield  a  considerable 
estate,  including  Pickerells  and  Ash  Farms,  which  later 
descended  to  his  son  Thomas,  Lord  Dacre  (d.  1851).'* 
Thomas  Brand  Hollis  was  owner  of  Herons  until  about 
1804  when  it  passed  to  Dr.  Disney."  In  1811-12 
Disney  was  succeeded  by  the  Revd.  John  Bramston 


*'  L.  fef  P.  Hen.  ^111,  x,  p.  420. 

50  ReJ  Bk.  of  Exch.  580;  Bk.  of  Fees, 
238. 

"  Bk.  of  Fees,  242,  1435;  Feet,  of  F. 
Essex,  i,  49,  63. 

"  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  i,  93,  114;  r.C.H. 
Essex,  ii,  155;  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  90. 

"  Cal.  Irtq.  p.m.  i,  p.  292;  Ex.  e  Rot. 
Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  23. 

5t  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467*. 

55    Ibid.  56   Ibid.  57   Ibid. 

5'  Bk.  of  Fees,   1428;  Genealogist,  N.s. 
xii,  145-51. 
59  Bk.  of  Fees,  235-6,  240,  1428,  1435. 
'"  De   La   Chenaye-Desbois   et    Badier, 


Dictionnaire  de  la  Noblesse,  viii,  39-41. 

6 '  Feet  of  F.  Essex,\,  181. 

'2  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  36;  C.  Moor, 
Knights ofEd-w.  I (Harl.  Soc.  Ixxxi),  ii,  23 ; 
De  La  Chenaye-Desbois  et  Badier, 
Dictionnaire  de  la  Noblesse,  viii,  39-41. 

63   Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  25. 

6<  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  136,  160. 

65  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  xii,  57;  Feet 
of  F.  Essex,  ii,  123. 

66  L.  &  P.  Hen.  FUI,  x,  p.  420. 

67  C142/147/141;  C142/192/29. 

68  C142/192/29. 

69  CP2<(2)/294  Trin.  10  Jas.  I. 

'»  CP25(2)/4i9    Mich.    19    Chas.    I; 

49 


Sepulchral  Memorials  of  Bobhingivorth,  cd. 
F.  A.  Crisp,  31-33. 

"  CP25(2)/828  Trin.  6  Wm.  &  Mary. 

"  CP25(2)/829  Hil.  9  Wm.  III. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/RSg  I. 

'■♦  Morant,  Essexy  i,  135.  A  Thomas 
Brand  was  buried  in  Fyfield  in  1718: 
Wright,  Hist.  EsseXy  ii,  339.  He  was  prob- 
ably the  father  of  the  Thomas  Brand  of 
Pickerells  mentioned  by  Morant. 

75  Ibid.;  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  336; 
Complete  Peerage^  iv,  16. 

76  E.R.O..  i2/RPl  685-737 J  ibid. 
D/CT  1+8. 

77  E.R.O.,Q/RPl  709-15. 


H 


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Jill   ;; 

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cu 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


FYFIELD 


Stane  of  Forest  Hall,  High  Ongar  (q.v.).^*  Herons 
remained  part  of  the  Forest  Hall  estate  until  that  estate 
was  put  up  for  sale  by  auction  in  191979  In  1842 
Herons  Farm  consisted  of  262  acres  of  which  205  acres 
were  arable.*"  From  1813  until  after  1842  the  occupier 
was  James  Lucking.*'  In  19 19  the  farm  consisted  of 
234  acres  of  arable  and  pasture,  all  of  which  was  let  to 
R.  and  H.  Oliver  at  a  rent  of  ^^3 86  a  year.*^ 

The  site  of  the  original  manor  house,  partly  covered 
by  farm  buildings,  is  south  of  the  existing  farm-house. 
It  was  surrounded  by  a  moat  with  a  second  moated  en- 
closure, perhaps  for  cattle,  to  the  west  of  it.^s  The 
present  house  dates  from  the  late  i8th  or  early  19th 
century  with  a  wing  of  about  1870  on  its  west  side. 
One  of  the  timbered  barns  may  be  of  the  17th  century. 

The  manor  of  LJMPETTS  appears  for  the  first 
time  under  that  name  in  the  15th  century.*'*  It  probably 
derived  the  name  from  Thomas  Lam  pet  (see  below).*' 

The  early  history  of  the  manor  cannot  be  traced  with 
certainty.  It  is  possibly  to  be  identified,  however,  with 
the  manor  which  was  held  in  1066  by  Alestan  and  in 
1086  by  Roger  of  John  son  of  Waleran.**  It  was  then 
held  as  30  acres  and  was  worth  20/.*'  It  is  likely  that 
after  1086  this  small  estate  was  held  of  the  manor  of 
Fyfield.  In  1475  Lampetts  was  held  of  Thomas,  Lord 
Scrope,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Fyfield.**  In  1485  it  was 
said  to  be  worth  40J.*' 

Thomas  Lampet  was  a  tenant  of  the  manor  of  Fyfield 
by  1385  and  from  then  until  at  least  1396  he  was  con- 
tinually presented  for  failing  to  do  suit  at  the  manor 
court.'"  He  was  dead  by  141 1."  In  1412  it  was  re- 
ported that  Isabel  Lampet  held  lands  and  tenements  in 
Fyfield. 9^  Later  the  estate  passed  into  the  ownership  of 
the  Wrytell  family  which  had  connexions  with  the 
Lampetsin  141 1. 'J  In  1473  Walter  Wrytell  apparently 
gave  instructions  that  after  his  death  his  manor  of 
Lampetts  was  to  be  used  for  the  maintenance  of  an  obit 
in  Bobbingworth  church.'^  Later>  however,  he  must 
have  changed  his  mind,  for  at  thet  ime  of  his  death  in 
1475  Lampetts  was  settled,  by  his  demise,  on  his  wife 
Katherine  for  life  with  remainder  to  his  heirs. 's 

After  1475  the  manor  of  Lampetts  followed  the  same 
descent  as  that  of  High  Laver  (q.v.)  until  15 10.  In 
1 5 10  Lampetts  was  allotted  to  Edward  and  Gresilda 
Waldegrave  to  hold  to  them  and  to  the  heirs  of  Gre- 
silda.9'  In  1 539  William  Rochester,  son  of  Gresilda  by 
her  first  husband  John  Rochester,  granted  the  manor  to 
Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  ist  Baron  Rich."  In  1 564  Rich 
conveyed  the  manor  to  John  Waylett.'*  In  1565 
Waylett  granted  it  to  Nicholas  Collins.^'  The  estate 
remained  in  the  Collins  family  until  after  the  death  of 
John  Collins  in  1750.'  He  was  succeeded  by  his  only 
child  Mary  who  brought  the  manor  in  marriage  to 
Jacob  Wragg,  Rector  of  North  Cadbury  (Som.).^  After 
Wragg's  death  in  1785-6  Mrs.  Wragg  held  the  estate 
until  she  died  in  1804-5.3  Her  executors  then  sold  it 


in  1806  to  Ebenezer  Maitland  who  retained  ownership 
until  after  i863.*  In  1842  the  estate  consisted  of  330 
acres. 5  The  manor  house,*  which  stands  on  a  moated 
site,  is  a  timber-framed  structure  of  two  stories.  The 
central  part  was  originally  an  aisled  hall  of  the  14th  cen- 
tury, built  on  an  east-west  axis  and  consisting  of  two  or 
more  bays.  The  cross-wing  at  the  east  end,  which  pro- 
jects slightly  to  the  south,  was  added  in  the  1 5th  century. 
The  division  of  the  hall  into  two  stories  may  have  taken 
place  in  the  i6th  century  and  at  the  same  time  the 
north  aisle  roof  was  replaced  by  two  gables  to  give  light 
to  the  upper  floor;  the  raising  of  the  eaves  level  on  the 
south  side  is  of  much  later  date.  The  small  staircase 
block  in  the  angle  between  the  hall  and  the  east  wing  is 
also  probably  of  the  i6th  century.  The  west  cross-wing 
was  probably  built  or  rebuilt  early  in  the  1 8th  century. 

The  original  14th-century  construction  appears  to  be 
somewhat  later  than  that  at  Fyfield  Hall.  The  position 
of  the  two  longitudinal  plates  marking  the  limits  of  the 
'nave'  can  be  seen  in  the  roof  space.  Below  these  lay  the 
nave  arcades.  The  post  in  the  centre  of  the  arcade  on 
the  south  side  is  still  partly  visible  behind  plaster  in  a 
ground-floor  cupboard.  It  is  octagonal  in  section  and 
about  I  ft.  in  diameter.  The  corresponding  post  of  the 
north  aisle  is  buried  in  a  later  partition.  A  curved 
timber  forming  one  side  of  the  easternmost  arch  of  the 
south  arcade  can  be  seen  both  from  the  roof  space  and 
against  the  later  chimney  breast  on  the  first  floor.  The 
construction  of  the  upper  part  of  the  north  aisle  can  also 
be  traced,  but  several  of  the  timbers  are  missing.  In  the 
roof  space  above  the  nave  all  the  timbers  are  much 
smoke-blackened.  Across  the  centre  is  a  king-post  truss 
with  a  cambered  tie-beam  below  which  were  originally 
two  large  arched  braces.  One  of  these  is  still  in  position. 
The  short  king-post  is  octagonal.  It  has  four-way  struts 
and  a  moulded  capital  and  base.  There  are  indications 
of  a  second  king-post  truss  near  the  west  end  of  the  hall 
where  the  addition  of  the  later  cross-wing  has  cut  into 
the  14th-century  construction.  This  may  represent  the 
site  of  a  demolished  screens  bay.  An  original  doorway 
near  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle,  however,  suggests 
an  alternative  site  for  the  screens  passage. 

The  roof  of  the  two-story  east  wing  is  divided  into 
three  bays  by  two  original  trusses,  the  timbers  of  which 
are  not  smoke-blackened.  One  of  the  king-posts  is  octa- 
gonal, the  other  octagonal  on  a  square  base  and  both 
have  fairly  elaborate  mouldings.  This  was  almost  cer- 
tainly a  15th-century  solar  wing. 

The  chamfered  beams  which  support  the  inserted 
ceiling  in  the  hall  have  bar-stops  of  the  i6th  or  early 
17th  century.  The  central  chimney  and  one  at  the 
south-east  corner  of  the  house  have  diagonal  shafts  and 
moulded  brickwork  and  are  probably  of  much  the  same 
date.  There  is  panelling  of  a  similar  period  near  the 
west  end  of  the  house.  Most  of  the  fittings  and  panelling 
in  the  west  wing  date  from  the  first  half  of  the  i8th 


'•  E.R.O.,Q/RPl  715-37. 

"  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  225. 

«»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 

«'  E.R.O.,  e/RPl  718-37;  ibid.  D/CT 
148. 

82  E.R.0.,5afcCa/.  A.  225. 

"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Rccs. 

8<  Cat.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VU,  i,  pp.  61-62, 
383;Ci4C5/52. 

«5  Cal  Inq.  f.m.  Hen.  VU,  i,  pp.  61-62, 

383- 

*'  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  545a;  see  above, 
Manor  of  Fyfield. 

«'  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  545^. 


88  C140/52. 

89  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen,  VU,  i,  pp.  61-62. 
»o  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  M97. 

»i  Eeet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  256. 

92  FeuJ.  Aids,  vi,  439. 

93  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  256. 

94  Morant,  Essex,  i,  135. 

95  C140/52;  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VU,  i, 
pp.  61—62,  383. 

94  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/69. 
9'  CP40/1102  rot.  157. 

98  CP25(2)/i27/i624.    Cf.  Blake  Hall 
Manor  in  Bolibingworth. 

99  P.R.O.,  MS.  Cal.  Feet  of  F.  Essex, 

51 


Mich.  7-8  Eliz.  (the  original  final  concord 
is  now  missing). 

■  CP25(2)/i3S/i725;  CP25(2)/922 
Trin.  4  Anne;  C142/481/44.  In  the 
records  the  family  name  is  sometimes  spelt 
Collins,  sometimes  Collin,  and  occasionally 
CoIIen. 

2  Hist.  Essex  hy  Gent,  iii,  336. 

3  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685-710. 

<  E.R.O.,  e/RPl  711-37;  ibid.  D/CT 
148 ;  ibid.  2/RPr  1/27;  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex 
(1863). 

5  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 

'  See  pi.  p.  50. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


century.  The  roof  on  the  south  side,  the  present  sash 
windows,  and  other  details  are  of  the  early  19th  cen- 
tury. Part  of  the  house  is  now  in  use  as  a  farmworker's 
dwelling;  the  rest  is  unoccupied. 

The    rectory   of  Fyfield   was   never   appropriated 

although  for  a  long  period  in  the  1 2th  cen- 

CHURCH  tury  the   Cluniac  priory  of  Bermondsey 

(Surr.)  had  the  right  to  receive  the  greater 

part  of  the  tithes  of  the  parish  as  well  as  the  advowson 

of  the  rectory. 

In  1094  Roger,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Fyfield,  with 
the  consent  of  his  overlord  John  son  of  Waleran,  gave 
'the  tithes  of  Fyfield'  to  Bermondsey  priory.'  In  1 107 
or  later  Maud  wife  of  Hasculf  de  Tany  and  her  son 
Graeland  confirmed  this  gift  and  also  granted  to  the 
priory  the  advowson  of  Fyfield  church.*  In  1183 
the  priory  released  the  advowson  to  the  then  lord  of  the 
manor,  Hasculf  son  of  Graeland  de  Tany.  After  this 
the  advowson  was  held  by  the  lords  of  the  manor  of 
Fyfield  until  1 890-1  when  it  was  granted  by  William, 
Earl  Cowley,  to  George  Mayor.'  The  advowson  was 
held  by  Mayor  until  1897  or  1898  after  which  it  was 
held  by  Mrs.  A.  Hewitt  until  1914  or  1915.'"  Mrs.  J. 
Worthington' Atkin  then  held  it  until  1929  or  1930 
after  which  it  was  held  by  Canford  School  (Dors.)." 
The  living  is  now  (1955)  in  the  gift  of  the  Church 
Pastoral  Aid  Society  which  controls  the  Martyrs' 
Memorial  Trust,  of  which  the  Canford  School  Trust 
forms  part.'^ 

In  return  for  the  release  of  the  advowson  in  11 83 
Hasculf  de  Tany  confirmed  to  the  priory  |  of  the  tithes 
from  his  demesne,  together  with  those  from  his  demesne 
assarts  made  or  to  be  made,  and  undertook  to  give  them 
1  acre  of  land  on  which  to  erect  a  tithe  barn,  and  also  to 
secure  to  them  a  perpetual  annuity  of  40J.  payable  by 
the  parson  of  Fyfield."  In  about  1254  it  was  reported 
that  the  rectory  of  Fyfield  was  worth  24  marks  and  that 
the  monks  of  Bermondsey  received  |  of  the  tithes  from 
the  demesne  of  'two  lords  of  that  vill'  as  well  as  40/. 
from  the  parson.'*  In  1291  the  church  of  Fyfield  was 
valued  at  ;^I2;'5  the  prior  of  Bermondsey  had  there  a 
portion  worth  £3  6s.  id.  and  a  pension  of  ^2.'*  In 
1 342  the  prior  of  Bermondsey  brought  an  action  against 
the  parson  of  Fyfield  for  payment  of  the  annuity  of  40^. 
due  to  his  house."  In  1427  the  church  was  still  taxed 
on  the  valuation  of  1 29 1. '8  In  1535  the  abbey  of  Ber- 
mondsey still  held  in  Fyfield  a  pension  and  a  portion 
which  were  then  valued  together  at  ^£4."  At  that  time 
the  rectory  of  Fyfield  was  valued  at  £25  "js.  2^^/.^°  The 
abbey  was  surrendered  on  i  January  1538.^'  In  1650 
the  'improved'  value  of  the  tithes  was  £1 20  and  the 
value  of  the  glebe  lands  and  buildings  £s^."  The 
tithes  were  commuted  in  1842  for  ;^74i;  there  were 
then  64  acres  of  glebe.^3 

Anthony  Walker  D.D.,  Rector  of  Fyfield  from  1650 


until  1692,  helped  in  the  publication  oi Eikon  Basilike 
and  published  various  books  and  sermons.^* 

The  rectory  stands  on  a  large  moated  site  about  400 
yds.  to  the  north-east  of  the  church.  It  is  irregularly 
shaped  and  has  been  altered  and  extended  at  different 
periods.  Running  from  front  to  back  in  the  centre  of 
the  house  is  a  medieval  timber  roof,  probably  represent- 
ing part  of  a  two-storied  cross-wing  of  the  i  5th  century. 
The  north  end  of  the  roof  has  curved  wind-braces  and 
in  the  south  bay  is  an  arch-braced  collar  beam  with  the 
king-post  missing.  East  of  this  roof  and  at  right  angles 
to  it  is  another  timber-framed  wing  which  may  be  of 
medieval  origin.  There  are  additional  wings  of  later 
date  at  the  west  end  of  the  house.  In  the  i8th  century 
the  whole  front  was  faced  with  red  brick  and  there  are 
some  interior  details  of  the  same  period.  In  about  1770 
the  house  was  described  as  'a  large  stately  brick  building 
almost  surrounded  with  a  moat  which,  with  the  house, 
encloses  a  pleasant  garden'.^s  In  1944  blast  from  a  fly- 
ing bomb  caused  considerable  damage  and  in  1952  the 
front  was  rebuilt  in  yellow  brick  and  parts  of  the  roof 
were  renewed.  The  porch  and  the  original  sash  win- 
dows were  replaced. 

Although  this  building  is  certainly  of  medieval  origin, 
in  the  middle  of  the  i6th  century  at  least  the  rector 
lived  in  another  house,  which  was  then  known  as  'the 
parson's  house'  and  was  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the 
church.  In  October  1 546  Robert  Nooke,  then  rector, 
let  to  Humphrey  Nycolls,  servant  to  Sir  Richard  Rich, 
afterwards  ist  Baron  Rich,  for  5 1  years,  at  £2^  Js.  2\d. 
a  year,  the  rectory,  church,  and  parsonage  of  Fyfield, 
reserving,  however,  for  his  own  residence  his  house 
south  of  the  churchyard  called  'the  parsonnes  house'.^* 
By  1610,  however,  the  house  to  the  south  of  the  church 
was  not  regarded  as  the  parsonage-house  for  a  terrier  of 
1610  described  the  rectory  as  including  'a  Parsonage- 
House,  with  two  barns,  and  other  edifices  within  the 
yard,  and  a  house  abutting  upon  the  churchyard,  then 
in  dispute  at  law'.^'  In  1650  the  rectory  was  said  to 
include  'a  parsonage  house,  glebe  lands  and  a  small  tene- 
ment'.^* Whatever  the  source  or  the  outcome  of  the 
dispute  of  1610,  a  property  at  the  south-west  corner  of 
the  churchyard  was  part  of  the  glebe  in  1842  and  re- 
mained so  until  1948,  when  it  was  sold.^'  In  the  late 
19th  century  it  was  known  as  the  Vicarage.^o  The  back 
part  of  the  building  is  timber-framed  and  weather- 
boarded  with  a  tiled  mansard  roof  and  dates  from  the 
1 8th  century,  if  not  earlier.  The  front  was  added  in 
the  19th  century  and  the  building  now  comprises  two 
attached  cottages. 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  NICHOLAS  consists  of 
nave,  north  and  south  aisles,  chancel,  central  tower, 
north  porch,  and  organ  chamber.  The  nave  and  the 
first  stage  of  the  tower  are  mostly  of  flint  rubble  with 
some  Roman  brick.   The  second  stage  of  the  tower  is 


'  Ann.  Mon.  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii,  428, 
430—1.  Roger  held  only  2  of  the  4  manors 
in  Fyfield  at  this  time.  Presumably  his 
grant  was  only  of  his  own  tithes. 

*  Ann.  Mon.  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii,  430-1. 
In  these  annals  the  date  assigned  to 
Maud's  gift  was  1 107.  J.  H.  Round 
thought  this  date  too  early  to  be  probable : 
E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  104-5. 

«  Ncwcourt,  Repert.  ii,  261-2;  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (1870  f.);  Clergy  List,  1842- 
91 ;  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  (1889,  1891). 

'»  Clergf  List,  1892-7;  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex    (1898!);    Chel.    Dioc.    Tear    Bk. 

1915. 
"  Clergy  List,  191 6  f.;  Crockford  s  Cler. 


Dir.  (1929,  1930);  Chel.  Dioc.  Year  Bk. 
1937  f. 

"  Chel.  Dioc.  Year  Bk.  I940f.  Inf.  from 
the  Revd.  K.  C.  Stevenson. 

"3  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  104-5.  In  1181  the 
parson  of  High  Ongar,  who  had  cure  of 
souls  in  Norton  Mandeville  (q.v.),  paid  to 
the  church  of  Fyfield  a  sack  of  corn  and  a 
sack  of  oats  because  Norton  was  so  near 
to  that  church.  Norton  had  its  own  church 
by  1 1 90,  however. 

'■•  Lunt,  Val.  of  Norwich,  337.  The 
identity  of  one  of  the  'lords  of  that  vill'  is 
uncertain  :  see  Manors  of  Fyfield,  Herons, 
and  Lampetts. 

'5  Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  21. 

52 


I'  Ibid. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  104. 
'*  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 
>9  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  58. 
2"  Ibid,  i,  437. 
"  V.C.H.  Surr.  ii,  74. 
2^  E.R.  xliv,  161. 
»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 
2«  E.R.  iliv,  156-72. 
25  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  334. 
2'  Lond.  Episc.  Reg.  Bonner  f.  87*. 
^7  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  261. 
28  E.R.  xliv,  161. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148;  inf.  from  present 
rector. 
30  E.A.T. ti.i.m,  184. 


o 


U 


< 


V- 


o 

o 


Fyfield  Church:  Chancel  in  1834 


Lambourne  Church  in  1825 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


FYFIELD 


largely  of  red  brick.  There  is  a  timber  belfry.  The  ex- 
terior of  the  church  is  mostly  covered  with  cement,  now 
in  poor  repair,  and  numerous  buttresses  of  the  i8th  and 
19th  centuries  show  where  weaknesses  have  developed 
in  the  structure.  The  building  differs  in  several  respects 
from  the  type  of  parish  church  found  in  the  district. 
The  1 2th-century  plan  with  the  tower  standing  'cathe- 
dralwise'3'  is  unusual,  and  it  is  evident  that  large  sums 
were  spent  on  improvements  during  the  13  th  and  14th 
centuries.  The  chancel  in  particular  has  some  good 
interior  features. 

The  nave  was  built  in  the  1 2th  century.  The  walling 
at  each  end  of  the  two  arcades  is  3  ft.  thick  and  is  evi- 
dently the  original  1 2th-century  work.  The  lower  part 
of  the  tower  is  of  the  same  date,  including  the  large  stair 
turret  on  the  north  side  reaching  to  the  second  stage. 
The  stair  has  a  circular  newel  of  Roman  brick  and  there 
are  arches  of  Roman  brick  to  the  round-headed  windows 
in  the  south  and  west  walls  of  the  second  stage  of  the 
tower.  The  former  window  has  been  blocked  by  brick- 
work and  the  latter  opens  into  the  roof  space  above  the 
nave.  There  is  one  very  small  rectangular  opening  in 
the  north  wall  of  the  stair  turret,  and  there  are  two  in 
the  east  wall. 

In  about  1220  a  north  aisle  of  three  bays  was  added 
to  the  nave.  The  pointed  arches  are  of  two  chamfered 
orders  and  rest  on  circular  columns  with  moulded  capi- 
tals and  bases.  Attached  half-columns  form  the  responds 
against  the  ends  of  the  1 2th-century  walls.  In  the  middle 
of  the  13th  century  the  south  aisle  was  added.  This  is 
similar  in  general  arrangement  to  the  north  aisle  but  the 
arches  are  moulded  and  the  supporting  columns  are 
octagonal.  The  single-light  window  in  the  west  wall  is 
probably  of  the  13th  century  but  its  four-centred  head 
was  added  later.  There  are  traces  of  colour  decoration 
of  uncertain  date  on  both  arcades. 

The  chancel  was  built  about  1330-40.  The  date 
can  be  fixed  approximately  by  the  detail  of  the  interior. 
All  the  windows  are  of  the  14th  century  and  have 
moulded  labels  and  head  stops.  The  tracery  of  the  east 
window  has  been  replaced,  but  the  fine  carving  of  the  - 
jambs  and  rear  arch  survives.  On  the  north  side  the 
arch  has  beasts  of  the  chase  and  on  the  south  a  series  of 
cowled  heads.  The  jambs  are  carved  with  flowers  and 
leaves  in  high  relief  In  both  north  and  south  walls  are 
two  windows,  the  easternmost  being  two-light  with 
shafts  to  the  internal  splays.  The  other  windows  are 
single  light,  the  sill  of  that  on  the  south  side  being  taken 
down  to  form  a  'low  side'  window.  Between  the  win- 
dows in  the  south  wall  are  stepped  sedilia  of  three  bays. 
The  arches  are  cinquefoiled  and  between  them  are 
octagonal  shafts  of  Purbeck  marble.  The  moulded  label 
has  four  carved  head  stops,  one  head  wearing  a  mitre^^ 
and  anothera  curious  pointed  head-dress  terminating 
in  a  flower.  In  the  spandrel  above  a  third  head  are  three 
balls  carved  in  relief;  it  has  been  suggested  that  these  are 
the  emblems  of  St.  Nicholas."  East  of  the  sedilia  is 
a  piscina  of  similar  detail  and  farther  east  there  is  a 
credence  with  one  jamb  cut  off  by  the  east  wall  of  the 
chancel.34  Below  the  chancel  is  a  vault  which  has  a 
wide  arched  opening  externally  under  the  east  window. 


This  opening  was  sealed  during  the  restoration  of  1 893, 
but  one  account  of  the  church  suggests  that  it  was  for- 
merly pierced  with  quatrefoil  openings,^'  possibly  for 
the  viewing  of  relics.  Another  account,  given  in  1898 
by  the  then  rector,  the  Revd.  L.  Elwyn  Lewis,  referred 
to  the  existence  of  arcading  internally  below  the  east 
window. 3*  The  fact  that  part  of  the  credence  is  now 
cut  off  suggests  that  the  lower  part  of  the  east  wall  has 
been  widened,  perhaps  obliterating  the  arcade. 

Some  windows  were  inserted  elsewhere  in  the  church 
in  the  14th  century.  These  include  one  in  the  south 
wall  of  the  tower  and  the  westernmost  windows  in  the 
north  and  south  aisles.  The  other  aisle  windows  may 
have  been  of  the  same  date,  but  if  so  they  were  replaced 
in  the  19th  century.  The  south  doorway  has  I4th<en- 
tury  splays  and  the  stoup  on  the  north  side  has  a  14th- 
century  trefoiled  head,  probably  taken  from  a  window. 
The  arch  between  the  tower  and  the  nave  is  of  the 
14th  century,  much  restored.  The  responds  have  three 
attached  shafts.  The  north  porch  retains  moulded 
timbers  of  the  late  14th  century  and  a  pointed  timber 
arch  of  which  the  spandrels  were  probably  once  filled 
with  tracery. 

Early  in  the  1 5  th  century  there  were  some  alterations 
at  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle.  An  east  window  was 
inserted  of  which  the  tracery  is  now  missing;  the  win- 
dow itself  was  blocked  by  the  early  19th  century .3^ 
Also  in  the  15th  century  a  niche  was  built  across  the 
north-east  corner  of  the  aisle.  It  has  an  elaborately 
carved  canopy  with  a  ribbed  vault  and  probably  once 
held  a  figure  of  the  Virgin.^*  The  nave  roof  has  three 
15th-century  trusses;  the  square  king-posts  have  four- 
way  struts  and  two  have  moulded  capitals  and  bases. 

Some  years  before  1768^'  part  of  the  tower  fell,  per- 
haps after  being  struck  by  lightning.'*'*  Before  the  end 
of  the  1 8th  century  the  second  stage  was  largely  rebuilt 
in  red  brick  and  a  window  was  inserted  on  the  north 
side.  Above  the  brickwork  is  a  hipped  roof,  above 
which  is  a  square  weather-boarded  belfry  with  ball 
finials  at  the  corners.  There  is  a  small  boarded  spire. 
The  west  wall  of  the  nave  may  have  been  rebuilt  in  the 
1 8th  century. 

In  the  first  half  of  the  igth  century  a  vestry  was 
formed  by  extending  the  north  aisle  eastward  as  far  as 
the  stair  turret  of  the  tower  .■"  In  1853  the  church  was 
restored*^  and  in  1875  tracery  was  inserted  in  the  east 
window  at  the  expense  of  W.  S.  Horner.*^  In  1 893 
j^i,300  was  spent  on  restoration.^*  Some  blocked  win- 
dows were  uncovered  and  a  new  west  door  and  window 
inserted.  The  window  replaced  a  'hideous  wooden 
structure'  of  the  i8th  century .♦5  Both  the  tower  arches 
were  largely  rebuilt  and  the  chancel  roof  may  have  been 
reconstructed  at  the  same  time.  The  oak  teredos  and 
chancel  seating  were  installed,  the  oak  coming  from 
St.  Paul's,  Knightsbridge.t*  The  seating  in  the  nave  is 
also  of  the  late  19th  century,  incorporating  some  i6th-' 
century  moulded  rails. 

During  the  incumbency  of  the  Revd.  L.  Elwyn  Lewis 
(1895-1905),  who  held  high  church  views,  a  surpliced 
choir  was  started  and  the  old  organ  was  moved  from  the 
west  end  of  the  church  into  the  vestry.'"  In  1 901  a  new 


"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  13;. 

3^  This  perhaps  represents  the  mitred 
Abbot  of  Bermondsey:  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii, 
184.  "  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  184. 

M  A  print  of  1834  by  A.  Suckling  shows 
that  the  credence  was  walled-up  at  that 
time:  E.R.O.  Prints,  Fyficld.  See  plate 
facing  p.  53. 


35  Methuen's  Little  Guides:  Essex,  108. 

3'  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  185-6. 

37  Ibid.  '*  Ibid- 

3«  Morant,    Essex,   i,    135.     Cf.    Hist. 
Essex  by  Gent.  iii.  337. 

«  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  186. 

<■  Ibid.  185. 
*' Kelly's    Dir.    Essex    (1886  f.).     The 

53 


Directory  of  1874  gave  the  year  of 
restoration  as  1852. 

*3  Inscription  in  situ. 

■"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895). 

*i  E.R.  iii,  6. 

to  Ibid. 

«'  Inf.  from  Mrs.  T.  W.  Gamage  » 
member  of  the  choir  at  the  time. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


organ  was  installed  against  the  north  wall  of  the  tower,''^ 
largely  at  the  rector's  own  expense.'*'  The  vestry  is  now 
an  organ  chamber. 

The  square  font  bowl  of  Purbeck  marble  is  of  the 
kte  1 2th  century.50  Two  of  the  sides  are  decorated 
with  recessed  arcading  and  the  other  two  have  a  central 
fleur-de-lis  flanked  by  vine  leaves. 

The  oak  screen  between  the  nave  and  the  tower  was 
carved  by  A.  J.  B.  Challis  of  Clatterford  Hall  in  19 14.5' 
The  pulpit  is  of  the  same  date. 

There  are  six  bells,  all  modern  or  recast.  One  was 
originally  of  the  1 5th  century,  recast  twice.  The  sixth, 
which  is  inscribed  'Salus  et  Victoria',  was  added  as  a 
war  memorial  and  was  dedicated  in  1952.5^  Under  the 
organ  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  there  is  said  to  be 
a  slab  bearing  the  indent  of  a  foliated  cross,  flanked  by 
square  pennons  or  axes.53  There  is  a  tradition  that  this 
covers  the  headless  body  of  Henry,  Lord  Scrope,  be- 
headed in  141 5.5+  Also  in  the  chance!  are  some  18th- 
century  floor  slabs  with  shields  of  arms  to  members  of 
the  Pochin  family  and  to  one  of  the  Beverley  family. 
There  are  also  several  18th-century  slabs  to  the  Collins 
family  of  Lampetts  and  to  the  Brands  of  Herons. 

The  plate  includes  a  large  cup  of  1699  given  by  Dr. 
Anthony  Walker,  one  paten  of  1638  and  another  of 
1798.SS 

In  1570  Elizabeth  I  granted  to  Thomas,  2nd  Lord 
Wentworth,  in  fee  such  'concealed'  estates  as  he  could 
discover  to  a  total  annual  value  of  ^^200. 5*  In  March 
1572,  in  fulfilment  of  this  grant,  she  conveyed  many 
concealed  estates,  including  one  in  Fyfield,  to  Richard 
Hill  of  Heybridge  and  William  James  of  London. 5' 
The  Fyfield  estate  consisted  of  3  messuages  or  cottages, 
called  the  Church  Houses,  and  an  acre  belonging,  then 
or  lately  in  the  tenure  or  occupation  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  vill  of  Fyfield,  appointed  for  the  maintenance  of 
an  obit,  a  guild,  and  other  similar  objects. s  8  Despite 
the  grant  of  1 5  7  2 ,  Fyfield  chu  rch  property  undou  btedly 
included  three  houses  in  the  early  17th  century.  In 
May  1659  it  was  agreed  at  a  vestry  meeting  that  the 
rental  of  the  church  rents,  then  torn  and  defaced,  should 
be  copied  out  'and  be  esteemed  as  the  former  rental 
was'. 5'  The  'Rental  of  the  church  houses  of  Fyfield' 
was  then  copied  into  the  vestry  minute-book.  It  totalled 
j^3  3/.  4a'.  and  included  £1  from  'the  church  house  at 
Widney  Green',  ^^i  from  'the  house  in  Fyfield  street', 
1 5/.  from  'the  house  by  the  church  in  which  the  Clarke 
dwelleth',  3/.  from  'Pyckerells',  zs.  jJ.  from  'Long 
Harry's',  is.  \od.  from  'John  Palmers  houses',  <^d.  from 
'^  a.  meadow  in  moor-mead',  and  id.  from  'the  tene- 
ment called  Hatches'.*"  In  1668  the  'church  field  be- 
longing to  the  church  house  on  Widney  Green  and 
containing  i  a.'  was  let  by  the  churchwardens  to  Henry 
Spooner  for  twelve  years  at  a  rent  of  (jj  for  the  whole 
term  'which  money  was  advanced  and  employed  to- 
wards the  now  [or  new]  building  of  the  church  house 
aforesaid'.*'  In  1687  Dr.  Anthony  Walker  devised  a 
house  called  Bruetts,  in  Fyfield  Street,  for  the  church 


clerk  to  dwell  in  free.*^  By  1710  the  church  house  'by 
the  church'  seems  to  have  been  occupied  by  a  poor  man 
whose  rent  of  ^^i  los.  was  paid  for  him  by  the  parish.*^ 
The  total  of  the  church  rents  was  then  £\  \os.  c,d.,  the 
increase  since  1659  being  due  partly  to  the  higher  rent 
for  the  house  by  the  church  and  partly  to  a  new  item  of 
16/.  for  'thehoppit  by  the  churchyard'.*'*  The  annuities 
amounted  to  6s.  ^d.,  being  zs.  6d.  from  John  Bull  for 
Long  Harris  field,  iid.  from  'Thomas  Palmer',  and  3/. 
'out  of  Pickrills'.*5  By  March  1719  the  rents  totalled 
^5,  there  being  another  fresh  item  of  13^.  for  'the 
hoppett  by  Berrys  Green',  later  known  as  Cannon's 
Green.**  In  February  1720  a  vestry  meeting  agreed 
with  John  Pochin  of  Witney  Green  that  he  should  de- 
molish a  cottage  upon  the  green  belonging  to  the  church 
on  condition  that  he  erected  another  cottage  of  equiva- 
lent value.*' 

In  1786  it  was  stated  that  unknown  donors  had  given 
to  the  parish  for  purposes  also  unknown  'a  rent-charge 
of  6s.  ^d.',  tenements  of  the  then  annual  value  of 
£2  4_f.  yd.  and  land  of  the  then  annual  value  of  j^i  9;'.** 
The  value  of  the  land  was  evidently  the  same  in  1786 
as  it  had  been  in  1719  but  the  value  of  the  houses  was 
apparently  reduced.*' 

In  1835  rents  totalling  ^^12  9/.  from  the  church 
houses  and  lands  as  well  as  annuities  totalling  6s.  ^d. 
went  into  the  churchwardens'  general  account.'"  The 
hoppets  by  the  church  and  on  Cannon's  Green  were 
both  let  to  the  rector  for  i6s.  and  13/.  a  year  respec- 
tively, the  sums  at  which  they  had  been  let  early  in  the 
1 8th  century."  The  church  houses  which  the  overseers 
rented  from  the  churchwardens  at  ^i  I  a  year  for  the 
use  of  the  poor  were  described  in  1835  as  'Street 
House',  a  'house  by  the  church',  and  'a  house  on  Can- 
nons Green'  which  was  said  to  have  been  'built  by  the 
parish  upon  the  site  of  an  old  house,  of  which  the  rent 
used  to  go  to  the  churchwarden's  account'.'^  The 
church  cottage  on  Witney  Green,  whose  demolition 
had  been  ordered  in  1720,  had  apparently  been  re- 
placed by  a  house  on  Cannon's  Green  which,  it  would 
seem,  was  rebuilt  before  1835.  By  1842,  however,  the 
church  owned  only  two  cottages.'^  One  of  them  was 
on  the  east  side  of  the  church,  fronting  upon  Church 
Lane,  and  was  undoubtedly  the  house  which  had  ap- 
peared as  'by  the  church'  in  the  rentals  drawn  up  before 
and  after  1659.''*  The  other  cottage,  situated  imme- 
diately north  of  the  Black  Bull  Inn'5  on  what  is  now 
known  as  Dunmow  Road,  is  probably  to  be  identified 
with  'Street  House'.  The  church  still  owned  some  land 
at  Cannon's  Green  in  1842,  but  by  that  time  it  had 
apparently  disposed  of  its  house  there.'*  The  hoppet 
south  of  the  churchyard  still  belonged  to  the  church." 

In  1903  part  (c.  29  p.)  of  the  meadow  called  Church 
Hoppet,  situated  south  of  the  churchyard,  was  sold 
for  £1 4  to  the  parish  council  for  use  as  a  burial  ground.'* 
When  the  sale  was  made  it  was  established  in  the 
face  of  some  doubt  that  the  trustees  of  the  church 
estate  were  the  churchwardens:  in  fact  then  and  in  1922 


<'  E.R.  ix,  174. 

■•9  Inf.  from  Mrs.  T.  W.  Gamage. 

50  There  are  similar  bowls  at  Moreton, 
Little  Laver,  and  Norton  MandeviUe. 

5'  Tablet  in  situ. 

5*  Inf.  from  present  rector. 

"  E.A.T.  N.8.  viii,  257;  Hist.  Essex  by 
Gent,  iii,  334. 

5*  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  334;  inf.  from 
present  rector. 

55  Ch.  Plate  of  Essex,  135. 

5«  C66/1083  m.  7. 


5'  Ibid. 

58  Ibid.  m.    21. 
5«  E.R.O.,  D/Pi44/g/i. 
'»  Ibid. 
'■  Ibid. 

*2  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  225-7(1835),  xxi(i). 
'3  E.R.O.,  D/P  144/8/1. 
<•*  Ibid. 
<'5  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

"  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  227-8. 


"  Cf.  Morant,  Essex,  \,  135,  where  the 
charities  were  said  to  include  'Six  pounds 
a  year  towards  the  reparation  of  the 
church,  the  donor's  name  unknown'. 

">  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  227-8. 

"  Ibid. 

'2  Ibid. 

'3  E.R.O.,  D/CT  148. 

'♦  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

'6  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

'8  Char.  Com.  files. 


54 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


FYFIELD 


the  'parish  warden' — presumably  the  people's  warden 
— acted  as  trustee,  though  later  the  rector  and  parochial 
church  council  took  some  share  in  the  administration  of 
the  estate."  In  1922  a  further  part  (i  r.,  12  p.)  of 
Church  Hoppet  was  sold  for  {jio  to  the  parish  council 
also  for  use  as  a  burial  ground.*" 

From  the  latter  part  of  the  19th  century  until  shortly 
after  1930  a  small  outbuilding  at  the  back  of  the  cottage 
near  the  Black  Bull  Inn  was  let  as  a  separate  dwelling.*' 
In  about  1930  the  three  dwellings  were  let  for  a  total 
of  about  £i<).^^ 

In  1 947  the  cottage,  then  known  as  Walker  Cottage, '3 
on  the  east  side  of  the  church,  was  sold  for  ;£i90,  most 
of  which  went  to  repay  Dr.  Walker's  School  Founda- 
tion and  the  parochial  church  council  for  money  spent 
on  it  in  the  past.**  The  residue  was  invested.** 

In  195 1  the  charity  was  divided  into  two:  one  part, 
the  Church  Estate,  had  an  endowment  of  ^^50  14/., 
presumably  arising  from  the  sales  of  church  land,  of 
which  the  income  was  used  for  general  church  pur- 
poses.** The  other  is  known  as  the  Charity  for  the 
Poor,  and  has  an  endowment  of  ^^61  4/.  312'.,  which  was 
provided  by  the  sale  of  the  'Walker  Cottage'.*'  Its 
income  was  to  be  devoted  to  the  poor  of  the  parish, 
since  the  cottages  of  the  charity  were  in  1834  used  for 
the  benefit  of  the  poor.** 

The  cottage  north  of  the  Black  Bull  Inn  still  belongs 
to  the  church  but  is  at  present  up  for  sale.*' 

Fyfield  was  one  of  the  places  at  which  a  new  Congre- 
gational church  or  school  was 
NONCONFORMITT  started  soon  after  the  formation 
of  the  Essex  Congregational 
Union  in  1798.90  There  was,  however,  no  mention  of 
such  a  church  or  school  at  Fyfield  in  the  returns  of 
1829.  A  nonconformist  mission  hall  was  opened  in  the 
village  in  1894  and  is  still  in  use."'  It  is  a  small  red- 
brick building  bearing  that  date. 

Medieval  court  rolls  for  the  manor  of  Fyfield  survive 

for  the  periods  1 3  8  5-97, 

PARISH  GOVERNMENT  i40i-4,and  1413-43." 

AND  POOR  RELIEF         In  the  14th  century  the 

number  of  courts  held 
each  year  varied  between  2  and  4.  Usually  two  of 
them  included  view,  of  frank-pledge.  In  the  1 5  th  cen- 
tury courts  were  usually  held  twice  a  year,  at  Easter 
and  Whitsun,  and  nearly  always  included  view  of 
frank-pledge.  The  homage  numbered  12  or  more. 

The  courts  were  largely  concerned  with  the  control 
of  trade.  The  commonest  subject  of  presentment  was 
breach  of  the  assize  of  ale ;  the  offenders  against  this 
assize  were  often  women,  who  were  presented  year 
after  year  on  the  same  charge.  Breach  of  the  assize  of 
bread  was  also  frequently  presented.  Occasionally  fines 
were  imposed  on  regrators.  Apart  from  trade  offences, 
the  most  common  subjects  of  presentment  at  the  courts 
were  the  failure  to  scour  wayside  ditches  and  the  ob- 
struction of  watercourses.  Small  fines  were  sometimes 
imposed  for  minor  assaults. 

Two  constables  and  two  aletasters  were  chosen  at  the 
Easter  court  in  most  years.  Aletasters  were  often  fined 
for  inefficiency. 

"  Ibid. 

80  Ibid. 

"  Church  Account  Book  in  possession 
of  rector  J  local  information. 

*^  Church  Account  Book;  Char.  Com. 
61es. 

»3  This  name  seems  to  have  originated 
in  the  confusion,  apparent  for  some  time 
past,  between  the  Church  Estate  Charity 


and  those  founded  by  Dr.  Anthony  Walker 
in  the  17th  cent. 
«♦  Char.  Com.  files. 

85  Ibid. 

86  Ibid. 

87  Ibid. 

88  Ibid. 


The  modern  series  of  court  rolls  for  Fyfield  run«, 
with  some  short  breaks,  from  1509  until  1 865.91  In 
the  first  half  of  the  i6th  century  courts  were  held  in 
most  years  and  often  twice  in  a  year.  From  the  middle 
of  the  i6th  century  until  about  1640  they  were  held 
once  a  year.  They  usually  included  view  of  frank- 
pledge. After  1 640  courts  were  no  longer  held  annually 
and  did  not  always  include  view  of  frank-pledge.  In 
the  second  half  of  the  17th  century  there  were  23  courts 
of  which  1 3  included  the  view.  In  the  1 8th  century 
courts  which,  nominally  at  least,  included  view  of  frank- 
pledge, took  place  in  1703,  1709,  171 1,  and,  for  the 
last  time,  in  1749. 

Most  of  the  business  transacted  at  the  courts  after 
1509  concerned  minor  nuisances  and  breaches  of 
manorial  custom.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII  the  pre- 
sentment of  breaches  of  the  assizes  of  bread  and  ale 
were  still  common.  There  were  still  occasional  present- 
ments for  assault  until  1617.  In  1585  a  man  was  pre- 
sented for  'keeping  bad  order'  in  his  house.  Towards 
the  end  of  the  i6th  century  the  number  of  presentments 
of  nuisances  declined  markedly.  After  1 589  there  were 
rarely  more  than  two  or  three  such  presentments  at  any 
one  court.  From  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Charles  I 
there  were  frequently  no  leet  presentments  even  when 
the  court  nominally  included  view  of  frank-pledge. 

In  the  17th  century,  particularly  in  the  latter  half, 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  manor  court  was  yielding  to  that 
of  the  parish  vestry.  In  1626  the  manor  court  ordered 
that  no  one  should  demise  any  cottage  within  the  manor 
to  any  person  living  outside  Fyfield  and  no  one  should 
entertain  any  pauper  from  outside  the  parish  without 
leave  from  the  churchwardens,  overseers,  and  the 
parishioners.  In  1647  the  manor  court  elected  as  con- 
stables Thomas  Gynne  and  John  Church  who  in  1648 
rendered  an  account  to  the  parish  vestry.'*  Afterwards 
the  constables  continued  to  account  to  the  vestry"' 
although  they  were  sometimes  appointed  in  the  manor 
court  until  the  last  decade  of  the  17th  century.  A  court 
appointed  R.  Church  and  J.  Church  as  constables  in 
1654.  No  appointments  were  made  by  the  next  court 
leet  which  was  held  in  May  1656;  it  does  not  appear 
what  body  appointed  I.  Allam  and  A.  Kent  who  were 
constables  from  1657,  if  not  before,  until  166 1.  A 
court  leet  chose  two  constables  in  1661  and  one  in  1662 
'for  the  parish  of  Fyfield'.  The  rolls  do  not  record  any 
further  appointments  by  the  manor  court  until  1692. 
On  the  other  hand,  until  1680  the  vestry  minutes  did 
not  include  the  constables  in  the  lists  of  appointments 
and  reappointments  made  by  the  vestry.9*  In  1680, 
however,  it  was  recorded  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  parish 
on  Easter  Monday  all  the  old  officers,  including  the 
constables,  were  'continued  for  the  following  year'.'' 
In  168 1,  shortly  before  a  court  leet,  a  vestry  meeting 
chose  two  new  constables  for  the  year  1681-2,'*  but 
the  next  court  leet,  which  was  held  in  May  1692,  chose 
two  constables.  The  following  court  leet,  held  in 
October  1696,  also  chose  T.  Luck  and  E.  Havers  as 
constables  for  the  parish.  It  may  be,  however,  that  the 
court  merely  confirmed  appointments  made  at  a  vestry 
meeting  earlier  in  the  year,  for  in  the  vestry  minutes  it 

The  Nook  at  Norwood  End  (see  above, 
p.  44)  may  have  been  used  as  the  church, 
or  school. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Eitex  (1933). 

92  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  M97-101. 

"  E.R.O.,D/DCw  M 102-15. 

»♦  E.R.O.,J>/P  1+4/8/1. 


89  Inf.  from  present  rector. 
9»  R.   Burls,  Essex   Congr. 


Union  i    19. 


95  Ibid. 
»'  Ibid. 


9'  Ibid. 
98  Ibid. 


ss 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


was  recorded  that 'T.  Luck  and  E.  Havers  were  chosen 
as  constables  for  the  year  1696'."  The  rolls  record  no 
later  appointments  of  constables  in  the  manor  court. 

Two  vestry  minute-books  survive."  The  first  covers 
the  period  1648-1732.  The  second  contains  overseers' 
accounts  from  1827  to  1836  and  vestry  minutes  from 
1854  to  1890. 

During  the  period  1648-1732  meetings  of  the  pubhc 
vestry  usually  seem  to  have  been  held  only  at  Easter  in 
each  year.  In  only  seven  years  in  the  whole  of  this 
period  was  more  than  one  meeting  recorded  and  in  only 
two  of  these  years  were  as  many  as  three  meetings  re- 
corded. If  a  resolution  of  1704  was  carried  out,  how- 
ever, there  must  have  existed  from  that  time  a  select 
committee  which  met  often  in  each  year:  the  vestry 
ordered  'that  there  be  always  three  persons  chosen  by 
a  vestry  at  Easter  to  assist  the  churchwardens  in  the  re- 
pair of  the  church  and  that  the  overseers  of  the  poor  and 
constables  and  churchwardens  shall  not  disburse  above 
20s.  without  an  order  of  vestry  or  the  major  part  of  the 
three  persons  with  the  churchwardens'. 

The  vestry  minutes  were  usually  signed  only  when 
there  was  an  important  resolution.  The  number  of 
those  attending  the  meetings,  in  addition  to  the  church- 
wardens and  overseers,  usually  varied  between  one  and 
seven  but  on  five  occasions  there  were  more  than  ten. 
The  chairman  was  never  named  as  such  in  the  minutes. 
The  rector  signed  first  when  he  attended  the  meetings, 
but  there  were  some  important  meetings  which  he  did 
not  attend.  In  his  absence  one  of  the  larger  landowners 
signed  first.  Members  of  the  Collins  family,  of  Lam- 
petts,  were  always  prominent  at  the  meetings,  and  John 
Collins  often  signed  first,  or  first  after  the  rector. 

The  work  of  the  vestry  consisted  mainly  in  nominat- 
ing parish  officers,  granting  rates,  and  approving  officers' 
accounts.  There  were  usually  two  men  in  each  office. 
Until  1672  the  overseers  sometimes  continued  in  office 
for  three  or  more  years.  After  1672  they  often  served 
two  years  consecutively  but  rarely  more.  The  church- 
wardens and  constables  usually  remained  in  office  for 
at  least  two  years  and  often  for  much  longer.  The  over- 
seers, churchwardens,  and  constables  were  each  granted 
separate  rates  for  which  they  accounted  separately 
throughout  the  period  1648-1732.  Until  1672  the 
overseers  sometimes  presented  several  years'  accounts 
at  once.  After  1672  they  always  presented  annual 
accounts.  The  churchwardens  and  constables,  on  the 
other  hand,  occasionally  presented  two  or  even  three 
years'  accounts  in  one  until  the  end  of  the  period  covered 
by  the  first  vestry  minute-book. 

In  1662-3  the  constables' receipts  from  rates  totalling 
6ti.  in  the  pound  were  ,^28  13J.  2d.  This  implies  a 
rateable  value  of  about  j^i, 1 50.  In  1669-72,  however, 
a  2</.  rate  yielded  ^^i  i  12/.  3a'.  This  implies  a  rateable 
value  of  about  ^^1,394  and  this  continued  to  be  the 
rateable  value  until  after  1690.  In  the  period  1827-36 
the  rateable  value  was  about  j^i,750. 

In  1835  the  parish  owned  three  houses  known  as  the 
'Poorhouses'  and  for  which  the  overseers  paid  to  the 
churchwardens  ;^i  I  a  year.^  'Street  House'  and  a  house 
on  the  east  side  of  the  churchyard  were  occupied  rent- 
free  by  poor  women,  placed  there  by  the  parish  officers.' 

w  Ibid. 

•  E.R.O.,  D/P  1+4/8/1-2.  Unless 
otherwise  stated  all  the  following  informa- 
tion is  derived  from  these  minute-books. 

2  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  228  (1835),  xxi  (i);  E.R.O.,  D/P 
144/8/2.  The  church  had  owned  3  houses 
since  the   i6th  cent.,  if  not  before:  see 


above,  Church.  Another  house,  called 
Bruetts,  was  devised  by  Dr.  Anthony 
Walker  in  1687  for  the  church  clerk  to 
live  in  free;  since  1873  this  has  been 
occupied  by  the  parish  clerk :  see  below, 
Charities. 

3  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  228. 

♦  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/io.  The  number  of 


It  does  not  appear  how  the  third  house,  on  Cannon's 
Green,  was  used,  but  it  may  have  been  a  workhouse. 
There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  in  most  cases  poor 
relief  was  given,  in  various  forms,  outside  a  workhouse. 
In  1813-15  there  was  no  person  on  'permanent  rehef 
inside  a  workhouse,  but  in  each  of  those  years  there  were 
41-43  adults  on  permanent  relief  outside.''  Provision 
for  the  poor  was  made  in  various  ways,  including  the 
binding  out  of  paupers'  children  as  apprentices  and  the 
payment  of  rents  and  weekly  doles.  In  171 1  the  rents 
of  1 1  poor  persons  were  paid,  the  total  cost  to  the  parish 
being  £12  14^.:  in  addition  weekly  doles,  amounting  to 
^i  OS.  8</.,  were  paid  to  10  households  of  whom  4  also 
had  their  rent  paid.  In  one  case  at  least,  early  in  the 
1 8th  century,  a  pauper  was  allotted  to  parishioners  on 
a  rota  system.  In  1708  it  was  agreed  at  a  vestry  meeting 
that  if  'Thomas  Ashfeld,  a  poor  fellow  that  is  to  go 
about  the  parish  by  a  former  agreement,  should  fall  sick 
or  lame  in  any  place  that  he  goes  to  he  shall  not  lie  alto- 
gether upon  those  persons  where  he  is  present  but  that 
it  shall  be  at  the  charge  of  the  whole  parish'.  In  1721, 
when  the  same  Thomas  Ashfeld  was  put  on  an  eight- 
year  rota  of  some  3  2  parishioners,  there  was  a  similar 
resolution  to  the  effect  that  'if  any  sickness  or  lameness 
should  happen  during  these  years  it  shall  be  at  the  cost 
of  the  parish  and  likewise  his  clothing'. 

Under  the  Commonwealth  the  total  cost  of  poor 
relief  usually  varied  between  ^^i  5  and  ;£2  5  a  year. 
From  1675  until  1693  it  was  frequently  between  ,^30 
and  ^^40  a  year.  No  figures  survive  for  1693—6.  From 
Easter  1696  until  Easter  1701,  however,  it  averaged 
about  ^100  a  year.  These  expensive  years  were  fol- 
lowed by  five  years  in  which  the  cost  ranged  between 
;^7i  and  £85  a  year.  In  1706-7  it  rose  to  a  new  maxi- 
mum of  j^ii7.  In  April  1707  the  vestry  ordered  the 
badging  of  the  poor  according  to  law  (8  and  9  William 
III,  c.  30  (1697))  and  ordered  that  an  inventory  should 
be  made  of  every  pauper's  goods.  There  was  a  slight 
decline,  to  £10^,  in  the  cost  of  rehef  in  the  following 
year  and  at  Easter  1708  the  vestry  agreed  'that  if  any 
overseer  in  the  parish  shall  relieve  any  person  by  a 
weekly  collection  that  does  not  wear  the  badge  or  come 
themselves  for  their  collection  unless  they  are  sick  or 
lame,  the  said  overseer  shall  forfeit  the  sum  of  40/.' 
Nevertheless  the  cost  of  rehef,  after  remaining  at  ;^I03 
for  two  more  years,  began  to  rise  again  in  1710— 1 1  and 
in  171 5-16  reached  £142.  In  the  next  year  it  fell  again 
to  j/^103.  From  1717  until  1731  it  fluctuated  between 
;^69  and  ;£lo8.  No  figures  survive  for  1731-75.  In 
1776  expenses  were  ;^i  56  and  the  average  for  the  three 
years  1783-5  was  ,£^2 6 8. 5  In  1800-1  the  cost  of  relief 
was  ;£765.  It  fell  to  a  minimum  of  ,^324  in  1807-8, 
and  rose  to  ;^6  8  3  in  i8i3-i4andj^6i3  in  18 16-17.*  In 
the  years  1827-3  2  it  was  between  ;^500  and  i^6oo  each 
year.  It  then  declined  to  about  ^{^3  50  a  year  in  1834-6. 
In  June  1836  Fyfield  became  part  of  the  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

In  1687  Dr.  Anthony  Walker,  Rector  of  Fyfield,  de- 
vised a  house  and  about  J  acre  of  land  in 
SCHOOLS    Fyfield  and  a  farm  of  56  acres  in  High 
Ongar,  mainly  for  the  support  of  a  free 
school  for  poor  children.'  For  ;^8  a  year  and  the  use  of 
persons  'relieved  occasionally'  was  32  in 
181 3,  37  in  1 8 14,  and  29  in  1815. 
s  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/i. 
6  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  1/9. 
'  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.    225-7    (i^SS)'   ™   (')•     ^°'   other 
minor  charges  on  the  charity  income  see 
above.  Church  and,  below.  Charities. 


56 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


FYFIELD 


the  larger  of  the  two  tenements  called  Bruetts  in  Fyfield 
Street,  the  teacher  was  to  instruct  pupils  in  reading, 
writing,  arithmetic,  and  the  catechism  and  to  supervise 
them  in  prayer.* 

The  history  of  the  school  is  obscure  until  1807  when 
15  pupils  attended  it.  They  were  then  being  taught 
according  to  the  founder's  direction,  the  girls  learning 
plain  needle-work  in  addition.  Any  child  might  attend 
whom  the  rector  and  churchwardens  judged  to  be 
poor.'  Where  the  school  was  held  is  not  clear;  it  may 
have  been  in  the  master's  house.  By  1 8 1 8  the  managers 
were  planning  to  expand  the  school.  The  charity  in- 
come had  recently  increased  and  the  master,  now  paid 
j^i6  a  year,  also  took  paying  pupils. ■"  In  1819  a  new 
schoolroom  was  built  for  ,^170  from  the  accumulated 
surplus  of  the  charity  income.  It  was  behind  the  master's 
house  in  Fyfield  Street,  had  a  playground  attached,  and 
could  accommodate  70  children."  There  was  no  im- 
mediate increase  in  attendance,  however;  in  1827—8 
there  were  still  only  i  5  free  pupils.'^ 

From  about  1830  the  number  of  pupils  increased. 
In  1832  there  were  21  and  in  1833  49,  some  of  whom 
paid  fees.  The  charity  income  was  then  £47,  the 
master's  salary  ;^32.  The  only  other  school  in  Fyfield 
was  one  with  four  pupils.'^  By  1835  there  were  30  free 
pupils  at  Walker's  school,  almost  all  of  them  children  of 
Fyfield  labourers,  and  25  paying  pupils,  of  whom  12 
were  boarders.  The  curriculum  was  as  in  1807  except 
that  the  boys  were  taught  some  history  and  geography. 
The  master,  who  still  received  £l'2;  paid  two  assistants 
and  hired  an  additional  classroom,  presumably  for  his 
paying  pupils.  He  also  supplied  pens,  ink,  and  fuel. 
No  poor  child  was  refused  a  place  on  denominational 
grounds,  but  all  the  free  pupils  attended  church  and 
were  taught  the  catechism.  Trustees  were  in  control, 
with  the  rector  as  treasurer.'''  The  school  was  united 
to  the  Diocesan  Board  of  Education's  and,  at  least 
between  1 807  and  1 847,  was  administered  jointly  with 
the  Sunday  school.'*  It  has  subsequently  been  regarded 
as  a  Church  school,  as  it  probably  had  been  from  its 
inception,  but  it  appears  not  to  have  been  in  union  with 
the  National  Society. '^ 

Until  the  Education  Act  of  1870  there  was  little 
change  from  the  conditions  of  1837,  except  that  the 
boarding  establishment  was  probably  discontinued  at 
some  point;  in  1 863  there  was  another  boarding-school 
in  the  village.' *  In  1867  there  were  76  pupils  under  a 
master  and  mistress,"  but  in  1871  there  were  only 
about  56.^"  In  1871  it  was  reported  that  the  school 
could  provide  57  of  the  94  places  necessary  to  ensure 
universal  education  in  Fyfield.^'  In  1875  a  new  school 
was  built  near  the  site  of  the  old.^^  The  estimate  of  cost 
was  ;C550-  Charity  property  was  mortgaged  for  ,£400 
and  the  deficit  met  by  a  voluntary  rate.^^  Average 
attendance  increased  slightly  until   1891,  when  the 


building  was  enlarged  to  provide  130  places.^  The 
average  attendance  was  83  in  1893  and  74  in  1905.M 

The  school  had  received  a  goverpraent  grant  oi  £6\ 
in  1880  and  this  rose  to  j^i  10  in  1899.^*  After  the 
Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed  under  the 
administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee  as  a 
non-provided  school.  After  a  further  fall  to  58  in  1910 
the  average  attendance  rose  to  78  in  1920  and  84  in 
1929.  In  1926  the  annual  income  was  nearly  jC6o." 
In  1936  the  school  was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors 
and  infants.  In  1948  the  managers  applied  for  aided 
status.28  In  May  1952  there  were  three  teachers  and 
89  children.29 

The  school  is  a  single-story  brick  building  on  a  T- 
shaped  plan.  The  larger  of  the  two  tenements  called 
Bruetts  is  still  the  schoolmaster's  house.  This  was  re- 
built in  the  late  i8th  or  early  19th  century. 

West  Ham  County  Borough  Council  Residential 
Open  Air  School  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  ^£8,000  in 
1885.3°  It  was  certified  in  May  1885  as  an  Industrial 
School  for  boys,  not  to  exceed  no  in  number.-"  In 
April  1925  it  was  converted  to  a  residential  open-air 
school  for  80  boys.'^  In  193 1  it  was  enlarged  to  take 
60  girls  in  addition. '^  The  school  consists  of  a  consider- 
able collection  of  buildings.  The  main  block  is  two  to 
three  stories  high  and  of  gault  brick  with  red-brick 
dressings. 

For  the  'Unknown  Donors  or  Church  Estate  Charity' 
see  above — Church. 
CHARITIES  In  1687  Dr.  Anthony  Walker,  Rec- 
tor of  Fyfield,  devised  property  in 
Fyfield  and  High  Ongar^'t  for  the  provision  of  a  school" 
and  a  rent-free  house  for  the  church  clerk,  and  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor.  In  1834^^2  12/.  was  distributed  to 
the  poor  in  bread.  This  part  of  the  charity,  however, 
seems  to  have  disappeared  later,  since  by  1905  the 
whole  of  the  endowment  was  held  for  educational  pur- 
poses except  the  clerk's  house  and  a  small  yearly  sum 
for  its  maintenance. 

The  house  left  for  the  clerk  was  the  smaller  of  the 
two  tenements  called  Bruetts,  in  Fyfield  Street,  the 
larger  being  for  the  schoolmaster  or  dame.  In  1873  it 
was  disputed  whether  the  charity  was  for  the  church 
clerk  or  the  parish  clerk ;  the  decision  went  in  the  church 
clerk's  favour,  and  the  house  is  still  occupied  by  his 
successor.  In  1949  the  school  charity  and  the  parochial 
church  council  both  advanced  money  for  the  repair  of 
the  house,  which  had  been  little  altered  for  some  cen- 
turies. It  is  timber-framed  with  a  steep  roof  and  dates 
from  the  i6th  century  or  earlier.^* 

John  Collins,37  by  will  dated  1 75 1,'*  left  a  field  in 
Moreton  to  the  poor  of  Fyfield.  It  was  let  at  ^^5  a  year 
in  1834  and  in  1907,  when  it  was  sold  for  ;^I20  which 
was  invested.  In  1834  the  income  was  spent  on  bread, 
distributed  with  Walker's  Charity,  and  on  l^.  doles  to 


'  Ref).  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  225-6. 
«  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4.. 

'0  Reim.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  256 
(i8i9),ix(i). 

"  Re/>.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  226-7. 

■2  Nat.Soc.  Ref.  1828,  p.  53. 

'3  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  276 
(1835),  xli;  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1832,  p.  50. 

'«  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  226-7. 

"  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
1 846-7,  pp.  8-9. 

">  Ibid.;  Nat.  Soc.  Reps.  1828,  1832; 
E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/127. 

'»  ffhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863). 

'•>  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  561. 


20  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
112-13  (1871),  Iv. 

21  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/127. 

22  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  cdn.),  sheet  xlii. 
«  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/127. 

24  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1880 
[C.  2948-1],  p.  577.  H.C.  {1881),  xxxii; 
Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  Council,  1886  [C. 
5123-1],  p.  5'9.  H.C.  (1887),  xxviii. 

25  Retn.  Schools,  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  714, 
H.C.  (1894),  Ixv;  Min.  of  Educ.  File 
13/127. 

2'  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1880, 
p.  577;  Retn.  Schools,  1899  [Cd.  315], 
p.  70,  H.C.  (1900),  Ixv  (2). 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i^zd). 

57 


28  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/127. 

2'  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

3"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926).  For  this 
school  see  D.  McDougall,  Fifty  Tears  a 
Borough:  the  Story  of  West  Ham,  103-4, 
122  f.  3"  Ibid. 

^^  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (\<)-i,-^.         33  Ibid. 

3*  See  Frith  Hall  in  High  Ongar. 

35  Sec  above.  Schools. 

36  Ref.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216. 
pp.  225-7  ('^3S)>  *"  (')>  Char.  Com. 
files. 

3'  Ibid.j  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  336-7. 

3*  This  date,  given  in  Rep.  Com.  Char, 
(Esfex),  p.  2*27,  is  evidently  a  mistake. 
Collins  died  in  Sept.  1750. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


widows  and  other  poor  persons.  The  bread  doles  were 
stopped  in  1917  under  a  scheme  of  191 5.  In  1935  the 
income  of  ^^3  1 1/.  8a'.  was  distributed  in  small  sums  of 
cash  and  the  same  practice  appears  to  have  been  fol- 
lowed since. 

The  Revd.  Robert  Gibson,  by  will  proved  1 840,  left 
;^20o  in  trust  for  distribution  among  the  poor  of  the 


parish,  preferably  those  who  were  sober  and  industrious 
and  attended  church  regularly.  Charlotte  Gibson,  by 
will  proved  1859,  left  £200  in  trust  for  the  yearly  dis- 
tribution of  blankets,  sheets,  coals,  or  clothing  to  the 
poor  of  the  parish.  These  two  charities  have  generally 
been  distributed  together.  In  1950  the  income  of  ^^5 
from  each  was  given  away  in  food  and  clothing.39 


GREENSTEAD 


Greenstead  is  a  small  parish  adjoining  Chipping 
Ongar  to  the  west.'  From  1 548  to  1554  it  was  united 
with  Chipping  Ongar.^  Its  population  has  always  been 
small  until  the  last  20  years.  In  1801  it  was  102,  and 
in  193 1,  119.  The  population  in  195 1  was  785,  the 
large  increase  being  mainly  accounted  for  by  the  build- 
ing of  houses  on  the  estate  adjoining  Chipping  Ongar.' 
The  main  centres  of  population  are  at  the  east  and  west 
ends  of  the  parish,  not  in  the  centre  by  the  hall  and  the 
church. 

The  land  rises  from  about  200  ft.  above  sea-level  in 
the  east  to  300  ft.  in  the  west.  A  stream  which  rises  in 
the  west  flows  east  to  join  Cripsey  Brook  near  the 
north-east  corner.  Greenstead  Wood  is  in  the  west, 
between  the  stream  and  the  north  boundary.  The 
road  from  Chipping  Ongar  enters  Greenstead  in  the 
south-east  and  runs  through  the  parish  to  Greenstead 
Green  in  the  north-west.  At  the  Ongar  end  of  this 
road  there  is  a  small  built-up  area,  mostly  of  the  19th 
century  and  later.  To  the  north  of  this  is  a  large  hous- 
ing site  consisting  of  100  privately  built  houses,  30 
post-1945  council  houses,  and  two  groups  of  pre- 
fabricated houses. 

The  rectory  lies  on  the  road  about  |  mile  from 
Ongar.  To  the  west  of  it,  lying  close  together  to  the 
north  of  the  road,  are  the  parish  church  and  Green- 
stead Hall.  They  are  joined  to  Ongar  by  an  avenue  of 
trees  about  a  mile  long.'' 

There  are  a  number  of  houses  at  Greenstead  Green. 
Little  Thorbens  (now  called  The  Cottage)  is  a  small 
two-story  timber-framed  house  with  a  cross-wing  and 
an  overhanging  gable  at  its  west  end.  The  date  1564 
is  cut  on  one  of  the  roof  timbers. 5  Blackstock  House 
and  Tudor  Cottage  formerly  made  up  a  single  house, 
named  New  House.  Tudor  Cottage  is  timber-framed 
and  partly  weather-boarded,  and  dates  from  the  late 
1 6th  or  early  17th  century.  Blackstock  House,  on  the 
west,  is  a  gault  brick  addition  dating  from  about  1870. 
Greenstead  House  is  a  two-story  stucco  building,  dating 
from  the  i8th  century  with  a  large  addition  of  about 
i860.  Ivy  Cottage  adjoins  it  (see  below,  Schools). 
Hardings  Farm  is  opposite  Ivy  Cottage.  Also  at  Green- 
stead Green,  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  leading  to 
Ongar,  are  five  pairs  of  council  houses.  The  green 
from  which  this  part  of  the  parish  took  its  name  no 
longer  exists,  but  within  living  memory  there  was  a 
long  triangular  open  green  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
here,  reaching  nearly  to  Toot  Hill  in  Stanford  Rivers.* 
The  present  road  from  Greenstead  Green  to  Toot  Hill 
appears  to  have  been  constructed  between  1838  and 


1873-4.'  Pensons  Lane  runs  from  Greenstead  Green 
north-east  to  Ackingford  Bridge  (see  Chipping  Ongar). 
Another  road  runs  north  from  Greenstead  Green  to 
Bobbingworth.  A  road  from  the  centre  of  the  parish 
runs  south  to  Stanford  Hall  and  the  church  in  Stanford 
Rivers.  Half  a  mile  to  the  east  of  this  road,  on  the 
southern  border  of  the  parish,  is  Lodge  Farm.  It  is  a 
timber-framed  house  of  mid-  or  late-i7th-century  date, 
and  it  contains  a  round-headed  corner  cupboard  of  the 
same  period. 

The  railway  from  Epping  to  Ongar  passes  through 
a  small  part  of  the  parish  on  the  north  east.  Blake  Hall 
station,  on  this  line,  is  J  mile  north  of  Greenstead 
Green  but  is  in  the  parish  of  Stanford  Rivers. 

Few  references  have  been  found  to  the  parish  roads. 
In  1598  Greenstead  was  presented  at  quarter  sessions 
for  the  bad  state  of  its  highways.  ^  In  16 18-19  ^^* 
road  from  Chipping  Ongar  to  Greenstead  was  in  a 
bad  condition  and  the  parishioners  of  Greenstead  and 
High  Ongar  were  said  to  be  jointly  responsible  for  its 
upkeep.' 

For  transport  and  postal  services  Greenstead  has 
always  depended  on  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.) 

The  Greenstead  housing  estate  has  all  the  public 
services.'"  Water  was  supplied  to  some  parts  of  the 
parish  in  1908,  from  Chipping  Ongar  as  far  as  Green- 
stead church."  There  is  sewerage  as  far  as  the  Croft.'^ 
Gas  was  first  supplied  in  1934.  It  at  first  extended 
along  the  road  to  Blake  Hall  Station.'-J  Greenstead 
Green  has  had  electricity  since  1932.'^ 

In  1086  there  were  in  all  8  plough-teams  in  Green- 
stead, woodland  for  520  swine,  35  acres  of  meadow. 
There  were  then  only  14  pigs  on  the  manor:  the  num- 
ber had  declined  from  30  in  1066.  There  were  40 
goats  and  20  sheep,  a  rouncy,  and  3  beasts. '5  The 
parish  was  less  densely  wooded  than  Chipping  Ongar 
(q.v.)  to  the  east. 

The  manor  of  Greenstead  in  1349  was  said  to 
contain  60  acres  of  (arable)  land,  8  acres  of  meadow, 
1 5  acres  of  pasture,  and  a  wood.'*  In  1625  it  was  said 
to  contain  100  acres  of  land,  20  acres  of  meadow,  60 
acres  of  pasture,  and  60  acres  of  underwood."  In  1690 
there  were  100  acres  of  land,  80  acres  of  meadow,  100 
acres  of  pasture,  and  80  acres  of  underwood.'^  These 
figures  seem  to  indicate  that  from  the  14th  century 
onwards  the  demesne  farm  gradually  increased  in  size 
until,  by  the  end  of  the  17th  century  it  contained  about 
half  the  total  area  of  the  parish.  In  the  i8th  century 
there  were  at  least  three  farms  in  the  parish  apart  from 
the  home  farm  of  Greenstead  Hall."  During  the  first 


39  Char.  Com.  files. 

'  O.S.  2i  in.  Map,  sheet  52/50.    Area 
683  acres.  ^  See  Chipping  Ongar. 

3  Census }  inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 

*  The  avenue  existed   in    1770:   Hist. 
Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  378. 

*  Inf.  from  the  occupier,  Mr.  Ginger. 

*  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Kinsman  of  Green- 
stead House.  The  green  is  well  shown  on 


the  Tithe  Map  (1838):   E.R.O.,   D/CT 
153B. 

'  Cf.  Tithe  Map  and  0.5.  6  in.  Map 
(ist  edn.),  sheet  1  (1873-4). 
8  E.R.O.,  e/SR  14.1/21. 
•>  Ibid.  Q/SBa  1/35. 
">  Inf.  from  Councillor  Hadler. 
"  Inf.  from  Herts,  and   Essex  Water- 
works Co. 


■2  Inf.  from  Councillor  Hadler. 
"  Inf.  from  East.  Gas  Bd. 
'«  Inf.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 
■s  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  502. 
'^  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  IX,  p.  z^z, 
'■>  CP43/169  rot.  52. 
'8  CP43/428  rot.  Si. 
"  See  below,  Manor. 


58 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


GREENSTEAD 


half  of  that  century  almost  all  the  land  in  the  parish 
was  acquired  by  a  single  owner.  It  was  split  up  again 
after  1750.^°  In  1839  the  parish  was  estimated  to  con- 
tain 289  acres  of  arable,  325  acres  of  meadow  and 
pasture,  3 1  acres  of  woodland,  and  23  acres  of  common, 
waste,  and  roads.^'  The  Hall  farm  contained  263  acres. 
There  were  three  other  farms  of  50—100  acres.  More 
than  400  acres  were  owned  by  the  lord  of  the  manor, 
and  within  the  next  30  years  two  other  farms  were 
added  to  the  main  estate,  leaving  very  little  land  in  the 
parish  outside  the  estate.^^ 

Inclosure  was  probably  facilitated  in  Greenstead  by 
the  small  number  of  interests  involved.  A  rental  of 
about  1525  has  numerous  references  to  crofts  in 
Greenstead,  which  suggests  that  much  inclosure  had 
already  taiien  place.^^  It  is,  however,  interesting  that 
the  green  which  gave  its  name  to  Greenstead  Green 
should  have  survived  until  modern  times.^ 

There  was  a  mill  at  Greenstead  in  io86.^5  In  1349 
there  were  two  mills  in  the  manor,  one  driven  by  water 
and  the  other  by  wind.^* 

The  sale  of  timber  from  Greenstead  during  the 
Napoleonic  wars  is  mentioned  below.^'  It  is  clear  from 
the  maps  that  Greenstead  wood  was  much  larger  in 
1777  than  it  was  a  hundred  years  later.^* 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  GREEN- 
STEAD was  held  by  Gotild  'as  a  manor  and 
MANOR  2  hides'.^'  In  1086  it  was  held  in  demesne 
by  Hamon  dapifer.^"  It  was  also  stated  in 
Domesday  that  one  Serlo  held  40  acres  of  the  manor,  that 
three  freemen  had  before  io66  held  J  hide  and  45  acres, 
and  that  'of  this  land'  one  Ralph  was  in  1086  holding 
J  hide  and  5  acres.  As  J.  H.  Round  has  commented, 
this  is  a  confused  passage:  'for  it  is  not  clear  whether  the 
holding  of  the  3  free  men  was  valued  as  part  of  the  main 
manor,  nor  if  it  were  is  it  clear  of  which  two  portions 
Ralph's  holding  was  part.'''  It  seems  most  likely,  how- 
ever, that  Ralph  had  taken  over  the  greater  part  of  the 
land  previously  occupied  by  the  three  men. 

From  Hamon  the  lordship  of  the  manor  descended 
in  the  same  way  as  Norton  Mandeville  (q.v.)  to  Robert, 
1st  Earl  of  Gloucester,  bastard  son  of  Henry  I.^^  In 
about  1 170  William,  2nd  Earl  of  Gloucester,  granted 
the  manor  to  Richard  de  Lucy,  along  with  the  service 
of  4  knights  owed  by  Richard  de  Marcy,  2  knights 
owed  by  Ralph  de  Marcy,  3  knights  owed  by  Maurice 
de  Toheham,  and  I J  knight  owed  by  Manasser  de 
Dammartin.33  It  is  not  unlikely  that  Richard  and  Ralph 
were  relatives  of  the  Domesday  tenants  Ralph  and 
Serlo."*  Greenstead  thus  became  part  of  Richard  de 
Lucy's  honor  of  Ongar,  and  the  tenancy  in  chief  of  the 


manor  descended  in  the  same  way  as  Chipping  Ongar 
(q.v.).35 

The  descent  of  the  tenancy  in  demesne  between 
about  1 1 70  and  about  1250  is  obscure.  It  is  possible 
that  the  Marcy  family  continued  as  tenants  for  part  of 
this  time.36  By  about  1250,  however,  the  tenant  was 
Walter  de  Baskerville.3'  He  was  the  son  of  Walter  de 
Baskerville  (d.  1244)  of  Orcop  (Herefs.).^*  He  fought 
against  the  king  in  the  Barons'  Wars  and  in  1265  his 
lands  at  Orcop,  Greenstead,  and  elsewhere  were 
granted  to  Roger  de  Clifford."  Baskerville  subse- 
quently regained  possession  and  in  1279  granted 
Greenstead  to  Roger  de  la  Hay  in  exchange  for  land 
in  Great  Cowarne  (Herefs.).*" 

William  de  la  Hay  was  lord  of  the  manor  in  1328 
and  I333.*'  In  1346  he  granted  Greenstead  to  Sir 
Robert  Bourchier.*^  Bourchier  was  subsequently  sum- 
moned to  Parliament  as  a  peer.'*^  He  died  in  1 349  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  John  Lord  Bourchier.** 
Greenstead  descended  with  the  title  to  Henry,  Lord 
Bourchier,  who  was  created  Viscount  Bourchier  {c. 
1445)  and  Earl  of  Essex  (i46i).*5  The  manor  passed 
to  Henry  Bourchier,  2nd  Earl  of  Essex,  and  on  his 
death  in  1540  to  his  daughter  Anne,  suo  jure  Baroness 
Bourchier,  wife  of  Thomas  Parr,  Baron  Parr  of  Ken- 
dal.** Parr  was  created  Earl  of  Essex  in  1 543  and  in 
the  following  year  conveyed  Greenstead  to  Sir  Richard 
Rich,  later  created  Baron  Rich.*7 

In  1578  Robert,  2nd  Baron  Rich,  conveyed  the 
manor  to  William  Bourne.**  He  was  the  son  of 
William  Bourne  of  Bobbingworth.*'  He  died  in 
1608,  leaving  an  eldest  son  William  (b.  1589),  and 
younger  sons  Richard  (b.  1599)  and  John  (b.  1602). 5" 
The  manor  was  probably  held  until  her  death  by  Anne 
(d.  1624)  widow  of  William  Bourne.5'  She  married 
Richard  Young  in  1613.52  After  her  death  the  manor 
appears  to  have  been  settled  on  her  son  John. 53  In 
1652  complaint  was  made  to  quarter  sessions  that 
Richard  Bourne,  owner  of  Greenstead  Hall,  had  been 
dispossessed  by  Thomas  Smith,  labourer,  and  others 
(named).  The  justices  ordered  that  Richard  should  be 
given  possession  of  the  property.^*  He  was  probably 
identical  with  Richard  (b.  1625)  son  of  John  Bourne." 
He  died  in  1660.56 

The  next  owner  of  the  manor  who  has  been  traced 
was  John  Hulson,  who  held  it  in  1683.57  Robert 
Hulson  was  the  owner  in  1690.58  In  1695  he  sold 
Greenstead  to  Alexander  Cleeve,  citizen  and  pewterer 
of  London. 59  Cleeve's  initial  purchase  comprised 
about  half  the  land  in  the  parish.  He  subsequently 
added  to  it  most  of  the  other  half  *»   After  his  death 


"  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  153. 

^*  See  below,- Manor. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  M1/5. 

"  See  above,  p.  58.  In  1839  the  green 
contained  c.  16  acres,  reclconed  as  waste: 
E.R.O.,  D/CT  153. 

"  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  502. 

^^  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ix,  p.  242. 

*'  See  Manor. 

^'  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex 
J777,  sheet  xvii;  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.), 
sheets  I,  H. 

"  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  502. 

30  Ibid. 

3>  Ibid. 

'*  L.  C.  Loyd,  Origins  of  Some  Anglo- 
Norman  Families  (Harl.  Soc),  50 ;  Domes- 
day Monachorum  of  Christ  Church,  Canter- 
bury (ed.  D.  C.  Douglas),  55-56. 

33  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  148.   The  grant  was 


confirmed  by  the  king  in  1 1 67-74.  For 
the  Dammartins  see  Norton  Mandeville. 

3*  Ibid.  149.  A  Serlo  de  Marcy  held 
Stondon  Massey  (q.v.)  in  the  13th  cent. 

3!  The  last  record  of  overlordship  is 
1566:  Morant,  Essex,  i,  152. 

36  For  the  Marcy  family  see  Stondon 
Massey,  Kelvedon  Hatch,  Navestock,  and 
Magdalen  Laver. 

3'  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  18. 

38  C.  Moor,  Knights  of  Ed-w.  I  {Harl. 
Soc),  i,  50 ;  W.  H.  Cooke,  Hist.  Hereford 
(1892),  187. 

39  C.  Moor,  ibid. 

■»»  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  24. 
■•■  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  288. 

42  Cal.  Close,  1346-9.  5'- 

43  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  246. 

44  Ibid.;  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ix,  p.  242. 

45  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  248-g. 

46  Ibid.;  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  288-9. 

59 


4'  CP25(2)/i3/75  Trin.  36  Hen.  VIII. 

48  CP25(2)/i3i/i684. 

49  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc.),  pp.  156, 

354-5- 

">  Par.  Regs,  of  Greenstead,  ed.  F.   A. . 
Crisp,  4,  31.    Richard  and  John  were  the 
sons  of  their  father's  second  marriage,  to 
Anne  Day,  widow. 

"  See    below.    Church;   Par.   Regs,   of 
Greenstead,  19,  31 

52  Ibid.  19. 

53  CP43/169  (1625). 

54  E.R.O.,  2/SBa  2/7.9. 

55  Par.  Regs,  of  Greenstead,  6. 

5'  Ibid.     32.      He     founded     Bourne's 
Charity  (see  below.  Charities). 
5'  CP25(2)/655  Hil.  34-35  Chas.  II. 

58  CP43/428  rot.  81. 

59  P.  J.  Budworth,  Memorials  of  Green- 
stead—Budivorth,  6. 

'»  Ibid.  8. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


in  1738  his  widow  Anne  held  the  estate  for  life.*'  She 
died  in  1750  and  the  estate  was  then  divided  among 
Alexander  Cleeve's  children.  John  Cleeve,  Rector  of 
High  Laver,  inherited  New  House  Farm,  Jane  Velley 
received  Hardings,  Anne  Cleeve  had  Repentance 
Farm,  and  Mary  Hatt  had  Lodge  Farm.*^  In  1752 
Greenstead  Hall  and  the  manorial  estate  were  sold  by 
the  nine  surviving  children  of  Alexander  Cleeve  to 
David  Rebotier  of  London,  merchant.^-J 

David  Rebotier  died  in  1769  and  in  177 1  his  son 
Charles  and  his  daughter  Esther  Rebotier  sold  the 
manor  to  John  Redman  of  Mile  End  in  the  parish  of 
St.  Dunstan  (Mdx.).*^  Redman  died  in  1798;  he  left 
the  manor  to  Craven  Ord  of  the  Cursitors  Office,  who 
had  married  his  daughter  Mary.^s  It  was  provided 
that  Greenstead  should  be  held  in  trust  for  the  younger 
children  of  Craven  and  Mary.  During  the  Napoleonic 
Wars,  however,  Craven  made  sufficient  profits  from 
the  sale  of  timber  from  Greenstead  to  satisfy  the  por- 
tions of  his  younger  children,  and  on  his  death  in  1832 
the  manor  passed  to  his  eldest  son,  the  Revd.  Craven 
Ord(d.  i836).66 

In  1837  the  manor  was  bought  by  the  Revd.  Philip 
Budworth,  who  was  a  grandson  of  Jane,  daughter  of 
Alexander  Cleeve  and  wife  of  the  Revd.  Thomas 
Velley.*7  In  jg^j  Budworth  also  bought  New  House 
Farm,  which  had  been  sold  in  1778  by  the  executors 
of  John  Cleeve  and  had  become  the  property  of 
Sympson  Jessopp.**  Captain  Philip  J.  Budworth  was 
the  only  surviving  son  and  heir  of  the  Revd.  Philip 
Budworth.  He  settled  at  Greenstead  Hall  in  i8;4.*» 
In  1867  he  bought  Lodge  Farm  from  the  representatives 
of  Mrs.  Holbrook  and  thus  became  owner  of  all  but  a 
small  part  of  the  land  in  the  parish.'"  He  continued 
to  live  at  Greenstead  Hall  until  his  death  in  1885" 
and  took  an  active  part  in  local  affairs.'^  He  is  com- 
memorated by  the  Budworth  Hall  in  Chipping  Ongar. 
His  sons,  or  their  representatives,  were  the  main  land- 
owners in  Greenstead  in  I926.'3 

Greenstead  Hall  is  a  large  house  of  two  stories  with 
attics.  It  is  of  timber-framing  partly  covered  with  a 
later  facing  of  red  brick.  As  it  exists  today  most  of  the 
house  dates  from  about  1700  when  it  was  largely  re- 
built, probably  by  Alexander  Cleeve.  The  date  1695 
is  carved  on  the  east  front  and  a  sundial  on  the  south 
front  bears  the  date  1698  and  the  initials  a  and  mc 
(Alexander  and  Mary  Cleeve).  There  are,  however, 
timbers  near  the  west  end  which  appear  to  be  older, 
and  in  two  places  there  is  panelling  of  the  early  17th 
century.  The  report'''  of  an  open  hearth  under  the 
centre  of  the  present  drawing-room  on  the  south  side 
suggests  that  there  was  originally  a  medieval  hall  in  this 
position.    A  view  from  the  east  drawn  about   1770 


shows  the  house  as  altered  70  years  before.''  It  was 
then  plastered  and  roughly  square  in  shape  but  with 
two  projecting  wings  on  the  south  side.  The  main 
entrance  front  to  the  east  had  seven  windows  and  a 
central  pediment.  Part  of  the  north  side  of  the  house 
with  a  projecting  bay  no  longer  exists.  This  may  have 
been  the  dining-room  which  John  Redman  is  said  to 
have  demolished  in  the  late  i8th  century  in  order  to 
curb  the  extravagant  hospitality  of  his  son.'*  Redman 
made  many  improvements  to  the  house  and  its  grounds, 
including  the  existing  timber-framed  brick-fronted 
stables."  Large  alterations  were  carried  out  in  1875 
by  P.  J.  Budworth.'^  The  east  front  was  largely  re- 
built, including  the  central  pedimented  feature  in 
moulded  brickwork.  The  east  and  south  fronts  were 
faced  with  red  brick,  and  one  of  the  south  wings  was 
extended.  The  dates  1695  and  1698  were  probably 
recut  at  this  time.  Inside  the  house  there  are  some  good 
pine  chimney-pieces  and  panelling  of  about  1700  and 
a  fine  staircase  with  twisted  balusters  and  carved  string 
of  the  same  period.  This  is  very  similar  to  work  at 
Hill  Hall,  Theydon  Mount  (q.v.).  The  present 
occupier  has  made  some  interior  alterations  in  the  same 
style.  The  detached  17th  century-brewhouse  was  con- 
verted into  a  cottage  in  1950. 

There  seems  to  be  no  reason  to  doubt  the  established 
tradition  that  Greenstead  church  was  built 
CHURCH  in  the  nth  century  to  mark  the  place 
where  St.  Edmund's  body  rested  on  its 
way  from  London  to  Bury  St.  Edmund's  in  1013.  A 
description  of  the  event,  written  about  1 300,  says  that 
the  body  was  accommodated  at  Ongar  and  that  'a 
wooden  chapel  built  in  his  name  remains  until  today'." 
This  is  the  only  documentary  evidence  for  the  identi- 
fication. Greenstead  is  a  mile  from  Chipping  Ongar, 
but  it  is  curious  that  the  wooden  church,  which  is 
described  in  detail  below,  is  dedicated  not  to  St. 
Edmund  but  to  St.  Andrew.*" 

Walter  de  Baskerville  was  patron  of  Greenstead  in 
about  1254-.*'  William  de  la  Hay  held  the  advowson 
in  1328—33  and  it  subsequently  descended  along  with 
the  manor  until  the  17th  century.*^  Richard  Young 
and  Anne  his  wife  presented  Edward  Young  to  the 
rectory  in  1617.'^  Anne  had  previously  been  the  wife 
of  William  Bourne  (d.  1608),  lord  of  the  manor.  Her 
son  John  Bourne  made  a  conveyance  of  the  manor  in 
1625.*''  Thomas  Spencer  presented  in  1641  pro  hac 
vice.^^  Presentation  was  made  in  1646  by  Katherine 
Young,  widow,  and  Robert  Young  her  son,  and  in 
1 66 1  by  Katherine  alone.**  Nathan  Lacy,  rector  1661— 
1700,  married  a  second  wife  Mary.*'  After  his  death 
Mary  Lacy,  widow,  presented.**  Soon  after  this  the 
advowson  was  bought  by  Benjamin  Pratt,  curate  of 


^'  Budford,  Memorials  cf  Greenstead- 
Budivorth^  9. 

'2  Ibid.  10.  For  a  full  list  of  the  children 
see  ibid.  7.  Repentance,  which  no  longer 
exists,  was  in  the  extreme  south  of  the 
parish  on  the  road  to  Stanford  Rivers. 

63  Ibid.  16;  CP25(2)/ii24  East.  25 
Geo.  II. 

6<  Budworth,  op.  cit.  17  ;  CP25(z)/i3o8 
Hil.  12  Geo.  III. 

"  Budworth,  op.  cit.  17.  Ord  was  an 
antiquary  who  collaborated  with  Gough, 
Nichols,  and  others :  see  D.N.B. 

'*  Budworth,  op.  cit.  17.  "  Ibid. 

'8  Ibid. 

>">  Ibid. 

'0  Ibid. 

"  £.^.7".  N.s.  iii,  115. 

"  See  Chipping  Ongar,  Public  Services. 


73  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926),  cf.  Bud- 
worth, op.  cit.  26.  From  c.  1895  Green- 
stead Hall  was  the  residence  of  Howel 
J.  J.  Price  (d.  194.3). 

'♦  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Tugendhat,  the  pre- 
sent occupier. 

75  Hist.  Essex  by  a  Gent,  iii,  378. 

"  Budworth,  op.  cit.  20. 

"  Ibid. 

'8  Cf.  ibid.  26. 

"  'Apud  Aungre  hospitabatur  vero  ejus 
nomine  lignea  capella  constructa  permanet 
usque  hodie' :  B.M.  Add.  MS.  14.847 
f.  20. 

80  It  is  of  course  possible  that  the  dedica- 
tion has  been  changed.  It  is  interescing  to 
note  that  the  church  of  Greenstead  by 
Colchester  has  the  same  dedication  to  St. 
Andrew. 

60 


81  E.A,T,  N.s.  xviii,  i8. 

82  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  289. 

83  Ibid. 

8*  CP43/i69rot.  52. 

85  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  289.  One 
institution  was  missed  by  Newcourt,  for 
the  rector  who  died  in  164.1  was  William 
Young:  cf.  Par.  Regs,  Greenstead,  ed. 
F.  A.  Crisp,  32. 

86  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  289. 

87  Var.  Regs.  Greenstead,  8,  9. 

88  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  289.  In  1689 
and  1 69 1  conveyances  of  the  advowson 
were  made  by  James  Lacy,  clerk,  pre- 
sumably the  son  of  Nathan  Lacy:  CP43/ 
4.24  rot.  205;  ibid.  430  rot.  21  j  J.  and 
J.  A.  Venn,  Alumn  i  Cantabrigienses,  pt.  i, 
>''.  33- 


I 


-* 
f^ 


o 

o 
< 

(- 


o 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


GREENSTEAD 


St.  Botolph's,  Aldgate  about  1708-15.  By  his  will, 
dated  17 14,  Pratt  bequeathed  the  advowson  in  trust  to 
the  Bishop  of  London,  with  the  provision  that  at  each 
presentation  the  curate  of  St.  Botolph's  was  to  have 
first  refusal.*'  The  patronage  has  subsequently- 
remained  with  the  bishop,  subject  to  this  provision. 

The  rectory  was  valued  at  40J.  in  about  i2  54,">  at 
£,1  los.  in  izgi,"  and  at  £6  ly.  \d.  in  1535.'^  The 
tithes  were  commuted  in  1841  for  ^£210;  there  were 
then  30  acres  of  glebe. '3  The  rectory  house  is  an  early- 
igth-century  building,  whitewashed  externally. 

In  1548  the  parishes  of  Greenstead  and  Chipping 
Ongar  were  united  by  Act  of  Parliament.  In  spite  of 
its  small  size  the  Greenstead  church  became  the  parish 
church  of  the  combined  parish.  This  union,  however, 
was  dissolved  in  1554  and  the  parish  of  Greenstead 
returned  to  its  ancient  size  and  constitution. '< 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  ANDREW  consists  of 
nave,  chancel,  west  tower  with  spire,  and  south  porch. 
The  nave  is  a  unique  survival  of  early  timber  con- 
struction, probably  of  the  early  nth  century.  The 
chancel  is  partly  of  flint  rubble  and  partly  of  brick- 
work. The  tower  is  timber  framed  and  the  porch  is  also 
of  timber. 

The  circumstances  in  which  the  church  was  prob- 
ably built,  in  or  soon  after  1013,  have  been  described 
above.  The  present  nave  was  probably  the  original 
church.  It  is  29  ft.  long  by  17  ft.  wide.  The  timber 
walls  remain  on  the  north  and  south  sides.  They  are 
5  ft.  6  in.  high  and  consist  of  oak  logs,  varying  in  width 
from  7  to  17  in.,  cut  in  half  and  set  vertically,  the  flat 
surfaces  facing  inwards.  At  the  two  western  angles 
three-quarter  logs  are  used  with  a  right-angular  rebate 
cut  internally.  The  south  doorway  still  exists  and  nearly 
opposite  there  was  originally  a  north  doorway  2  ft.  5  in. 
wide.  The  nave  was  thoroughly  restored  in  1848. 
Descriptions  of  it  before  and  during  this  restoration  are 
of  particular  value.  In  1 748  Smart  Lethieullier  sent 
an  account  of  it  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,''  together 
with  elevational  drawings  which  were  later  published.'* 
A  hundred  years  later  the  Revd.  P.  W.  Ray,  then  rector, 
wrote  as  follows:''' 

the  building  ...  is  formed  of  split  trunks  of  oak  trees,  the 
top  part  being  cut  to  a  thin  edge  which  is  let  into  a  deep 
groove  in  the  plate  and  pinned.  The  bottoms  of  the  up- 
right timbers  were  morticed  into  the  sill.  Their  sides  were 
grooved,  with  tongues  of  oak  let  in  between  them  so  as  to 
make  the  whole  firm  and  weathertight'8  .  .  .  upon  the  face 
of  the  timbers  within  the  church  were  a  great  number  of 
triangular  cuts,  having  a  rough  bur  on  one  side  such  as 
would  be  produced  by  the  angle  of  an  adze.  These  cuts 
were  the  key  for  the  plaster  with  which  the  interior  of  the 
church  was  covered.  .  .  .  The  west  end  was  carried  up  in 
the  middle  as  high  as  the  ridge  of  the  roof  and  consisted  of 
two  layers  of  planks  fastened  together  with  tree  nails.  The 
planks  are  not  long  enough  to  reach  the  whole  height,  they 
are  therefore  so  arranged  as  to  break  both  the  perpendicular 
and  horizontal  joints. 

The  external  elevation  of  this  west  end,  part  of  which 
disappeared  in  1848,  is  shown  in  Lethieullier's  draw- 
ing. The  narrow  opening  which  can  be  seen  just  south 


of  the  centre  was  probably  made  to  give  access  to  the 
tower  after  that  was  added. 

The  chancel  was  probably  added  to  the  original 
wooden  church  in  the  12th  century.  Parts  of  the  flint 
rubble  plinth  remain.  The  east  wall  of  the  nave  was 
presumably  removed  then. 

The  small  stoup  with  a  pointed  head  to  the  west  of 
the  former  north  door  probably  dates  from  the  13  th 
or  14th  century. 

In  the  15th  or  i6th  century  the  square  tower  was 
added  to  the  west  end  of  the  nave  a  little  to  the  south 
of  the  centre  line.  It  is  weather-boarded  externally  and 
has  louvred  openings.  The  lower  story  of  the  tower  is 
now  used  as  a  vestry.  There  is  a  broach  spire.  About 
1 500  the  chancel  was  rebuilt  in  brick.  On  the  south 
side  is  an  early-i6th-century  doorway  with  moulded 
brick  jambs  and  an  elliptical  head.  Next  to  it  on  the 
west  is  a  window  of  similar  date  also  with  an  elliptical 
head.  The  four-centred  chancel  arch  is  probably  of 
the  1 6th  century.  In  that  century  also  the  nave  was 
probably  reroofed.  Views  of  the  church  before  the 
restoration  show  a  sagging  roof  line,  lower  than  that 
of  the  chancel,  with  two  dormers  on  the  north  side  and 
one  on  the  south." 

The  church  was  being  repaired  in  1683.  Beams  had 
recently  been  set  on  the  inside  of  the  chancel  but  it  was 
feared  that  this  would  not  prevent  the  cracks  on  both 
sides  of  the  east  window  from  getting  worse." 

Extensive  repairs  were  carried  out  in  1848.  The 
oak  sills  of  the  nave  walls,  which  originally  rested  on 
the  ground,  were  completely  decayed,  together  with 
the  lower  ends  of  the  logs.  These  last  were  shortened 
from  the  base  and  tenoned  to  new  sills  supported  on 
dwarf  brick  walls.  The  plaster  was  stripped  internally 
and  oak  fillets  fixed  over  the  joints.  The  north  door- 
way, which  had  already  been  plastered  up  before  this 
time,  was  blocked  by  the  insertion  of  three  new 
timbers.  The  nave  roof  was  replaced  and  three  addi- 
tional dormer  windows  constructed  so  that  there  are 
now  three  on  each  side.  A  new  window  was  inserted 
in  the  west  gable.  In  the  chancel  the  east  wall  was 
rebuilt  and  a  new  east  window  with  stone  'perpendi- 
cular' tracery  was  inserted.  A  new  window  was  also 
placed  in  the  north  wall  and  another  in  the  south  wall 
to  the  east  of  the  doorway.  The  east  wall  and  the 
chancel  arch  were  strengthened  by  the  external  addition 
of  buttresses.  A  traceried  window  was  placed  in  the 
tower,  and  a  new  timber  porch,  a  copy  of  I  gth-century 
work,  replaced  a  small  weather-boarded  struc- 
ture.^ 

In  1 891-2  the  roof,  which  was  of  fir,  was  again 
found  to  be  decayed.  A  subscription  list  for  a  new  roof 
was  started  by  William  Hewett,  tenant  of  Greenstead 
Hall  and  churchwarden,  and  the  work  was  carried  out 
in  oak  by  Frederic  Chancellor,  the  diocesan  surveyor. 
He  followed  the  same  design  on  the  assumption  that  it 
was  a  copy  of  the  roof  taken  down  in  1848.3  At  the 
same  time  a  brick  buttress  on  the  north  side  of  the  nave 
was  removed,  exposing  sound  timbers  behind  it.*  No 
important  alterations  have  been  carried  out  since  1892, 


I 


"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  153;  J.  and  J.  A. 
Venn,  Alumni  Cantab,  pt.  i,  iii,  390, 
G.  Hennessy,  Novum  Repert.  Eccl.  Parock. 
Lond.  Ixvli,  107. 

«»  Lunt,  Val.  of  Nor-wich,  336. 

»■   Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  23*. 

«»  yalor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

«3  E.R.O.,  D/CT  153. 

»♦  For  the  details  of  this  temporary 
union  see  Chipping  Ongar. 


»5  B.M.  Stowe  MS.  752,  f.  49. 

«'  Vetusta  Monumenta,  ii,  pi.  7.  See  plate 
facing  p.  61. 

"  P.  W.  Ray,  Hist. of  Greenstead  Church, 
18-20.  Ray  was  rector  when  the  chjrch 
was  restored,  1848. 

98  Lethieullier's  description  of  the  joint- 
ing, '  the  edge  of  one  tree  made  to  slip  a 
little  within  its  neighbour",  is  probably 
less  accurate. 

61 


"  A.  Suckling,  Memorials  of  Essex,  4 ; 
P.  W.  Ray,  Hist.  Greenttead  Church. 
'  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  268. 

2  For  various  pictures  of  the  church 
before  and  after  1848  see  E.R.O., 
Prints. 

3  E.A.T.  N.s.  iv,  223;  E.R.  i,  139} 
Notes  (sf  Queries,  1891,  316. 

♦  E.A.T.  li.s.  iv,  223. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


but  the  spire  was  recently  covered  with  shingles  of 
Canadian  cedar.5 

There  is  one  bell  by  William  Land,  1618,  and  a 
sanctus  bell,  uninscribed.  In  1552  there  were  two 
Rogation  bells  weighing  10  lb.  and  two  great  bells 
weighing  300J  lb.*  Early  in  the  19th  century  an  old 
bell  larger  than  the  present  bell,  being  cracked  and  un- 
hung, was  sold.' 

In  the  chancel  is  a  stone  pillar  piscina  with  an  octa- 
gonal bowl,  probably  late  15  th  century.  The  igth- 
century  quatrefoil  window  in  the  west  gable  of  the 
nave  contains  an  early  1 6th-century  roundel  of  stained 
glass,  showing  a  man's  head  and  shoulders  in  the  dress 
of  the  time.  A  crown  suggests  that  he  may  represent 
St.  Edmund.*  Two  other  pieces  of  stained  glass,  prob- 
ably of  similar  date,  were  removed  from  the  church 
before  1836.  They  came  into  the  possession  of  a 
Bobbingworth  farmer  who  took  them  with  him  to 
New  Zealand.  He  was  persuaded  to  return  them  to 
the  church  but  they  were  lost  in  a  shipwreck  off  the 
Scilly  Isles  on  their  return  journey  in  1871.'  Hanging 
in  the  nave  is  a  round-headed  wooden  panel  on  which 
is  an  oil  painting  of  about  1 500  showing  the  martyrdom 
of  St.  Edmund.'"  The  octagonal  oak  pulpit  was  pre- 
sented by  Alexander  Cleeve  in  1698."  One  panel  has 
the  date  and  I.  H.  S.  inlaid  in  darker  wood.  The  stone 
font  is  of  the  19th  century.  The  stained  glass  in  the 
four  chancel  windows  was  inserted  in  memory  of 
William  Smith,  d.  1871:  the  north  window  shows  the 
martyrdom  of  St.  Edmund  and  the  east  window  the 
Last  Supper  and  Crucifixion.  The  oak  screen  dividing 
the  vestry  from  the  nave  was  given  in  memory  of 
Gerard  Noel  Hoare  and  his  son,  between  them  church- 
wardens from  1907  to  1949. 

The  church  plate  consists  of  a  cup,  1739,  paten, 
1699  (the  gift  of  Alexander  and  Mary  Cleeve),  a 
flagon  1858  (the  gift  of  the  Revd.  P.  W.  Ray  and 
family),  and  an  alms-dish,  1817.  The  last  piece  was 
obtained  in  compliance  with  the  archdeacon's  instruc- 
tions in  1 8 1 7  to  'sell  pewter  plate  and  provide  patens 
for  the  offerings'." 

On  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  an  alabaster 
tablet  in  memory  of  Jone,  second  wife  of  Alane  Wood 
(1585).  There  are  also  tablets  to  the  Revd.  W.  H. 
Warren  (1825)  and  Mary  wife  of  Craven  Ord  (1804). 
On  the  south  wall  is  a  tablet  to  Richard  Hewyt,  rector 
(1724).  In  the  nave  are  tablets  to  P.  J.  Budworth 
(1885)  and  his  son  Major-Gen.  Charles  E.  D.  Bud- 
worth  (1921). 

In    1792    the   rector   opened   a   Sunday  school  in 

Greenstead.    Only  one  child  attended 

SCHOOLS    from   this  parish,  however;   the  others 

came  from  Chipping  Ongar,  and  when 

the  Chipping  Ongar  Sunday  school  was  started  the 


Greenstead  school  was  discontinued. '3  In  1807  there 
was  no  school  in  the  parish,  but  by  181 8  the  Sunday 
school  had  been  reopened  by  the  rector  and  the  lord  of 
the  manor.  Craven  Ord.  It  then  had  22  pupils  and  it 
continued  with  varying  attendances  at  least  until 
1 846-7. '«  In  1828  a  small  day  school  existed, '5  but  by 
1833  it  had  been  closed.'* 

In  1839  the  rector  began  to  collect  subscriptions  for 
a  parish  school."  By  1846-7  this  was  being  attended 
by  some  34  children.  The  mistress  then  received  £30 
a  year.'*  About  this  time  a  new  building  was  erected, 
evidently  by  subscription,  on  a  site  on  the  waste  on 
Greenstead  Green,  presented  by  the  Revd.  Philip 
Budworth,  lord  of  the  manor.  The  rector  exercised  a 
close  supervision  over  it."  It  provided  33  places, 
'abundant  accommodation'  for  the  small  and  declining 
population  of  the  parish.  In  1870  there  were  about 
23  pupils.^"  Between  1878  and  1882  the  school  was 
closed;  the  children  subsequently  attended  the  schools 
at  Chipping  Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers.^' 

The  former  school  house  stands  on  Greenstead 
Green,  beside  Greenstead  House;  it  is  now  known  as 
Ivy  Cottage.  (See  plate  facing  p.  126.) 

No  parish  records  are  known  to  survive  except  the 
registers.  A  few  figures  of  poor 
POOR  RELIEF  relief  are  available  from  Parlia- 
mentary returns  but  these  are  prob- 
ably not  very  reliable.^^  In  1776  expenditure  on  poor 
relief  was  ;^il.^3  For  the  three  years  1783-5  the 
average  annual  expenditure  was  ;{^29.^'»  By  1 800-1  the 
annual  expenditure  had  risen  to  ^^i  50,  but  in  1 802-3  '^ 
was  only  £7^.^^  Figures  of  expenditure  on  poor  relief 
alone  are  missing  for  the  years  1 803-1 1 ;  the  poor  rates, 
which  also  include  administrative  expenses  and  county 
rates,  rose  from  £()i  in  1803-4  to  ,{^255  in  1810-11.^* 
The  cost  of  relief  rose  from  £174  in  1811-12  to  /C486 
in  1819-20."  The  cost  for  1 820-1  was,  however, 
only  Xi4+-'* 

There  was  a  parish  poorhouse  by  1776.^'  In  1841 
there  were  'almshouses'  belonging  to  the  parish,  situated 
at  Greenstead  Green,  opposite  Greenstead  House.^" 
These  had  probably  been  provided  by  the  parish  for 
the  accommodation  of  its  poor:  there  is  no  evidence 
that  they  were  a  privately  endowed  charity.  They  had 
disappeared  by  1873—4.3' 

In  1836  Greenstead  became  part  of  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

For  an  account  of  Petit's  Charity  see  Stanford 
Rivers. 
CHARITIES  Richard  Bourne  of  Greenstead  Hall 
(d.  1660)  left  to  the  poor  of  the  parish 
40;.  issuing  from  Lee  Fields.'-  In  1834  the  money  was 
used  to  buy  coal  for  all  the  poor  householders.  The 
rent-charge  was  not  collected  from  1908  to  1924  but 


*  Inf.  from  present  rector,  Revd.  W.  A. 
Hewett. 

»  E.A.T.t).%.  11,236. 
'  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  265. 

*  Sec  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  pi.  p.  xxxv ; 
p.  112. 

«  E.R.  iii,  135;  xxii,  45. 

'»  See  E.R.  xlvii,  78. 

"  P.  J.  Budworth,  Mems.  of  Green- 
stead- Budivorth. 

"  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  135-6. 

'3  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

'♦  Ibid.;  ifrtnJ.  Educ.  of  Poor,  H.C.  224, 
p.  256  (1819),  ix  (i);  Nat.  Soc.  Reps. 
1 820,  I  828  j  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church 
Schs.  1 846-7,  8-9. 

"  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1828. 


"  Educ.  Enquiry  Abstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  276 
(1835),  xli. 

1'  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/18. 

■8  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry,  1846-7,  8-9. 

'»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1855,  1862). 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  i/i/i ;  Retns.  Elem. 
Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp.  1 12-13  ('^7')'  l^- 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  £jKr  (1878,  1882,  1922). 
The  school  was  sold  in  1 890  for  ,^200 : 
Char.  Com.  files.  The  income  from  this 
sum,  known  as  the  Greenstead  School 
Foundation,  is  used  to  give  book  tokens 
at  Christmas  to  children  recommended  by 
the  headmasters  of  the  Ongar  Primary 
and  Secondary  Schools :  inf.  from  rector. 

22  The  parliamentary  returns  can  often 
be  checked  for  parishes  with  surviving  poor 

62 


law  records;  for  other  places  in  Ongar 
hundred  they  have  been  found  inaccurate. 

»  E.R.O.,  (2/CR  i/i.  "  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/9.  "  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.;  Q/CR  1/12. 

28  Q/CR  1/12.  A  remarkable  drop,  if 
the  figure  is  correct;  but  it  may  be  an 
error. 

2«  Rep.  Sel.  Cttee.  on  Overseers  Retns. 
ijjy,  H.C.  Ser.  i,  vol.  ix,  p.  350. 

3»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  153.  The  almshouses, 
apparently  4  in  number,  were  in  a  terrace. 

3'  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  1 

(1873-4)- 

32  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  228-9  {i835)>  "'''  (')i  Char.  Com. 
files. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


GREENSTEAD 


it  is  now  being  paid  and  is  used  for  the  general  purposes 
of  the  charities. 

Mary  Rayner,  by  will  proved  1873,  left  j^200  for 
the  purchase  of  blankets  and  clothing  to  be  distributed 
to  the  deserving  poor  in  winter.33 

Edward  Sammes,  by  will  proved  1882,  left  to  the 
rector  ^10  and  ;£ioo  duty-free  to  be  invested  respec- 
tively for  the  upkeep  of  his  grave  and  for  the  purchase 
of  tea  and  sugar  to  be  distributed  on  6  January  to 
eighteen  poor  families  in  the  parish-^'*  The  first  bequest 
was  void  by  the  rule  against  perpetuities. 

The  three  charities  of  Bourne,  Rayner,  and  Sammes 


were  united  in  1904  to  form  the  Consolidated  Chari- 
ties.35  Their  income  was  to  be  used  for  the  poor  and 
sick,  primarily  as  gifts  in  kind,  and  in  help  to  hospitals 
&c.,  caring  for  the  sick  of  the  parish.  In  1945  the 
income  was  used  to  give  £1  is.  each  to  the  Ongar 
nurse  and  the  Ongar  Hospital  and  to  give  coal  to  two 
poor  people. 

Howel  J.  J.  Price  (d.  1943)  left  ^100  in  trust  for 
the  repair  of  his  grave  and  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  the 
parish. 36  The  former  purpose  was  void.  In  1950  £1 
was  given  to  the  Greenstead  School  Foundation  and 
£1  to  the  Greenstead  Consolidated  Charities. 


KELVEDON  HATCH 


Kelvedon  Hatch  is  3  miles  south  of  Chipping  Ongar 
and  4  miles  north-west  of  Brentwood,  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Roding.'  It  contains  1,683  acres.  The  soil  is 
mainly  London  Clay  with  some  patches  of  Boulder 
Clay  and  Bagshot  beds.  The  land  slopes  up  from  the 
river  to  a  height  of  about  350  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the 
south-east  and  300  ft.  in  the  north-east.  Two  tribu- 
taries flow  into  the  Roding  in  the  north  of  the  parish 
through  shallow  valleys.  The  parish  was  part  of  the 
ancient  forest  of  Essex  and  the  sufiix  'Hatch'  by  which 
it  is  distinguished  from  Kelvedon  in  Witham  hundred 
probably  refers  to  a  forest  gate.^  Considerable  areas  of 
woodland  still  survive  and  there  are  also  parks  attached 
to  three  big  houses.  The  main  road  from  Ongar  to 
Brentwood  enters  the  parish  in  the  north-west  by 
Langford  Bridge  and  runs  south-east.  In  the  south  of 
Kelvedon  Hatch  it  crosses  a  stretch  of  land  which  was 
formerly  open  common  but  now  largely  inclosed.  The 
boundary  of  the  common  on  the  west  side  followed  a 
line  50  to  100  yds.  back  from  the  present  road.  On  the 
north  it  was  bounded  by  the  road  now  called  School 
Lane  and  on  the  east  it  extended  to  Fox  Hatch  in 
Doddinghurst  parish.  This  accounts  for  the  apparently 
haphazard  arrangement  of  the  older  houses,  which 
bears  little  relation  to  the  modern  road.  There  has 
been  considerable  development  in  this  area  during  the 
past  I  50  years  and  it  now  forms  the  village  centre  of 
the  parish.  From  the  village  roads  also  run  west  to 
Navestock  and  east  to  Blackmore  and  Stondon  Massey. 

There  were  three  ancient  manors  in  Kelvedon  Hatch. 
The  capital  manor  was  centred  on  Kelvedon  Hall,  a 
mile  south-east  of  Langford  Bridge.  The  ancient  parish 
church  was  beside  the  hall  and  the  1 8th-century  build- 
ing which  replaced  it  still  stands  there,  though  disused 
and  ruinous.  In  the  17th  and  i8th  centuries  the  manor 
house  which  dominated  the  little  church  was  owned  by 
Roman  Catholics,  the  Wrights,  who  were  buried  in 
the  parish  church  and  erected  sepulchral  monuments 
there  but  worshipped  secretly  in  the  chapel  which  they 
had  built  in  the  hall  itself  The  other  old  manors  were 
Myles's,  J  mile  north-east  of  Kelvedon  Hall,  and 
Germains,  J  mile  south  of  the  hall.  None  of  the 
medieval  manor  houses  has  survived.  The  present 
Germains  dates  from  the  i6th  century  and  Kelvedon 
Hall  from  the  1 8th,  while  old  Myles's  was  demolished 
in  1837.3  These  three  manor  houses  were  all  in  the 
north  or  centre  of  the  parish,  but  medieval  houses  also 
existed  farther  south  at  Hatch  Farm,  Brizes,  Priors, 


and  Woodlands.''  Priors  is  on  the  main  road  J  mile  east 
of  Germains.  The  other  three  are  in  or  near  the  modern 
village  of  Kelvedon  Hatch.  Only  Woodlands  now 
retains  medieval  features.  It  is  a  timber-framed  house 
about  50  yds.  west  of  the  main  road  and  south  of  the 
Eagle  Inn,  and  probably  dates  from  the  late  15  th 
century.  It  has  been  partly  demolished  so  that  the 
original  construction  is  exposed.  It  consists  of  a  single- 
story  hall  with  smoke-blackened  timbers  and  a  two- 
story  cross-wing  at  the  south  end.  The  latter  is  of  three 
bays,  divided  above  the  first  floor  by  king-post  trusses 
with  two-way  struts.  The  hall  also  has  a  king-post  and 
the  remains  of  what  was  possibly  a  second  truss. 
Chimneys  which  may  have  been  inserted  in  the  i6th 
or  17th  century  have  recently  been  demolished.  In 
the  1 8th  century  the  house  was  weather-boarded  and 
the  older  windows  replaced  by  sashes.  Hatch  Farm, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  former  common,  and  about 
100  yds.  east  of  the  modern  parish  church,  is  a  timber- 
framed  house  probably  dating  from  the  second  half  of 
the  1 6th  century.  The  house  was  originally  L-shaped 
with  the  staircase  in  the  north  wing,  but  there  is  now 
a  later  addition  in  the  angle  between  the  wings.  At  the 
junction  of  the  two  wings  is  part  of  a  large  original 
chimney-stack  with  a  moulded  capping.  The  interior 
retains  a  staircase,  plasterwork,  and  door-frames  of  the 
original  date.  In  the  i8th  century  the  roof  of  the  main 
wing  was  rebuilt  and  two  sides  of  the  house  faced  with 
red  brick.  Sash  windows  and  Georgian  doorways  were 
inserted.  Parts  of  a  moat  are  in  existence  to  the  north 
and  east  of  the  house. 

Priors  is  held  by  local  tradition  to  have  been  rebuilt 
early  in  the  17th  century  by  the  brothers  Richard  and 
Anthony  Luther.'  It  was  originally  a  timber-framed 
structure,  but  the  front  was  refaced  in  red  brick,  prob- 
ably in  the  second  half  of  the  i8th  century.  Brizes  was 
also  rebuilt  in  the  i8th  century.  Morant  (1768)  refers 
to  it  as  'a  good  old  house  .  .  .  built  by  Thomas  Bryce, 
citizen  and  mercer  of  London,  about  1498'.*  This 
earlier  house  had,  however,  been  replaced  before 
Morant's  time  by  the  present  mansion.  The  exact  site 
of  the  previous  house  is  not  known.  In  the  grounds  of 
the  present  house,  about  75  yds.  from  the  road,  is  a 
small  moated  site.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that 
the  island  could  have  accommodated  a  medieval  house 
of  any  size  and  the  moat  itself  may  be  an  ornamental 
feature  of  the  i8th  century. 

The  present  house  was  probably  built  about  1720: 


"  Char.  Com.  files. 

3*  Ibid.  Sammes  was  a  prominent  builder 
and  shoplteepcr  in  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.). 
35  Ibid. 
3'  Ibid.   Price  lived  for  many  years  at 


Greenstead  Hall. 

1  O.S.  2\  in.  Map,  sheets  51/S9,  52/50. 

2  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  59. 
'  See  below,  Manors. 

*  For  the  first  three  of  these  see  P.N. 


Essex,  59. 

s  Inf.  from  Capt.  F.  L.  Fane.   For  the 
Luther  brothers  see  Myles's. 

'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  187. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


this  date  is  said  to  be  on  one  of  the  rainwater  heads7 
At  that  time  the  property  was  owned  by  the  Glascock 
family.'  The  building  is  of  three  stories  and  has  an 
imposing  front  of  nine  bays.  The  centre  projects 
slightly  and  is  surmounted  by  a  pediment.  The  porch, 
which  may  be  a  later  addition,  is  of  the  Roman  Doric 
order  and  is  supported  on  four  columns.  Above  the 
doorway  is  a  round-headed  niche.  The  house  was 
evidently  altered  late  in  the  i8th  century  when  the  in- 
terior was  remodelled.  The  hall  has  a  Venetian  arch  en- 
riched with  plaster  ornament  and  behind  this  is  a  fine 
double  staircase.  The  staircase  window  is  round-headed 
and  fitted  with  painted  glass.  These  alterations  were 
probably  carried  out  for  William  Dolby,  who  succeeded 
his  brother  Charles  as  owner  of  Brizes  in  1781.'  In 
1788  William  Dolby  employed  Richard  Woods,  who 
in  1 77 1  had  carried  out  ornamental  alterations  to  the 
gardens  at  Myles's  (see  below)  to  replan  those  of 
Brizes.  The  plan  made  by  Woods  still  exists.'"  It 
included  'an  alcove  seat  or  temple',  'the  truss  Paladian 
bridge',  plantations  of  oak,  chestnut,  pine,  and  elm 
and  other  features,  covering  74  acres.  Most  of  these 
features  were  adopted." 

By  the  i6th  century  there  were  probably  a  number 
of  other  houses  around  the  common  in  the  south  of  the 
parish.  One  of  these,  Dodd's  Farm  to  the  south  of 
Church  Lane,  is  of  much  the  same  date  as  Hatch  Farm. 
It  is  an  L-shaped  building,  timber-framed  and  plastered. 
There  are  two  large  external  chimneys  of  a  similar  type 
to  those  at  Hatch  Farm,  and  in  this  case  the  short  octa- 
gonal shafts  are  original.  Internally  there  is  said  to  be 
a  fireplace  of  the  1 6th  century.'^ 

Poor's  Cottages,"  which  date  from  the  17th  century, 
were  also  built  at  the  common,  which  suggests  that  by 
that  time  the  common  was  the  most  important  centre 
of  population  in  the  parish.  By  1777  there  were  many 
houses  round  the  common  and  also  a  windmill. ■■»  The 
mill  was  in  use  until  the  First  World  War  but  was 
demolished  about  rgi6  as  it  was  thought  to  be  a  land- 
mark for  Zeppelins. '5  It  was  a  weather-boarded  smock 
mill.  The  mill  house  still  exists,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
main  road  nearly  opposite  the  'Eagle'.  It  is  a  single- 
story  cottage  dating  from  the  mid-i 9th  century.  During 
the  1 8th  century  Kelvedon  Hall,  Myles's,  and  Brizes 
were  all  rebuilt  as  imposing  Georgian  mansions  and 
the  medieval  parish  church  was  also  rebuilt. 

The  building  of  houses  at  the  common  had  been 
facilitated  by  small  inclosures  made  there,  and  no 
doubt  also  by  the  existence  of  common  rights.  The 
inclosures  seem  to  have  been  carried  out  by  purely 
local  arrangement,  through  the  manor  courts.  Examples 
of  such  inclosures  occur  in  the  case  of  Poor's  Cottages 
(see  above)  in  the  17th  century  and  again  in  1786.'* 
By  1838  the  common  was  wholly  in  private  ownership, 
though  perhaps  not  physically  inclosed. '^ 

During  the  19th  century  there  was  further  building 
at  the  common.  The  village  school  and  post-office  were 
both  set  up  there.  When  the  railway  from  London 
through  Brentwood  to  Colchester  and  East  Anglia  was 

7  Inf.  from  Hon.  Simon  Rodney. 

8  The  descent  given  by  Morant,  Essex, 
i,  187,  can  be  supplemented  and  corrected 
from  deeds  in  E.R.O.,  D/DRo  Ti. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/DRo  Ti.  Charles  Dolby, 
who  had  succeeded  his  father  Charles 
Dolby  in  1755,  was  an  ensign  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  East  India  Company. 

>o  E.R.O.,  D/DRo  Pi. 

"  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  lix. 

"  Hist.  Men.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  143. 


built  in  the  1 840's  the  road  between  Ongar  and  Brent- 
wood took  on  a  new  importance  and  this  probably 
increased  the  concentration  at  the  common,  through 
which  the  road  ran.  In  1893  a  new  parish  church  was 
built  in  the  village  and  the  old  church  beside  Kelvedon 
Hall  became  disused.  Other  igth-century  buildings 
were  Mushroom  Hall,  the  Church  House,  and  a  non- 
conformist mission  hall  (now  the  village  hall).' '  Mush- 
room Hall  is  a  single-story  house  in  the  'picturesque' 
style  of  the  early  19th  century.  It  lies  about  100  yds. 
east  of  the  main  road  near  the  mill  house. 

Building  at  the  common  has  continued  in  the  20th 
century.  On  the  east  side  of  the  main  road  opposite 
Brizes  are  two  rows  of  single-story  terrace  houses 
known  as  The  Thorns  and  The  Briars.  These  and 
The  Avenue,  a  similar  block  on  the  road  to  Dodding- 
hurst,  were  built  early  in  the  century.  There  are  ten 
pairs  of  council  houses  on  the  north  side  of  Church 
Lane.  A  red-brick  police  house  was  completed  in  1953. 
Some  new  bungalows  are  now  being  built  to  the  south 
of  School  Lane. 

The  population  of  the  parish  was  297  in  181 1.  It 
rose  steadily  to  502  in  1 851  but  subsequently  declined 
to  361  in  1901."  Since  then  it  has  again  increased,  to 
542  in  1931  and  557  in  1951.^0 

Until  recent  times  communications  between  Kelve- 
don Hatch  and  the  outside  world  were  poor.  In 
particular  there  seems  to  have  been  no  good  road  to 
Brentwood^'  until  the  19th  century.  It  is  now  a  class 
A  road,  although  still  very  narrow  in  places.  In  the 
Ongar  direction  the  present  main  road  was  altered  be- 
tween 1777  and  1800."  This  eliminated  a  right-angle 
turn  to  the  west  of  the  present  road.  Part  of  the  exist- 
ing drive  to  Myles's  follows  the  line  of  the  old  road. 
After  the  opening  of  Brentwood  railway  station  coaches 
running  to  the  station  from  Ongar  passed  through 
Kelvedon  Hatch.  Today  there  is  a  good  bus  service 
to  Brentwood  and  a  choice  of  two  routes  to  Ongar. 

The  most  direct  road  to  Ongar  crosses  the  Roding 
by  Langford  Bridge.  In  1351  it  was  said  that  John 
Pekkebrigge,  lord  of  Kelvedon  Hatch,  and  his  tenants 
in  High  Ongar  were  to  repair  the  bridge. ^3  It  is  not 
clear  who  Pekkebrigge  was  and  what  was  his  manor. 
The  nearest  manor  to  Langford  Bridge  was  Myles's 
and  there  is  no  other  evidence  that  Pekkebrigge  was 
lord  of  this.  He  may,  however,  have  been  a  lessee.  He 
was  probably  identical  with  John  Peghbrigg  (1356) 
whose  park  is  thought  to  have  given  its  name  to  Park 
Wood  in  Kelvedon  Hatch,  which  is  not  far  south  of 
the  bridge.^'t  In  1570  the  owners  of  the  lands  adjoin- 
ing the  bridge,  Mr.  Wood  on  one  side  and  George 
Preston  and  Thomas  .\uger  on  the  other,  were  held  re- 
sponsible for  its  repair. ^5  j^i  1582  the  bridge  was  said  to 
be  in  ruins.  Kelvedon  Hatch  parish  was  to  pay  part  of 
the  cost  of  repair,  but  it  was  not  known  if  Chipping 
Ongar  should  pay  the  other  part.^*  Uncertainty  as  to 
the  responsibility  for  repair  continued  until  about  1673- 
4  when  it  was  said  to  be  a  charge  on  the  county."  In 
1773  the  bridge  was  again  in  need  of  repair.    It  was 


^3  See  Charities,  below. 

'<  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex 
I'jyy,  sheet  xvii. 

>5  Inf.  from  Mr.  J.  P.  Fitch. 

'^  See  Charities. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  197;  cf.  0.5.  6  in. 
Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Hx. 

'8  For  Church  House  see  below,  Church, 
and  for  the  mission  hall  see  Protestant 
Nonconformity. 

■»  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 


'**  Census,  1911-51. 

"  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex 
1777,  sheet  xvii. 

"  Ibid.;E.R.O.,  D/DFaP6. 

"  Public  fforis  in  Med.  La-w  (Selden 
See),  i,  99. 

2<  P.N.  Essex,  59. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  32/17. 

»'  Ibid.  81/25. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/CP3  p.  39,  ii+i  e/SR 
426/33. 


64 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


KELVEDON  HATCH 


proposed  that  it  should  be  rebuilt  in  brick,  but  it  was 
eventually  decided  to  rebuild  in  timber  at  a  cost  of 
;^i 40.28  In  i8jy  Langford  Bridge  was  described  by 
the  county  surveyor  as  a  timber  structure  of  consider- 
able span.  Its  condition  was  then  good.^'  It  was 
restored  in  1878-9  and  about  191 3  was  replaced  by 
the  present  concrete  bridge.^o 

In  1845  an  official  post-office  was  established  at 
Kelvedon  Common.^'  In  1848  the  office  was  at 
William  Nutt's.^^  A  telegraph  office  was  set  up  in  1885 
and  the  telephone  service  in  1923.23 

Piped  water  has  been  supplied  since  1935  by  the 
Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.''*  There  is  no  main 
drainage.35  Kelvedon  Hatch  was  in  the  area  of  the 
original  Romford  Gas  Co.  but  powers  to  supply  the 
parish  were  not  obtained  until  1935.2*  There  is  now  a 
supply  to  part  of  the  parish.^^  There  is  no  electricity 
except  in  a  few  outlying  farms.'* 

Early  in  the  present  century  the  Church  House  was 
used  as  a  Working  Men's  Club  and  coffee  house.39 
In  1953  a  newly  formed  village  hall  committee  bought 
from  the  owner  of  Reed's  Stores  the  building  once  used 
as  a  mission  hall.  The  same  committee  holds  6  acres, 
formerly  part  of  the  charity  lands,  on  the  south  side  of 
School  Lane.  This  has  been  sown  with  grass  for  a  play- 
ing field  and  is  the  intended  site  of  a  new  haU.'*"  A 
branch  of  the  county  library  was  opened  in  l^zS.*' 
A  police  officer  is  stationed  at  Kelvedon  Common.^^ 
The  first  reference  to  a  constable  there  is  in  the  directory 
of  1908." 

The  ownership  of  the  land  in  Kelvedon  Hatch  was 
from  the  i6th  to  the  20th  century  mainly  in  the  hands 
of  two  families,  the  Wrights  of  Kelvedon  Hall  and  the 
Luthers  (and  their  heirs  the  Fanes).  In  1838  John 
Fane  and  J.  F.  Wright  between  them  owned  almost 
1,300  acres,  leaving  less  than  400  acres  for  all  other 
owners.'*^  Two  other  properties  contained  more  than 
50  acres:  Brizes  (76  acres)  and  83  acres  forming  part 
of  the  Waldegrave  estate  (see  Navestock).  Until  the 
death  of  J.  F.  Wright  in  1 868  he  and  his  family  usually 
lived  in  the  parish.  For  long  periods  between  1600  and 
1900  the  Luthers  and  Fanes  were  also  resident  in 
Kelvedon  Hatch,  and  so  were  the  owners  of  Brizes,  the 
third  of  the  big  houses  of  the  parish.  Their  mansions 
with  the  ornamental  gardens  must  have  provided  a 
good  deal  of  employment  during  the  i8th  and  19th 
centuries.  Apart  from  such  domestic  work,  agriculture 
has  been  the  main  occupation  in  the  parish.  In  1838 
it  was  estimated  that  there  was  about  the  same  quantity 
of  arable  land  in  the  parish  as  meadow  and  pasture — 
some  700  acres  in  each  case — while  there  were  193 
acres  woodland.  There  were  some  seven  farms  in  the 
parish,  mostly  small.*'  Other  occupations  have  been 
those  incidental  to  agriculture.  The  existence  of  a 
village  smithy  is  attested  as  far  back  as  1729,  when 
the  effects  of  the  smith,  which  had  been  distrained  upon 


for  arrears  of  rent,  were  bought  by  the  churchwardens 
of  Stanford  Rivers.'**  There  was  still  a  blacksmith  in 
the  parish  in  i9o6.'"  The  mill  at  Kelvedon  Common 
has  been  mentioned  above.  In  1845  the  miller  also 
kept  the  'Eagle' .ts 

Although  Kelvedon  Hatch  had  resident  gentry  in 
the  19th  century  it  is  clear  that  they  did  not  provide 
the  vigorous  leadership  in  parish  affairs  that  might  have 
been  expected.  The  most  important  reason  for  this 
was  that  the  Wrights  were  Roman  Catholics.  Their 
lack  of  interest  in  the  village  school  may  be  inferred 
from  the  early  difficulties  of  the  school  and  from  the 
fact  that  a  compulsory  school  board  had  to  be  estab- 
lished in  order  to  provide  a  permanent  school  building. 

Three  estates  were  listed  under  Kelvedon  Hatch  in 
Domesday  Book.  One  was  held  in  1066 
MANORS  by  Leueva  as  a  manor  and  as  i  hide  and 
45  acres  and  in  1086  by  Ralph  de  Marcy 
of  Hamon  dafifer.'''^  This  estate  may  have  become 
part  of  the  manor  of  Navestock  (q.v.)  held  by  the 
Marcy  family  and  later  formed  part  of  the  manor  of 
Myles's  (see  below).  Another  estate  in  Kelvedon 
Hatch  was  held  in  1066  by  Algar,  a  freeman,  as  \  hide 
and  20  acres  and  in  1086  by  Ivo  nephew  of  Herbert 
as  tenant  of  the  Bishop  of  Bayeux.s"  The  subsequent 
history  of  this  estate  has  not  been  traced.  The  largest 
of  the  three  estates  was  held  in  the  time  of  Edward  the 
Confessor  by  Ailric  as  a  manor  and  as  2  hides.''  This 
estate  was  later  known  as  the  manor  of  KELVEDON 
HATCH  alias  KELVEDON  HALL. 

In  1066  Ailric  'went  to  take  part  in  a  naval  battle' 
against  William  of  Normandy.'^  Probably  he  joined 
the  fleet  asembled  by  King  Harold  off  the  Isle  of  Wight 
during  the  early  summer  of  1066.52  On  his  return 
home  (possibly  in  September  1066)  he  fell  ill  and  then 
gave  his  Kelvedon  Hatch  estate  to  Westminster  Abbey  .5* 
In  1086,  however,  the  Domesday  Commissioners 
reported  that  this  gift  had  not  received  King  William's 
sanction. 55  It  is  not  clear  whether  the  king  ever  con- 
firmed the  gift,  but  it  is  certain  that  the  manor  was  held 
by  Westminster  Abbey  as  tenant  in  chief  until  the  dis- 
solution of  the  abbey  in  1540.5* 

By  1225  the  abbey  had  granted  the  tenancy  in 
demesne  of  the  manor  to  the  Multon  family  of  Egre- 
mont  (Lines.).  In  that  year  Thomas  de  Multon  was 
given  10  does  and  a  buck  for  stocking  his  wood  at 
Kelvedon. 57  In  1232  he  received  licence  to  inclose 
and  impark  the  wood.58  He  died  in  1240  and  his  son 
and  heir  Lambert  in  1246.5'  Lambert  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Thomas  who  supported  Simon  de  Montfort 
in  the  Barons'  Wars.*"  In  1265  the  manor  of  Kelvedon 
Hatch,  then  worth  £10  os.  6d.,  was  taken  into  the 
king's  hands  with  the  rest  of  Thomas's  lands.*'  Soon 
afterwards,  however,  he  recovered  the  property .*2  In 
1277  he  subinfeudated  Kelvedon  Hatch  to  Henry,  son 
of  Thomas  de  Multon  (possibly  his  own  younger  son), 


28  E.R.O.,  Q/SBb  272,  D/DFa  £5. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

3»  Ibid.;  inf.  from  Capt.  F.  L.  Fane. 

31  P.M.G.  Mins.  1845,  vol.  84,  p.  28. 

32  Whitc'i  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

33  P.M.G.  Mins.  1885,  vol.  301,  min. 
14357;  ibid.  1923,  min.  3076. 

3-t  Inf.    from    Herts.    &    Essex    Water- 
works Co. 
35  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  W.  Tirrell. 
3*  Inf  from  North  Thames  Gas  Bd. 
3'  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  W.  Tirrell. 
38  Ibid. 

3^  See  below,  Church. 
«>  Inf.  from  Mr.  J.  P.  Fitch. 


*'  Iiif.  from  County  Librarian. 

«2  Inf.  from  Chief  Constable  of  Essex. 

«  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1908). 

■M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  197. 

45   Ibid. 

■♦<>  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/6/2. 
■•'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1906). 
48  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1845). 
4«  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  503a. 
50  Ibid,  i,  457A. 
5'  Ibid,  i,  44Sa. 

52  Ibid. 

53  Stenton,  Anglo-Saxon  England,  579- 
80. 

54  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  445a. 


55  Ibid.  A  charter  of  1066  (Kemblc, 
Cod.  Dip!,  iv,  173)  purporting  to  be  a  grant 
of  this  among  other  properties  to  West- 
minster Abbey  by  Edward  the  Confessor, 
is  spurious:  E.A.T.  N.s.  xvii,  16. 
^s'  B.M.  Cott.  MS.  Faust.  A.  iii,  f.  60  j 
Westm.  Abbey  Mun.  2^469;  C142/36/ 
71;  C142/55/61. 

5'  Rot.  Liu.  Claus.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  89*. 

58  Cal.  Chart.  R.\,  i;i. 

5»  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  401-2. 

«o  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.;  Cal.  Inq.  Misc.  \,  p.  201. 

'2  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  402. 


^S 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


to  hold  by  a  rent  of  ;^20  a  year.  After  Thomas's  death 
Henry  was  to  hold  the  manor  of  his  heirs  by  a  nominal 
rent.*-'  Thomas  died  in  1294.  His  heir  was  his  grand- 
son Thomas,  Lord  Multon  (d.  1322)  who  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  John,  Lord  Multon  (d.  1334)-*'' 
At  his  death  John  was  mesne  lord  of  an  estate  in 
Kelvedon  Hatch  which  consisted  of  a  messuage  and  a 
carucate  of  land,  and  which  was  held  of  him  by  the 
service  of  J  knight's  fee.*5  John's  heirs  were  his  three 
sisters:  Joan  widow  of  Robert  Fitz  Walter,  Elizabeth 
wife  of  Walter  de  Birmingham,  and  Margaret  wife  of 
Thomas,  later  2nd  Lord  Lucy  (d.  1365).**  It  was 
agreed  that  Joan,  Margaret,  and  Elizabeth  should  each 
hold  J  of  the  J  fee.*'  No  further  reference  has  been 
found  to  the  mesne  lordship  of  the  heirs  of  John  de 
Multon.  In  the  i6th  century  the  tenants  in  demesne 
were  said  to  hold  the  manor  directly  of  Westminster 
Abbey. 6  8 

Henry  de  Multon,  tenant  in  demesne  from  1277, 
was  still  living  in  13 14  but  was  dead  by  January  1322.*' 
His  heir  was  his  daughter  Juliane  wife  of  Richard  de 
Welby.'o  In  1333  Richard  and  Juliane  made  a  settle- 
ment by  which  the  manor  was  to  pass,  after  their  deaths, 
to  their  male  issue  with  successive  remainders  to  their 
daughters,  Elizabeth  de  Welby  and  Joan  wife  of  John 
de  Haugh.7'  Juliane  still  held  the  estate  in  1338.'^ 
Afterwards  the  manor  passed  to  the  heirs  of  her 
daughter  Joan  de  Haugh.  John  de  Haugh,  son  of 
Joan,  was  living  in  1347.73  Thomas  de  Haugh,  son  of 
John,  came  into  possession  of  the  manor  during  the 
life-time  of  his  father.'''  In  February  1370  Thomas 
conveyed  it  to  his  father  and  other  trustees  to  hold, 
apparently  during  the  minority  of  his  own  heir  John.'s 
By  1383  the  last  named  John  de  Haugh  had  reached 
his  majority.'*  He  was  lord  of  the  manor  until  after 
1395."  Before  1406  he  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  de 
Haugh,  probably  his  son.'*  Richard  de  Haugh  was 
lord  of  the  manor  before  the  end  of  I4i7.'9  In 
November  1427  he  conveyed  the  manor  to  trustees 
who  were  to  hold  it  first  apparently  for  John  de 
Haugh,  probably  his  son,  and  then  (presumably  if 
John  had  no  issue)  for  Richard's  daughters,  Joan, 
Katherine,  then  or  later  wife  of  John  BoUes,  and  Agnes, 
then  or  later  wife  of  William  Haltoft.*"  John  de 
Haugh  was  described  as  lord  of  the  manor  in  November 
1450  and  afterwards  until  May  1456."  He  presented 
to  the  church  in  April  1457. ^^  He  was  evidently  dead 
by  1459.83  In  1461  John  Hardbene,  the  sole  surviving 
trustee  appointed  by  Richard  de  Haugh  in  1427,  con- 
veyed the  manor  to  Katherine  Bolles,  Agnes  Haltoft, 
and  Joan  Haugh.  84  In  1466  these  sisters  agreed  that 
Katherine  and  her  husband  John  Bolles  should  have 
sole  rights  in  the  manor,  with  remainder  in  default  of 
her  issue  to  Agnes  and  her  issue.  8s  John  Bolles  was 
alive  in  November  1482  but  dead  by  November 
1495.8*    Katherine  survived  him  and  was  succeeded 


by  her  son  Richard,  who  died  in  1 5  2 1  leaving  as  his 
heir  his  son  John. 8'  In  1526  John  mortgaged  the 
manor  for  £200.88  He  redeemed  the  mortgage  and 
died  holding  the  manor  in  1533.8'  His  heir  was  his 
brother  Richard,  who  in  1538  sold  the  manor  to  John 
Wright  of  South  Weald,  yeoman,  for  £493.'° 

The  descendants  of  John  Wright  held  Kelvedon 
Hatch  for  nearly  four  centuries.  There  were  ten  suc- 
cessive John  Wrights."  The  last  of  these  died  in  1826 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson  John  Francis 
Wright,  who  died  without  issue  in  1868.  The  manor 
then  passed  to  J.  F.  Wright's  nephew,  Edward 
Carrington  Wright,  who  died  in  1920,  leaving  it  to 
his  own  nephew  Sir  Henry  J.  Lawson.'^  From  1891 
Kelvedon  Hall  had  been  occupied  by  John  Algernon 
Jones  as  tenant  and  in  1922  it  was  bought  by  his  widow 
from  Sir  Henry  Lawson.  After  her  death  it  was  sold 
in  1932  by  her  son  J.  W.  B.  Jones  to  the  Mother 
Superior  of  St.  Michael's  Roman  Catholic  School. 
Mr.  Jones  bought  and  moved  to  the  old  rectory  (see 
Church). '3  Owing  to  a  succession  of  misfortunes  the 
school  did  not  prosper  and  the  house  acquired  the 
reputation  of  being  haunted.'*  Much  of  the  timber 
in  the  grounds  was  felled  at  this  time. '5  In  1937  the 
property  was  bought  by  Mr.  Henry  and  Lady  Honor 
Channon  who  restored  the  house  and  built  the  entrance 
gateway  and  lodges.'*  From  1941  to  1945  it  was  used 
as  a  Red  Cross  convalescent  home."  It  is  now  again 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Channon. 

In  1838  J.  F.  Wright  owned  880  acres  in  Kelvedon 
Hatch;  the  estate  appears  to  have  remained  sub- 
stantially intact  until  after  the  death  of  Sir  Henry 
Lawson. '8 

The  manor  house  was  entirely  rebuilt  by  the  seventh 
John  Wright  (d.  175 1)."  Later  in  the  i8th  century 
the  garden  front  and  parts  of  the  interior  were  altered, 
but  otherwise  the  building  has  remained  almost  un- 
changed. The  house  as  it  stands  today  remains  a  very 
good  example  of  one  of  the  less  grandiose  country  seats 
of  the  Georgian  period.  The  restoration  of  1937—8 
was  carried  out  to  the  designs  of  Lord  Gerald  Wellesley 
(later  Duke  of  Wellington)  and  Trenwith  Wills'  and 
in  sympathy  with  the  original. 

The  entrance  front  has  a  three-story  central  block 
with  seven  windows  to  each  of  the  upper  floors.  On 
either  side  curved  screen  walls  connect  this  with 
identical  two-story  pavilions.  These  are  set  forward, 
giving  a  three-sided  forecourt.  The  pavilions  have 
hipped  roofs,  surmounted  by  clock  turrets  and  cupolas. 
On  their  front  face  two  round-headed  panels  are  painted 
to  simulate  sash  windows.  Above  oval  panels  are 
similarly  painted.  The  basement  windows  have 
wrought-iron  grilles  and  the  principal  doorway  has  a 
Roman  Doric  order  with  engaged  columns  and  a  pedi- 
ment. The  rainwater  heads  on  this  front  are  dated 
1743.  The  garden  front  of  the  main  block  is  of  similar 


*3  feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  14. 

*<  Complete  Peerage,  n,  403-4. 

'5  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  431. 

*'  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  405. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  pp.  435-7;  ibid. 
viii,pp.  i^i-z;  Cal.  Close,  1337-9,366-7, 
476,  486,  494. 

68  Ci42/36/7i;Ci42/55/6i. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T33/14;  Cal.  Fine 
R.  1319-27,89. 

'"  Cal.  Fine  R.  1319-27,  89. 

"  Feetof  F.Essex,  ill,  z&. 

'2  Cal.  Close,  1337-9,  366-7,  476,  486, 

+94- 
'3  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  28 ;  Lines.  Pedi- 


grees (Harl.  Soc.  Iii),  iii,  1055. 
7*  E.R.O.,  D/DKT229. 
'5  Ibid. 

76  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  351. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DC  2/1. 
'8  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  351. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DBm  M77. 
8"  E.R.O.,  D/DK.  T229. 
8'  E.R.O.,  D/DBm  M77. 

82  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  351. 

83  E.R.O.,  D/DKT229. 

84  Ibid.  85    Ibid. 

8*  E.R.O.,  D/DBm  M78. 

87  C142/36/71 ;  E.R.O.,  D/DK  T229. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/DKT229. 

66 


8'    C142/55/61. 

»o  E.R.O.,  D/DK  T229. 
"  For   the   pedigree  see   Burke,  Land. 
Gent.  (1894),  2275-6. 

92  Country  Life,  Ixxxix,  no.  23 1 1  (May 
1941),  p.  388. 

93  Inf.  from  Mr.  Jones. 

'4  Country  Life  (May  1941),  p.  386. 
95  Inf.  from  Mr.  Jones. 
9*  Country  Life  (May  1941),  p.  386. 
"  Inf.  from  Mr.  Jones. 

98  E.R.O.,    D/CT     197;    Kelly's    Dir. 
Essex  (1922). 

99  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  56. 

'  Country  Life  (May  1941),  p.  389. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


KELVEDON  HATCH 


proportions  but  the  central  bay  projects  slightly  and 
is  surmounted  by  a  pediment.  The  porch,  which  is 
supported  on  columns  with  fluted  capitals,  has  an  en- 
riched entablature  of  about  1780.  The  single-story 
flanking  wings  were  probably  added  or  modified  at  the 
same  period;  the  north  wing  contained  the  kitchens 
and  the  south  wing  a  private  Roman  Catholic  chapel 
dedicated  to  St.  Joseph.* 

Internally  the  best  examples  of  the  original  mid- 
i8th-century  rococo  decoration  occur  in  the  entrance 
and  staircase  halls  and  in  one  of  the  bedrooms.  The 
staircase  has  a  balustrade  of  wrought-iron  scrollwork 
and  the  walls  have  elaborate  plasterwork  panels  in 
which  are  trophies  representing  War,  Music,  and  the 
Chase.  The  drawing-room,  dining-room,  and  music 
room  were  all  redecorated  in  the  'Adam'  style  of  about 
1780.  The  drawing-room  has  an  enriched  ceiling  and 
the  dining-room  a  circular  medallion  above  the 
chimney-piece.  Both  rooms  have  good  fire-places.  The 
former  chapel  is  of  about  the  same  period:  on  the 
curved  end  wall  is  an  arched  recess  for  the  altar, 
flanked  by  Ionic  columns  and  having  a  dove  in  plaster 
relief  above  it.  The  side  walls  are  divided  into  panels 
by  Ionic  pilasters  and  the  segmental  ceiling  has  plaster 
enrichments.  The  chapel  was  restored  by  Sir  John 
Oakley  during  the  occupation  of  the  Hall  by  St. 
Michael's  School. ^  The  red-brick  stable  block  and  the 
orangery  probably  date  from  the  late  i8th  century. 

The  manor  of  GERMAINS  derived  its  name  from 
a  family  which  probably  held  it  in  the  14th  and  15  th 
centuries.  It  is  possibly  to  be  identified  with  the  estate 
which  in  1281  was  held  of  Denise  de  Munchensy  by 
Thomas  son  of  Lambert  de  Multon,  lord  of  the  manor 
of  Kelvedon  Hatch.''  If  this  identification  is  correct  it 
suggests  there  was  a  connexion,  in  1086  or  later,  be- 
tween Germains  and  the  manor  of  Theydon  Garnon 
(q.V.). 

In  the  15th  century  Germains  was  held  of  the 
manor  of  Kelvedon  Hatch.'  It  is  not  clear  when  the 
Germain  family  became  the  tenants.  A  Roger  Germain 
was  a  witness  to  a  deed  of  1355  relating  to  land  in 
Kelvedon  Hatch  and  other  parishes.*  In  1 368  a  William 
Germain  was  witness  at  a  proof  of  age  taken  at  Nave- 
stock.  He  then  had  a  son  and  heir  Gilljert.'  In  1398 
another  William  Germain  of  Kelvedon  Hatch  had 
royal  letters  of  protection  when  going  on  service  to 
France;  the  letters  were  revoked  because  he  failed  to 
go.*  In  142 1-2  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners 
appointed  to  collect  a  tenth  and  fifteenth  in  Essex.'  It 
was  possibly  this  WiUiam  Germain  who  before  145^ 
made  a  bequest  to  Navestock  church  (q.v.). 

In  1444  Henry  Chaderton  died  holding  the  manor 
of  Germains  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Henry.'" 
The  manor  subsequently  passed  to  Sir  Humphrey 
Starkey,  lord  of  Slades  in  Navestock  (q.v.).  He  died  in 
i486  and  Germains  then  descended  along  with  Slades 
until  1604.  In  1604  Sir  Thomas  Joscelin  sold  Ger- 
mains to  John  Wright,  lord  of  Kelvedon  Hatch,  and 
it  subsequently  descended  with  that  manor."  In  1838 
Germain's  Farm  consisted  of  242  acres  and  the  tenant 


was  John  Thomas.'*    It  now  belongs  to  the  Iveagh 
trustees.'^ 

The  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and  plastered  and 
probably xlates  from  the  early  i6th  century.  It  consists 
of  a  central  block  with  gabled  cross-wings  to  east  and 
west.  The  wings  are  of  two  stories  and  each  has  three 
bays.  On  both  floors  the  stop-chamfered  tie-beams 
dividing  the  bays  are  visible  and  in  several  cases  the 
small  curved  braces  below  them  are  also  in  position.  A 
four-centred  door-head  has  been  exposed  in  an  upper 
room  in  the  west  wing.  The  timbering  is  not  visible  in 
the  central  block  so  that  it  is  not  possible  to  establish 
whether  this  part  of  the  house  has  an  earlier  origin  than 
the  i6th  century.  There  are  indications  that  two  large 
Tudor  fire-places  have  been  bricked  up.  The  doorways 
and  sash  windows  of  the  house  were  probably  inserted 
in  the  i8th  century. 

The  manor  oiMTLES'S  alias  GREAT  MTLES'S 
derived  its  name  from  Miles  de  Munteny  (see  below). 
In  the  1 6th  century  it  was  said  to  be  held  of  the  Dean 
and  Chapter  of  St.  Paul's,  and  later  of  the  Walde- 
graves,  as  of  their  manor  of  Navestock.'^  No  earlier 
statement  of  this  tenure  has  been  found  and  the  16th- 
century  statements  cannot  be  regarded  as  certain 
evidence  of  earlier  tenure,  but  it  is  possible  that  Myles's 
was  identical  with  an  estate  in  Navestock  and  Kelvedon 
Hatch  held  in  the  12th  and  early  13th  century  by  the 
Marcy  family.  Before  1 1 20  the  Marcys  agreed  to  pay 
rent  for  their  Navestock  estate  (q.v.)  to  the  Dean  and 
Chapter  of  St.  Paul's,  and  they  still  held  that  estate  of 
St.  Paul's  in  1222.  The  estate  which  Ralph  de  Marcy 
held  in  Kelvedon  Hatch  (see  above)  in  1086  probably 
came  to  be  considered  part  of  the  Navestock  estate  in 
the  1 2th  century,  and  later  of  Myles's. 

In  the  1 3th  century  the  manor  was  held  by  Nicholas 
le  Convers.'s  He  conveyed  it  to  Roger  le  Convers  who 
no  doubt  added  to  it  85  acres  which  he  acquired  in 
1 261  from  Henry  Belret.'*  The  manor  later  passed  to 
Roger  son  of  Roger  le  Convers  who  in  1 3 1 8  released 
his  rights  in  it  to  Miles  de  Munteny  and  his  wife 
Agnes."  Miles  was  still  alive  in  1336.'*  In  1355  the 
estate  was  granted  by  John  Munteny  to  Richard  de 
Salyng  of  London."  The  Muntenys  seem,  however, 
to  have  retained  some  interest,  for  in  1378  Thomas  de 
Munteny  released  all  his  rights  in  the  estate  to  Richard 
de  Salyng.*"  Richard  was  still  alive  in  1398.*' 

In  141 2  Myles's  was  held  by  Edmund  Prior  of  Bois 
Hall  in  Navestock  (q.v.)  and  it  descended  with  that 
manor  until  1 566. 

In  1566  Myles's  was  bought  by  Thomas  Luther 
who  was  still  alive  in  1585.**  Richard  Luther  was  son 
and  heir  of  Thomas.*^  From  about  1 587  to  1627,  how- 
ever, the  manor  was  apparently  shared  between 
Richard  and  his  brother  Anthony  Luther.*''  Accord- 
ing to  an  epitaph  quoted  by  Morant,  Richard  and 
Anthony  were  'so  truely  loveing  brothers  that  they  lived  • 
neare  fortie  years  joynt  housekeepers  together  at  Miles 
without  anie  accompt  between  them'.*'  Anthony  died 
in  1627  leaving  his  share  of  the  estate  to  Richard.** 
Richard  died  in    1638  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son 


*  For    the    chapel   see   below,   Roman 
Catholicism. 

3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (ig-^-j). 

'♦  Feet  of  F,  Essex,  ii,  32. 

5  C139/120. 

'  Cal.  Close,  1354-60,  623. 

'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  xii,  165. 

'  Cal.  Fat.  1396-9,  430. 

«  Cal.    Fine    R.    1413-22, 
1422-30,  8. 


4' 


8;    ibid. 


'"  C139/120. 

I"  E.A.S.  Docs.  Kelvedon  Hatch  13. 

12  E.R.O.,  D/CT  197. 

'3  Inf.  from  the  tenant,  Mr.  Cooke. 

■«  C142/20/98;  C142/134/141. 

I!  Cal.  Close,  1313-18,  597. 

«■  Ibid. ;  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \,  255. 

'^  Cal.  Close,  1 313-18,  597. 

■8  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T33/31. 

'9  Cal.  Close,   1354-60,  623.    For  the 

67 


Muntenys  and  Salyngs  see  Littlebury  in 
Stanford  Rivers. 

2»  Cal.  Close,  1377-81,  321. 

2'  Cal  Fine  R.  1391-9,258. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E43/9. 

"  Ibid.;  risit.  of  Essex  1664-8,  63. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  no;  E.R.O.,  D/DFi 
E43/9. 

25  Morant,  Essex^  i,  i86. 

26  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  no. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Anthony,  a  barrister  of  the  Middle  Temple  and  J. P. 
for  Essex.^'  Anthony  was  succeeded  on  his  death  in 
1665  by  his  son  Richard.^*  Richard  died  before  1691, 
leaving  Myles's  to  his  son  and  heir  Edward  Luther, 
who  was  Sheriff  of  Essex  in  1701.29  In  1729  Edward 
settled  the  manor  on  his  son  Richard  when  the  latter 
married  Charlotte  Chamberlain.  The  estate  then  con- 
sisted of  250  acres  in  Kelvedon  Hatch,  Stondon 
Massey,  and  High  Ongar.'"  Through  his  mother 
Richard  also  inherited  the  considerable  property  of  the 
Dawtreys  of  Doddinghurst  Place.  He  died  in  1767.3' 
His  son  and  heir  was  John  Luther,  knight  of  the  shire 
for  Essex  1763-84,  who  died  without  issue  in  1786. 
Myles's  then  passed  to  Francis  Fane,  younger  son  of 
Charlotte,  sister  of  John  Luther  and  wife  of  Henry 
Fane  of  Wormsley  (Oxon.).^^  F'rancis  died  in  18 13, 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  elder  brother  John.33  Myles's 
subsequently  descended  in  the  Fane  family .34  In  1838 
the  estate  comprised  417  acres  in  Kelvedon  Hatch  of 
which  some  200  acres  belonged  to  Little  Myles's 
Farm  in  Stondon  Massey,  32  acres  to  Great  Myles's, 
93  acres  to  Clap  Gates,  and  3 1  acres  to  Priors  Farm. '5 
In  1 849  the  Stondon  Massey  part  of  the  Fane  estate 
comprised  128  acres,  of  which  52  acres  belonged  to 
Little  Myles's  and  76  acres  to  Clap  Gates  Farm.^*  The 
mansion  house  of  Myles's  had  by  this  time  been 
demolished  (see  below).  Its  site  was  sold  in  1943  by 
John  Luther  Fane  to  the  present  owner,  Mr.  Parrish.s' 

A  diagrammatic  sketch  of  an  early  house  at  Great 
Myles's  appears  on  an  estate  map  of  about  1700.3*  It 
shows  a  long  red  brick  front  of  two  stories  with  dormers 
in  the  roof  and  projecting  wings  at  either  end.  Shell 
hoods  are  drawn  above  the  doorways  and  the  windows 
have  lattice  panes.  It  was  probably  built  during  the 
second  half  of  the  17th  century. 

Before  he  gave  up  the  estate  to  his  son  in  1762 
Richard  Luther  is  said  to  have  'much  enlarged  and 
beautified  the  house'. 3'  The  result  was  the  imposing 
Georgian  mansion  which  occupied  the  site  until  its 
demolition  in  the  19th  century.  A  sale  notice  of  about 
1830  shows  two  many-windowed  fronts  facing  south- 
west and  south-east.'"'  The  tradition  that  there  was  a 
window  for  each  day  of  the  year'"  is  probably  an 
exaggeration,  but  there  were  at  least  16  rooms  on  the 
bedroom  floor  with  garrets  above  for  the  domestic 
stafF.42  Jn  1 770-1  a  tributary  of  the  Roding  was 
dammed  to  form  a  long  expanse  of  water  in  front  of 
the  house.  The  cost  was  ^(^600  and  the  graceful  brick 
bridge  which  still  spans  the  lake  was  built  for  an  addi- 
tional ^^250.43  These  improvements  were  designed  for 
John  Luther  by  Richard  Woods,  who  later  replanned 
the  gardens  at  Brizes  (see  above,  p.  64).  After  John 
Luther's  death  in  1786  the  house  was  let  furnished  to 
Francis  Ford  and  later  to  a  Dr.  Chandler.''^  Attempts 
to  sell  it  early  in  the  19th  century  were  apparently  un- 


successful and  in  1837  it  was  demolished  at  the  wish 
of  John  Fane's  widow.^s  A  small  red-brick  range, 
probably  part  of  a  service  wing,  remains  standing  and 
has  been  converted  into  a  residence.  The  fine  stable 
block,  advertised  about  1830  as  capable  of  accom- 
modating 22  horses,**  is  also  in  existence. 

The  advowson  of  Kelvedon  Hatch  descended  with 
the  manor  until  the  19th  century.  John 
CHURCH  Wright  presented  to  the  rectory  in  160J.*'' 
His  successors  as  lords  of  the  manor  were 
Roman  Catholics.  As  such  they  were  disqualified  by 
law  from  presenting,  and  their  rights  of  patronage 
vested  in  the  Chancellor  of  Cambridge  University.** 
It  is  not  clear  how  far  the  law  was  observed  in  this  case. 
There  was  at  least  one  presentation  (1760)  by  the 
Chancellor  of  Cambridge.  Other  presentations  in  the 
17th  and  1 8th  centuries  were  made  by  various  persons 
who  had  perhaps  bought  the  right  pro  hac  vice.^'>  By 
1848  the  advowson  was  held  by  W.  H.  Ashpitel.s" 
Owing  to  the  long  incumbency  of  the  then  rector, 
John  Bannister  (1833-70)  he  did  not  live  to  exercise 
it.  It  passed  to  his  son  and  was  sold  in  1864  to  E. 
Slocock.51  From  him  it  descended  to  his  son  the  Revd. 
Samuel  Slocock  who  presented  himself  in  1870  and 
remained  rector  until  1889.'^  The  advowson  was  then 
sold  to  E.  W.  Puxon  of  Croydon  (Surr.).53  After  his 
death  in  1 896  it  remained  in  the  hands  of  his  trustees 
for  some  years. ^^  He  had  presented  his  son-in-law, 
D.  W.  Peregrine,  in  1889,^^  and  the  advowson  had  by 
1912  come  to  Mrs.  C.  M.  Peregrine. ^^  She  gave  it  in 
1928  to  the  Revd.  William  Tirrell  who  has  been  rector 
and  patron  ever  since. ^' 

The  rectory  of  Kelvedon  Hatch  was  valued  at  6 
marks  in  about  1254.  It  was  then  stated  that  the  rector 
of  the  church  of  (Magdalen)  Laver  received  part  of 
the  tithe  from  the  demesne  of  Gilbert  de  Breaute  and 
Ralph  de  Asevile.ss  The  value  of  the  rectory  was 
stated  to  be  10  marks  in  1291  and  j^i2  in  1535.5"  In 
1838  the  tithes  were  commuted  for  ;£438;  there  were 
then  28  acres  of  glebe.*" 

A  terrier  of  16 10  mentions  a  rectory  house  of  two 
stories,  part  newly  built,  'with  several  rooms  in  it  both 
above  and  below'.*'  The  north  end  of  the  old  rectory 
(now  Kelvedon  Grange),  consisting  of  a  gabled  cross- 
wing  and  part  of  the  central  block,  may  well  be  the 
'newly  built  house'  referred  to  in  the  terrier.  There  is 
a  massive  stop-chamfered  beam  in  the  present  kitchen 
and  the  principal  chimney  has  grouped  diagonal  shafts. 
Early  in  the  i8th  century  the  south  end  of  the  central 
block  was  rebuilt  and  the  roof  level  raised.  The  ground- 
floor  hall  retains  sash  windows  of  this  date  with  wide 
glazing  bars.  Further  alterations  were  probably  made 
about  1800.  During  the  incumbency  of  the  Revd. 
D.  W.  Peregrine  at  the  end  of  the  19th  century  the 
house  was  enlarged  and  altered  at  a  cost  of  about 


"  C142/724/1S. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E43/9;  ibid.  Q/RTh 

5- 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E43/9;  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  545. 

3»  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E4.2/2,  D/DFa  F6. 

3'  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  '^Si  Gents. 
Mag.  xxxviii,  47. 

31  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685-717;  D/DFa 
E45/22-23;  Burlte,  Land.  Gct/.  (1871), 
i,  417.  Henry  was  a  younger  brother  of 
Thomas,  Earl  of  Westmorland. 

33  E.R.O.,    D/DFa    E45/22,    23,    26; 

C/RPl7'7-'8- 
3«  Burke,  Land.  Gent.  (1855),  366. 
3S  E.R.O.,  D/CT  197. 


36  E.R.O.,  D/CT  337. 

37  Inf.  from  Capt.  F.  L.  Fane. 
'8  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  Pi. 

39  Morant,  Hist.  Essex,  i,  187. 
4°  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E33. 
♦'  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  111-12. 
«  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E43/1. 
«  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E43/32. 

44  Ibid.  E43/1,  5. 

45  Inf.  from  Capt.  F.  L.  Fane  of  Priors. 
4'  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E33. 

47  Newcourt,  Repert,  ii,  351—2. 

48  Popish  Recusants  Act    3  &  4  Jas.  I, 
C.5  {1606). 

49  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  352;  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  187. 

68 


so  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  420. 
5'  Clergy  List  (iMe,),  119. 

52  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870);  Crockford's 
Cler.Dir.  1870-89. 

53  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890). 

54  Ibid.  1899,  1906. 

ii  Ibid.  1890;  inf.  from  Mr.  J.  W.  B. 
Jones. 

56  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (19 12). 

57  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  Wm.  Tirrell. 

58  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  18. 

59  Tax.   Eccl.   (Rec.   Com.),  zii;  Val. 
Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  43  7*. 

<">  E.R.O.,  D/CT  197. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  351. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


KELVEDON  HATCH 


jr4,ooo.*2  The  cost  was  borne  by  E.  W.  Puxon, 
father-in-law  of  the  rector,  and  by  his  widow.63  A 
new  wing  was  added  at  the  south  end  and  several 
smaller  additions  were  made  on  the  garden  side. 
Mullioned  and  transomed  windows  were  inserted  and 
the  older  house  was  encased  with  ornamental  timber- 
ing. Much  of  the  interior  detail  is  of  the  same  date. 
In  193 1  the  present  rector  moved  to  a  new  rectory  and 
the  old  house  became  the  property  of  Mr.  J.  W.  B. 
Jones. 

The  present  rectory  was  built  in  193 1  immediately 
to  the  west  of  the  modern  parish  church.  It  is  of  dark 
red  brick.  The  builders  were  Messrs.  Trigg  &  Moore 
of  Chelmsford.*" 

The  former  parish  church  of  ST.  NICHOLAS 
stands  in  the  grounds  of  Kelvedon  Hall.  There  was  a 
medieval  church  on  this  site,  but  a  complete  rebuilding 
took  place  between  1750  and  1753.^5  The  font  and  a 
1 5th-century  bell  were  preserved  from  the  old  church 
and  many  of  the  floor  slabs  appear  to  have  been  left ;'» 
situ.  Four  bells  were  sold  to  help  defray  the  cost  of  re- 
building.** In  1873  the  church  was  restored  at  a  cost 
of  ;^38o,*'  but  twenty  years  later  it  was  decided  to  build 
another  church  on  a  more  convenient  site  near  the 
centre  of  the  parish.  The  new  building,  to  which 
many  of  the  fittings  had  been  removed,  was  con- 
secrated in  1895.*^  The  old  church,  dismantled  and 
derelict,  became  overgrown  with  creeper  and  was 
further  damaged  by  a  German  rocket  bomb  in  1945.*' 

The  building  is  of  red  brick,  plastered  internally, 
and  had  a  tiled  roof,  much  of  which  has  fallen  down. 
It  consists  of  nave  and  chancel  with  a  small  weather- 
boarded  bell  turret  at  the  west  end.  Both  Morant 
(1768)  and  Wright  (1835)  mention  a  south  aisle,  but 
it  is  probable  that  their  information  is  out  of  date  and 
that  they  are  referring  to  the  medieval  church.'"  The 
chancel  arch  is  slightly  pointed  and  the  glazing  of  the 
windows  has  a  gothic  flavour,  but  in  other  respects  the 
details  are  purely  Georgian.  At  the  east  end  is  a  three- 
light  Venetian  window,  the  other  windows  being 
round-headed  or  circular.  The  flat  ceiling  has  a 
modillion  cornice.  Classical  pilasters,  formerly  at  one 
of  the  south  entrances,"  are  now  missing. 

Some  floor  slabs  remain,  many  from  the  medieval 
church.  A  slab  having  indents  for  a  figure  and  for  four 
shields  of  arms  has  no  inscription  but  probably  dates 
from  the  15th  century.'^  An  indented  slab  which 
formerly  held  brasses  of  a  kneeling  man  and  woman 
has  an  inscription  to  Francis  [sic]  Wright,  formerly 
Waldegrave  (d.  1656).  The  inscription  was  probably 
cut  at  this  date  on  an  older  slab:  the  woman's  figure, 
of  which  a  drawing  remains,  is  shown  in  the  dress  of 
about  1 570.73  An  epitaph  mentioned  by  Morant''' 
to  John  Wright  (15  51)  has  now  disappeared.  An 
inscribed  brass  to  another  John  Wright  (1608)  recorded 
in  1920's  is  also  missing.  Other  slabs  to  the  Wrights 
of  Kelvedon  Hall  include  those  of  Ann  (Suliard,  16 17) 
and  two  John  Wrights  (1654  and  1656).  There  are 
many  17th-century  slabs  to  members  of  the  Luther 
family,  some  with  shields  of  arms.  An  inscribed  brass 
plate  to  Richard  Luther  (who  died  1638)'*  and  his 


I 


"  Inf.  from  Mr.  J.  W.B.Jones.    "  Ibid. 

«♦  Inf.  from  Rev.  Wm.  Tirrell. 

"  Essex  Par.  Recs.  139;  a  brief  for 
^1,681  was  applied  for  in  1750—1:  E.R. 
xxvi,  199.    See  plate  facing  p.  270. 

'«  Inf.  from  Revd.  Wm.  Tirrell. 

<•^  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 

"  E.R.  V,  7. 

"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  142;  inf. 


from  Revd.  Wm.  Tirrell. 

7°  Morant,    Hist.    Essex, 
Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  4.23. 

"  E.R.  xii,  17+. 

'2  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  1+2. 

'3  E.A.T.  N.s.  X,  206. 

'■•  Morant,  Essex,  i,  i8y. 

'5  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  il,  142. 

''  See  Germains,  above. 


brother  Anthony  is  undated.  Other  slabs  are  to  Robert 
Thurkettle  (1679)  and  his  wife  and  to  Elizabeth  Purca 
(1727)  and  Mrs.  Ann  Westwood  (1742). 

No  wall  monuments  survive  from  the  medieval 
church.  In  the  chancel  is  a  handsome  marble  tablet 
to  John  Wright  (175 1)  who  rebuilt  Kelvedon  Hall. 
There  is  also  a  tablet  to  his  son-in-law,  Marrock 
Strickland.  A  white  marble  cartouche  shield  in  the 
nave  commemorates  Charles  Dolby  of  Brizes  (1755) 
and  a  gothic  tablet,  now  fallen,  is  to  William  Dolby 
(1819).  On  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  are  marble 
tablets  to  John  Luther,  M. P.  (1786),  and  Rebecca  and 
Amy  Luther  (1780  and  1782).  A  painted  board  giving 
a  list  of  the  parish  charities  hangs  in  the  nave.  Among 
the  many  headstones  in  the  churchyard  is  one  carved 
with  an  hour-glass,  skull,  and  crossbones,  inscribed  to 
Jonathan  Wingrue  (1704)." 

The- present  parish  church,  also  dedicated  to  St. 
Nicholas,  was  built  in  1895  at  a  cost  of  £2,000.'* 
The  site  had  previously  been  acquired  for  burials." 
Funds  were  raised  by  appeals  and  subscriptions  and 
John  Thomas  Newman,  F.R.I.B.A.,  of  Kelvedon  Hatch 
gave  his  services  as  architect,  ^o  The  building  is  of  red 
brick,  left  exposed  internally,  and  consists  of  chancel, 
nave,  organ  chamber,  vestry,  and  south  porch.  Above 
the  porch  is  a  small  bell  tower  with  a  louvred  belfry 
and  a  shingled  spire.  The  church  was  thoroughly 
restored  in  1927  when  the  roof  was  partially  renewed 
and  the  pipe  organ,  which  had  been  damaged  by  rain, 
was  taken  away.*' 

The  font,  removed  from  the  earlier  church,  is  octa- 
gonal and  probably  of  the  15th  century.  On  one  face 
is  carved  a  mitre  and  on  the  adjoining  faces  are 
children's  heads.  The  position  of  the  carvings  suggests 
that  the  font  has  been  wrongly  orientated.  The  seat- 
ing, much  of  which  came  from  the  old  church,  is  of  the 
19th  century. 

The  single  bell,  which  also  came  from  the  old  church, 
was  cast  about  1460—80  and  was  probably  by  John 
Kebyll;  it  is  inscribed  'Sancte  Andree  Ora  Pro  Nobis' 
and  has  a  shield  of  arms. *^  The  church  plate  consists 
of  a  silver  cup  and  paten  of  1674,  with  the  arms  of  the 
Luther  family  and  probably  given  by  them.  There  is 
also  a  silvered  copper  paten,  undated  but  fairly  modern. 
At  one  time  there  was  an  electro-plated  flagon,  also 
modern,  but  this  has  been  missing  since  at  least  1926.83 

The  former  Church  Room,  previously  the  non- 
conformist mission  hall  and  now  the  village  hall,  was 
bought  by  the  rector,  D.  W.  Peregrine,*'*  who  sold  it  in 
1905  to  certain  parishioners  who  in  191 2  made  it  over 
to  the  then  rector,  W.  S.  Mavor.  The  consideration  of 
j^ioo  was  to  be  repaid  and  then  the  house  would  be 
handed  over  to  the  church.  By  1930,  however,  the 
money  was  only  partly  repaid  and  the  building  was  in 
disrepair.  It  was  therefore  sold  for  £1 1  5  and  after  the 
repayment  of  Dr.  Mavor  the  balance  was  devoted  to 
church  work.''  The  former  Church  House,  now 
Reed's  Stores,  was  built  late  in  the  19th  century. 
Early  in  the  present  century  the  house  was  used  as  a 
Working  Men's  Club  and  coffee  house.**  From  1906 
to  1909  the  curate  hved  there." 

"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  142. 
87;    T.  ■>»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (^i<)Z<)). 

"  Inf.  from  rector.  »<>  Ibid. 

8'  Ibid.  *'  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  309. 

"  Ck.  Plate  Essex,  136;  inf.  from  rector. 
«♦  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  W.  Tirrell. 
»5  Char.  Com.  Recs. 
'8  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {liq^  1896, 1906). 
»'  Inf.  from  Revd.  W.  Tirrell. 


69 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


In  1 854  J.  F.  Wright  of  Kelvedon  Hall  wrote  to  Dr. 

Tavarez,  the  Roman  Catholic 

ROMAN  priest  at  Brentwood,  in  reply  to 

CATHOLICISM  a  request  to  furnish  informa- 
tion concerning  the  history  of 
Roman  Catholic  worship  in  the  Kelvedon  Hatch  area. 
'At  Kelvedon  Hall,  where  my  family  have  resided  for 
upwards  of  300  years  I  have  little  doubt  (though  I  have 
no  positive  proof  of  the  fact)  that  a  priest  was  maintained 
during  the  greater  part  of  that  time,  though  possibly 
only  at  intervals  during  times  of  persecution.  The 
inscription  on  the  ciborium  belonging  to  Kelvedon 
Hall  chapel  (Ora  pro  Eugenia  Wright  17 10)  is  pretty 
good  proof  of  there  having  been  a  priest  and  chapel 
then.'*^  The  family  tradition  here  stated  was  probably 
well  founded.  In  1 60 5 ,  when  William  Byrd  of  Stondon 
Massey  (q.v.)  was  presented  to  the  archdeacon  as  a 
Popish  recusant,  it  was  also  urged  against  him  that  he 
had  led  astray  John  Wright  of  Kelvedon,  the  son  of  the 
then  lord  of  the  manor  and  later  to  become  lord  him- 
self, and  his  sister  Anne,  into  the  same  heresy.  8?  This 
may  be  evidence  that  the  Wrights  were  not  Roman 
Catholics  between  the  time  when  they  acquired  the 
manor  and  the  end  of  the  i6th  century.  It  has  not 
been  definitely  established  that  they  were  Roman 
Catholics  throughout  the  17th  century;  Bishop 
Compton's  census  (1676)  lists  no  Roman  Catholics  in 
Kelvedon  Hatch.'"  But  for  the  i8th  century  there  is 
confirmation  of  J.  F.  Wright's  statements.  John  Wright 
of  Kelvedon  Hall  was  registered  at  quarter  sessions  in 
1 7 17  as  a  papist,  and  so  also  was  his  son  John  Wright 
the  younger."  Eugenia,  widow  of  John  Wright  of 
Kelvedon  Hall,  was  similarly  registered  in  173 1  and 
another  John  Wright  in  1761.W  In  the  17th  and  i8th 
centuries  the  Wrights,  although  they  held  the  advowson 
of  Kelvedon  Hatch,  do  not  appear  to  have  presented 
to  the  rectory  themselves  except  in  1607. '3  Priests 
from  the  Jesuit  College  of  the  Holy  Apostles  also  appear 
to  have  visited  Kelvedon  Hall  regularly  in  the  middle 
of  the  1 8th  century.'*  Continuing  his  letter  to  Dr. 
Tavarez,  J.  F.  Wright  stated  that  his  family  left 
Kelvedon  Hall  in  1788  forafewyears.  'Inconsequence 
a  small  chapel  was  fitted  up  in  a  room  in  a  farm-house 
on  Kelvedon  Common  and  the  Revd.  Richard  Antr«bus, 
then  the  priest  at  Wealdside  (in  South  Weald),  used  to 
attend  there  at  Indulgences,  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Catholics  about  here.'"  J.  F.  Wright  went  on  to 
describe  the  return  of  his  family  to  Kelvedon  Hall  in 
1799  and  gave  the  names  of  three  Roman  Catholic 
priests  who  lived  there  as  chaplains  between  1 799  and 
1 8 1 3,  when  his  grandfather  again  left  the  hall.'*  There 
was  no  resident  priest  there  after  181 3.  The  few 
Roman  Catholics  in  Kelvedon  Hatch  were  served  by 
the  priest  at  Ingatestone  Hall  and  later  by  the  priest 
in  charge  of  the  church  at  Brentwood,  opened  in  1837. 
In  J.  F.  Wright's  own  time  the  private  chapel  at 
Kelvedon  Hall  was  again  in  use  for  Catholic  worship. 
In  1 8  5  7  he  was  again  corresponding  with  Dr.  Tavarez, 
this  time  about  the  proposal  to  install  a  confessional  in 


the  chapel.  He  told  Tavarez  that  he  considered  that 
the  chapel  was  too  small  for  the  secrecy  of  the  con- 
fessional to  be  maintained — 'and  where  the  confessor 
is  at  all  hard  of  hearing  the  danger  is  still  greater'.  And 
he  was  further  unwilling  to  obey  an  order  by  Arch- 
bishop Errington  to  destroy  some  old  altar  stones  in 
the  chapel. '7  'I  beg  to  say  that  they  will  never  be  used 
and  that  they  take  up  very  little  room.  As  for  saying 
"cui  bono"  do  they  remain,  that,  I  submit  concerns  me 
alone  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  .  .  .  they  have 
acquired  an  interest  from  the  fact  of  their  having  been 
here  for  several  generations. ...  It  is  I  think  no  improb- 
able supposition  that  over  some  of  them  mass  has  been 
celebrated  in  times  of  persecution  by  priests  who  sub- 
sequently became  martyrs.'  Wright  concluded  his 
letter  with  a  dignified  reproach:  'Into  these  feelings, 
however,  I  cannot  expect  you  to  enter,  as  you  cannot 
feel  as  we  English  Catholics  do  on  these  subjects,  who 
know  with  how  much  trouble  and  difficulty  our  religion 
was  kept  alive  in  England  in  former  days.''* 

Roman  Catholic  worship  no  doubt  continued  to  be 
held  at  Kelvedon  Hall  during  J.  F.  Wright's  hfe-time 
and  while  his  nephew  and  successor,  E.  C.  Wright, 
lived  at  the  hall.  The  chapel  at  the  hall,  which  was 
dedicated  to  St.  Joseph,  became  disused  during  the 
occupation  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Jones,  but  was  again 
taken  into  use  and  was  restored  during  the  years  when 
the  hall  was  occupied  by  St.  Michael's  School." 

In  1829  nonconformist  worship  was  being  conducted 

in  a  licensed  house  at  Kelve- 

PROTESTANT  don  Common  by  the  Revd. 

NONCONFORMirr  D.  Smith  an  Independent 
minister  from  Brentwood.' 
It  is  possible  that  there  was  some  continuity  between 
this  congregation  and  that  which  later  in  the  19th 
century  met  in  the  building  now  used  as  the  village  hall. 
Services  were  conducted  there  by  a  visiting  minister 
until  about  1 890.^  The  building  is  timber-framed  and 
weather-boarded  and  was  probably  built  early  in  the 
19th  century.3 

Vestry  minute-books  for  Kelvedon  Hatch  survive 
for  the  periods  1736—60  and 
PARISH  GOVERN-     i835-8i.t 

MENT  AND  Duringtheperiod  1736-60 

POOR  RELIEF  vestry  meetings  usually  seem 
to  have  been  held  only  at 
Easter  in  each  year.  In  only  one  year^  during  this 
period  was  more  than  one  meeting  recorded.  The 
minutes  were  brief  but  were  always  signed.  The  Revd. 
C.  Wragg,  rector  of  the  parish  from  173 1  until  1758, 
seems  never  to  have  attended  the  meetings.  His  suc- 
cessor, the  Revd.  N.  GriffinhoefF (1758-60)  attended 
the  only  Easter  vestry  held  during  his  incumbency  and 
was  the  first  to  sign  the  minutes.  The  number  of 
parishioners  who  attended  the  meetings  varied  between 
3  and  6.  Members  of  the  Wright  family,  lords  of  the 
manor  of  Kelvedon  Hatch,*  always  attended  and 
usually  signed  first. 

The  minutes  rarely  did  more  than  record  the  ap- 


88  R.C.  Parish  of  Brentwood,  MSS. 
Book.   Inf.  supplied  by  Revd.  B.  C.  Foley. 

8»  E.R.O.,  D/AEA  23,  quoted  in  A.  C. 
Edwards,  English  History  from  Essex 
Sources,  JSSo-iy^o,  13. 

«o  See  Table  on  p.  311.     ' 

»'  E.R.O.,  Q/RRp  1/12,21. 

«=  Ibid.  3/4,  4/6. 

»3  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  352.  And  see 
above,  Church. 

'<  E.R.  xxvii,  73-76. 


»5  R.C.  Parish  of  Brentwood,  MSS. 
Book. 

'>*•  As  to  the  first  chaplain,  John  Clarkson, 
J.  F.  Wright's  statement  is  confirmed  by 
the  Register  of  Papists'  Meeting  Places : 
E.R.O.,  Q/RRw  3. 

"  George  Errington  (1804-86),  Arch- 
bishop of  Trebizond  in  partibus  (1855), 
was  co-adjutor  to  Cardinal  Wiseman, 
1855-62:  AMS. 

98  R.C.    Parish    of    Brentwood,    MSS. 


Book. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1914  f.  and  1933). 
And  see  Manors. 

■  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2/14. 

»  Inf.  from  Mr.  J.  P.  Fitch. 

3  See  also  above,  p.  69. 

♦  Unless  otherwise  stated  all  the  follow- 
ing information  is  derived  from  these 
minute-books,  which  are  kept  by  the 
rector.  s   1758. 

6  See  above,  Manor  of  Kelvedon  Hatch. 


70 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


KELVEDON  HATCH 


pointment  of  officers  and  the  balances  remaining  in 
officers'  hands  at  the  end  of  each  year.  In  the  period 
1736—60  there  was  only  one  office  of  churchwarden 
and  one  office  of  overseer.  George  Wright  was  church- 
warden throughout  the  period.  Until  1744  the  over- 
seers served  for  two  years  consecutively,  but  after  that 
date  they  served  for  one  year  only.  As  late  as  1835 
there  was  an  illiterate  overseer.  In  161 4'  there  were 
two  constables,  but  in  the  period  1736-60  there  was 
only  one  office  of  constable.  These  officers  usually 
served  for  several  years  consecutively.  The  appoint- 
ment of  surveyors  was  not  recorded  in  the  minute-book, 
but  there  appears  to  have  been  one  office  of  surveyor. 
The  rateable  value  of  the  parish  was  ^^700  in  1738* 
and  £i,(>7(>  in  1835. 

Until  175 1  the  overseers,  churchwarden,  and  con- 
stables were  each  granted  separate  rates  for  which  they 
were  directly  responsible  to  the  parish.  Occasionally 
one  officer  was  ordered  to  pay  another  officer's  deficit 
out  of  his  surplus.  In  April  175 1  it  was  decided  that 
the  constable's  charges  for  the  ensuing  year  should  be 
paid  by  the  churchwarden.  In  March  1752  the  same 
constable  was  reappointed,  but  on  this  occasion  it  was 
resolved  that  his  charges  should  be  paid  by  the  overseer. 
No  further  resolutions  were  recorded  on  this  matter 
and  it  is  not  clear  how  the  charges  of  either  the  con- 
stable or  the  churchwarden  were  met  in  the  years  after 
1753.  By  1833,  however,  their  expenditure  was 
evidently  met  by  the  overseers  who  included  it  in  their 
account.  It  is  not  clear  what  the  practice  was  in  regard 
to  the  surveyors'  accounts. 

There  was  a  poorhouse'  in  Kelvedon  Hatch,  situated 
on  Kelvedon  Common,  and  in  1835  there  were  at  least 
two  male  paupers  in  it.  In  most  cases,  however,  poor 
relief  was  given  outside  the  poorhouse.  In  each  of  the 
years  181 3— 15  there  were  thirteen  adults  on  'per- 
manent' outdoor  relief'"  Provision  for  the  poor 
included  the  payment  of  weekly  doles. 

In  1776  the  cost  of  poor  relief  was  £()0.'^  In 
1783-;  it  averaged  £104  a  year.'^  It  reached  ,^501 
in  1800-1  and  ;^538  in  1801-2,  but  in  the  next  six 
years  it  was  always  between  £300  and  ^^4°°  ^  year.'^ 
In  the  years  1808-17  the  cost  was  usually  above  ^^400 
and  reached  a  maximum  of  ,^567  in  1812-13.'^  In 
each  of  the  years  1833  and  1834  it  was  ^^275  and  in 
1835  £250. 

In  1836  Kelvedon  Hatch  became  part  of  the  Ongar 
Poor  Law  Union. 

In  1807  there  was  no  day  school  in  Kelvedon  Hatch, 
though  there  were  two  just  outside  the 
SCHOOLS  parish  boundaries.  The  rector  was  teach- 
ing reading  every  Sunday  to  about  30 
'regular  and  orderly'  children. 's  This  Sunday  school 
seems  to  have  led  to  the  establishment  of  a  day  school 
which  in  1816  was  attended  by  13  boys  and  29  girls."* 
For  the  next  20  years  a  parish  school  under  Church 
direction  existed  in  one  form  or  another.'^    In  18 18 


'  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E44/27. 

9  There  was  a  poorhouse  by  1776,  at 
latest ;  Rep.  Sel.  Cttee.  on  Overseer!  Reins. 
1777,  H.C.  ser.  i,  vol.  ix,  p.  350.  The 
parish  officers  may  have  rented  the  cottages 
which  had  been  given  to  the  parish  for  use 
as  almshouses :  see  below.  Charities. 

■0  E.R.O.,  e/CR  i/io. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/i. 

"  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/9. 

"  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 


>«  Nat.  Soc.  Ref>.  \ii6,f.  ^z. 

17  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/18. 

■8  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  259 
(1819),  ii  (i). 

">  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahslr.  H.C.  62,  p.  280 
(1835),  xli;  inf.  from  Nat.  Soc. 

20  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/18. 

21  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  lO-II. 

"  Educ.  Cttee.  Rep.  1853-4,  p.  295. 

23  Mins.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1857 
[2380],  p.  97,  H.C.  (1857-8),  xl"i 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1855,  1862,  1870). 

24  Kelly's    Dir.    Essex    (1862,    1874)) 

71 


there  were  40  children  in  two  schools,  one  supported 
by  a  benevolent  lady  and  the  other  by  the  rector's  wife." 
One  of  these  schools  was  later  discontinued  and  the 
attempt  to  provide  week-day  schooling  for  boys  was 
abandoned,  although  they  continued  to  attend  the 
Sunday  school.  In  1833  there  was  only  one  school  in 
the  parish,  attended  .by  about  30  girls  and  maintained 
by  voluntary  subscriptions.  It  was  a  dame  school  under 
the  rector's  control.  Its  mistress  was  in  failing  health 
and  the  rector  was  planning  to  build  a  permanent  school 
with  separate  rooms  for  boys  and  girls.  He  collected 
some  £75  in  subscriptions  and  obtained  the  promise  of 
a  site  from  the  lord  of  the  manor.  The  National  Society 
agreed  to  make  a  grant  but  the  undertaking  was  eventu- 
ally abandoned  and  a  schoolroom  was  rented  in  which 
the  rector  set  up  a  successful  Church  school."  In 
1839,  when  it  was  still  the  only  school  in  the  parish,  20 
boys  and  30  girls  attended  it,  paying  no  fees  except  for 
additional  tuition  in  writing.  The  boys  were  given 
smocks,  stockings,  hats,  and  handkerchiefs  and  the 
girls  complete  sets  of  clothing.  Subscriptions,  including 
one  particularly  large  one,  amounted  to  £37  a  year,  but 
they  were  difficult  to  obtain.  The  rector  also  com- 
plained that  many  children  left  school  for  service  at 
too  early  an  age.^" 

By  1846-7  the  school  had  as  many  as  53  boys  and 
33  girls  in  attendance,  some  of  whom  paid  fees.  There 
were  a  master  and  a  mistress,  earning  £4.2  a  year  be- 
tween them.^'  A  few  years  later  an  inspector  found  it 
'a  very  nice  small  village  country  school  under  an  able 
and  promising  young  master',  but  he  thought  the  class- 
rooms inconvenient  and  the  equipment  inadequate. 
The  monitorial  system  seems  then  to  have  been  in  use. 
The  school  was  situated  on  a  green  which  was  used  as 
the  playground."  In  1856-7  the  school  received  a 
capitation  grant  of  £12  iSs.  Most  of  its  income,  how- 
ever, continued  to  be  derived  from  subscriptions.^^ 

In  i860  a  new  school  was  established,  but  it  appears 
to  have  had  smaller  accommodation  than  the  one  it 
replaced.  The  number  of  children  attending  had 
dropped  by  1871  to  about  20  and  a  master  was  no 
longer  employed.^  The  school  was  still  apparently 
without  permanent  premises^'  and  in  1875  a  school 
board  of  five  members  was  compulsorily  established. 
In  1878  the  board  built  a  school  in  the  village  and  the 
Church  school  was  then  closed.^*  Kelvedon  Hatch 
was  one  of  the  few  rural  parishes  in  the  hundred  where 
a  school  board  had  to  be  formed.  In  this  case  it  is 
significant  that  the  lord  of  the  manor  was  a  Roman 
Catholic;  he  clearly  gave  no  support  to  the  Anglican 
school. 

The  board  school,  built  at  a  cost  of  ^^l, 150,  had 
accommodation  for  80  children. ^7  It  was  enlarged  in 
1898.28  The  annual  government  grant  rose  from  £'^<) 
in  1893  to  £82  in  1899.^'  Further  income  was 
derived  from  the  school  rate,  which  in  189 1-2  was 
IS.  \<i.  in  the  £\.^°   In  1902  the  school  passed  under 

Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp.  I12-13 
(1871),  Iv. 

25  No  school  is  shown  on  O.S.  6  in.  Map 
(ist  edn.),  sheet  lix. 

26  County  Companion,  1880;  Min.  of 
Educ.  File  13/214;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex 
(1882). 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1882);  Min.  of 
Educ.  File  13/214. 

28  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/214. 

"  Retn.  ofScAs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  714, 
H.C.  (1894),. Ixv,  ibid.  1899  [Cd.  315], 
p.  71,  H.C.  (1900),  lxv(2). 

3"  Essex  Standard,  12  Sept.  1891. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Ongar  District.  There  was  then  an  average  attendance 
of  68.3'  In  1904  there  were  three  teachers,  one  of 
them  certificated.'^  The  average  attendance  remained 
about  70  until  1930,  when  the  school  was  reorganized 
for  mixed  juniors  and  infants,  after  which  it  fell  to  59 
in  1938.33  In  May  1952,  however,  there  were  in 
children  and  4  teachers  at  the  school.34  The  building 
stands  a  short  distance  from  the  parish  church  on  the 
Stondon  Massey  road.  It  has  one  story  and  is  of  yellow 
brick. 

A  19th-century  transcript  of  a  deed  records  that 
John  Wright  and  his  son  John  gave  to 
CHJRITIES^^  Anthony  Luther  and  others,  parish- 
ioners, part  of  the  lord's  waste  next 
to  Kelvedon  Common,  with  the  cottages  thereon,  to 
be  the  site  of  parish  almshouses.  This  appears  to  be 
the  real  origin  of  the  charity  which  by  1786  was  called 
Jane  Luther's  Charity  in  the  erroneous  belief  that  it 
had  been  established  by  her  will  in  1745  (^^^  below). 
The  original  endowment  may  have  been  supplemented 
by  an  exchange  made  in  1786  by  which  the  parish 
received  a  small  plot  inclosed  from  Kelvedon  Common 
in  place  of  another  plot  on  which  a  cottage  formerly 
stood.  This  was  probably  the  cottage  on  the  road  to 
Beacon  Hill  which  according  to  a  vestry  book  extant 
in  the  19th  century  was  given  to  the  parish  in  1644.3* 
This  exchange  of  1786  may  explain  the  statement 
made  in  1835  that  the  property  of  the  charity  was 
received  about  60  years  before  from  John  Wright  of 
Kelvedon  Hall  in  exchange  for  some  small  pieces  of 
land  formerly  belonging  to  it. 

There  is  no  clear  record  that  the  cottages  were  ever 
used  as  almshouses,  though  it  seems  possible  that  they 
were  rented  by  the  parish  officers  for  use  as  a  poor- 
house. 3'  In  1834  the  property  was  all  let:  it  consisted 
of  four  cottages  on  Kelvedon  Common,  and  land  adjoin- 
ing. The  whole  income  was  ^2 1  10/.,  and  after  deduc- 
tion of  expenses  it  was  distributed  on  the  first  Monday 
in  the  year  to  all  poor  married  parishioners  in  equal 
shares.  Between  then  and  1929  there  was  little  change 
in  administration.  In  195 1  the  field  was  sold  to  the 
village  hall  committee  for  use  as  a  recreation  ground. 
The  proceeds  were  invested  in  stock.  In  the  same  year 
the  rent  due  from  the  cottages  was  ^34  12/.;  but  for 


many  years  there  has  been  no  profit  from  rents  and  a 
demolition  order  was  pending  in  1953.38 

Poor's  Cottages  were  probably  built  in  the  17th 
century  and  consist  of  a  timber-framed  T-shaped  block, 
partly  plastered  and  partly  weather-boarded.  There 
are  gabled  dormers  in  the  tiled  roof.  These  are  un- 
doubtedly the  four  cottages  of  1834  and  earlier. 

At  some  time  in  the  1 8th  century  it  was  believed  that 
40J.  was  due  to  the  parish  by  the  gift  of  Anthony  Luther 
(d.  1627)  but  there  is  no  record  that  this  was  ever  paid. 

By  her  will  proved  in  1745  J^"^  Luther  of  Suttons 
(in  Stapleford  Tawney,  q.v.)  gave  £2  i  js.  6d.  a  year 
issuing  from  a  farm  in  Little  Warley  to  be  distributed 
in  bread  three  times  a  year  to  the  poor  of  the  parish. 
In  1834  bread  was  distributed  twice  a  year  with  pre- 
ference to  widows.  By  1857  the  rent  was  being  paid 
from  the  Suttons  estate.  It  was  redeemed  in  1950  for 
j^ii;  stock. 

In  1786  it  was  stated  that  an  unknown  donor  gave 
a  rent  charge  of  ^l  10/.  to  the  church  and  the  poor  of 
the  parish.  In  1834  Charles  Dolby  of  Brizes  held  a 
lease  from  1789  at  j^2  I  ox.  a  year  of 'the  property  of 
this  charity',  consisting  of  an  acre  of  land  in  his  park. 
In  fact  the  endowment  must  have  been  the  land  itself, 
not  the  rent,  and  the  land  was  certainly  sold  in  i860 
for  j{,'200  which  was  invested  in  stock. 

Louisa  Dolby,  by  will  proved  1868,  left  ;^ioo  duty- 
free in  trust  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor.  The  legacy 
was  paid  in  1876,  together  with  ^^28  arrears  of  interest, 
and  was  invested  in  stock. 

In  the  19th  and  early  20th  centuries  these  charities 
were  in  practice  administered  together.  From  1855 
the  three  earliest  shared  trustees.  By  a  Scheme  made 
in  1929  all  four  were  combined  to  form  the  United 
Charities.  Their  income  is  to  be  spent  for  the  benefit 
of  the  sick  and  poor,  chiefly  in  gifts  in  kind  and  gifts  to 
hospitals  serving  the  parish.  In  195 1,  after  payments 
for  expenses,  the  income  was  spent  on  the  cottages 
belonging  to  Jane  Luther's  Charity,  and  in  gifts  in  cash 
to  six  persons. 

Richard  Thomas  Lagden,  by  will  proved  1866,  left 
£j  a  year  for  the  purchase  of  coal  for  the  poor  families 
of  the  parish.  Lagden's  wish  that  the  money  be  paid 
was  not,  however,  binding,  and  the  bequest  con- 
sequently became  invalid. 


LAMBOURNE 


Lambourne  adjoins  the  Urban  District  of  Chigwell 
to  the  north-east.'  With  an  area  of  2,47 1  acres  it  is  one 
of  the  larger  parishes  in  the  hundred.  From  an  early 
date  much  of  the  population  has  been  centred  in  the 
village  of  Abridge,  in  the  extreme  north-west  of  the 
parish.^  The  remoteness  of  the  village  from  the  church 
and  the  manor  houses  has  helped  to  determine  the  his- 
tory of  the  parish.  Abridge  was  in  Lambourne,  but  not 
of  it.  The  population  of  the  parish  in  1801  was  515. 
It  rose  steadily  to  904  in  1841  and  subsequently  re- 
mained at  about  that  figure  until  1921,  when  it  was 
780.  In  193 1  it  was  893.  The  population  in  195 1  was 
1,371,  the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  the  building  of 
council  houses.3 


3'  ScAs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.  1902  [Cd. 
1490],  p.  71,  H.C.  {1903),  li. 

'^  Essex  Educ.  Citee.  Handhk.  1904, 
p.  185. 

33  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/214. 

3*  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee, 

35  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 


p.  229  (1835),  XX  (i);  Char.  Com.  Files. 

3'  This  date  would  be  consistent  with 
the  participation  of  an  Anthony  Luther 
(see  above,  Myles's). 

"  See  above,  Parish  Government  and 
Poor  Relief. 

38  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  W.  Tirrell. 


The  land  rises  from  100  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the 
north  to  325  ft.  in  the  centre,  falling  to  about  200  ft.  in 
the  south.  The  River  Roding  forms  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  the  parish.  There  are  numerous  ponds  and 
springs  in  the  parish.  Lambourne  End,  in  the  south, 
contains  most  of  what  remains  of  Hainault  Forest,  now 
preserved  as  a  recreation  ground  by  the  London  County 
Council.*  There  are  several  other  smaller  patches  of 
woodland.  The  main  road  from  Chipping  Ongar  to 
Chigwell  and  London  passes  through  the  north  of  the 
parish.  Abridge  lies  along  this  road  at  a  distance  of 
about  3  miles  from  Chigwell.  It  derives  its  name  from 
the  bridge  which  crosses  the  river  here,  carrying  the 
road  running  north  to  Theydon  Bois.  A  concentration 

'  O.S.  2\  in.  Map,  sheet  $^1^9- 

^  Although  the  earliest  known  ref.  to 

Abridge  is  in   1203  the  name  is  of  pre- 

conquest  origin :  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.), 

60. 

3  Census;     inf.     from     Essex     County 

Council.  *  See  below. 


72 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LAMBOURNE 


of  houses  on  both  sides  of  the  main  road  at  Abridge  is 
shown  on  a  map  of  1695.5  The  oldest  surviving  build- 
ings appear  to  be  the  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  main 
road,  immediately  north  of  the  post-office,  and  Brighty's 
shop  on  the  opposite  side  just  west  of  the  bridge.  Both 
probably  date  from  the  early  i6th  century  and  in  each 
case  there  is  an  oversailing  gable-end  facing  the  road  at 
one  end  of  the  front.  At  Brighty's  shop  the  plaster  was 
stripped  from  the  gable  about  30  years  ago,*  revealing 
rounded  joist  ends,  heavy  closely-spaced  studs,  and 
curved  braces.  The  other  house,  formerly  the  post- 
office,  but  now  a  butcher's  shop,  remains  plastered  but 
is  probably  of  similar  construction.  The  Sycamores,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  road  near  the  east  end  of  the  village, 
was  a  house  possibly  of  similar  date,  but  rebuilding  has 
destroyed  all  its  old  features  except  the  brick  fireplaces 
forming  the  base  of  its  central  chimney.  Other  build- 
ings in  the  village  probably  incorporate  parts  of  timber 
structures  of  the  17th  century  or  earlier. 

The  deeds  of  White  Hall  go  back  to  1729.^  It  has 
a  plastered  two-story  Georgian  front,  considerably 
altered,  with  a  contemporary  doorcase.  The  gabled 
house  east  of  it  may  also  date  from  the  early  i8th  cen- 
tury, and  the  buildings  flanking  Brighty's  shop  are 
probably  of  similar  date.  The  'Maltster's  Arms'  and 
the  two  cottages  adjoining  it  form  an  attractive  18th- 
century  group.  They  have  weather-boarded  fronts  and 
the  inn  has  a  pedimented  doorcase  with  engaged  Tuscan 
columns.  The  slightly  later  house  to  the  east  retains  a 
small  bowed  shop  window.  The  post-office,  which  has 
a  symmetrical  weather-boarded  front,  is  of  the  late 
1 8th  century. 

In  1848  it  was  stated  that  many  good  houses  had 
been  built  in  Abridge  in  the  past  30  years.*  Maryon 
Terrace  is  a  red  brick  row  of  eight  small  cottages  with 
round-headed  doorways.  It  is  dated  28  January  1 841, 
but  the  central  cottages  may  be  older.  Gould's  Cottages 
are  of  gault  brick  and  date  from  about  1840.  They 
form  a  terrace  of  five  houses,  of  which  the  central  has 
a  pedimented  gable.  The  Parish  Room,  formerly  a 
Congregational  chapel,  was  built  in  1833.'  Holy 
Trinity  Church,  built  in  1 836,  is  a  chapel  of  ease  to  the 
parish  church.'"  The  'Blue  Boar'  is  also  of  mid-i9th- 
century  date;  it  has  a  gault  brick  symmetrical  front. 
The  'White  Hart'  was  rebuilt  on  its  ancient  site  in  the 
late  19th  century.  The  school,  at  the  north  end  of  Hoe 
Lane,  dates  from  1878."  On  the  north  side  of  the  main 
road  west  of  Abridge  there  is  considerable  20th-century 
building,  which  includes  thirteen  council  houses.  North 
of  the  school  are  about  twenty  council  houses.  There 
are  also  four  pairs  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  just  east 
of  the  village.  The  Evangelical  Free  Church,  Maryon's 
Chase,  dates  from  I924.'2  Hillman's  Cottages,  six  pairs 
on  the  main  road  i  mile  east  of  the  village,  were  built 
about  1935  for  employees  at  the  neighbouring  airfield. '3 
The  Pancroft  estate,  east  Abridge,  includes  a  group  of 
prefabricated  houses  and  fifty  post-1945  council  houses. 

Hoe  Lane  runs  from  Abridge  south-east  to  Lam- 
bourne  End,  passing  to  the  east  of  St.  John's  Farm  (see 
below,  manor  of  St.  John's)  and  to  the  west  of  Bishops 
Hall  (see  below).  In  this  lane  are  some  larger  houses 
with  good  gardens,  built  after  the  break-up  in  1929  of 
the  Bishops  Hall  estate.   On  the  road  J  mile  south  of 

5  Camden's   Britamia   (ed.  Gibson),  p.  "  See  below.  Schools. 

340  (Map  by  Rbt.  Morden). 
'  Inf.  from  Mr.  Bayles,  owner. 
'  Ibid.        8  H^hite's  Dir.  Essex  (184.8). 
'  See  below,  Nonconformity. 
'<>  See  below,  Church. 


"  See  below.  "  See  below. 

'*  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 
'S  Inf.  from  the  caretaker. 
■6  See  below,  Manor. 
"  See  below,  Church. 


Bishops  Hall  are  Augusta  Cottages  and  Emmanuel 
Chapel.  At  Lambourne  End  Hoe  Lane  is  joined  by 
Manor  Road,  which  leads  to  Chigwell  Row,  and  also 
by  the  road  running  east  to  Knolls  Hill  in  Stapleford 
Abbots.  Near  Blue  House  Farm  the  latter  road  is 
joined  by  Hook  Lane,  which  runs  north-east  to  Staple- 
ford  Abbots  church.  Three  farm-houses  at  Lambourne 
End  are  timber-framed  and  probably  date  from  the 
17th  century.  Harmes  Farm  has  a  gabled  cross-wing  at 
the  south-west  end.  Forest  Lodge  Farm  has  two  massive 
external  chimneys  with  diagonal  shafts.  Blue  House 
Farm  also  has  diagonal  shafts  to  its  central  chimney. 
Church  House,  opposite  Forest  Lodge,  dates  from 
about  1 67 1,  with  an  extension  of  about  1 8 1  o  (see  below. 
Charities).  Lambourne  Square,  consisting  of  two  rows 
of  cottages,  one  of  mid-i9th-century  date  and  one 
earlier,  was  built  for  workers  at  the  neighbouring  Banks 
Farm.'*  Young's  Farm  was  demolished  about  1935 
and  some  of  the  buildings  converted  into  recreation 
rooms  for  the  Fairbairn  and  Mansfield  House  Boys' 
Clubs.'s  In  the  grounds  are  a  camping  site  and  an  open- 
air  swimming-pool.  The  East  End  Mission  playing- 
fields  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  have  a  cement- 
rendered  pavilion  with  a  flat  roof,  also  dating  from  the 
1930's.  There  is  some  scattered  modern  development 
on  the  north  side  of  Manor  Road,  opposite  Hainault 
Forest.  Park  Square  is  a  three-sided  court  consisting  of 
ten  council  houses.  There  are  also  four  pairs  of  council 
houses  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  east  of  Forest  Lodge. 
The  Parish  Room  at  Lambourne  End  is  a  small  wooden 
building  probably  of  mid-l9th-century  date. 

New  Farm  is  J  mile  south-east  of  Abridge.  It  is  a 
red-brick  house  dated  1744.  Although  considerably 
altered  it  has  brickwork  detail  similar  to  the  Old  Rectory 
(see  below)  on  a  much  smaller  scale.  Lambourne  Hall"* 
and  the  parish  church  are  J  mile  south-east  of  New 
Farm.  The  site  of  the  former  Dews  Hall  (see  below) 
adjoins  Bishops  Hall  to  the  east.  Bishops  Moat,  the 
original  site  of  Bishops  Hall,  is  i  mile  east  of  Dews 
Hall.  A  mile  east  of  Abridge  is  Lambourne  Place,  for- 
merly the  rectory.'^  Pryors  and  Patch  Park  (formerly 
Hunts)  are  near  Lambourne  Place  to  the  east.'* 
Arnolds,  formerly  Arneways  (see  below)  is  on  the  main 
road  in  the  extreme  north-west  corner  of  the  parish. 
Opposite  it  is  a  civil  airfield. 

The  road  system  in  this  parish  has  never  been  very 
satisfactory.   There  has  never  been  a  direct  road  from 
Abridge  to  the  parish  church.   Until  about  1800  ther 
was  no  road  from  Lambourne  End  to  Chigwell  Row. 
In  the  north  and  centre  of  the  parish  the  roads  were 
often  flooded  in  wet  weather."  The  most  serious  flood- 
ing occurred  on  the  main  London  road,  between  Arnolds 
and  Abridge.  About  i  mile  west  of  Arnolds  the  Roding 
flows  beside  the  road  and  is  joined  by  a  stream  which 
rises  near  Lambourne  Hall.    It  was  at  this  junction 
between  the  river  and  the  stream  that  flooding  was 
worst.    In  1575-6  the  road  from  Arnolds  to  London 
was  'in  decay',  and  the  parish  was  distrained  for  the 
condition  of 'Arnesway'  Bridge.^o  This  was  no  doubt 
a  bridge  over  the  stream  at  the  junction.   The  same 
road  was  the  subject  of  discussion  in  the  parish  vestry 
in  1727.2'   The  lord  of  the  manor  of  Lambourne  had 
apparently  been  obliged  to  keep  a  horse-  and  foot- 
's See  below,  Pryors,  Hunts. 
"  In    1738,    for    example,    the    parish 
suffered  from  severe  floods:  E.R.O.,  D/P 
181/8/2. 
"  E.R.O.,  Q'/SR  60/57,  cf.  62/53,  54. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 


73 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


bridge  'wharfed  and  planked  over  a  certain  brook' 
towards  Ongar.  This  was  probably  the  same  bridge 
as  that  of  1 575-6.  John  Barfoot,  lord  of  the  manor  in 
1727,  offered  to  seek  the  support  of  the  neighbouring 
gentry  for  a  scheme  to  build  a  brick  bridge. 

At  the  other  end  of  the  London  road  was  the  impor- 
tant Abridge  Bridge.  In  the  late  1 6th  century  there  was 
uncertainty  as  to  who  was  responsible  for  it.  One  entry 
in  the  rolls  of  Quarter  Sessions  for  1570  attributes  re- 
sponsibility to  Sir  Anthony  Coke,  who  owned  land  at 
the  Lambourne  side  of  the  bridge,  and  Sir  Thomas 
Wroth,  who  owned  land  on  the  Theydon  Bois  side.^* 
Another  entry  of  the  same  year  leaves  the  matter  un- 
decided.23  In  and  after  1594  the  bridge  seems  to  have 
been  accepted  for  repair  by  the  county.^*  In  1657  it  was 
said  to  be  in  a  dangerous  state.^5  In  1707  a  carpenter 
was  paid  the  large  sum  of  ^^178  for  rebuilding  it.^* 

In  1855  the  inhabitants  of  Abridge  complained  to 
the  justices  of  the  peace  of  the  dangerous  state  of  the 
road  to  Theydon  Bois  and  of  the  foot-bridge  at  Abridge. 
During  floods  it  was  impossible  to  use  the  bridges  and 
a  circuit  of  6  miles  was  necessary.  A  committee  was 
formed  in  1 8  56  to  investigate  the  matter  and  the  county 
surveyor  produced  plans  for  an  embankment  with  cul- 
verts. He  reported  that  a  plank  and  rail  foot-bridge  to 
serve  pedestrians  in  time  of  flood  had  for  30  years  been 
repaired  by  the  county.^'  Thomas  Savill,  of  Barley 
near  Royston,  was  willing  to  undertake  the  work  on  the 
bridges  and  the  final  estimate  was  ^^380,  of  which  the 
parish  was  to  pay  ;^200  and  the  county  the  remain- 
der.^' In  the  following  year  the  surveyor  described 
the  bridge  as  a  substantial  brick  structure  in  excellent 
repair.^' 

Abridge  is  a  mile  from  the  parish  church,  and  until 
1833  there  was  no  other  place  of  worship  in  the  parish. 
It  is  therefore  remarkable  that  there  has  never  been  a 
direct  road  to  the  church  from  Abridge.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  Abridge  had  an  ancient  right  of  way  by  a  foot- 
path to  the  church.  In  1589  Henry  Palmer  of  Dews 
Hall  was  presented  at  Quarter  Sessions  for  having  'en- 
closed abowte  with  a  great  pale  a  chace  waye  which  is 
our  church  waye  and  hath  been  time  out  of  mind'. 3°  In 
1624  this  path  was  'by  discontinuance  overgrown,  and 
overworn  by  the  current  of  the  brook  which  ran  by  it'. 3' 
In  that  year  Edward  Palmer  of  Dews  Hall  granted  the 
parish  vestry  a  new  right  of  way  in  exchange  for  the  old. 
The  course  of  the  new  way,  which  is  described  in  the 
vestry  book,  appears  to  be  the  same  as  the  present  foot- 
path from  east  Abridge  to  the  church,  via  New  Farm 
and  the  north-east  corner  of  Soapleys  Wood.'^  The 
parish  was  to  erect  three  gates,  one  at  the  entrance  to 
'Pencroft'  (near  the  main  road  at  the  Abridge  end  of 
the  path),33  one  at  the  upper  end  of  'Goody  Land' 
entering  into  Maple's  land,  and  the  third  over  the  brook 
entering  lower  'Soap  place'.  At  the  third  point  they 
were  also  to  provide  a  bridge.  They  were  to  provide 
locks  for  the  gates  and  give  Edward  Palmer  a  key,  and 
they  were  responsible  for  the  upkeep  of  the  gates  and 
the  bridge.    In  1727  the  vestry  accepted  the  offer  of 


Catlyn  Thorogood  of  Dews  Hall  to  provide  a  brick 
arch  over  the  brook  in  place  of  the  old  wooden  one. 
The  parish  was  to  maintain  the  foot-path  as  before. '♦  In 
spite  of  these  arrangements  the  moral  condition  of 
Abridge  seems  to  have  been  bad  at  the  beginning  of  the 
19th  century.35  The  foot-path  was  hardly  a  satisfactory 
substitute  for  a  church  in  Abridge  itself  Perhaps  more 
important  was  the  fact  that  the  rectory  was  just  as  far 
from  the  village  as  was  the  church.  In  1734  the  vestry 
had  resolved  to  make  a  new  road  from  the  church  to  the 
rectory  through  the  glebe  land.3*  This  would  have 
helped  the  rector  to  get  to  church.  For  access  to  Abridge 
he  probably  had  to  use  foot-paths. 

Communications  between  Lambourne  End  and  the 
parish  church  have  been  little  better  than  those  between 
the  church  and  Abridge.  Church  Lane,  which  ran 
from  the  church  past  Dews  Hall  to  Lambourne  End, 
is  marked  on  Chapman  and  Andre's  map  of  1 777  (sheet 
xvi),  but  by  1841  it  had  become  impassable.  In  the 
latter  year  the  vestry  decided  that  it  should  be  repaired,^' 
but  the  north  end  of  the  road  is  now  overgrown  and 
disused. 

Manor  Road,  between  Lambourne  End  and  Chig- 
well  Row,  was  constructed  about  1790,  mainly  at  the 
expense  of  Admiral  Sir  Edward  Hughes,  of  Bishops 
Hall  (see  below)  and  Luxborough  in  Chigwell  (q.v.).^' 

Hook  Lane,  which  joins  Lambourne  End  and  Staple- 
ford  Abbots,  was  maintained  by  the  two  parishes  jointly. 
In  1832  the  Lambourne  vestry  agreed  to  an  alteration 
in  its  course  'when  a  sufficient  subscription  can  be 
caused  to  carry  the  same  into  effect,  the  parish  of  Staple- 
ford  having  agreed  to  repair  the  same  distance  in  pro- 
portion as  prior  to  the  exchange'.^' 

There  was  a  regular  service  of  coaches  from  Abridge 
to  London  and  Ongar  at  the  beginning  of  the  19th  cen- 
tury. In  1 8 17  a  coach  went  daily  to  the  'Three  Nuns' 
and  the  'Bull',  Whitechapel,  while  a  wagon  went  on 
Tuesday  and  Friday  to  the  'Blue  Boar',  Whitechapel.^" 
In  1826—7  and  1832  the  Ongar  coach  called  at 
Abridge.*'  In  1832  also  a  wagon  run  by  Joseph  Wilson 
ran  to  the  'Saracen's  Head',  Aldgate,  and  the  'Flower 
Pot',  Bishopsgate,  on  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Satur- 
day; a  wagon  run  by  one  Clements  went  on  Wednesday 
and  Saturday  to  the  'Blue  Boar',  Aldgate,  and  another, 
under  the  name  of  Willey,  went  on  Tuesday,  Thursday, 
and  Saturday  to  the  'Three  Nuns',  Aldgate.t^  In  1848 
a  coach  left  for  London  every  morning  except  Sunday 
and  for  Dunmow  every  evening,  starting  from  the 
'White  Hart'.  William  Hanchett  was  carrier  to  London 
every  Tuesday  and  Friday .■♦^  In  1862  the  Fyfield 
coach  called  daily  at  Abridge  and  a  carrier  went  to 
London  daily.''*  By  this  time  the  railway  from  London 
had  been  extended  as  far  as  Loughton,  about  4  miles  by 
road  from  Abridge,  and  the  further  extension  in  1865 
to  Epping  and  Ongar  included  a  station  at  Theydon 
Bois,  li^  mile  from  Abridge.  Since  1949  Theydon 
Bois  has  been  on  the  Central  London  (underground) 
line. 

There  was  a  postal  receiving  house  at  Abridge  in 


"  E.R.O.,  e/SR  32/17. 

"  Ibid.  34/6. 

"  Ibid.  129/17,  314/59-  Cf.  Q/AB« 
1,  2. 

"  Ibid.  Q/CP  3,  pp.  185,  ,88:cf.  pp. 
197  (1659),  213  (i66o). 

"  Ibid.  p.  704. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/ABp  36,  Q/ABb  1 1. 

*8  This  foot-bridge  had  previously  been 
the  responsibility  of  the  parish  of  Theydon 
Bois,  q.v.  "  E.R.O.,  g/ABi  3. 


3»  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  107/53. 

31  E.R.O.,D/P  181/8/1  (11  May  1727). 

32  Soapleys  appears  in  the  description  as 
'Soap  place'. 

35  Pencroft  is  probably  the  Ban-croft  of 
the  Tithe  Map:  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202  No. 
393,  and  the  modern  Pancroft. 

3t  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 

35  See  below.  Nonconformity. 

3«  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/2. 

37  Ibid.  181/8/4. 


38  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  408.  The 
road  was  presumably  built  after  Hughes 
acquired  Bishops  Hall  in  1785.  He  died 
in   1798.  39  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/4. 

*"  Johnstone's  DIr.  (1817),  pt.  iv,  2. 

■»'  Pigot's  Dir.  (1826-7),  S'i  Robson's 
London  Dir.  pt.  iv,  22.  See  Chipping 
Ongar,  p.  157. 

♦^  Robson's  Dir,  pt.  iv,  22. 

••3  py kite's  Dir.  Essex  {1848),  422. 

«  Ibid.  (1863),  729. 


74 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LAMBOURNE 


I793.*5  In  1 839  a  Mr.  Mead  was  appointed  receiver/* 
By  1856  a  sub-post-office  had  been  established.''''  A 
telegraph  service  was  set  up  in  1 89 1**  and  the  telephone 
by  192 1.'" 

The  Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.  extended  its 
mains  to  Abridge  and  some  other  parts  of  the  parish  in 
19 1 7,  and  a  further  extension  took  place  in  1937.50 
There  is  a  sewerage  system,  chiefly  at  Abridge. 5'  Gas 
was  first  supplied  by  the  Chigwell,  Loughton,  and 
Woodford  Gas  Co.s^  Electricity  was  supplied  to  parts 
of  Abridge  and  Lambourne  in  1929.53  At  Abridge 
there  is  a  parish  room  (formerly  the  Congregational 
chapel),  and  a  village  hall  called  the  Gymnasium.  There 
is  another  parish  room  at  Lambourne  End.  A  branch 
of  the  county  library  was  opened  in  1929.5*  The 
Abridge  Coffee  Rooms  and  Club  existed  in  1886  and 
later.55  There  was  a  cricket  club  at  Abridge  in  1 895.56 
There  was  a  police  sergeant  at  Abridge  in  1898.5' 
There  is  now  a  policeman  at  Abridge  and  another  at 
Lambourne  End.'^ 

A  writer  of  about  1770  noted  that  'husbandry  alone 
seems  to  be  the  employ  of  the  inhabitants'  of  Lam- 
bourne.5'  This  was  not  entirely  true;  as  is  shown  below 
there  were  some  inns  and  shops  at  Abridge,  which  must 
have  employed  a  few  people  in  the  i8th  century.  But 
agriculture  was  certainly  the  main  occupation.  During 
the  Middle  Ages  the  ownership  of  the  land  in  the  parish 
was  shared  among  some  eight  chief  lords.  From  the 
middle  of  the  i6th  century  onwards  the  estates  tended 
to  coalesce.  In  the  i8th  century  three  large  estates, 
attached  to  Lambourne  Hall,  Bishops  Hall,  and  Dews 
Hall,  accounted  for  much  of  the  parish.  By  1850  the 
greater  part  of  the  parish  was  owned  by  a  single  family, 
that  of  Lockwood,  of  Bishops  Hall.  Their  estate  was 
broken  up  in  1 929.60  Until  the  i6th  century  it  is  prob- 
able that  few  of  the  chief  landowners  were  resident  in 
the  parish:  this  may  partly  explain  the  unsatisfactory 
relationship  between  Abridge  and  the  rest  of  the  parish.*' 
In  and  after  the  i6th  century  there  was  some  improve- 
ment. The  Taverners  of  Arneways  and  the  Palmers  of 
Dews  Hall  lived  in  the  parish.  In  the  1 8  th  century  this 
area  became  remarkably  fashionable  for  the  gentry. 
Lord  Fortescue,  the  Walkers,  the  Lockwoods,  the 
Thorogoods,  and  Sir  Edward  Hughes  all  lived  in  Lam- 
bourne or  in  neighbouring  parishes.*^  All  contributed 
in  various  ways  to  the  improvement  of  the  parish,  and 
their  paternal  interest  in  it  was  maintained  in  the  19th 
and  20th  centuries  by  the  Lockwoods.  They  must  have 
been  large  employers  of  domestic  as  well  as  agricultural 
labour. 

The  landowners  do  not  seem  to  have  attempted  direct 
large-scale  farming.  In  184 1  there  were  three  farms 
over  200  acres  in  extent,  of  which  the  largest  was  235 
acres.  There  were  five  farms  of  100-200  acres  and  six 
of  40-100  acres.*3  All  these  farms  were  let  to  tenant 
farmers.  In  1929  most  of  Lord  Lambourne's  estate  was 


occupied  by  tenants,  although  the  home  farm  of  Lam- 
bourne Hall  was  in  hand.** 

In  this  parish,  as  elsewhere  in  this  area,  mixed  farm- 
ing is  carried  on.  In  1841  there  were  some  750  acres 
of  arable,  1,300  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture,  and  350 
acres  of  woodland  and  forest.*5  At  that  date  there  was 
also  a  small  amount  of  ozier-growing.**  Of  greater 
interest  is  the  persistence  of  hop-growing.  In  184 1 
there  was  ij  acre  of  land  under  hops.  As  is  noted 
below,  brewing  was  carried  on  in  Abridge  at  this 
time.*' 

There  is  little  evidence  concerning  inclosure  in  the 
parish,  which  so  far  as  it  concerned  common  field  and 
meadow  had  evidently  been  completed  before  the  1 8th 
century.  A  small  exception  is  shown  on  a  map  of  1 740: 
strips  in  Rye  meadow,  north  of  Arneways  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  parish.**  Inclosure  of  woodland  was 
much  slower,  for  royal  rights  were  involved.  About 
200  acres  in  the  south  of  the  parish  formed  part  of 
Hainault  Forest.  In  1305  William  de  Sutton,  lord  of 
Battles  Hall  in  Stapleford  Abbots,  who  also  held  land 
in  Lambourne,  was  granted  licence  to  fell  and  sell  the 
great  trees  and  underwood  of  7  acres  in  his  wood  of 
Lambourne,  which  was  within  the  Forest  of  Essex,  as 
it  appeared  that  there  was  not  a  frequent  resort  of  the 
deer  there.*'  This  grant  was  made  to  enable  him  to  pay 
his  debts  at  the  Exchequer.  In  1630  six  unauthorized 
inclosures  of  the  forest  were  said  to  have  recently  been 
made  in  Lambourne;  one  of  these  was  on  the  waste,  the 
others  on  old  inclosures.'o 

In  1 8  5 1  Hainault  Forest  was  disafforested.  The  part 
of  the  forest  in  Lambourne  was,  however,  not  affected." 
In  1858  the  Hainault  Forest  Allotment  of  Commons 
Act  (21  &  22  Vict.  c.  37)  provided  that  314  acres  in 
Lambourne,  Chigwell,  and  Dagenham  should  be 
allotted  as  common  to  the  parish  of  Lambourne.  The 
map  attached  to  the  act  shows  a  small  existing  inclosure 
at  Lambourne  End.  It  is  possible  that  this  was  the  area 
inclosed  in  1832—3  by  the  parish  vestry  with  the  con- 
sent of  E.  L.  Percival,  the  lord  of  the  manor.'^  By  an 
award  of  1861,  under  the  act  of  1858,  186  acres  in 
Lambourne  became  common  for  the  parish;  more 
specifically  it  was  waste  of  the  manor  of  Lambourne." 
In  1903,  by  the  Hainault  (Lambourne  Burrows  and 
Grange  Hill)  Act'*  the  then  lord  of  the  manor,  A.  R.  M. 
Lockwood,  was  authorized  to  sell  Lambourne  Common 
for  £2,830  to  the  London  County  Council,  so  that  it 
might  become  a  public  park.'s  This  is  now  all  that 
remains  of  Hainault  Forest. 

Abridge  fair,  on  2  June,  was  abolished  in  1878.'*  It 
had  existed  in  1780."  In  1848  it  was  stated  to  be  for 
cattle.'*  Its  origin  has  not  been  traced.  No  lord  or 
owner  of  tolls  was  known  in  1878. 

The  existence  of  the  fair  suggests  that  Abridge  was 
an  important  viUage in  the  i8th century.  Alistof  1723 
names  three  inns,  the  'Crown',  the  'Blue  Boar',  and  the 


*'  Gary's  Eng.  Alia!,  1793. 

■»'  P.M.G.  Mins.  1839,  vol.  46,  p.  462. 

"  Brit.  Post.  Guide,  1856.  Cf.  P.M.G. 
Mins.  1865,  vol.  43,  min.  4070. 

♦8  P.M.G.  Mins.  1891,  vol.  448,  min. 
14861. 

*'  Brit.  Post.  Guide,  1 92 1. 

s»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1917,  1937)- 

"  Inf.  from  the  rector. 

52  Inf.  from  the  North  Thames  Gas  Bd. 

53  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elec.  Bd. 
'♦  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

55  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886  f.). 

56  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895). 
5'  Ibid.  1898. 


58  Inf.  from  Chief  Constable  of  Essex. 

5'  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  20. 

«»  For  details  see  below,  Manors. 

«'  See  above;  and  below,  Parish  Govern- 
ment. 

'»  Fortescue  lived  at  Stapleford  Abbots, 
Hughes  in  Chigwell. 

'3  For  these  figures  see  E.R.O.,  D/CT 
202.  "  See  below.  Manor. 

6s  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202.  "  Ibid. 

6'  Ibid.  For  a  reference  to  a  hop-garden 
ini727seeE.R.O.,  D/P181/8/1. 

68  Map  in  poss.  of  Mr.  H.  E.  Clarke  nf 
Arnolds. 

M  Cal.  Pat.  1301-7,  315-16. 

75 


'»  W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  327. 

"  Ibid.  349. 

'2  See  below.  Parish  Govt,  and  Poor 
Relief. 

'3  Details  of  the  award  are  given  in  the 
act  of  1903  (see  below). 

^*  3  Edw.  VII,  c.257  (priv.  act.). 

'5  The  purchase  included  the  186  acres 
in  Lambourne  and  54  acres  in  Chigwell 
and  Dagenham,  which  were  included  in 
the  price. 

'6  Lond.  Gax.  26  July  1878,  p.  4318. 

"  Essex,  Herts.  &  Camhi.  Almanack 
1780. 

'8  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (i%\%). 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


'White  Hart'."  In  1772  two  chandlers,  a  victualler, 
and  a  baker  are  named. *°  In  1 845  there  were,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  tradesmen  normally  found  in  a  growing 
village,  an  auctioneer  and  surveyor,  a  surgeon,  a  plumber 
and  glazier,  a  brick-maker,  and  a  brewer. 8'  The  brick- 
maker  was  still  there  in  1851.*^  There  had  been  a 
brewery  in  Abridge  in  1729,  when  its  owner  is  said  to 
have  been  the  owner  of  While  Hall.*3  Abraham  Oliver, 
brewer  of  Lambourne,  occurs  in  1808.**  During  the 
later  19th  century  the  brewery  became  the  Abridge 
Brewery  Co.*'  This  was  later  acquired  by  Whitbread 
&  Co.  and  by  19 14  was  being  used  by  them  as  a  store.** 
The  private  airfield  was  opened  about  1935.*'  During 
the  Second  World  War  it  was  taken  over  by  the  R.A.F.** 
It  has  recently  been  reopened  as  a  private  airfield.  Part 
of  its  site  is  occupied  by  branches  of  Thorn  Electrical 
Industries,  Ekco  Electric  Ltd.,  and  Ferguson  Radio  Ltd. 
There  is  a  small  printing  works  at  Abridge. 

Thomas  Winniffe,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  his  nephew 
Peter  Mews,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  are  mentioned 
below  (see  Church).  Thomas  Day  (1748-89), 
eccentric  author  of  Sandford  and  Merton,  bought  a 
house  at  Abridge  in  1779,  shortly  after  his  marriage, 
and  lived  there  for  two  years.  'He  studied  architec- 
ture and  astonished  the  builder  by  having  a  wall  made 
first  and  the  windows  knocked  out  afterwards.'*' 

Only  one  entry  in  Domesday  Book  relates  specifically 
to  LAMBOURNE.  The  manor  of  that 
MANORS  name  had  been  held  in  1066  by  Lefsi  as 
2  hides  and  80  acres. 90  In  1086  this  manor 
formed  part  of  the  honor  of  Eustace,  Count  of  Boulogne, 
and  was  held  of  him  by  David."  It  is  likely,  however, 
that  the  part  of  the  parish  of  Lambourne  later  known 
as  the  manor  of  Arneways  (see  below)  originally  formed 
part  of  the  manor  of  Battles  Hall  in  Stapleford  Abbots. 
The  tenancy  in  chief  of  the  manor  of  Lambourne 
passed  with  the  honor  of  Boulogne  to  the  Crown  after 
the  death  in  11 59  of  William,  Count  of  Boulogne. 
Lambourne  was  still  considered  to  be  part  of  the  honor 
early  in  the  13th  century,'^  but  not,  apparently,  after 
that. 

In  the  1 2th  century  the  tenancy  of  the  manor  came 
to  Pharamus  of  Boulogne,  the  grandson  of  Geoffrey, 
which  last  was  probably  a  bastard  son  of  Eustace  of 
Boulogne. '3  It  descended  to  Pharamus's  daughter 
Sybil,  wife  of  Ingram  de  Fiennes,  and  subsequently  to 
her  son  William  de  Fiennes."'*  In  about  1220  the 
manor  was  held  of  the  honor  of  Boulogne  by  Sybil."' 
In  1282  it  was  conveyed  to  Robert  Burnell,  Bishop  of 
Bath  and  Wells  and  Chancellor  of  England  (d.  1292), 
by  William  de  Fiennes,  probably  grandson  of  the  last- 
named  William."*  In  1300  the  manor  was  among  the 
lands  left  at  his  death  by  William  de  Lambourne.    It 


"  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 

8"  E.R.O.,  Q/SBb  269. 

8'  Kelly' i  Dir.  Etsex  (184.5). 

82  Ibid.  (1851). 

83  Inf.  from  Mr.  Bayles,  owner  of  White 
Hall. 

84  E.R.O.,  D/DU  45/28-32. 

85  Kelly'!  Dir.  Essex  {1886,  1890). 
8'  Ibid.  (1902,  19 14). 

8'  Inf.  from  Mr.  H.  E.  Clarke. 

88  Ibid. 

8«  D.N.B. 

oo  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467*.  This  does  not 
suggest  a  large  manor,  which  is  surprising 
in  view  of  the  present  size  of  the  parish. 
Some  parts  of  Lambourne  may  have  been 
included  in  1086  in  entries  for  other 
places :  and  see  below. 

»'  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467*. 


92  RedBk.  of  Exch.  (Rolls  Ser.),  $76;  Bk. 
of  Fees,  236. 

»s  For  Pharamus  see  J.  H.  Round's 
article.  Genealogist,  n.s.  xii,  145-51.  See 
also  Magdalen  Laver,  Blake  Hall  in 
Bobbingworth.   Pharamus  died  in  11 83-4. 

M  Bk.  of  Fees,  236,  240,  1  ^2S ;  Red  Bk. 
ofExck.  576. 

95  Bk.  of  Fees,  236,  240,  1428;  Red  Bk. 
of  Exch.  576. 

9'  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  36.  Another 
Ingram  de  Fiennes  was  probably  father  of 
the  William  of  1282:  cf.  W.  Farrer, 
Feudal  Camhs.  248-9, 

9'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  m,  p.  440. 

98  D.N.B.  Robt.  Burnell. 

99  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VU,  \,  p.  86; 
C142/84/55.  For  the  wardstaff  see  the 
Hundred  of  Ongar,  above. 


was  then  said  to  be  held  of  the  heirs  of  Philip  Burnell 
for  2  knights'  fees."'  Philip,  who  had  died  in  1 294,  was 
the  nephew  and  heir  of  the  bishop."*  There  is  no 
further  mention  of  the  Burnells  in  connexion  with 
Lambourne.  In  1485  the  manor  was  said  to  be  held  as 
of  the  hundred  of  Ongar,  and  in  the  i6th  century  it 
was  held  of  the  hundred  by  service  of  the  ward-staff."" 

The  manor  had  been  subinfeudated  to  the  Lam- 
bourne family  long  before  1 300.  That  family  held  land 
in  the  parish  in  1203,  when  Robert  of  Lambourne  is 
mentioned,"  and  this  Robert,  or  a  namesake,  was  the 
owner  of  the  advowson  before  1218.^  A  John  de  Lam- 
bourne occurs  in  1240.3  In  1261  it  was  stated  that 
Christopher  of  Lambourne,  lately  hanged  for  felony, 
had  held  \  knight's  fee  in  Lambourne  of  William  of 
Lambourne.  This  tenement  had  been  in  the  king's 
hand  since  December  1259;  the  king  had  given  his 
year,  day,  and  waste  to  Elizabeth  widow  of  Christopher 
who  was  said  to  have  wholly  spoiled  the  land.-*  A  Wil- 
liam of  Lambourne  was  among  those  who  did  fealty  to 
Bishop  Burnell  for  their  lands  in  Lambourne  in  1282.' 
He  was  probably  identical  with  the  man  of  that  name 
who  held  the  manor  at  his  death  in  1 300.* 

William  de  Lambourne  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
James.  The  manor  was  then  said  to  include  140  acres 
of  arable,  worth  £,z  13/.  \d.,  7  acres  of  meadow,  worth 
14^.,  8  acres  of  pasture  worth  8/.,  and  2  acres  of  wood, 
wasted  and  valueless.  There  were  19  free  tenants  ren- 
dering j^2  10/.  \\d.  in  rents  of  assize  and  3  capons, 
valued  at  zd.  each,  at  Christmas.  Nine  customary 
tenants  rendered  2  hens,  valued  at  2d.  each,  at  Easter. 
Their  services  were  valued  at  i  id.  The  total  value  of 
the  manor  was  £(1  \<^s.  ()d.'' 

James  de  Lambourne  (knighted  1 306)  made  a  settle- 
ment of  the  manor  in  1307.*  He  was  still  alive  in  1325.' 
Thomas  de  Lambourne  held  the  manor  in  1351."°  He 
died  in  1361  and  his  son  and  heir  William  died  in  the 
same  year."  William  was  succeeded  by  his  sister  Joan, 
wife  of  William  de  Chene.  Before  1376  Lambourne 
had  been  conveyed  to  Sir  John  de  Sutton,  William  de 
Chene  retaining  a  life  interest.'^  Chene  was  evidently 
still  alive  in  1386,  when  he  held  the  manor  of  Polstead 
(SufF.).'3  By  141 1  the  manor  had  passed  to  Thomas 
Lampet,  whose  widow  Elizabeth  was  then  holding  it 
for  life."''  In  that  year  it  was  settled  upon  William 
Lampet,  'kinsman'  of  Thomas. '5  In  141 2  it  was  said 
to  be  held  by  Isabel  Lampet.'*  She  was  probably  iden- 
tical with  the  Elizabeth  of  141 1.  The  manor  subse- 
quently passed  to  John  Lampet,  who  was  succeeded 
before  1456—60  by  his  daughter  Cecily  wife  of  William 
Curzon."  A  William  Curzon  died  holding  Lambourne 
in  1485.  It  was  then  stated  that  Robert  Curzon  had 
enfeoffed   certain   persons  with  the   manor.'*    This 

■  Cur.  Reg.  R.  ii,  206. 

2  See  below,  Church. 

'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  123. 

*  Cal.  Inq.  Misc.  i,  p.  181. 

5  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  36. 

^  This  Wm.  of  Lambourne  was  an 
active  local  official  under  Edward  I :  see 
C.  Moor,  Knights  of  Ediu.  I,  iii,  7. 

'  C133/93/10. 

8  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  1 1 5. 

9  C.  Moor,  Knights  of  Edw.  I,  iii,  7. 
'"  Cal.  Inq.  Misc.  iii,  p.  24. 
' '  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  xi,  p.  81. 
"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  182. 
*3  W.  A.  Coppinger,  Manors  of  Suffolk, 

i,  180.  '■•  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  256. 

'5  Ibid.  >'  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  439. 

"  Ci/26/472. 
'8  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  hen.  VII,  i,  pp.  85-86. 


76 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LAMBOURNE 


implies  that  Robert  was  the  predecessor  of  the  last- 
named  William.  That  the  William  Curzon  who  died 
in  1485  was  a  young  man  and  not  identical  with  the 
William  Curzon  of  1456-60  is  also  suggested  by  the 
fact  that  he  left  an  infant  daughter,  Mary,  as  his  heir." 
Mary  apparently  married  a  member  of  the  Tey  family, 
of  Ardleigh,  probably  Sir  Thomas  Tey  (d.  1 540).^° 
Sir  Thomas  made  a  conveyance  of  the  manor  in  1 520.^' 
Lambourne  was  apparently  not  among  his  possessions 
at  his  death.  By  1 547  it  had  passed  to  Robert  Barfoot, 
who  died  in  that  year.^^ 

Robert's  successor  was  his  son  Thomas.  The  manor 
descended  in  the  Barfoot  family  until  1733,  when  John 
Barfoot,  probably  great-great-grandson  of  Thomas,  sold 
it  to  Sir  John  Fortescue-Aland.^3  Sir  John  was  a  dis- 
tinguished lawyer  and  for  many  years  a  judge.  In  1 746 
he  became  Baron  Fortescue  of  Credan.^'^  He  died  in 
the  same  year  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Dormer, 
2nd  Baron  Fortescue.^s  The  latter  died  childless  in 
1780.  He  left  his  Essex  property  to  his  cousin  Mary, 
widow  of  Richard  Barford,  D.D.,  of  Titchmarsh 
(Northants.).26 

In  1782  Mary  Barford  sold  Lambourne  to  the  Revd. 
Edward  Lockwood,  Rector  of  St.  Peter's,  Northamp- 
ton.^' He  died  in  1802  and  the  manor  of  Lambourne 
passed  to  his  second  son  Edward  Lockwood,  who 
assumed  the  additional  surname  of  Percival.^*  Edward 
Lockwood  Percival  died  in  1 804,  leaving  a  son  and  heir 
with  the  same  names.^' 

Edward  Lockwood  Percival  the  younger  died  in 
1 842  and  was  succeeded  by  his  cousin  William  J.  Lock- 
wood,  owner  of  Dews  Hall  (see  below). 3°  In  1841 
Lambourne  Hall  farm  consisted  of  208  acres.^'  It  was 
occupied  by  Charles  Blewett.  The  manor  subsequently 
descended  to  Lt.-Gen.  William  M.  Wood,  son  of  W.  J. 
Lockwood  who  had  assumed  the  surname  of  Wood  in 
1 8  3  8  on  inheriting  the  property  of  an  uncle.^^  Lt.-Gen. 
Wood  died  in  1883  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Amelius  R.  M.  Lockwood,  who  had  reassumed  the 
original  family  name  in  i876.-'3  The  latter  was  Con- 
servative M.P.  for  Epping  for  many  years  and  achieved 
distinction  as  chairman  of  the  kitchen  committee  of  the 
House  of  Commons.  He  became  ist  Baron  Lambourne 
in  1917  and  Lord-Lieutenant  of  Essex  in  1919.  He 
died  in  1928.34 

The  Lockwood  estate  in  Lambourne  was  latterly 
known  as  that  of  Bishops  Hall,  from  the  family  seat.  In 
addition  to  the  manors  of  Lambourne  and  Bishops  Hall 
(see  below)  it  included  those  of  St.  John's  and  Dews 
Hall  (see  below).  The  estate  was  put  up  for  sale  in 
1929.  It  then  consisted  of  1,61 5  acres.  Some  500  acres 
were  in  hand,  including  Lambourne  Hall  farm,  whose 
extent  was  371  acres. 35 


Lambourne  Hall  is  said  to  have  been  built  by  Thomas 
Barfoot  in  1571.36  This  date  and  the  initials  t.b.  are 
carved  on  oak  panelling  formerly  in  the  house  and  now 
in  the  Lever  Art  Gallery,  Port  Sunlight.3'  The  central 
hall  and  the  Oak  Room  adjoining  it  to  the  east  are  part 
of  the  original  timber-framed  building.  Oak  paneUing 
now  at  the  west  end  of  the  hall  was  originally  incor- 
porated in  a  partition  across  it  and  may  represent  the 
16th-century  screens.  The  Oak  Room  has  original 
finely  moulded  ceiling  beams,  a  fire-place  with  a  four- 
centred  arch,  and  three  doorways  with  four-centred 
heads.  The  house  was  reroofed  and  much  altered  in  the 
1 8th  century.  In  1937  a  new  east  wing  was  built,  the 
dated  weathercock  above  it  being  brought  from  else- 
where.38  PaneUing  in  the  dining-room  and  the  over- 
mantel in  the  Oak  Room  came  from  Marks  Hall,  near 
Coggeshall,  which  was  demolished  about  1950.39 

The  manor  of  LAMBOURNE-AND-ABRIDGE, 
later  known  as  ST.  JOHNS,  originated  in  an  estate  in 
the  north  and  west  of  the  parish  acquired  by  the  Knights 
Hospitallers  from  various  donors  in  the  13th  century 
and  perhaps  earlier.'")  The  estate  remained  in  the  hands 
of  the  Hospitallers  until  the  Dissolution.  In  155311  was 
granted,  as  the  'manors'  of  Lambourne  and  Abridge,  to 
Richard  Morgan  and  Thomas  Carpenter.*'  Soon  after 
this  it  was  acquired  by  Robert  Taverner,  who  died 
holding  it  in  1556.*^  Thomas  Taverner  his  son  and 
heir  was  an  infant  and  became  a  royal  ward.  In  1557 
the  manor  was  valued  at  ^^23  15/.,  and  Elizabeth 
Taverner,  widow  of  Robert,  was  granted  dower  in  it.*' 

Thomas  Taverner  sold  the  manor  in  1 597-8  to  Sir 
Robert  Wroth,  Kt.**  Sir  Robert  died  in  1606  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  another  Sir  Robert.*'  In 
1608  the  manor  was  said  to  include  4  messuages,  2  gar- 
dens, 100  acres  of  land,  20  acres  of  meadow,  100  acres 
of  pasture,  80  acres  of  wood,  and  8/.  rent.**  Sir  Robert 
Wroth  the  younger  died  in  1614.*'  James,  infant  son 
of  Sir  Robert,  died  two  years  later  and  was  succeeded 
by  John  Wroth  his  uncle.**  John  Wroth  still  held  the 
manor  in  162 1  .*'  He  apparently  sold  it  before  Septem- 
ber 1630,  when  Richard  Peacock  received  the  royal 
confirmation  of  all  rights  and  privileges  connected  with 
the  manor. 50  Peacock  died  in  1634,  leaving  the  manor 
to  his  son  Edward. si  In  1641  Edward  Peacock  con- 
veyed it  to  John  Charles. 52  This  was  probably  a  lease, 
for  in  1645  Charles  was  occupying  St.  John's  Wood, 
which  was  part  of  the  manor.53  In  1647  Charles 
Peacock,  John  Charles,  and  others  conveyed  the  manor 
to  George  Bagstar.s*  In  1648  Bagstar  sold  St.  John's 
farm,  which  formed  the  southern  portion  of  the  manor, 
to  William  Browne  the  younger  of  Abridge. 5'  The 
northern  portion,  together  with  the  manorial  rights,  did 
not  go  to  Browne  but  was  sold  by  Bagstar  in  1649  to 


''  It  is  perhaps  significant  that  William 
Curzon  died  on  the  day  of  the  battle  of 
Bosworth. 

*"  W.  A.  Coppinger,  Manors  of  Suffolk, 
iii,  II  i  Morant,  Essex,  \,  432;  Visits,  of 
Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  207. 

"  CP25(2)/i  1/54  East.  i2Hen.  Vni. 

"  C142/84/55.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Mercers'  Co. 

"  E.R.O.,D/DLoT56.  For  the  Barfoot 
pedigree  see  Morant,  Essex,  i,  172,  and 
E.R.O.,  T/G  30/5. 

^  Complete  Peerage,  v,  562, 

"  Ibid.  563. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T2. 

"  Ibid.  T56;  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii, 

397- 
i*  Burke,  Commoners  (1833-8),  iv,  82. 


29  Ibid.;E.R.O.,  D/DL0T54. 

30  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  E2. 
3>  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202. 

32  E.R.  xxxviii,  34;  Burke,  Land.  Gent. 
(1906),  ii,  1035. 

33  J.  Grant,  Essex  Historical,  Bio- 
graphical and  Pictorial,  Lockwood. 

3*  E.R.  xxxviii,  34—36. 

35  E.R.O.  Sale  Cat.  A.  1046. 

36  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  396. 

37  Inf.  from  Mrs.  S.  Padfield,  present 
occupier,  and  from  Mr.  R.  B.  Pugh. 

38  Ibid. 

39  Ibid.;  For  a  photo,  of  Lambourne 
Hall,  1929,  see  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  1046. 
For  the  demolition  of  Marks  Hall  see 
E.R.  lix,  164. 

40  Morant,  Essex,   i,    173;   Feet  of  F. 

77 


Essex,  i,  21$;  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  60. 

■•'  Cal.  Pat.  1550-3,  309. 

«  C142/109/54. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1555-7,466. 

■M  CP25(2)/i38/i750.  FortheWroths 
see  also  Loughton. 

"  C142/294/87. 

••'  CP43/103  rot.  34. 

47  See  Manor  of  Loughton,  in  that 
parish.  -**  Ibid. 

49  CP25(2)/296  East.  19  Jas.  I. 

50  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  Ml  (copy  from 
Forest  Roll).  "  C142/590/15. 

52  CP25(2)/4i8  Trin.  17  Chas.  I. 

53  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  6M  Rep.  App.  61*. 
5*  CP25(2)/4I9     East.     23     Chas.     I5 

E.R.O.,  D/DLo  Ti. 
55  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T56. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Edward  Palmer,  owner  of  Dews  Hall  (see  below).'*  It 
subsequently  descended  along  with  that  manor. 

St.  John's  Farm  was  mortgaged  by  William  Browne 
in  1658  to  John  Eyver  of  Tilty.s'  Browne  died  in 
1665  and  was  succeeded  by  William  Browne,  probably 
his  son. 5  8  In  1678  the  latter  sold  the  farm  to  William 
Scott  of  Chigwell.5'  In  1699  it  was  settled  upon  Scott's 
daughter  Anne  on  her  marriage  to  William  Derham, 
Rector  of  Upminster.*"  Derham  (1657-1735)  became 
a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  and  published  many 
books  and  articles  on  science  and  theology.  In  1 7 14  he 
became  chaplain  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  in  1716a 
canon  of  Windsor.*'  In  1733  he  sold  St.  John's  farm 
to  Sir  John  Fortescue-Aland.  The  farm  was  thus 
merged  in  the  main  manor  of  Lambourne  and  subse- 
quently descended  along  with  it  (see  above).*^ 

In  1723  the  court  of  the  manor  was  being  held  at  a 
house  called  Tobys  'near  Clay  Grove'.*^ 

In  1 84 1  St.  John's  farm  consisted  of  88  acres  in  the 
occupation  of  James  Clark.*''  In  1929  the  area  of  the 
farm  was  1 60  acres.*5 

The  manor  o{  ARNEWAYS,  whose  name  has  been 
corrupted  to  the  modern  ARNOLDS,  probably  took 
its  name  from  Adam  Arneway,  who  is  said  to  have  held 
land  in  Lambourne  'about  the  reign  of  Henry  VI' 
under  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  who  held  the  neighbouring 
manor  of  Battles  in  Stapleford  Abbots  (q.v.).**  This 
tenure  suggests  that  Arneways  was  originally  part  of 
Battles. 

In  1525  Arneways  was  among  the  possessions  of  Sir 
William  Fitzwilliam  of  Milton  (Northants.)  and  was 
settled  in  that  year  to  the  uses  of  his  will.*'  He  also 
owned  the  manor  of  Hunts  (see  below),  and  his  pro- 
perty descended  on  his  death  in  1534  to  his  son  and 
heir  Sir  William.**  In  a  list  of  owners  drawn  up  about 
1 543-6  Anthony  Browne  is  given  under  Arneways.*' 
By  1556,  however,  Arneways  and  Hunts  had  come  to 
Robert  Taverner,  lord  of  the  manors  of  Pryors  (see 
below)  and  Lambourne-and-Abridge  (see  above)  who 
died  in  that  year.''"  Arneways  remained  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Thomas,  son  of  Robert  Taverner,  after  Lam- 
bourne-and-Abridge had  been  sold,  and  descended  on 
Thomas's  death  in  1610  to  his  son  Robert."  In  1625 
Robert  Taverner  sold  Arneways  and  Pryors  to  Robert 
Draper,  merchant  tailor  of  London.'^  Taverner  evi- 
dently remained  tenant  of  the  estate.  Draper  died  in 
1635  and  was  succeeded  by  his  younger  son  William.'-' 
At  its  fullest  extent  the  Taverner  estate  probably  com- 
prised about  500  acres. 

In  1 64 1  William  Draper  of  Oxford  sold  Arneways 
to  Robert  Broomfield  of  Stratford.''*  The  estate  de- 
scended to  John  Broomfield,  son  of  John,  son  of  Robert, 
who  in  168 1  assigned  the  lease  of  Arneways  'heretofore 
in  the  occupation  of  Robert  Taverner',  to  John  Todd 
of  Walthamstow."  In  1687  this  estate  'once  in  the 
occupation  of  Robert  Taverner  and  afterwards  of  Lance 
Nash'  was  sold  to  John  Todd.'*  Todd  is  said  to  have 

5*  CP25(2)/550B  Trin.  1649. 

57  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T56. 

58  Ibid.  59  Ibid. 
">  Ibid.                              "  D.N.B. 
'2  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T56. 
'3  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 
««  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202. 
«!  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  1046. 
"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  173. 
"  Earl     Fitzwilliam     (Milton)     Deeds, 

1725,  1726.  This  reference  has  been  pro- 
vided by  Mr.  A.  A.  Dibben.  For  Fitz- 
william see  also  Gaynes  Park  in  Theydon 
Garnon  and  Marshalls  in  North  Weald. 


'8    CH2/57/20. 

69  E.A.T.,ti.s.  ix,  217;  E.R.O.,  D/DRg 
1/197. 

■">  C142/109/54.. 

'■  C60/456,  No.  44.  For  the  Taverner 
pedigree  see  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc), 
498. 

'2  E.R.O.,T/A44,p.  319. 

"  C142/52S/130. 

"t  E.R.O.,T/A44,  p.  319. 

75  Ibid.  ■"•  Ibid. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  173,  169.  It  is  not 
clear  whether  the  estate  remained  per- 
manently divided.    A  Mr.  Church  owned 


given  half  the  estate  to  William  Church,  who  married 
his  daughter;  their  daughter  and  heir  married  Peter 
Searle  who  sold  Arneways  to  Thomas  Scott  (d.  1733) 
of  Woolston  in  Chigwell  (q.v.)."  The  estate  passed,  to 
Thomas's  son  George  Scott  who  was  holding  it  in  1746. 
A  map  of  the  farm  was  drawn  for  George  Scott  in  that 
year  by  Josiah  Taylor.'*  Arnolds  then  consisted  of  2 1 5 
acres  in  Lambourne,  most  of  which  lay  opposite  the 
farm-house  to  the  south  of  the  main  road.  There  were 
also  a  few  acres  in  Stapleford  Abbots.  George  Scott 
still  held  the  farm  in  1771,"  but  by  1782  it  was  owned 
by  Edward  Sewell.*"  He  was  returned  as  the  owner 
until  1788  when  the  farm  belonged  to  Mrs.  Sarah 
Sewell,  probably  his  widow.*'  After  Mrs.  Sewell's 
death  about  1801  Arneways  came  to  Samuel  Sewell 
who  still  held  it  in  1841.*^  In  the  latter  year  the  farm 
consisted  of  203  acres  in  Lambourne.  It  was  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Kitty  Collyer  and  Philip  B.  Collyer.sj  The 
Collyer  family  had  been  tenants  since  1788.*^ 

Arnolds  Farm  was  advertised  for  sale  in  1843.  It 
was  then  stated  to  contain  203  acres  freehold  in  Lam- 
bourne and  a  further  10  acres  copyhold  of  the  manor 
of  Stapleford  Abbots.  *s  It  was  bought  by  Samuel 
Crane,  whose  family  continued  to  farm  it  until  about 
19 16  when  it  was  sold  to  Mr.  Jacob  Saward.  In  1925 
the  farm  was  bought  by  Mr.  A.  Clarke,  whose  son, 
Mr.  H.  E.  Clarke,  is  the  present  owner.** 

The  manor  house,  now  a  farm,  is  a  timber-framed 
and  weather-boarded  structure  with  three  gables  to  the 
front.  Its  present  plan,  which  is  approximately  square, 
is  the  result  of  additions  and  alterations  at  various  dates. 
The  centre  part  of  the  front  was  once  a  15th-century 
open  hall,  divided  into  two  bays  by  a  massive  arch- 
braced  roof  truss  with  a  rebated  king-post.  Smoke- 
blackened  roof  timbers  indicate  that  there  was  an  open 
hearth,  probably  in  the  eastern  bay.  Flanking  the  hall 
to  east  and  west  are  two-story  cross-wings,  each  with  a 
front  gable.  These  are  probably  of  the  same  date  or 
a  little  later.  A  ceiling  has  now  been  inserted  in  the  hall 
and  the  central  gable  constructed  to  give  light  and  head- 
room on  the  upper  floor.  The  original  truss  has  been 
incorporated  in  a  bedroom  partition.  These  alterations 
were  probably  made  early  in  the  i6th  century.  At 
about  the  same  time  a  central  chimney  was  inserted  and 
a  new  two-story  wing  built  out  behind  the  hall.  This 
would  give  a  somewhat  unusual  T-shaped  plan,  the 
chimney  providing  fire-place  openings  both  in  the  hall 
and  the  new  wing.  The  ground-floor  room  of  the  added 
wing  has  fine  moulded  ceiling  beams  and  joists  of  typical 
early-i6th-century  character  and  there  is  said  to  be  a 
carved  external  bressummer,  now  covered  over,  at  the 
north  end.*'  The  next  addition  was  probably  the  north 
extension  of  the  east  cross-wing,  which  incorporates  a 
17th-century  staircase.  On  the  first  floor  of  the  west 
cross-wing  there  is  panelling  of  the  late  i6th  or  early 
17th  century,  and  later  still  this  wing  was  also  extended 
northwards,  giving  the  house  its  present  square  plan. 

Arnolds  In  1723:  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 

78  Map  in  possession  of  Mr.  H.  E. 
Clarke  of  Arnold's  Farm  and  kindly  lent 
to  the  editor.  A  photo,  of  this :  E.R.O., 
T/M  227. 

'9  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  24. 

80  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  687. 

81  Ibid.  688-93. 

82  Ibid.  694-737;  D/CT  202. 

83  Ibid.  D/CT  202. 

84  Ibid.  Q/RPl  693  f. 

85  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  B.  168. 
ss  Inf.  from  Mr.  H.  E.  Clarke. 
87  Ibid. 


78 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LAMBOURNE 


There  are  said  to  be  two  earlier  windows  to  the  hall, 
now  blocked.**  The  whole  house  has  been  reroofed. 

The  manor  of  BISHOPS  HALL  originated  in  an 
estate  in  Lambourne  held  by  the  Bishop  of  Norwich. 
It  is  probable  that  this  estate  extended  into  Stapleford 
Abbots.  In  1250  Walter  le  Blunt  and  Maud  his  wife 
granted  to  Walter  de  Suffield,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  a 
messuage,  60  acres  of  land,  6  acres  of  meadow,  and 
I  acre  of  wood  in  Lambourne,  which  tenement  had 
formerly  been  held  by  Andrew  le  Draper.*'  In  1252 
the  bishop  received  a  royal  grant  of  free  warren  in  his 
demesnes  at  Lambourne.'"  In  1260  Roger  le  Hunt 
and  Estrilda  his  wife  gave  Simon  de  Wauton,  Bishop  of 
Norwich,  14  acres  of  land  in  the  parish  to  hold  in  free 
alms."  Early  in  1384  the  temporalities  of  Henry 
Despenser,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  were  taken  into  the 
king's  hands  as  a  result  of  the  disastrous  expedition  to 
Flanders  which  the  bishop  had  led.'^  At  a  subsequent 
inquisition  it  was  found  that  the  manor  called  'La 
Bisshoppeshall  of  Norwich'  was  held  of  the  Knights 
Hospitallers  and  of  Sir  John  Sutton  by  the  service  of 
6s.  a  year,  of  the  king  in  chief  as  of  the  manor  of  Haver- 
ing, by  service  of  making  60  perches  of  the  park  pale 
with  his  own  timber,  and  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford  by  suit 
at  his  three  weeken  court.'^  The  manor  contained  80 
acres  of  arable  worth  ly.  44'.  a  year,  12  acres  of  wood 
which  could  be  cut  every  20  years  and  was  worth  2S.  an 
acre,  13/.  %d.  rents  of  assize,  and  1 7( .')  acres  (of  meadow 
or  pasture .')  each  of  which  was  worth  is.  6d. 

The  manor  was  restored  to  the  bishop  with  his  other 
property  in  1385  and  remained  appurtenant  to  the  see 
of  Norwich  until  1 534,  when  the  then  bishop,  Richard 
Nix,  was  deprived  of  his  property  on  the  charge  of 
infringing  the  Statute  of  Praemunire.'*  Nix  was  later 
pardoned,  but  in  1536,  immediately  after  his  death,  the 
temporalities  of  the  see  were  vested  in  the  king  by  Act 
of  Parliament  in  exchange  for  the  former  estates  of  the 
abbey  of  St.  Benet's  Hulme  and  of  the  priory  of  Hick- 
hng.'s  In  October  1536  the  bishop's  manor  in  Lam- 
bourne was  conveyed  to  the  chancellor.  Sir  Thomas 
Audley.'*  Audley  transferred  it  in  1538  to  William 
Hale. '7  In  1556  Hale  settled  the  manor  on  himself  for 
life  with  remainder  tu  Thomas  Hale.'*  This  may  have 
been  the  Thomas  Hale  of  Codicote  (Herts.)  from  whom 
descended  the  Hales  of  King's  Walden  (Herts.)." 
How  long  Bishops  Hall  was  held  by  the  Hales  is  not 
certain.  It  appears  to  have  passed  about  1606  to  the 
family  of  Stoner  of  Loughton  (q.v.)  and  together  with 
land  in  Stapleford  Abbots  (q.v.)  formed  the  estate  of 
Knoll's  Hill.'  In  1606  the  'manor  or  messuage  of 
Bishops  Motte'  was  in  the  possession  of  Clement  Stoner. 
The  site  was  then  'wasted  and  overgrown'.  The  fields 
belonging  to  the  manor  were  Nether  Barnfield,  Upper 
Barnfield,  Wheelers  Ridden,  Great  Perryfield,  Little 
Perryfield,   Sedwins,  Blackcroft,   Stanes,  and   Sagars. 


The  total  extent  was  about  100  acres.^  Stoner  died  in 
1612,  leaving  Francis  his  son  and  heir.J 

Bishops  Hall  seems  subsequently  to  have  been  sepa- 
rated from  the  Knoll's  Hill  estate.  Later  in  the  I7tli 
century  the  manor  came  into  the  possession  of  Edmund 
Colvill,  Salter  of  Maidstone  (Kent).  He  was  evidently 
a  Parliamentarian,  for  in  1662  he  was  removed  from  the 
common  council  of  Maidstone  for  refusing  the  oaths  of 
Supremacy  and  Allegiance.*  He  died  in  1675.'  In 
1 686  his  widow  Katherine  sold  Bishops  Hall  to  William 
Walker,  citizen  and  ironmonger  of  London.* 

William  Walker  died  in  1708  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  eldest  son  Thomas  (d.  1748).^  Thomas  Walker  was 
surveyor-general  to  George  II  and  M.P.  for  West  Looe 
(1733),  Plympton  (1734),  and  Helston  (1741).*  He 
left  all  his  Essex  estates  to  his  nephew  Stephen  Skinner.' 
Skinner  died  in  1762  and  his  widow  Mary  in  1769. 
The  will  of  Thomas  Walker  had  provided  that  his 
estates  should  pass  after  Skinner's  death  to  Skinner's 
three  daughters  and  their  heirs.'" 

In  1772  a  private  Act  of  Parliament  was  passed  for 
dividing  the  estates."  Bishops  Hall  was  included  in 
Lot  C  of  the  subsequent  partition  and  became  the  pro- 
perty of  Mary  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Aubrey,  6th  Bt.  of 
Boarstall  (Bucks.),  and  daughter  of  Sir  James  Cole- 
brooke,  ist  Bt.,  by  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Stephen 
Skinner.'*  In  1774  Sir  Thomas  and  Lady  Aubrey  sold 
the  manor  to  William  Waylett  of  Lambourne.'^  Way- 
lett  sold  it  in  1785  to  Admiral  Sir  Edward  Hughes, 
who  had  recently  returned  to  England  from  service 
against  the  French  as  Commander-in-Chief,  East 
Indies.'* 

On  Sir  Edward  Hughes's  death  in  1 798  the  manor 
passed  to  his  stepson  Edward  Hughes  Ball  (d.  1863), 
who  later  assumed  the  additional  surname  of  Hughes 
and  became  a  social  celebrity  and  dandy,  familiarly 
known  as  'Golden  Ball'."  In  i8i8  Ball  Hughes  leased 
Bishops  Hall  to  W.  J.  Lockwood  of  Dews  Hall  (see 
below)  for  fourteen  years.'*  The  unexpired  portion  of 
the  lease  was  surrendered  in  1827."  The  manor  is  said 
to  have  been  sold  about  this  time  to  Edward  Dowdes- 
well.  Rector  of  Stanford  Rivers,  who  gave  it  to  Miss 
Lockwood  Percival  (presumably  Louisa  Elizabeth, 
sister  of  Edward  Lockwood  Percival  the  younger,  for 
whom  see  above.  Manor).'*  After  Miss  Percival's 
death  (before  c.  1838)  Bishops  Hall  apparently  de- 
scended along  with  the  main  manor  of  Lambourne. 

The  original  manor  house  of  Bishops  Hall  was  no 
doubt  that  which  in  1606  was  described  as  Bishops 
Motte,  and  was  then  wasted  and  overgrown  (see  above) . 
This  moated  site  can  still  be  identified.  Buried  tiles  and 
debris  at  the  south-west  corner  may  be  the  remains  of 
former  buildings. 

The  second  Bishops  Hall  was  built  f  mile  west  of  the 
first,  probably  by  William  Walker  (d.  1708)  or  his  son 


88  Ibid. 

89  FeetofF.  Essex,  \,  183. 

»o  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1226-57,  404. 

"  Feel  ofF.  Essex,  i,  237. 

M  Cal.  Close,  1385-9,  3-4.  For  the 
career  of  Despenser  see  D.N.B. 

"  C145/229.  The  document  is  badly 
stained  but  the  name  of  the  manor  seems 
to  be  as  given  above.  This  makes  it 
reasonably  certain  that  the  manor  was 
named  after  the  Bishop  of  Norwich,  and 
not,  as  suggested  by  Dr.  Reaney  {P.N. 
Essex,  60—61)  after  a  family  named 
Bishop. 

«■•  For  Nix  see  D.N.B. 

95  27  Hen.  VIII,  C.45  (priv.  act.). 


96  L.  &  P.  Hen.  ml,  xi,  p.  377. 

97  Ibid,  xiii  (i),  p.  325. 

98  Cal.  Pat.  1555-7,  90. 

99  Burke,   Land.    Gent.    {1906),    746- 

7- 

'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  178. 

2  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  Ei :  this  includes  a 
sketch  map  of  the  estate.  Francis  Stoner 
(d.  1604),  father  of  Clement,  does  not 
appear  to  have  owned  Bishops  Hall: 
C142/285/116. 

3  Morant,  Essex,  i,  178. 
*  Recs.  of  Maidstone  (i^ib),  146. 

5  P.C.C.    Wills,    1671-S    (Brit. 
Soc),  49. 

6  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T14. 

79 


Rrc. 


1  Ibid. 

8  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  398-9. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T14. 
'0  Ibid. 

"  Skinner's  Estate  Act,  12  Geo.  Ill, 
C.96  (priv.  act.).  Cf.  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T14. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T14. 

■3  Ibid. 

i«  Ibid.;  for  Hughes  see  D.A^.B.  He  had 
fought  5  battles  in  about  a  year. 

'5  D.N.B.  %,  174. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T14. 

"  Ibid. 

>8  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  399; 
Burke,  Commoners  (1833-8),  iv,  82. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Thomas  (d.  1748)."  This  became  the  seat  of  the  Lock- 
wood  family  and  gave  its  name  to  their  estate  in  the  19th 
century.  It  was  much  enlarged  by  Lord  Lambourne 
about  1900.  After  the  break-up  of  the  estate  (1929) 
the  house  was  demolished  (1936)^"  and  the  present 
Bishops  Hall,  the  third  of  the  name,  was  built  in  the 
grounds  about  1 50  yds.  south-east.  This  is  a  two-story 
gabled  building,  partly  half-timbered.  Various  features 
from  the  earlier  house  are  incorporated,  including  the 
carved  stone  Lockwood  arms  on  the  south  front  and  the 
17th-century  Dutch  panelling  in  the  library. 

The  manor  oi DEIVS  HALL  took  its  name  from  the 
family  of  Deu  or  Dew.  Thomas  Deu  held  land  in  Lam- 
bourne in  1248.^'  He  and  John  Deu  made  a  convey- 
ance of  9  acres  of  land  and  i  acre  of  meadow  in  1 262.^^ 
A  Richard  Deu  of  Lambourne  occurs  in  1280-1.^2  A 
John  Deu  was  verderer  for  the  regards  of  Chelmsford 
and  Ongar  in  1285.  He  was  probably  identical  with 
the  man  of  the  same  name  who  was  a  juror  at  the  peram- 
bulation of  the  forest  of  Essex  in  i30i.2'»  In  1304-5 
Hamon  de  Deu  conveyed  to  Richard  of  Chigwell  and 
Joan  his  wife  a  messuage,  120  acres  of  land,  24  acres  of 
pasture,  and  9  acres  of  meadow  in  Lambourne  and 
Theydon  Bois.^s 

In  1305  Juliane,  widow  of  John  de  Deu,  conveyed 
to  Henry  de  Multon  and  Agnes  his  wife  a  messuage, 
200  acres  of  land,  6  acres  of  meadow,  1 5  acres  of  wood, 
and  20  acres  of  pasture  in  Lambourne.^*  It  was  pro- 
vided in  this  conveyance  that  the  property  should  de- 
scend to  the  heirs  of  Agnes;  probably  therefore  she  was 
the  daughter  of  John  Deu.  In  or  about  1322  the  estate 
passed  to  Juliane,  daughter  of  Agnes  and  Henry  and 
wife  of  Richard  de  Welby  of  Multon  (Moulton, 
Lines .?)."  In  1333  it  was  said  to  consist  of  a  messuage, 
220  acres  of  land,  7  acres  of  meadow,  20  acres  of  pas- 
ture, 20  acres  of  wood,  24/.  rent  and  \  messuage  all  in 
Lambourne.  A  settlement  in  that  year  provided  that 
the  estate  should  descend  to  the  male  heirs  of  Juliane 
and  Richard,  with  successive  remainders  to  their  daugh- 
ters Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Joan,  and  Ada.^*  No  sons  are 
mentioned  by  name  and  it  is  probable  that  Dews  Hall 
descended  through  one  of  the  daughters. 

In  14 1 9  John  de  Leventhorpe  held  an  estate  in 
Lambourne,  described  as  I  messuage,  220  acres  of  land, 
100  acres  of  meadow,  20  acres  of  pasture,  20  acres  of 
wood,  24-f.  rent  and  J  messuage.^'  A  Thomas  de  Leven- 
thorpe had  connexions  with  the  parish  in  1469.3°  The 
Leventhorpe  estate  was  probably  Dews  Hall.  Reynold 
Bismere  (d.  1 506)  held  Dews  Hall  of  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham  as  of  Ongar  castle  by  doing  what  are  called 
'white  services'  at  the  wardstaff  of  the   hundred  of 


Ongar.3'  Two  other  Essex  manors  held  by  Bismere  in 
1 506  had  formerly  belonged  to  the  Leventhorpes.'^ 

By  1 540  Dews  Hall  had  passed  to  Sir  William  Sul- 
yard  who  died  in  that  year.^J  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
half-brother  Eustace  Sulyard  (d.  1547).  Eustace's  heir 
was  his  eldest  son  Edward,  but  Dews  Hall,  then  in  the 
occupation  of  James  Haydon,  was  left  to  a  younger  son 
John. 34  There  is  no  further  mention  of  John.  In  1580 
Edward  Sulyard  and  Anne  his  wife  conveyed  Dews 
Hall  to  Henry  Palmer.^' 

The  manor  descended  in  the  direct  male  line  of 
Palmer  to  Henry  Billingsley  Palmer,  son  of  Edward 
Palmer.36  Between  1668  and  1697  a  number  of  mort- 
gages were  taken  out  on  Dews  Hall.37  Among  the 
mortgagees  was  Richard  Lockwood.  In  1709  Henry 
Billingsley  Palmer  sold  the  manor  to  Catlyn  Thorogood, 
an  official  of  the  South  Sea  Company.'*  Thorogood 
died  in  1732.3'  His  son  Pate  Thorogood  sold  Dews 
Hall  in  1735  to  Richard  Lockwood,  'an  eminent 
Turkey  merchant',  the  son  of  the  above-mentioned 
Richard  Lockwood.'"' 

Lockwood  settled  at  Dews  Hall  and  the  manor  de- 
scended to  his  eldest  son  Richard  (d.  1794).'"  The 
latter  left  no  children  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 
the  Revd.  Edward  Lockwood,  owner  of  the  main  manor 
of  Lambourne  (see  above).  In  1802,  after  the  death  of 
the  Revd.  Edward  Lockwood,  Dews  Hall  passed  to 
William  Joseph  Lockwood,  son  of  his  elder  son.  It  was 
thus  separated  from  the  manor  of  Lambourne,  but  the 
two  manors  were  reunited  in  1842  and  Dews  Hall 
subsequently  descended  along  with  Lambourne. 

In  1 841  Dews  Hall  farm  consisted  of  40  acres  occu- 
pied by  William  Wootton.^^  In  1929  it  consisted  of 
87  acres,  in  hand.*' 

When  Richard  Lockwood  acquired  Dews  Hall  in 
1735  the  manor  house  was  'an  old  brick  building'.*^ 
He  enlarged  and  refronted  it  in  the  classical  style.*'  A 
print  of  1824  shows  a  fine  three-story  Georgian  man- 
sion with  seven  windows  across  the  front.**  The  central 
bay  had  a  pediment  and  a  first-floor  balcony.  The 
arcaded  side  wings  were  of  one  story.  The  house  was 
demolished  shortly  before  i84i.'»'  The  site  is  now 
occupied  by  a  red-brick  stable  court  belonging  to 
Bishops  Hall  and  dating  from  about  1900. 

The  estate  or  farm  known  as  HUNTS  and  later  as 
PATCH  PARK  never  seems  to  have  been  styled  a 
manor.  It  derived  its  original  name  from  the  family  of 
Richard  le  Hunte  who  with  Cecily  his  wife  held  land  in 
Lambourne  in  1306.''*  In  1360  John  Hunte  and  his 
'parceners'  held  \  knight's  fee  in  Lambourne  of  the 
Earl  of  Oxford.*'  The  name  Patch  Park  probably  came 


'9  William  Walker  was  resident  in  the 
parish  (cf.  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1).  Before 
him  the  owners  of  Bishops  Hall  manor  in 
the  17th  cent,  were  probably  non- 
resident. The  house  existed  by  the  time 
of  Morant  (cf.  Morant,  Essex^  i,  173). 

20  Inf.  from  Col.  J.  C.  Lockwood,  present 
owner  of  Bishops  Hall.  For  the  building 
demolished  in  1936  see  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat. 
1046  (includes  photo.).  For  the  contents 
of  that  great  house  in  1929  see  E.R.O., 
Sale  Cat.  A.  623.  They  included  a  'magni- 
ficent French  state  bedstead'  upon  which 
Edward  VII  had  slept  during  his  visit  to 
Bishops  Halt. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  161. 

"  Ibid.  2+5. 

"  E.A.T.,  N.s.  xviii,  139. 

^  Ibid,  xvi,  93-94. 

^5  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  98. 

*'  Ibid.  100. 


2'  Cal.  Fine  R.  1 3 19-27,  89. 

28  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  28. 

^'  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  270. 

3i>  Cal.  Pat.  1467-77,  173. 

"  C142/20/56.  This  is  the  first 
reference  to  the  estate  as  a  manor.  For  the 
wardstaff  see  above,  Hundred  of  Ongar. 

32  Leventhorpes  in  Wennington  and 
Launders  in  Rainham :  see  Morant,  Essex, 
i,  86,  89. 

"  C 142/64/89.  For  the  Sulyards  see 
Morant,  Essex,  ii,  42  and  also  Manor  of 
Otes  in  High  Laver.  34  C 142/86/63. 

35  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T5.  An  Edward 
Palmer  probably  occupied  Dews  Hall 
before  1547;  E.A.T.  N.s.  ix,  217. 

3'  For  the  descent  see  Visits,  of  Essex 
(Harl.  Soc),  463. 

37  E.R.O.,  D/DLoTs,  6. 

3'  Ibid.  T7;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  174. 

3'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  174.    For  his  part 

80 


in  renovating  the  church  and  the  sub- 
sequent dispute  between  the  parish  and 
his  executors  see  below,  Church. 

40  Ibid.  J  E.R.O.,  D/DL0T9. 

41  For  the  Lockwood  pedigree  see 
Burke,  Commoners  (1833-8),  iv,  81. 

42  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202. 

43  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  1046. 

44  Morant,  Essex^  i,  174.  45  Ibid. 

46  See  plate  facing  p.  30.  A  view 
in  Gents.  Mag.  Oct.  1821  is  less  good: 
here  the  apparent  position  of  the  house  to 
the  south-east  of  the  church  is  probably 
due  to  faulty  perspective. 

47  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202.  The  Tithe  Map 
and  Award  show  the  'scite  of  old  mansion' 
at  the  position  of  Dews  Hall.  T.  Wright, 
Hist.  Essex  (1835),  ii,  401-2  speaks  of  the 
house  as  still  standing. 

48  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  107. 

49  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  x,  p.  522. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LAMBOURNE 


from  the  family  of  John  Patche  of  Lambourne,  a  wood- 
ward of  the  bailiwick  of  Ongar  in  Waltham  forest  in 
1498.50  The  estate  or  at  least  the  farm-house  was  still 
known  as  Hunts  as  late  as  1714.S' 

In  1525  Hunts  was  held  along  with  Arneways  (see 
above)  by  Sir  William  Fitzwilliam.s^  It  passed  with 
Arneways  to  Robert  Taverner,  who  was  holding  it  in 
1556.53  In  1716  'a  parcel  of  pasture  or  marsh  known 
as  Patch  Park',  comprising  about  60  acres,  belonged  to 
Thomas  Luther,  lord  of  Suttons  in  Stapleford  Tawney 
(q.v.)  and  the  farm  subsequently  descended  along  with 
Suttons.S't  After  Pryors  (see  below)  had  been  added  to 
the  Suttons  estate  Patch  Park  and  Pryors  were  worked 
as  a  single  farm. 

The  present  farm-house  of  Patch  Park  was  originally 
timber-framed  and  may  be  of  17th-century  date  or 
earlier.  It  probably  consisted  of  a  central  block  with 
cross-wings  projecting  to  the  south  and  oversailing  at 
first  floor  level.  The  house  has  been  much  altered,  par- 
ticularly in  the  mid-igth  century  when  most  of  the 
lower  story  was  faced  with  gault  brick. 

The  manor  of  PRT'ORS  took  its  name  from  the 
priory  of  Dunmow,  to  which  it  belonged  in  the  Middle 
Ages.  In  1273  Roger  Bishop  and  Alice  his  wife  and 
Geoffrey  Sleybrond  and  Rose  his  wife  conveyed  to 
Hugh,  Prior  of  Dunmow,  43  acres  of  land  and  2  acres 
of  meadow  in  Lambourne. 55  In  1291  the  property  of 
the  prior  in  Lambourne  was  valued  at  18/.  21^.5*  In 
1 3 1 1  the  priory  was  granted  licence  to  acquire  a  further 
small  property  in  the  parish.s' 

In  1536,  after  the  dissolution  of  the  priory,  the  lands 
in  Lambourne  formerly  belonging  to  it  were  granted  to 
Robert,  Earl  of  Sussex  (d.  i542).58  In  1554  Henry, 
Earl  of  Sussex  (d.  1557),  sold  Pryors  to  Robert  Taver- 
ner.5'  The  manor  subsequently  descended  with  Arne- 
ways (see  above)  until  1681.  In  that  year  Arneways 
was  sold  by  John  Broomfield  to  John  Todd,  but  Pryors 
remained  in  the  possession  of  Broomfield,  who  left  it  by 
his  will  (1687)  to  his  sister  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Nicholas 
Staphurst,  M.D.*"  Nicholas  Staphurst,  son  of  Eliza- 
beth, sold  the  estate  in  17 13  to  Dr.  Thomas  Tooke, 
Rector  of  Lambourne.*"  A  sketch  map  of  Pryors  and 
the  glebe  land  made  in  1714  is  a  little  difficult  to  follow 
but  appears  to  show  that  Pryors  proper  consisted  of  3  5 
acres  and  that  an  additional  1 1  acres  belonging  to  the 
glebe  were  farmed  as  part  of  Pryors. '^  Tooke  died  in 
1 72 1,  leaving  Pryors  to  his  wife  for  life  with  remainder 
to  his  brother  John  Tooke  (d.  1764)  who  also  suc- 
ceeded him  as  rector.*^  John  Tooke  was  succeeded  as 
rector  and  owner  of  Pryors  by  his  son  Robert  Tooke 
(d.  1776).*'*  Robert  left  Pryors  to  his  sister  Mrs.  Cal- 
vert, who  held  it  until  her  death  about  I794.*5  She 
was  succeeded  by  her  daughter  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Martin,  who  sold  the  farm  about  1798  to  Charles  Smith 
of  Suttons  in  Stapleford  Tawney  (q.v.).    Pryors  was 


thus  merged  in  the  Suttons  estate.**  In  1841  Pryors 
and  Patch  Park  (see  above)  together  contained  136 
acres.*' 

A  small  timber-framed  and  weather-boarded  house, 
now  known  as  Patch  Park  Cottage,  is  thought  to  repre- 
sent the  former  manor  house  of  Priors.  Until  recently 
it  was  divided  into  two  tenements.  Externally  it  appears 
to  be  of  the  i8th  or  early  19th  century,  but  two  ground- 
floor  rooms  have  stop-chamfered  beams,  probably  of 
the  17th  century  and  it  is  possible  that  at  one  time  the 
building  was  of  greater  extent. 

The  priory  of  Stratford  Bow  (Mdx.)  owned  6  acres 
of  land  in  Lambourne  called  MrNCHTNL^NDS, 
which  were  granted  after  the  Dissolution  to  Sir  Ralph 
Sadler,  who  in  1 546  received  licence  to  grant  the  pro- 
perty to  John  Lowe.**  It  may  have  been  in  connexion 
with  these  lands  that  the  Abbot  of  Waltham  was  paying 
I  mark  a  year  to  Stratford  priory  in  about  i254.*9 

The  advowson  of  the  church  of  Lambourne  was 
originally  appurtenant  to  the  manor  of 
CHURCH  Lambourne.  It  was  given  by  Robert  of 
Lambourne  to  Waltham  Abbey.  This 
grant  was  confirmed  by  the  Bishop  of  London  in  1 2 1 8." 
The  confirmation  appears  to  have  included  the  per- 
mission required  for  the  ordination  of  a  vicarage,  but 
there  is  no  evidence  that  this  ever  took  place.'" 

The  first  presentation  to  the  rectory  after  the  Dissolu- 
tion was  made  in  1546  by  Sir  Anthony  Cook.'^  In 
1553  the  king  granted  the  advowson  to  Lord  Francis 
Russell  and  James  Bridges.'^  Robert  Taverner  of 
Arneways  (see  above)  who  died  in  1556  was  said  to 
own  the  advowson.'''  In  1557,  however.  Sir  Nicholas 
Bacon  and  George  Medley  presented.'s  Katherine 
Barfoot,  widow  of  Robert  Barfoot  (see  above.  Manor), 
presented  in  1569.'*  She  is  stated  to  have  done  so  by 
reason  of  a  grant  of  the  advowson  for  one  turn,  made  by 
Waltham  Abbey.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  presenta- 
tions of  1 546  and  1557  also  derived  from  grants  made 
before  the  dissolution  of  the  abbey. 

The  advowson  appears  to  have  been  held  for  some 
time  by  the  Taverners,  although  the  presentation  was 
made  by  a  member  of  the  family  on  one  occasion  only 
(1608)."  The  advowson  was  sold  with  Arneways  to 
Robert  Draper  in  1625.'*  In  1641  William  Draper 
conveyed  it  to  William  and  Thomas  Overman."  The 
presentation  of  1642  was  made  by  the  king;  it  had  pre- 
viously been  granted  for  this  turn  by  Robert  Taverner 
to  Thomas  Winnifl^e,  Rector  of  Lambourne.  80  Winniffe 
was  Dean  of  Gloucester  (1624)  and  later  of  St.  Paul's 
(163 1 ).  He  was  chaplain  to  Charles  I  and  became 
Bishop  of  Lincoln  in  1642.*'  No  doubt  the  king  pre- 
sented on  his  behalf  In  1646,  after  the  revenues  of  his 
see  had  been  confiscated  by  Parliament,  Winniife  re- 
tired to  Lambourne  where  he  died  in  1654.  He  bought 
the  next  presentation  and  evidently  intended  to  give  the 


5°  E.R.  XIV,  200. 

5'  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  Pi;  Chapman  and 
Andre,  Map  of  Essex,  7777,  sheet  xvi,  give 
Hunts  as  name  of  present  Great  Downs 
farm.  This  was  probably  an  error. 

52  Earl  Fitzwilliam  (Milton)  Deeds, 
1725,  1726. 

53  C142/109/54. 

54  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T2. 

55  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \\,  I. 

5<>  Tax  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  25*. 
5'  Cal.  Pat.  R.  1307-13,  395. 

58  L.  &■  P.  Hen.  f^HI,  xi,  p.  87. 

59  CP25(2)/7o/579  Mich,  i  &  2  Ph.  & 
Mary. 

'o  Morant,     Essex,     i,     174;     E.R.O., 

ES.  IV 


D/DSd  T42. 
6'  Ibid. 

62  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  Pi. 

63  Morant,  Essex,  i,  174-5. 
<>*  Ibid. 

65  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  402; 
E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  686-99;  ibid.  D/DSd 
T42.  ''  I'''''- 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202.  The  name  of  this 
Pryors  is  not  now  used  locally.  Priors 
near  Bishops  Hall  is  a  modern  house  with 
no  known  connexion  with  the  Dunmow 
priory  estate. 

68  L.  &  P.  Hen.  nil,  xiv  (i),  p.  161; 
ibid,  xxi  (2),  p.  348. 

'9  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  18. 

81 


'"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  691. 

"  There  was  a  rector  in  1297  :  Cal.  Pal. 
1292-1301,  296. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  360. 

'3  Cal.  Pat.  1553,  76.  Russell  was  the 
eldest  son  of  the  3rd  Earl  of  Bedford, 
whom  he  succeeded  in  1555. 

'4  C142/109/S4. 

'S  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  360. 

'6  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.;  CP25(2)/i35/i72i;  C60/457. 
The  king  presented  in  1606. 

'8  CP25(2)/4i5  Mich.  I  Chas.  I.     . 

"  CP2S(2)/4i8  Mich.  17  Chas.  I. 

80  C142/S2S/130. 

8'  D.N.B. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


living  to  his  nephew  Peter  Mews  (1619-1706).*^ 
Mews,  who  served  in  the  royalist  forces  during  the  Civil 
War,  presented  to  the  rectory  in  1660.83  He  later  be- 
came Bishop  of  Winchester. 

The  advowson  appears  to  have  descended  subse- 
quently along  with  Pryors  (see  above)  but  to  have  been 
granted  for  single  turns  to  persons  not  connected  with 
that  manor.  In  17 1 2  it  was  sold  by  Nicholas  Staphurst 
to  Dr.  Thomas  Tooke,  then  rector.  Tooke  provided  in 
his  will  that  his  heirs  should  have  the  advowson  for  50 
years  after  his  death  and  that  it  should  then  pass  to 
Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge.  *<  The  college  pre- 
sented for  the  first  time  in  1778  and  has  continued  to 
do  so  ever  since.*' 

The  rectory  was  valued  at  £fi  1 3^.  \ti.  in  about  1254, 
1291,  and  14288*  and  at  ^14  in  1535. *'  The  tithes 
were  commuted  in  1841  for  ;£6ro;  there  were  then 
35  acres  of  glebe.  8* 

The  Old  Rectory,  now  called  Lambourne  Place,  was 
originally  a  timber-framed  house,  probably  of  the  17th 
century.89  It  was  largely  faced  with  red  brick  about 
1 740.  The  fine  symmetrical  front  has  rusticated  brick- 
work to  the  lower  story,  while  above  there  are  rusticated 
quoins,  a  moulded  brick  cornice,  and  a  central  pedi- 
ment. A  high  parapet  conceals  the  dormer  windows. 
The  pedimented  doorcase  of  wood  is  said  to  have  come 
from  Dews  Hall  (see  above)."*  It  formerly  had  a  shield 
of  arms  in  the  tympanum.  Inside  there  are  panelled 
rooms  and  a  staircase  with  turned  balusters  of  about 
1740.  Some  of  the  chimney  pieces  are  of  this  date  and 
some  later.  There  are  later  additions  at  the  back  of  the 
house.  It  is  now  the  home  of  the  Rt.  Hon.  John 
Strachey,  P.C,  M.P.,  Minister  of  Food  1946-50  and 
Secretary  of  State  for  War  19 50-1. 

The  present  rectory  was  built  in  1925  on  a  site  pre- 
sented by  Lord  Lambourne."  It  is  a  two-story  house 
of  dark-red  brick. 

The  church  of  ST.  MART  AND  ALL  SAINTS 
consists  of  nave,  chancel,  and  west  bell  turret.  It  for- 
merly had  north  and  south  porches.  The  walls  are  of 
flint  rubble  with  stone  and  brick  dressings  and  are 
covered  externally  with  cement.  The  bell  turret  is 
timber-framed  and  weather-boarded  and  has  a  lead 
spire. 

The  nave  dates  from  the  middle  of  the  12th  century. 
It  has  north  and  south  doorways  which  were  blocked 
and  reset  in  the  1 8th  century.  The  south  door  has  some 
of  the  original  voussoirs  to  the  semicircular  arch.  The 
north  doorway  has  original  scalloped  capitals  externally 
but  the  shafts  are  missing.  The  outer  order  of  the  open- 
ing is  semicircular,  enriched  with  chevron  ornament. 
Below  is  a  tympanum  now  resting  on  a  wood  lintel. 
Some  of  the  reset  stones  of  the  tympanum  are  decorated 
with  axe-cut  formy  crosses  and  similar  designs.  At  a 
high  level  and  partly  behind  the  timber-work  of  the  bell 
turret  on  both  north  and  south  sides  are  round-headed 
single-light  12th-century  windows.  Part  of  the  internal 
jamb  and  arch  of  a  similar  window  was  uncovered 
farther  east  on  the  north  side  in  195  i. 

An  original  chancel,  built  at  the  same  time  as  the 
nave,  was  largely  rebuilt  in  the  13th  century.    The 


thicker  walls  adjoining  the  nave  may  be  the  remains  of 
the  12th-century  chancel.  A  13th-century  blocked 
lancet  window  is  visible  externally  on  the  south  side. 

In  the  14th  century  new  windows  may  have  been 
inserted  in  the  nave  and  chancel. 

The  nave  roof,  with  its  tie-beam  and  king-post  with 
four-way  struts,  probably  dates  from  the  1 5th  century. 
Timber  porches,  later  removed,  may  have  been  added 
in  this  or  the  following  century. 

The  bell-turret  was  probably  added  early  in  the  i6th 
century.  The  timber-framing,  reaching  to  the  floor  of 
the  nave,  has  angle-posts,  tie-beams,  and  curved  braces. 

In  1704-5  the  west  gallery  was  built  at  the  expense 
of  William  Walker  of  Bishops  Hall.  It  is  supported  on 
moulded  columns  and  is  ornamented  with  foliage  carv- 
ing incorporating  Walker's  monogram.  The  panels  are 
inscribed  with  a  list  of  benefactions  to  the  parish.  A 
new  chancel  screen  may  have  been  inserted  soon  after- 
wards. The  panels,  which  now  form  a  dado  at  the  back 
of  the  choir  stalls,  have  similar  foliage  carving  and  the 
monogram  T.T.  (possibly  Thomas  Tooke,  rector 
1707-21). 

The  church  was  restored  and  altered  between  1723 
and  1727.  In  1726—7  about  ^220  was  spent  on  this 
work. 9^  The  renovations  were  inspired  by  Catlyn 
Thorogood  of  Dews  Hall,  a  churchwarden.  After  his 
death  in  1732  there  was  a  dispute  between  the  parish 
and  his  executors  concerning  his  accounts  for  the  period 
of  renovation. '3  The  work  included  the  removal  of  the 
timber  porches  to  north  and  south  and  probably  the 
blocking  and  resetting  of  the  12th-century  doorways. 
A  new  west  door  was  inserted,  having  a  moulded  hood 
on  foliated  brackets  (dated  1726)  and  an  oval  window 
above  it.  New  or  altered  windows  were  provided  in  the 
chancel  and  nave.  At  the  same  time  the  interior  was 
decorated.  The  chancel  arch  is  now  three-centred,  rest- 
ing on  voluted  brackets  and  enriched  with  1 8th-century 
plasterwork.  The  tie-beams  across  the  nave  and  chancel 
are  covered  with  moulded  and  enriched  plaster,  the 
mouldings  being  carried  round  the  walls  to  form  a 
cornice.  The  king-post  of  the  nave  roof  has  been 
clothed  in  ornamental  plaster  and  acanthus  leaves.  It 
was  probably  at  this  time,  also,  that  the  oak  reredos  with 
its  fluted  Corinthian  pilasters  was  installed,  and  also  a 
three-decker  pulpit  and  box  pews.  The  renovation  was 
so  thorough  that  the  interior  gives  the  impression  of  a 
Georgian  church,  an  effect  heightened  by  the  large 
number  of  painted  hatchments  and  of  i8th-  and  early 
19th-century  monuments.  A  print  dated  1824  gives  a 
good  general  view  of  the  interior  at  this  time,  including 
the  three-decker  pulpit  with  an  enriched  sounding- 
board  and  the  box  pews.  It  also  shows  a  late-i  8th-cen- 
tury  monument  above  the  altar,  blocking  the  east  win- 
dow."* An  upper  tier  was  added  to  the  gallery  in 
1820.95 

In  1889  a  new  organ  was  installed  and  a  new  brick 
organ  chamber  was  built  for  it  on  the  north  of  the 
chancel.  At  the  same  time  the  church  was  reseated,  the 
pulpit  probably  lowered,  and  a  new  heating  system 
installed.  These  alterations  were  the  gift  of  Col.  Lock- 
wood  of  Bishops  Hall. 9*    In  1933  a  new  vestry  and 


82  D.N.B. 

83  Ibid.;  Newcourt,  Repert,  ii,  360. 
8*  Morant,  Essex^  i,  175. 

*'  Michael  Tyson  (174.0—80)  was  insti- 
tuted in  1778  after  a  long  legal  struggle 
concerning  the  advowson.  He  was  a 
former  scholar  of  Corpus  Christi,  anti- 
quary, and  artist :  D.N.B. 


^  E.A.T.   N.s.    xviii,    18;    Tax.    Fed. 
(Rec.  Com.),  zih;  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  204. 
8'  Fahr  Fed.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202. 

89  Possibly  the  house  mentioned  in  the 
glebe  terrier  of  16 10:  Newcourt,  Repert. 
ii,  360. 

9"  Hist.  Mort.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  144. 

82 


9'  Inf.  from  the  present  rector. 

92  E.R.O.,  D/P    181/8/1.    This  vestry 
book  contains  details  of  the  renovation. 

93  Ibid.  181/8/1,2. 

9''  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Lambourne.  See  plate 
facing  p.  53. 
95  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  403. 
»'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890). 


Kelvedon  Hall 
Built  c.  1743 


Copyright  Country  Life 


Lambourne  Place,  formerly  the  Rectory 
Built  c.  1740 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LAMBOURNE 


entry  were  constructed  under  the  gallery,  the  partitions 
being  of  oak  from  Bishops  Hall."  There  is  a  two-light 
window  in  the  vestry,  on  the  north  wall  of  the  church. 

There  are  three  bells,  of  1640  by  John  Clifton,  of 
1684  by  James  Bartlet,  and  of  1784  by  William  Mears. 
In  1552  there  were  three  bells,  breadth  24  in.,  20  in., 
and  21  in.,  and  also  two  little  handbells  and  a  sacring 
bell.'*  The  Bartlet  bell  was  installed  in  obedience  to 
the  direction  of  the  archdeacon  at  his  visitation  of 
1683.''' 

The  glass  in  the  south  windows  of  the  chancel  was 
installed  in  18 17,  having  been  brought  from  Basle.' 
The  subjects  are  as  follows:  the  Choice  between  Good 
and  Evil,  dated  1 630;  the  Adoration  of  the  Magi,  dated 
1637;  the  Incredulity  of  St.  Thomas  (with  the  Annun- 
ciation in  the  spandrels)  dated  1623;  Christ  and  St. 
Peter  on  the  sea  (with  the  Apocalyptic  Vision  in  the 
spandrels)  dated  163 1 ;  the  Adoration  of  the  Shepherds, 
the  Virgin  and  Child  and  St.  Anne  and  the  Virgin  and 
Child  (with  St.  Christopher  and  a  female  saint  in  the 
spandrels)  dated  163 1.  The  inscriptions  are  in  Ger- 
man.^ The  glass  in  the  east  window,  representing  the 
Adoration  of  the  Shepherds,  was  presented  in  memory 
of  Lord  Lambourne  (d.  1928). 

During  repairs  in  195 1  part  of  a  wall-painting  of  St. 
Christopher  was  uncovered  between  the  windows  on 
the  south  side  of  the  nave.  It  is  thought  by  Mr.  Clive 
Rouse  to  be  of  the  15th  or  early  i6th  century  and  to 
show  traces  below  of  an  earlier  painting  of  the  same 
subject.  At  the  same  time  painted  red  and  yellow  strap- 
work  was  uncovered  farther  west.  This  formed  a  frame 
for  texts  and  is  of  post-Reformation  date.^ 

The  pulpit  in  oak  is  four  sides  of  an  octagon.  The 
panels  are  enriched  with  carved  arcading  dating  from 
the  1 6th  or  early  17th  century.  This  was  probably  in- 
corporated in  the  18th-century  three-decker  pulpit  and 
retained  when  the  pulpit  was  lowered  in  the  19th  cen- 
tury. The  base  is  probably  part  of  one  of  the  lower  tiers 
of  the  three-decker.  The  font  has  an  18th-century 
marble  bowl  on  a  tall  moulded  stone  base. 

The  plate  consists  of  a  communion  cup  of  I559>  ^ 
plain  silver  paten  of  1703  presented  by  John  Wroth, 
a  silver  flagon  of  1736  presented  by  Richard  Lockwood, 
and  a  silver  alms  dish  of  1 8 17.  In  1552  the  com- 
missioners found  at  Lambourne  a  chalice  weighing  1 7  oz. 
They  delivered  for  divine  service  an  8  oz.  chalice,  of 
silver  parcel  gilt.* 

At  his  visitation  of  1683  the  archdeacon  directed  that 
a  bible  of  the  new  translation  should  be  provided. 5  This 
suggests  that  the  Great  Bible  was  still  in  use  at  Lam- 
bourne more  than  70  years  after  the  publication  of  the 
Authorized  Version. 

In  the  chancel  is  a  brass  to  Robert  Barfott  (1546) 
and  Katheryn  his  wife.*  It  has  figures  of  a  man  and 
woman  together  with  a  group  of  five  sons  and  another 
of  four  sons  and  ten  daughters,  also  the  arms  of  the 
Mercers'  Company  and  a  merchant's  mark.  Also  in  the 
chancel  is  a  black  and  white  marble  tablet  with  a  broken 
pediment  and  three  shields  of  arms  to  Thomas  Wynnyff 
(1654)  (see  above).   On  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel 


is  a  tablet  with  shield  of  arms  and  Latin  inscription  to 
Thomas  Tooke,  rector  (172 1).  There  are  also  other 
tablets  to  later  members  of  the  Tooke  family  who  were 
rectors.  Both  in  the  chancel  and  nave  are  many  memo- 
rials to  members  of  the  Lockwood  family.  Richard 
Lockwood,  the  Turkey  merchant  who  bought  Dews 
Hall,  is  commemorated  by  a  white  marble  tablet  with 
an  urn,  broken  pediment,  garlands,  and  shield  of  arms. 
On  the  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  tablet  in  memory  of  Capt. 
George  Lockwood,  killed  at  Balaclava  in  1854.  There 
are  floor  slabs  in  the  chancel  to  John  Wynnyff  (1630), 
father  of  Thomas,  to  Robert  Bromfield  (1647),  and 
members  of  his  family.  In  the  churchyard  are  the 
tombs  of  Admiral  Sir  Edward  Hughes  (1794),  his  wife, 
and  his  two  stepsons.^ 

The  church  of  THE  HOLT  TRINITY,  Abridge, 
was  built  in  1836  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to  the  parish 
church. 8  It  was  then  a  plain  rectangular  building  with 
lancet  windows  along  the  sides  and  was  of  gault  brick 
with  red  brick  dressings.  The  gabled  street  front  dates 
from  1877.  A  new  chancel  and  vestries  were  added  in 
1938.' 

For  the  Church  House  see  below.  Charities. 

On  2  July  1833  a  Wesleyan  chapel  was  opened 
at  Abridge.  Sermons  were 
NONCONFORMITY  preached  at  the  first  services 
by  the  Revd.  J.  T.  Yeates  of 
Romford  and  the  Revd.  T.  R.  Fisher  of  Hammersmith. 
The  chapel  was  estimated  to  accommodate  1 50.  The 
original  cost  was  ^^270  with  ground  freehold;  (jo  was 
raised  by  private  subscriptions  and  collections  at  the 
opening.  The  chapel  was  in  the  North  East  London 
Circuit.'"  An  account  of  the  opening  made  bold  claims 
as  to  the  beneficial  results  already  achieved  by  Metho- 
dist preaching  in  Abridge.  'This  village,  from  its  ex- 
ceeding wretchedness  and  open  profanity,  was  usually 
called  the  Little  Sodom;  but  by  the  introduction  of 
Methodist  preaching  its  moral  character  is  entirely 
changed.'"  The  chapel  did  not  remain  Wesleyan  for 
long.  There  were  no  other  Wesleyan  churches  near 
and  pulpit  supply  must  have  been  difficult.  About 
1 844  the  chapel  was  taken  over  for  Congregational  use.'^ 

In  1 844  the  Essex  Congregational  Union  helped  the 
Revd.  T.  Hill  of  Chigwell  Row  to  establish  a  church  at 
Abridge,  using  the  building  previously  erected  for  the 
Wesleyans.'-s  By  1847  the  church  was  self-supporting.'* 
In  1850  it  was  superintended  by  a  Mr.  Hanley  of  Lon- 
don; there  were  28  members  and  many  adherents:  'the 
little  church  is  well  filled.''5  Soon  after  this  a  Mr. 
Knight  worked  at  Abridge  as  the  agent  of  the  Country 
Towns  Mission.  In  1858  he  reported  that  the  village 
was  still  known  as  Little  Sodom.'*  In  that  year  the 
Essex  Congregational  Union  made  a  grant  to  Knight, 
who  was  also  preaching  at  Lambourne  End  and  Bourne 
Bridge  in  Stapleford  Abbots. '^  The  deeds  of  the 
Abridge  church  had  been  acquired  by  one  of  the  trea- 
surers of  the  E.C.U."*  Knight  remained  until  i860, 
when  he  left,  apparently  in  unhappy  circumstances." 
The  church  was  placed  under  the  superintendence  of 
that  at  Epping,  and  there  was  confidence  that  it  would 


97  Inf.  from  the  rector. 
«*  E.A.T.  N.s.  ii,  235-6. 
M  Ibid,  xix,  266. 

'  T.  Wright,  Hisl.  Essex,  ii,  403. 

'  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  1+3-4- 

3  Lambourne  Parish  Mag.  Aug.  igS'' 

♦  E.A.T.  N.s.  ii,  235-6. 

5  E.A.T.  N.s.  xix,  266. 

'  For  Barfoot  see  above.  Manor.    He 


died  in  Jan.  154.6/7. 

7  T.  Wright,  Hisl.  Essex,  ii,  407-8. 

8  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848).    It  cost 
^520. 

9  Inf.  from  the  rector. 

'0  Wesleyan   Methodist  Mag.    1833,   p. 
729. 
II  Ibid. 
"  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848);  E.R.O., 

83 


D/CT  202 ;  see  below.  - 

"  Essex  Cong.  Union  Rep.  1 847. 

■♦  Ibid. 

IS  Ibid.  1850. 

I'  Ibid.  1858. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  The  treasurers  were  Isaac  Perry 
and  W.  C.  Wells. 

I'  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1 860. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


revive.*"  The  E.C.U.  was  making  an  annual  grant 
amounting  to  ^^40  in  1859-60  and  ^■^j  los.  in 
1 860-1." 

The  church  remained  attached  to  Epping  until 
1881."  In  1861  new  pews  were  installed;  the  Sunday 
school  numbered  about  30.^3  A  room  had  been  rented 
at  Lambourne  End  and  a  Sunday  evening  congregation 
of  30-40  met  there.^  In  1 869  it  was  reported  that 
'a  Spanish  Protestant'  was  holding  a  bible  class  in  con- 
nexion with  the  church.^s  In  1870  the  cottage  service 
at  Lambourne  End  was  transferred  to  the  care  of  the 
church  at  Chigwell  Row;  about  80  now  attended  the 
service.**  A.  M.  Kemsley,  a  missioner  who  worked  at 
Moreton,  took  the  Sunday  school  at  Abridge  in  1876." 
The  church  was  flourishing  at  this  time:  in  1877  new 
classrooms  were  built  at  a  cost  of  ;(^25,  all  of  which  had 
been  paid  oiFduring  the  year.**  In  1 879,  however,  the 
E.C.U.  considered  withdrawing  its  annual  grant  of 
;^2  5  because  there  was  an  evangelical  ministry  at  the 
anglican  chapel  in  Abridge.*'  This  was  not  done,  but 
the  grant  was  reduced  to  ;{^20.3o  Jn  1880  the  church 
had  1 1  members,  an  average  congregation  of  90,  and 
a  Sunday  school  of  100  with  6  teachers."  The  expenses 
in  connexion  with  it  amounted  to  about  ;^40.3* 

In  1 88 1  the  church  was  removed  from  association 
with  Epping  and  placed  under  the  charge  of  Chigwell 
Row.33  By  this  time  the  cottage  service  at  Lambourne 
End  appears  to  have  ceased  ;3*  it  had  been  thriving  in 
1873,  when  it  had  become  financially  self-supporting.^s 
From  1886  the  Abridge  church  was  included  in  the 
London  Congregational  Union. 3*  It  was  apparently 
given  up  by  the  Congregationalists  about  1905.37  It  is 
now  used  as  a  parish  room.  It  is  a  plain  building  of 
gault  brick. 

The  Evangelical  Free  Church  was  started  about 
1923  when  a  Mr.  White  from  Woodford  held  services 
first  in  the  Parish  Room  (former  Congregational 
Chapel)  and  later  with  a  tent  and  caravan.  In  1924 
the  church  was  built.38  It  is  a  wooden  building  with  a 
cement-rendered  front  and  it  stands  set  back  on  the 
south  side  of  the  London  road. 

At  Augusta  Cottages,  near  Lambourne  End,  there 
is  a  small  wooden  hut  called  Emmanuel  Chapel,  prob- 
ably not  more  than  50  years  old. 

Vestry  minute-books  for  Lambourne  survive  for  the 

periods  1 67 1— 1 764  and 

PARISH  GOVERNMENT    1 8 1 0-4  5 .3 «  Before  1733 

AND  POOR  RELIEF  the  vestry  usually  met 

only  at  the  two  appointed 
times  for  the  election  of  oificers,  but  these  meetings 
were  well  attended,  there  being  often  ten  and  some- 
times as  many  as  fourteen  present.  In  November  1733 
it  was  resolved  to  hold  a  vestry  on  the  first  Sunday  in 
every  month.  This  resolution  was  not  fully  carried  out, 
but  for  the  next  fifteen  years  meetings  were  frequent 
and  well  attended  and  a  strict  control  was  maintained 
by  the  vestry  over  all  sides  of  parish  government.   Be- 


tween 1810  and  1826  four  or  five  meetings  were  held 
each  year.  John  Tooke,  rector  172 1-64,  often  attended 
after  1733.  Richard  Lockwood  of  Dews  Hall  often 
attended  between  1736  and  1747  and  he  or  the  rector 
presided  over  the  vestry  when  present.  A  dinner  was 
usually  held  in  conjunction  with  the  Easter  vestry  at 
one  of  the  pubhc  houses  in  Abridge;  the  expenses  were 
charged  to  the  churchwarden's  accounts.  A  vestry 
clerk  was  appointed  in  1745  ^'  ^^  annual  salary  of  ij 
guinea;  the  person  then  appointed  signed  the  minutes 
as  clerk. 

In  1826  a  public  vestry  resolved  unanimously  to 
adopt  the  second  Sturges  Bourne  Act  (59  Geo.  Ill, 
c.  1 2)  and  set  up  a  select  vestry.  Fifteen  members  were 
elected  with  the  addition  of  the  rector,  Robert  Sutcliffe, 
as  chairman,  and  the  parish  officers.  The  select  vestry 
functioned  until  May  1836,  fortnightly  meetings  being 
held  in  the  workhouse  during  the  whole  period.  Poor 
relief  and  the  management  of  the  workhouse  were  its 
main  concern.  Public  vestries  were  still  held  occasion- 
ally to  deal  with  general  matters  and  to  appoint  fresh 
select  vestries  at  intervals  of  one  or  two  years.  The  lord 
of  the  manor,  Edward  Lockwood  Percival,  and  the 
curate,  Morgan  Lewis,  were  usually  among  those  ap- 
pointed to  the  select  vestry,  and  either  one  of  them  or 
of  the  churchwardens  presided. 

In  1723  a  rate  of  is.  in  the  ^^i  produced  almost  £6g. 
This  was  a  general  rate  levied  by  the  overseers,  out  of 
which  they  paid  the  accounts  of  the  other  parish  officers. 
In  17 16  deficiencies  in  the  surveyors'  and  constable's 
accounts  were  met  out  of  the  churchwardens'  and  over- 
seers' accounts  and  the  final  balance  of  8/.  yj.  was  spent 
at  the  vestry.  In  1807  a  rate  of  is.  in  the  £1  produced 
over  £<)0.*''  The  parish  was  surveyed  in  1 8  27  by  James 
Thompson  and  a  new  valuation  made.  The  rateable 
value  was  then  over  ^£3,200.^'  A  public  vestry  fixed  the 
scale  of  rates  per  acre  and  according  to  different  quali- 
ties of  arable,  pasture,  and  woodland.**  In  1837,  under 
direction  from  the  Poor  Law  Commissioners,  the  rate- 
able values  were  raised  by  2  5  per  cent. 

Relations  between  the  vestry  and  its  officers  were  not 
always  harmonious.  The  dispute  with  the  executors  of 
a  former  churchwarden  is  mentioned  above.''3  In  1737 
the  constable's  absence  from  the  vestry  was  the  subject 
of  complaint,  and  there  were  other  occasions  when 
officers  were  censured.  It  is  possible  that  this  dishar- 
mony was  caused  by  a  conflict  of  interests  between  the 
shopkeepers  of  Abridge  and  the  farmers  of  the  parish.** 

The  normal  parish  officers  were  appointed  until 
1 83 1,  when  a  salaried  assistant  overseer  was  appointed 
at  j^5  a  year.  Women  were  chosen  as  overseers  in  1730 
and  1737  and  both  served.  The  son  of  the  earlier  over- 
seer, however,  attended  the  vestry  and  signed  on  her 
behalf.  The  constables  elected  in  1676  were  described 
as  being  for  the  'townside  or  kite  and  for  the  end'  (i.e. 
Abridge  and  Lambourne  End).  In  1678  the  former 
was  succeeded  by  the  constable  for  the  manor  of  St. 


*"  Essex  Cmgr.  Union  Report,  i860. 

"  Ibid.  1861,1862.  The  grant  was  kept 
up  for  many  years  after  1861.  It  was 
£z$  p. a.  in  1866-79. 

2^  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1881. 

"  Ibid.  1861.  2*  Ibid. 

25  Ibid.  1869.  There  is  no  later  mention 
of  this  man. 

2'  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1870. 

"  Ibid.  1876.  28  Ibid. 

«  Ibid.  1879. 

3»  Ibid.  1879-81. 

"  Ibid.  1881. 


32  Ibid.  33  Ibid. 

3<  Ibid.  1%%1-z;  Congr.  Tear  Bk.  1879, 
1880.  It  is  possible  that  the  service  con- 
tinued outside  the  Congregational  Union. 

35  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1873. 

3«  Ibid.  1885. 

3'  Congr.  Tear  Bk.  1 905,  1906.  A 
Congregational  chapel  is  listed  in  KeIIy*s 
Dir.  as  late  as  19 14,  but  this  is  perhaps  an 
error. 

38  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Brewster  of  Abridge. 

39  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/ 1,  2,  4.  Unless 
otherwise  stated  all  information  is  derived 


from  these  sources. 

♦»  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/11/1  (Overseers 
Rate  Bk.). 

4'  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/11/2. 

♦2  1 2 J.- 1 8 J.  per  acre  for  arable,  15^.— 
iSs.  for  pasture,  izs.  for  woodland,  and 
10s.  for  forest  underwood,  with  a  deduc- 
tion of  one  third  for  waste  in  the  measure- 
ment. 

43  See  above,  Church. 

+*  For  the  position  of  Abridge  in  rela- 
tion to  the  rest  of  the  parish  see  above, 
PP-  73-74- 


84 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LAMBOURNE 


John's  with  a  colleague  for  the  'Countess  of  Warwick's 
leet'-^s  An  ale-conner  was  appointed  in  1685,  an 
assessor  of  land-tax  in  1752,  and  a  reeve  in  1826  and 
1828,  all  by  the  parish  vestry. 

There  were  stocks  at  Abridge  in  1585,  when  a 
vagrant  was  reported  to  have  escaped  from  them/*  In 
1728  it  was  decided  to  build  a  parish  cage  at  Abridge 
with  the  timber  recently  removed  from  the  church 
porches.'"  In  1841  the  parish  pound  stood  about  I  mile 
south  of  Abridge  to  the  west  of  Hoe  Lane.^*  In  1832 
some  labourers  were  paid  3/.  for  working  the  fire-engine. 

In  1589  the  parishioners  subscribed  towards  the 
building  of  a  cottage  for  the  poor  and  petitioned  Quarter 
Sessions  for  permission  to  erect  it  without  the  statutory 
4  acres  of  land.'"  During  the  early  i8th  century  the 
parish  cottages  at  Abridge  were  sometimes  used  to 
accommodate  the  poor,'"  but  they  were  not  very  satis- 
factory for  this  purpose.  Plans  to  convert  them  into  a 
workhouse  were  rejected  in  1738  and  again  in  1828.5' 

In  1742  three  houses  in  'the  Alley'  at  Abridge  were 
leased  by  the  parish  at  ;^4  10/.  a  year,  and  in  1748  a 
house  called  'The  Old  Crown'  was  leased  for  use  as  a 
poorhouse  at  ^^lo  a  year.  The  repair  and  extension  of 
Church  House  at  Lambourne  End,  about  18 10,  were 
for  the  purpose  of  housing  the  parish  poor,  and  this 
house  remained  in  use  as  a  workhouse  until  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Ongar  Union. 

An  Epping  surgeon  and  an  apothecary  were  paid  for 
attending  the  poor  and  supplying  medicine  in  1748, 
and  a  midwife  received  5 J.  in  1723  for  delivering  a 
bastard  child,  but  it  was  only  from  1 8 10  that  regular 
medical  contracts  were  made  for  the  treatment  of  the 
poor.  In  that  year  a  parish  doctor  was  employed  at  a 
salary  of  14  guineas.  This  included  all  inoculations  and 
attendance  at  two  childbirths,  but  other  childbirths  and 
surgical  treatment  were  excluded,  as  well  as  travelling 
expenses  outside  the  parish.  Between  1824  and  1834 
further  agreements  on  similar  lines  were  recorded,  the 
appointments  usually  being  reviewed  each  year. 

The  annual  amounts  raised  by  the  poor  rates  in  the 
1 8th  century  were  only  irregularly  recorded,  but  by  the 
middle  of  that  century  the  overseers'  expenditure  was 
usually  over  ^100  a  year.  The  vestry  was  fairly  strict 
with  its  poor.  On  several  occasions  individuals  and 
families  were  moved  around,  presumably  to  make  the 
best  use  of  existing  accommodation.  Orders  for  badging 
the  poor  were  issued,  chiefly  between  1729  and  I745» 
but  once  as  late  as  1 8  2  5 .  In  1 8  3 1  a  woman  was  ordered 
to  wean  her  child.  The  policy  of  the  vestry  was  not, 
however,  merely  repressive.  In  1743  a  silk  thrower  was 
brought  down  from  London  to  instruct  the  poor  in 
winding  silk,  and  others  who  were  not  receiving  relief 
were  encouraged  by  financial  assistance  to  be  similarly 
employed.  In  1832  and  1833  several  pieces  of  land, 
some  given  by  E.  Lockwood  Percival,  the  lord  of  the 
manor,  were  acquired  for  giving  employment  to  the 
poor. 

As  elsewhere  the  cost  of  poor  relief  mounted  steeply 
after  1780.  Over  £840  was  raised  by  rates  in  1 800-1, 
and  this  rose  tOj^923  in  1806-7.5^  Between  1810  and 
1826  a  number  of  agreements  with  workhouse  masters 


were  recorded.  The  first  of  these  was  for  a  lump  sum, 
but  all  the  others  were  on  a  capitation  basis,  the  tenders 
varying  from  2/.  ^J.  to  5/.  6J.  a  head  a  week.  The 
terms  always  included  an  allowance  for  fuel  and  an 
additional  allowance  for  material  and  the  master  was 
allowed  to  retain  all  profits.  After  1 826  the  select  vestry 
brought  the  management  of  the  workhouse  more  closely 
under  parish  control  by  ensuring  that  all  profits  went  to 
the  parish.  The  master's  subsequent  ofl^er  to  revert  to 
the  old  system  was  rejected.  Contracts  for  the  supply 
of  food  and  other  goods  for  the  workhouse  were  re- 
viewed every  six  months  and  a  high  standard  of  quality 
was  always  required.  In  1 83  3  the  cheese  and  soap  were 
sent  back  to  a  new  contractor  as  unfit  for  use  and  a 
sample  was  sent  to  show  the  quality  required. 

In  1836  Lambourne  became  part  of  the  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

The  foundation  statutes  of  Harsnett's  schools  at 
Chigwell  (1629)  provided  that  two  boys 
SCHOOLS  from  Lambourne  should  be  taught  at  the 
English  school  at  Chigwell  and  two  at  the 
Latin  school.53  In  1734  Sir  John  Fortescue-Aland,  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Lambourne  and  owner  of  Knolls  Hill 
in  Stapleford  Abbots,  founded  a  free  school  in  Staple- 
ford  Abbots,  at  which  twenty  boys  from  Lambourne 
were  to  be  given  places.S'* 

There  was  no  school  in  Lambourne  in  1 807  except 
a  Sunday  school  with  twenty  pupils.''  Twenty  places 
were  still  available  at  the  Stapleford  Abbots  school,  but 
not  all  of  these  were  filled.'*  In  1 8 1 8  there  was  still  no 
day  school  at  Lambourne,  but  by  1833  much  progress 
had  been  made.  AH  the  available  places  in  the  free 
school  were  taken  and  a  day  school  had  been  founded 
at  Abridge.  In  1833  there  were  64  pupils  at  this  school, 
of  whom  50  paid  fees  and  14  were  paid  for  by  bene- 
factors.'' The  school  was  probably  then  under  church 
guidance,  and  in  about  1835  it  seems  to  have  passed 
under  more  direct  church  control.  The  chapel  of  ease 
at  Abridge  was  used  as  a  schoolroom  for  girls  and  the 
Wesleyan  chapel  hired  for  the  teaching  of  boys.  In 
1838  the  annual  expenses  were  about  ;^70,  towards 
which  subscribers  gave  ^^40.  About  £7  was  collected 
at  the  annual  sermon  and  further  income  was  derived 
from  the  weekly  fee  of  2^/.  for  each  child.  About  80 
children  were  on  the  roll,  but  the  average  attendance 
was  low.' 8 

The  population  of  Lambourne  was  increasing  steadily 
at  this  time  and  in  1839  there  were  still  some  50  children 
not  attending  a  school  of  any  kind.  In  1838  local 
churchmen  set  up  a  committee,  with  the  rector  as  secre- 
tary, to  build  a  new  school  at  Abridge.  Subscriptions 
were  collected,  chiefly  from  local  landowners,  and  the 
rector  approached  the  government  and  the  National 
Society  for  grants.  After  a  delay  due  to  difficulties  over 
a  site  and  to  the  National  Society's  dispute  with  the 
government  in  1839,  building  started  in  1 841-2  on  a 
site  given  by  W.  J.  Lockwood  of  Dews  Hall  and  his  son 
W.  M.  Wood.  The  National  Society  gave  ^40,  the 
government  ^^54,  and  the  Diocesan  Board  ;^20.  A 
further  £199  was  given  by  35  subscribers,  including 
Lady  Mildmay,  owner  of  Battles  Hall  in  Stapleford 


■»5  The  Countess  was  the  widow  of 
Charles  Rich,  Earl  of  Warwick.  Her  leet 
was  presumably  that  of  the  hundred  of 
Ongar,  which  had  been  granted  to  Sir 
Richard  Rich  in  1 547. 

*<>  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  95/66. 

♦'  See  above,  Church. 

48  E.R.O.,  D/CT  20Z. 


«  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  1 10/41.  The  site 
chosen  was  'near  unto  barackes  abouttinge 
uppon  Chigewell  upon  the  wast  soule'. 

50  See  below.  Charities. 

51  Ibid. 

»  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/9. 
S3  r.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  544- 
>*  See  Stapleford  Abbots. 

85 


"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4:  Lambourne 
Retns. 

5'  Ibid.  Stapleford  Abbots  Retns. 

5'  Reins.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  260 
(1819),  ix  (i);  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C. 
62,  pp.  280-1  (1835),  ili. 

5«  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/18;  ex  inf.  Nat. 
Soc. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Abbots,  Archer  Houblon,  owner  of  Bobbingworth 
Hall,  the  rector  and  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge, 
the  patron  of  the  living.''  The  school  was  situated  on 
the  west  side  of  Hoe  Lane  at  Abridge.*"  It  seems  to 
have  been  a  National  School  and  for  some  years  to  have 
remained  closely  connected  with  the  Sunday  school.  In 
1846-7  there  were  68  pupils  under  a  master  and  two 
mistresses  who  between  them  received  j^6o  a  year  and 
had  the  use  of  a  house  rent-free.*'  Attendance  declined 
slightly  in  subsequent  years.  In  185 1-2  there  were  62 
children  present  when  the  inspector  visited  the  'neat 
schoolrooms'.  He  found  the  equipment  poor,  the 
master  untrained,  the  educational  standard  low,  but  the 
children  'nice  and  well-behaved'.*^  In  1859  an  in- 
spector found  a  slight  improvement  in  standard  but 
only  52  children  in  attendance.*-!  In  1871,  when  there 
was  said  to  be  accommodation  for  62  children,  the 
attendance  was  still  about  52.*''  At  this  time  the  school 
was  in  financial  difficulty  and  soon  after  (probably  in 
1878)  it  was  discontinued  as  the  result  of  the  building 
of  a  Board  School. 

In  1874  a  school  board  of  five  members  was  set  up 
for  Lambourne  and  Stapleford  Abbots  (q.v.)  which  had 
been  united  into  a  single  school  district  according  to  the 
recommendation  of  the  Education  Department. *5  The 
first  plans  submitted  by  the  board  were  rejected  by  the 
Education  Department  as  too  expensive,  but  after  this 
delay  the  board  school  was  opened  in  September  1878, 
on  or  near  the  site  of  the  former  National  School.**  It 
had  accommodation  for  about  1 50  pupils  and  a  teacher's 
house  was  attached.*'  Within  a  few  years  it  was  re- 
ceiving an  annual  grant,  amounting  to  ^^72  in  1886, 
£10^  in  1893,  and  ;^I30  in  1902.  The  average  atten- 
dance rose  from  104  in  1886  to  120  in  1893  and  125 
in  1902.**  By  1904,  when  the  accommodation  was 
said  to  be  for  178,  there  were  141  children  under  4 
teachers  and  a  monitress.*' 

By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee, Ongar  District.  Its  average  attendance  was  1 27 
in  191 5  and  130  in  1938.  In  19 14  it  was  enlarged  to 
accommodate  196  and  in  1936  2  acres  were  added  to 
the  site.  In  1947  it  was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors 
and  infants.'"  In  May  1952  there  were  ^  teachers  and 
106  children."  The  school  is  a  single-storied  building 
of  brown  and  red  brick,  with  teacher's  house  attached. 

There  was  a  private  school  at  Abridge  in  1845,  kept 
by  Mrs.  Sarah  Giles.'^ 


Thomas  Barfoot  of  Lambourne  Hall,  by  will  proved 
1592,  left  6s.  SJ.  a  year  charged  on 
CHARITIES  Sym's  Croft  for  the  relief  of  the  poor 
of  the  parish.'^  The  charge  was  paid 
regularly  until  1661,  and  after  1664  payment  was  re- 
sumed.7''  In  173 1  the  money  was  being  distributed  to 
those  of  the  poor  who  were  not  receiving  any  weekly 
allowance.''  In  1834  it  was  believed  that  the  charge 
should  be  spent  on  bell-ropes,  although  in  fact  it  was 
paid  into  the  churchwardens'  general  account.'*  In 
1947-9  it  was  distributed  in  money  to  buy 
coal." 

John  Broomfield,  by  will  dated  1687,  left  los.  issuing 
from  his  farm  of  Pryors  for  the  poor  of  the  parish.'* 
The  rent  charge  was  redeemed  in  1950  for  ;^20  which 
was  invested.  The  rent  was  being  paid  from  1689  on- 
wards" and  was  distributed  to  the  poor  on  i  January.*" 
In  1834  it  was  carried  to  the  churchwardens'  general 
account,  although  it  was  said  to  be  spent  on  bread  for 
the  poor.*'  It  was  spent  on  general  church  purposes  in 
the  mid-l9th  century  and  for  some  years  before  1950, 
but  from  1950  it  has  been  distributed  in  money  to  buy 
coal.*^ 

The  parish  owned  two  pieces  of  land  in  the  common 
meadow  of  Theydon  Bois  (q.v.).  The  income  from 
them  rose  from  35/.  in  1673  to  £^  in  1 834.83  It  was 
spent  on  the  church  and  the  poor  in  the  1 8th  century** 
and  was  carried  to  the  churchwardens'  account  in 
1834.*'  In  1950  it  was  distributed  in  money  to  buy 
coal.** 

The  parish  also  owmed  property  at  Lambourne  End, 
on  which  a  house  was  built  by  the  parish  in  about 
167 1.*'  The  house  was  enlarged  in  about  18 10.** 
Until  then  it  had  been  rented,  sometimes  to  the  parish 
clerk,*'  but  from  then  until  1 836  it  was  used  as  a  poor- 
house.'"  From  1838  it  was  once  again  rented  and  the 
income  was  applied  to  general  church  purposes,"  as  the 
rent  of  the  land  had  been  in  1834.'^  In  1950  the  total 
rents  were  ,^34  2S.  61^.  which  were  spent  on  church  re- 
pairs and  improvement.'^  Church  House  has  a  tall 
front  with  a  mansard  roof  and  dormer  windows.  The 
lower  cottage  attached  to  it  at  the  rear  is  probably  the 
Old  Church  House  of  about  1671. 

The  parish  formerly  owned  cottages  near  the  river 
next  to  Hull  Mead  at  Abridge.  In  173 1  they  were  said 
to  be  for  the  use  of  the  poor.''*  They,  were  sold  in  1830 
to  clear  the  debt  incurred  in  rebuilding  the  Church 
House  in  18 10. 


59  Ex.  Inf.  Nat.  Soc;  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  z 
i;  ibid.  D/P  181/8/4.;  Lady  Mildmay 
owned  about  zoo  acres  of  land  in  the  east 
of  the  parish:  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202. 

'"  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Iviii 
(1870-2). 

^'  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  inio  Church  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  lO-II. 

'2  Mins.  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1851, 
vol.  ii  [1480],  p.  286,  H.C.  (1852),  xli. 

*3  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  Reps,  on  Schs. 
in  Norfolk,  Suffolk  and  Essex,  1858-9, 
p.  44.  (in  Min.  of  Educ.  Libr,). 

'*  Retns.  Elem.  Educ,  H.C.  201,  pp. 
I12-13  [1871],  Iv;  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/8. 

^5  Chelmsford  Chronicle,  9  Aug.  1872. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/219. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 


"  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1SS6 
[C.  5123-1],  p.  519,  H.C.  (1887),  xxviii; 
Retn.  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  714, 
H.C.  (1894),  Ixv;  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ. 
igo2  [Cd.  1490],  p.  71,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 

<">  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handbk.  1904, 
p.  .85. 

'"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/219. 

71  Ex.  Inf.  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

'2  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1845). 

'3  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1;  Rep.  Com. 
Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216,  p.  230  (1835), 
xxi  (i). 

74  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 

'5    Ibid.   18  1/8/2. 

'*  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  230. 

"  Char.  Com.  files. 

78  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1,  2.    See  above. 


'9  Ibid. 
(Essex),    p. 


Pryors. 

80  Rep.    Com.    Char. 
E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 

8'  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  230. 

82  Char.  Com.  files. 

83  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1. 
8«  Ibid.  181/8/2. 
8s  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p. 

86  Char.  Com.  files. 

87  E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/1-2. 

88  Ibid.  181/8/4(1810). 

89  Ibid.  181/8/1. 
9»  Ibid.  181/8/4. 
9'  Ibid.  181/8/3. 

92  Rep.    Com.    Char. 
E.R.O.,  D/P  181/8/3. 

93  Char.  Com.  files. 
9<  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 8 1/8/2. 


230; 


230. 


(Essex),    p.    230; 


86 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  LAVER 


HIGH  LAVER 


High  Laver  is  a  parish  about  4  miles  north-west  of 
Chipping  Ongar  and  5  miles  south-east  of  Harlow.'  It 
has  an  area  of  1,895  acres.^  From  the  i8th  century  or 
earlier  much  of  the  population  has  been  concentrated 
in  the  village  of  Matching  Green  and  in  the  two 
hamlets  of  Thrushesbush,  alias  Threshers  Bush,  and 
Tilegate  Green,  all  of  which  are  situated  on  the 
borders  of  the  parish.^  There  were  74  inhabited  houses 
in  1 801,  77  in  181 1,  and  80  in  1821.'*  In  1801  the 
population  was  346.5  B7  1 851  it  had  grown  to  534.* 
It  was  a  little  below  this  level  until  the  last  decade  of 
the  century  when  there  was  a  sharp  decline  to  386.^ 
In  the  first  half  of  the  20th  century  it  rose  gradually  to 
463  in  1951.* 

The  land  is  nearly  300  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the 
south-west,  about  250  ft.  in  the  north  and  230  ft.  in 
the  east.  The  Cripsey  Brook  runs  eastward  across  the 
northern  part  of  the  parish  and  then  southward  near 
the  eastern  boundary  of  the  parish  towards  Moreton. 
The  road  from  Ongar  to  Harlow  enters  the  parish  at 
High  Laver  Bridge.  The  former  rectory'  is  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  about  \  mile  from  the  bridge. 
The  road  then  turns  northward  for  about  \  mile  to  its 
junction  with  the  roads  leading  eastward  to  Little 
Laver  and  northward  to  Matching  Green.  Along  the 
road  to  Little  Laver  is  the  church'"  and  to  the  north  of 
the  church  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  to  Matching 
Green  is  High  Laver  Hall."  Behind  church  and  hall 
is  a  windpump.  About  \  mile  north  of  High  Laver 
Hall  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  to  Matching  Green 
is  High  Laver  Grange.  This  has  a  fine  barn,  in  one 
bay  of  which  are  two  grotesque  carved  brackets  of  the 
1 6th  or  early  17th  century.  About  i  mile  north  of 
High  Laver  Grange  is  Newhouse  Farm,  formerly 
Chalkpits,  a  timber-framed  house  which  has  been 
much  restored  but  of  which  part  may  date  from  the 
17th  century.  On  the  east  side  of  the  road  north  of 
Newhouse  Farm  there  are  thirteen  council  houses  in 
two  groups  known  as  Culvers  Cottages  and  Chalkpit 
Cottages.  Beyond  these  is  the  village  of  Matching 
Green,  the  south  side  of  which  is  just  inside  the  parish 
boundary.  Here  there  are  several  19th-century  brick 
houses,  including  the  Chequers  Inn. 

From  the  east  side  of  Matching  Green  a  road  runs 
south-east  to  Waterman's  End,  Little  Laver,  and  the 
Rodings.  On  the  west  side  of  this  road,  immediately 
to  the  south  of  the  parish  boundary,  is  the  chapel  of 
ease'2  and,  next  to  it.  High  Laver  school. '^  Immediately 
to  the  south  of  the  school  the  road  is  joined  by  another 
road  leading  south  to  Ongar.  Near  this  junction  on 
the  north  side  of  the  road  to  Little  Laver  there  are  four 
pairs  of  council  houses  known  as  Hull  Green  Cottages. 

From  High  Laver  church  the  Harlow  road  runs 
west  past  Church  Farm,  formerly  Whites,  and  Travel- 
lers Joy,  formerly  Herberts.  Both  these  houses  are 
timber- framed  and  may  date  from  the  1 6th  century; 
they  have  been  much  restored.  A  little  beyond  Travel- 


lers Joy  the  Harlow  road  is  joined  by  Faggoters  Lane 
which  runs  northward  to  Loyters  Green.  About  \  mile 
along  Faggoters  Lane  is  Faggoters  Farm,  a  timber- 
framed  and  roughcast  house  probably  built  in  the  i8th 
century.  By  the  east  side  of  Faggoters  Farm  is  a  foot- 
path leading  to  the  site  of  Otes.'*  On  the  Harlow  road 
to  the  west  of  Faggoters  Lane  is  Mashams,  a  timber- 
framed  house  which  may  date  from  the  i6th  century. 
Beyond  Mashams  the  road  runs  past  Great  Wilmores 
and  Spinneys,  formerly  Little  Wilmores,  to  Tilegate 
Green.  At  Spinneys,  which  stands  on  the  north  side  of 
the  road  about  \  mile  beyond  Mashams,  there  are  in- 
dications of  a  former  moat.  Tilegate  Farm,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  road  at  Tilegate  Green,  may  be  of  the  i6th 
century  but  has  a  later  farm-house  built  in  front  of  it, 
the  whole  being  much  modernized;  the  restored  barn 
has  16th-century  timbers.  Opposite  Tilegate  Farm  a 
road  leads  southward  to  Magdalen  Laver.  There  are 
two  pairs  of  council  houses  on  the  west  side  of  this 
road,  which  forms  part  of  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
parish.  Also  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  and  just  within 
the  boundary  are  Magdalen  Laver  school,"  built  in 
1 862,  and,  next  to  it,  a  row  of  timber-framed  cottages 
called  Melanese  Cottages,  of  which  part  may  date  from 
the  17th  century  or  earlier. 

West  of  Tilegate  Farm  the  Harlow  road  turns  north- 
west to  Thrushesbush,  alias  Threshers  Bush,  on  the 
western  boundary  of  the  parish.  At  Herds  Farm,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  \  mile  north-west  of  Tilegate 
Green,  there  are  indications  of  a  former  moat.  The 
farm-house  is  probably  of  the  17th  century  and  has  an 
original  brick  chimney.  West  of  Herds  Farm  is  the 
John  Barleycorn  Inn,  formerly  the  'King's  Arms',  a 
timber-framed  house  of  which  part  dates  from  the  17th 
century  or  earlier.  The  former  Methodist  chapel'*  is 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Harlow  road  at  Thrushesbush, 
just  outside  the  parish  boundary. 

High  Laver  Bridge  was  accepted  as  a  county  charge 
by  1800."  In  1858  it  was  described  in  detail  by  the 
county  surveyor.'* 

The  inhabitants  of  High  Laver  were  several  times 
indicted  for  the  bad  condition  of  their  roads.  In  1644 
it  was  said  that  High  Laver  and  Little  Laver  were  to 
share  the  responsibility  for  the  highway  from  Matching 
Green  to  Sheepcroft  Bridge."  In  1776  the  parishes  of 
High  Laver  and  Magdalen  Laver  agreed  that  'the 
roads  which  these  two  parishes  are  obliged  in  con- 
junction to  mend  shall  be  equally  divided  and  that 
the  part  which  lies  nearest  to  each  parish  shall  be  ap- 
propriated to  it,  by  a  post  set  up  at  the  expense  of  both 
parishes,  and  marked  on  one  side  "M.L.  mends  thus 
far"  and  on  the  opposite  side  "H.L.  mends  thus  far"  '.^^ 

High  Laver  was  one  of  the  villages  served  from 
Moreton  when  a  postal  receiving  house  was  set  up 
there  in  1846.^'  A  sub-post-office  was  opened  at  High 
Laver  in  November  1936,  following  a  petition  from 
the  inhabitants.^^ 


'  O.S.  2\  in.  Map,  sheets  52/40,  52/50, 

S^/5'- 

*  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 

3  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex 
lyyy,  plates  xi  and  xii. 

••  Census,  I  80 1,  181 1,  1821. 

5  y.C.H.Essex,u,T,$o. 

*■  Ibid. 

'  Ibid. 


>  Census,    191  if.;    inf.    from    Essex 
County  Council. 

»  See  below,  Church. 
'0  Ibid. 

■'  See  below,  Manor  of  High  Laver. 
■a  See  below,  Church. 
"  See  below,  School. 
'*  See  below. 
'5  See  below,  School. 

87 


16  See  below,  Nonconformity. 
"  E.R.O.,  2/ABz  I  &  2. 
'8  E.R.O.,  e/ABz,  3. 
>9  E.R.O.,  e/SR  322/45. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/22. 
2'  P.M.G.  Mins.  1846,  vol.  87,  p.  5. 
"  Inf.  from  Head  Postmaster  of  Brent- 
wood. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Water  was  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  in  1912.^3  There  is  no  sewerage  system.^ 
Electricity  was  laid  on  in  part  of  the  village  in  1950.^5 
A  sports  ground  is  used  by  the  football  club.^* 

High  Laver  has  always  been  a  rural  parish  devoted 
almost  exclusively  to  agriculture.  The  owners  of  the 
capital  manor  never  lived  in  the  parish  after  the  first 
decade  of  the  i6th  century.^'  The  owners  of  Otes 
lived  in  the  parish  during  most  of  the  period  1614- 
1767.^*  They  were  not  resident  from  1767  until 
shortly  before  1841.^'  For  a  few  years  after  1841  they 
did  live  in  the  parish  but  ceased  to  do  so  before  1863 
and  were  never  resident  again.^" 

In  1848  the  parish  consisted  of  1,894  acres.3' 
William  St.  Quintin  owned  475  acres  but  farmed 
none  of  it  himself.  George  Starkins  Wallis  owned,  but 
did  not  occupy.  High  Laver  Farm  (340  acres). ^^  John 
and  Thomas  Inkersole  owned  223  acres  of  which 
Thomas  farmed  74  acres.33  There  were  two  other 
substantial  farms  in  the  parish:  Holts  Farm  (118  acres) 
and  Tilegate  Farm  (100  acres).  The  respective 
owners,  Joseph  Davies  and  J.  M.  Gilbertson,  did  not 
occupy  them.34  There  were  five  other  farms  of  over 
40  acres. 35 

High  Laver  has  always  been  a  parish  of  mixed  farm- 
ing with  a  heavy  predominance  of  arable.  In  1086 
there  were  loj  ploughs  in  the  manor  of  High  Laver; 
there  was  woodland  for  200  swine  and  37J  acres  of 
meadow. 3*  In  1847  there  were  estimated  to  be  1,428 
acres  of  arable,  368  acres  of  pasture,  and  12  acres  of 
woodland.37 

In  the  17th  and  1 8th  centuries  Otes  manor  house, 
the  residence  of  the  Mashams,  was  a  large  and  well- 
known  dwelling  which  must  have  employed  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  domestic  labour.  In  1691  John 
Locke  the  philosopher  (1632-1704)  went  to  live  there 
as  a  paying  guest  of  Sir  Francis  Masham  and  his  wife 
Damaris,  who  had  been  Locke's  friend  for  some  years.3  8 
He  paid  ^i  a  week  for  himself  and  his  manservant  and 
IS.  a  week  for  his  horse.^'  He  was  given  two  of  the 
best  rooms  in  the  house  and  he  remained  until  his 
death.''"  While  he  lived  there  Otes  was  'one  of  the 
really  important  addresses  in  the  world  of  European 
letters' .■♦■  Locke  assembled  there  a  library  of  nearly 
4,000  volumes."*^  He  also  had  'his  desk  and  his  specially 
constructed  chair,  his  meteorological  instruments  set 
up  "in  the  Drawing  Room",  his  telescope,  his  botanical 
specimens,  and  a  great  porous  stone  through  which  all 
the  water  he  drank — and  he  drank  nothing  else — had 
to  be  carefully  filtered' .*' 

From  1723  Otes  was  occupied  by  Samuel,  ist  Baron 
Masham,  and  his  wife  Abigail  who  from  1707  until 

Herts.    &    Essex    Water- 


1714  had  been  Queen  Anne's  friend  and  one  of  the 
most  powerful  persons  in  the  country .♦^   Abigail  died 

in  '734-'" 

It  is  not  possible  to  distinguish  with  certainty  be- 
tween High  Laver  and  Little  Laver  in 
MJNORS  Domesday  but  it  is  probable  that  before 
the  Conquest  Lewin  held  a  manor  in  High 
Laver  worth  jT'^.''*  Alwin  held  'another  part  of  that 
manor  as  a  manor  but  Ingelric  added  it  to  his  own 
manor'  in  another  parish."*'  In  1086  High  Laver  was 
probably  held  in  demesne  by  Eustace,  Count  of 
Boulogne,  and  valued  at  j^20.''*  Eustace's  heir  was  his 
daughter  Maud,  wife  of  King  Stephen.  William,  Count 
of  Boulogne,  son  of  Stephen  and  Maud,  apparently 
granted  the  manor  in  free  alms  to  the  Benedictine 
abbey  of  St.  Sulpice  in  Brittany ."t*  This  grant  must 
have  been  made  by  1 1 59,  when  William  died,  but  it 
was  ignored  until  shortly  after  1234.50  After  the  death 
of  William  the  honor  of  Boulogne  passed  to  the  king, 
who  held  the  manor  of  HIGH  LAFER  in  demesne 
until  1 1 84  or  1185  and  from  that  time  until  1237  as 
immediate  overlord  of  the  Alchers.si  Between  1234 
and  1237  Mabel,  abbess  of  St.  Sulpice,  claimed  the 
manor  from  Richard  fitz  Alcher.52  A  lawsuit  ensued 
after  which  the  parties  came  to  an  agreement. 53  In 
1237  Richard  fitz  Alcher  acknowledged  the  manor  to 
be  the  right  of  St.  Sulpice  which  was  to  hold  it  in  chief 
as  \  fee.5-t  The  abbess.  Amice,  then  granted  the  estate 
to  Richard  fitz  Alcher  and  his  heirs  to  hold  of  the  abbey 
as  J  fee  and  at  an  annual  rent  of  j^io.55  In  1259  St. 
Sulpice  transferred  its  rights  in  the  manor  to  Waltham 
Abbey.56  After  1267  Henry  fitz  Alcher,  then  lord  of 
the  manor,  refused  to  admit  that  Waltham  had  any 
rights  in  the  estate. 5'  In  1275  a  jury  declared  that  he 
held  the  manor  as  tenant  of  the  abbey. 5  8  Afterwards, 
at  the  command  of  the  king's  justices,  Henry  did 
homage  to  the  abbot  and  paid  his  arrears  of  rent. 5' 
Henry  fitz  Alcher  died  in  1303  holding  the  manor  of 
Waltham  abbey.*"  It  is  not  clear  how  much  longer  the 
abbey  retained  the  tenancy  in  chief  In  1475  the 
manor  was  held  of  Anne,  widow  of  Humphrey  Stafford, 
Duke  of  Buckingham  (d.  1460).*'  In  1485  it  was  held 
of  Jasper,  Duke  of  Bedford  (d.  1495),  and  his  wife 
Katherine,  whose  first  husband  had  been  Henry 
Stafford,  Duke  of  Buckingham  (d.  1483).*^  The 
manor  was  still  held  of  Jasper  and  his  wife  in  I493.*3 
By  1 5 10  the  Crown  received  j^io  ^  y^^""  fro™  t^^ 
manor,*"*  and  this  rent  was  paid  until  after  I559.*5 
In  1584  the  manor  was  held  of  Robert,  3rd  Baron 
Rich,  at  a  rent  of  iJ.  a  year.** 

In  1 167  it  was  reported  that  the  estate  could  not  be 
farmed  because  it  was  not  stocked  but  during  the 


*3  Inf.    from 
works  Co. 

2*  Inf.  from  sub-postmistress  of  High 
Laver. 

"  Inf.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 

''  Inf.  from  sub-postmistress  of  High 
Laver. 

"  D.N.B.  XX,  685-7;  E.R.O.,  D/DW 
T41;  ibid.  Q/RTh  I,  5;  ibid.  Q/RPl 
685-737;  ibid.  D/P  111/27/2;  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (lS$^{.). 

^'  See  belovif,  Manor  of  Otes ;  P.  Laslett, 
Hist.  To-day,  iii,  536—4.3. 

29  See  below,  Manor  of  Otes ;  P.  Laslett, 
Hist.  To-day,  iii,  5+2-3;  E.R.O.,  D/DEw 
Tz;  ibid.  Q/RPl  685-737;  "'i''-  D/P 
111/27/1. 

3»  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/27/2;  fFhitc'sDir. 
Essex  (1863) ;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i  870  f.). 

3"  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/27/2. 


3»  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

34  Ibid.  35  Ibid, 

s'  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467a. 
3'  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/27/2. 

38  P.  Laslett,  Hist.  To-day,  iii,  536-9. 

39  Ibid.  ♦»  Ibid. 

4"  Ibid.  «  Ibid.  «  Ibid. 

+•  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  540-1 ;  D.N.B. 
xii,  1295-7;  Hist.  To-day,  iii,  539-40. 

45  D.N.B. 

46  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467a  and  n.  2. 

4'  Ibid.     For    Ingelric    see    Manors    of 
Chipping  Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers. 

48  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467a. 

49  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739,  f.  93. 
5°  Ibid. 

51  See  below. 

52  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739,  f.  93. 

53  Ibid. 

54  Ibid.  ff.  94-96,  108. 

88 


55   Ibid. 

5'  Ibid.  ff.  96-98,  1 10-12. 
5'  Ibid.  ff.  98-104.    For  details  of  this 
dispute  see  below. 

58  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739,  ff.  102-3. 

59  Ibid.  ff.  103-4. 

'"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iv,  p.  112. 

'■  C140/52. 

'2  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VIl,  \,  pp.  61-63  i 
Complete  Peerage,  ii,  73.  In  the  inquisi- 
tions post  mortem  on  John  Wrytell  (d. 
1485)  and  Katherine  (d.  1493)  widow  of 
Walter  Wrytell,  the  wife  of  Jasper,  Duke 
of  Bedford  (d.  1495),  was  wrongly 
described  as  Anne. 

63  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VU,  i,  p.  383. 

64  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  M78. 

65  Ibid, 
^s  Ibid. 


\ 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  LAYER 


following  year  it  was  restocked  at  a  cost  of  ^5  2/.  'id!''' 
In  1 184-5  ^he  king  granted  to  William  son  of  Alcher 
ithe  huntsman  land  in  Laver  to  the  annual  value  of 
jTS.**  In  1 199  Richard  fitz  Alcher  gave  King  John 
100  marks  to  have  ;^8  of  land  in  Laver  which  his 
brother  William  had  by  the  gift  of  King  Richard  and 
of  which  William  died  seised.*'  In  June  11 99  the 
king  granted  to  Richard  fitz  Alcher  all  the  land  which 
his  brother  William  had  in  Laver  of  the  gift  of  King 
Henry,  to  hold  in  chief  as  \  fee.'"  In  1 204  Richard 
fitz  Alcher  gave  10  marks  and  a  goshawk  for  licence  to 
assart  1 5  acres  of  his  land  in  Laver  and  to  have  them 
put  outside  the  forest  boundary."  It  was  presented 
from  the  honor  of  Boulogne  in  1 2 1 2  that  Richard  son 
of  Alcher  held  Great  Laver  in  chief  for  \  fee.'^  In 
February  1227  Henry  son  of  Richard  fitz  Alcher  was 
granted  his  father's  lands  in  Laver  according  to  King 
John's  charter.'^  Henry  died  in  1234  and  his  son 
Richard  then  had  livery  of  J  fee  in  Laver  held  in  chief'* 
In  1237  this  estate  consisted  of  2  carucates  of  land.'' 
In  1253  Peter  de  St.  Hilary  paid  a  gold  mark  to  escape 
proceedings  for  the  death  of  Richard  fitz  Alcher.'* 
Richard  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Stephen." 

Shortly  after  1259  Stephen  entered  into  an  agree- 
ment with  Simon,  Abbot  of  Waltham,  whereby  the 
abbey  was  to  farm  the  estate  for  eight  years  instead  of 
receiving  an  annual  rent  from  it.'^  Stephen  was  dead 
by  1267."  Afterwards  his  brother  and  heir  Henry 
would  not  let  the  abbey  farm  the  estate  and  refused  to 
pay  rent.*"  In  1269-70  servants  of  Geoffrey,  Prior 
of  Waltham,  went  to  High  Laver  to  distrain  Henry 
for  arrears  of  rent.*'  They  took  some  cattle  but  Henry's 
men  then  assaulted  them  and  the  cattle  were  restored.*^ 
In  1272—3  Henry  brought  an  action  against  Richard 
de  Harewes,  then  Abbot  of  Waltham.  Henry  alleged 
that  24  of  the  abbot's  men  had,  at  his  command, 
trespassed  upon  High  Laver  manor  and  carried  off 
livestock  to  the  value  of  ^40  after  ill  treating  Henry's 
men  and  killing  two  of  them.  Henry  claimed  that  he 
had  suffered  ^50  damages  in  consequence  of  the  assault. 
The  abbot  pleaded  in  defence  that  in  taking  the  live- 
stock he  was  exercising  his  lawful  power  of  distraint, 
since  Henry,  unlike  his  predecessor  Stephen,  had 
refused  to  do  homage  to  him  for  the  manor  and  was 
five  years  in  arrears  with  his  rent.  Henry  denied  that 
previous  abbots  had  ever  received  either  homage  or 
rent  for  High  Laver  manor.  In  1275,  after  the  verdict 
against  him,  Henry  made  an  agreement  with  the  abbot 
whereby  he  paid  four  years'  arrears  in  addition  to  the 
current  year's  rent.*3  When  Henry  fitz  Alcher  died 
in  1303  the  estate  consisted  of  a  dwelling  house  worth 


3/.  4<j'.  a  year,  362  acres  of  arable  worth  /J6  o/.  %d.  a 
year,  1 3  acres  of  meadow  worth  1 9/.  i>d.  a  year,  and 
5  acres  of  pasture  worth  3/.  \d.  a  year.**  The  rents  of 
assize  of  freeholders  amounted  to  ^5  6/.  a  year.'' 
Annual  outgoings,  including  the  ^^lo  rent  due  to 
Waltham  Abbey,  amounted  to  ^10  8/.'*  The  net 
annual  value  was  thus  ^2  10/.  ()d.*'' 

Henry  fitz  Alcher  left  as  his  heir  his  son  Alcher.'* 
In  1 3 1 5  Alcher  granted  the  manor  to  his  son  Henry 
and  Henry's  wife  Beatrice  and  their  heirs  to  hold  of 
Alcher  and  his  heirs  and  do  all  services  to  the  chief 
lords."  In  1324  Henry  fitz  Alcher  and  his  wife 
Beatrice  granted  a  life  interest  in  the  manor  to  Robert 
Norman  for  ^^lo  a  year.»"  In  1343  Henry  fitz  Alcher 
and  Beatrice  granted  the  manor  to  John  de  Depeden 
and  his  heirs  to  hold  of  the  chief  lords  except  for  £10 
of  rent  and  the  homage  and  services  of  seventeen 
tenants  which  were  to  be  paid  to  Henry  fitz  Alcher 
and  his  heirs."  In  1 346  John  de  Depeden  was  reported 
as  holding  \  fee  in  High  Laver  which  Henry  Alcher 
once  held. '^  At  theend  of  1358  Maud,  widow  of  John 
de  Depeden,  empowered  the  Rector  of  High  Laver  to 
sue  for  her  dower  of  every  freehold  which  belonged  to 
her  husband  in  the  counties  of  Essex,  Hertford,  and 
York. '3  A  rental  drawn  up  in  143 1  suggests  that  Maud 
held  the  manor  of  High  Laver  in  dower.''*  After  her 
death  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  another  John 
Depeden,  probably  her  son  or  grandson.  In  July  1406 
John  de  Neuton,  treasurer  of  St.  Peter's,  York,  and 
other  trustees  of  Sir  John  Depeden's  estate  quitclaimed 
to  Robert  Ramsey  and  his  heirs  the  manor  of  High 
Laver  and  all  other  lands  in  Essex  and  Herts,  which 
belonged  to  Sir  John  Depeden  in  demesne  and  in 
reversion.''  In  141 2  John  Ramsey  was  reported  as 
holding  one  manor  in  High  Laver  worth  £10.'*  In 
1428  Robert  Ramsey  was  holding  the  J  fee  which 
Henry  Alcher  once  held  in  High  Laver."  According 
to  the  rental  of  143 1  Robert  Ramsey  was  still  holding 
the  manor  of  High  Laver  in  that  year,  but  shortly  after- 
wards it  came  into  the  possession  of  his  daughter 
Eleanor  and  her  husband  Richard  Priour  who  in  1436 
received  confirmation  from  the  Crown.''  In  1452 
when  he  presented  to  the  church,  Richard  Priour  was 
still  lord  of  the  manor,  but  within  a  few  years  the  estate 
came  into  the  possession  of  Walter  Wrytell,  son  of 
Eleanor  Priour  by  her  first  husband  Ralph  Wrytell." 

Walter  Wrytell  died  in  1475;  his  widow  Katherine 
held  the  manor  in  dower  until  her  death  in  1493.'  The 
estate  then  descended  to  John  Wrytell,  son  of  John 
(d.  148;),  son  of  V/alter  Wrytell.^  In  1493  the  estate 
consisted  of  230  acres  and  was  valued  at  ^^4.'  John,  son 


"  VipeR.  ii67{P.R.S.xi),  \c,j;TipeR. 
1 168  (P.R.S.  xii),  45-46. 

'8  Bk.  of  Fees,  1432;  Pipe  R.  I185 
(P.R.S.  xxxiv),  44-45. 

M  Rol.  de  Ob.  et  Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  5. 

">  Cal.  Pat.  1436-41,  26.  The  land  was 
granted  to  Richard  as  the  next  heir  of  his 
brother  William.  See  also  Bk.  of  Fees,  121. 

"  Rot.  de  Ob.  et  Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  224. 

'^  Bk.  of  Fees,  121.  In  early  documents 
High  Laver  was  also  called  Great  Laver 
and  King's  Laver. 

73  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1226-57,  II. 

'«  Ex.  e  Rot.  Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  255. 

'5  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739  ff.  94-96,  108. 

"  Ex.  e  Rot.  Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  149. 

"  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739,  ff.  97-i°3. 
110-12. 

'«  Ibid.  f.  103. 

"  Ibid.  ff.  97-103,  1 10-12. 

8»  Ibid.  f.  103. 


81  B.M.  Cott.  MS.  Tib.  C.  ix,  f.  180. 

82  Ibid. 

83  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739  f.  98-104; 
B.M.  Cott.  MS.  Tib.  C.  ix  f.  180-1.  The 
effect  of  this  agreement  was  that  Henry 
paid  all  rent  owing  from  the  time  that 
Richard  de  Harewes  was  elected  abbot  in 
October  1270.  Richard  died  in  1273  and 
was  succeeded  by  Reynold  de  Maidenhcth 
(see  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  171)  who  made  the 
agreement  with  Henry  fitz  Alcher  in 
1275. 

84  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739,  ff.  321-6. 

85  Ibid. 

86  Ibid.  87   Ibid. 

88  Ibid.;  Cal  Inq.  p.m.  iv,  p.  112. 

89  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  ii,  156. 

90  Ibid.  214. 

9'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  65.  John  de 
Depeden  acquired  several  other  estates 
from  Henry  fitz  Alcher  about  this  time. 


92  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  160. 

93  Cal.  Close,  1354-60,  532. 

94  E.A.T.  N.s.  xxii,  256.  The  rental 
refers  to  the  manor  as  'formerly  of  Maud 
Depeden'. 

95  Cal.  Close,  1405-9,  265;  Cf.  Cal. 
Close,  1354-60,  611,  614.  Sir  John 
Depeden  died  c.  1403  {Cal.  Close,  1402-5, 
12,  305). 

96  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  441. 
9'  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  222. 

98  E.A.T.  N.s.  xxii,  256;  Cal.  Pat. 
1436-41,  26;  E.R.O., -D/DEl  Mi95i 
ibid.  D/DB  T96/69. 

99  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  368;  E.R.O., 
D/DB  T96/69.  For  the  Wrytells  see  also 
Manors  of  Bobbingworth,  Ashlyns  in 
High  Ongar,  and  Lampetts  in  Fyfield. 

'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  FII,  i,  p.  383. 
'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  FII,  i,  pp.  61-63, 
383.  >  Ibid. 


89 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


of  John  Wrytell,  died  in  1507.*  His  heir,  an  infant 
daughter  Juliane,  was  dead  by  November  1 509.5  The 
heirs  to  High  Laver  and  other  manors  were  the 
daughters  of  Waher  Wrytell:  Eleanor  wife  of  James 
Walsingham  and  Gresilda  wife  of  Edward  Walde- 
grave.*  A  partition  of  their  inheritance  was  made  in 
May  1 5 10  and  the  manor  of  High  Laver  was  ap- 
portioned to  Eleanor  and  her  husband.'  In  15 10  the 
manor  was  said  to  be  worth  ^14  14/.  iJ.  a  year.*  The 
demesne  was  apparently  farmed  out,  the  chief  farmer 
being  Reynold  Foster.'  Rents  from  the  farmed  land 
amounted  to  j^iy  9/.  44/.'"  In  addition  there  were 
twelve  freeholders  paying  rents  totalling  £-^  \os.  i^J. 
a  year  and  4  copyholders  paying  rents  amounting  to 
;^4  6s.  ^i/."  A  rental  of  1 540  showed  no  change  in  the 
value  of  the  manor.'^ 

James  Walsingham  died  in  1 540. '3  Sir  Edmund 
Walsingham,  elder  son  of  James,  apparently  succeeded 
to  the  estate,  for  in  1550,  the  year  in  which  he  died, 
his  only  surviving  son  Thomas  held  his  first  court  for 
the  manor.'*  In  June  1552  the  demesne  land  consisted 
of  266  acres.'s  By  1559  the  annual  value  of  the  manor 
had  risen  to  £17  9/.,  the  rents  from  farmed  land 
amounting  to  ^{^20  ys.  81/.'*  There  were  apparently 
only  three  copyholders  at  this  time."  Sir  Thomas 
Walsingham  died  in  1 5  84,  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son 
Edmund;  the  manor  was  then  said  to  be  worth  ^{^5.'' 
Edmund  died  in  1589  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
younger  brother  Thomas  who  retained  the  manor  until 
his  death  in  1630. ■«  His  son  and  heir,  Sir  Thomas 
Walsingham,  disposed  of  the  estate  about  1655  to 
Anthony  Stanlake.^"  During  the  ownership  of  the  last 
two  Walsinghams,  at  least  part  of  the  estate  was  leased, 
the  lessees  being  in  turn  G.  Day  and  Josias  and  Thomas 
Tunbridge.^' 

Stanlake  was  described  as  lord  of  the  manor  in  1659 
and  it  may  have  been  on  his  death,  sometime  after  1662, 
that  the  estate  descended  to  coheiresses:  Sarah,  wife  of 
Jacob  Foster,  and  Martha,  wife  of  Richard  Matthews.^^ 
In  i682and  1686  Foster  and  Matthews  were  described 
as  lords  of  the  manor  in  right  of  their  wives.^3  In  169$, 
1699,  and  1706  Richard  Matthews  and  Abraham 
Foster,  a  London  grocer  and  probably  son  of  Jacob 
Foster,  were  lords.^*  Mary,  daughter  of  Richard 
Matthews,  brought  one  half  of  the  estate  in  marriage 
to  her  husband  Samuel  Beachcroft  who  was  lord  of 
the  manor  with  Abraham  Foster  in  1713.^5 

On  Abraham's  death  his  widow  Anna  held  her 
husband's  half  manor  for  life.^*  On  her  death  this  half 
was  divided  between  Abraham's  two  daughters:  Sarah, 
wife  of  Richard  Merry,  a  London  merchant,  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Lewis  Scawen.^'  The  quarter  inherited  by 
Mary  and  Lewis  Scawen  descended  to  their  only  son 


Thomas  who  in  1753  devised  all  his  real  estate  to  his 
uncle  Robert  Scawen. ^^  In  addition  to  'an  undivided 
fourth  part'  of  High  Laver  manor,  Robert  also  held  an 
'undivided  half  of  Hayleys  manor  in  Epping.^'  In 
June  1766  he  and  the  owners  of  the  other  'undivided' 
half  (of  Hayleys)  and  quarter  (of  High  Laver  manor), 
Richard  Merry  and  his  heir  Anthony,  agreed  that  it 
would  be  to  their  mutual  convenience  to  make  a 
physical  division  of  their  properties.'"  Lots  were  cast, 
as  a  result  of  which  the  two  quarters  of  High  Laver 
manor  fell  to  the  share  of  Robert  Scawen. 3' 

There  must  have  been  an  agreement  about  the  same 
time  with  the  owner  of  the  other  half  of  the  manor, 
which  had  remained  in  the  Beachcroft  family  until 
after  1762,  for  the  sale  of  the  whole  manor,  for  by 
August  1767,  when  he  held  his  first  court,  Thomas 
Darby  had  become  sole  lord.'^  At  the  time  of  the  sale 
to  Darby  the  whole  estate,  which  consisted  of  about 
370  acres,  was  leased  to  Abraham  Thorrowgood." 
Thomas  Darby,  who  continued  to  live  at  Sunbury 
(Mdx.),  died  in  1769,  having  devised  the  manor  of 
High  Laver  to  his  wife  Dulcibella  for  her  life  and  then 
to  his  brother  George.^'*  Dulcibella  died  in  1784  and 
George  in  1790. 

George  Darby  was  succeeded  by  his  son  William 
who  changed  his  surname  to  St.  Quintin.  In  1802 
William  mortgaged  the  manor  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Dashwood  for  ^^2, 557.  The  estate  was  still  encumbered 
with  this  debt  in  1805  when  William  died,  leaving  as 
his  heir  his  son  William,  a  minor.  The  trustees  of  the 
estate  eventually  repaid  Mrs.  Dashwood  in  18 12.  In 
183 1  William  St.  Quintin  mortgaged  the  manor  for 
;^5,ooo.  In  each  of  the  years  1840  and  1850  he  bor- 
rowed a  further  ^1,000,  making  a  total  mortgage  on 
the  estate  of  j^7,ooo.  This  was  still  outstanding  when 
William  St.  Quintin  died  in  1859. 

The  St.  Quintins  never  lived  in  High  Laver.  After 
the  death  of  Abraham  Thorrowgood  and  his  wife  the 
manor  house  and  farm  were  leased  to  the  Speed  family 
and,  from  1826,  to  William  Barnard  and  his  son  who 
paid  a  rent  of  ^^425  a  year  for  the  first  12  years,  ;^36o 
a  year  for  the  next  twelve,  and  ^^373  a  year  from 
1850. 

William  St.  Quintin  stipulated  in  his  will,  made  30 
years  before  his  death,  that  all  his  lands,  except  those 
in  Yorkshire,  should  be  sold  by  his  trustees.  The 
manor  of  High  Laver  was  sold  for  ^{^1 2,050  to  John 
Watlington  Perry  Watlington,  M.P.,  and  the  mortgage 
on  the  estate  was  paid  out  of  the  purchase  money.  At 
the  time  of  the  sale  the  estate  consisted  of  374  acres.'' 
J.  W.  Perry  Watlington  was  still  owner  in  1874.3*  By 
1886  he  was  dead  and  Robert  Wicksted  Ethelston  had 
succeeded  to  the  estate. 3?    Ethelston  died  in  19 14.3* 


■•  C142/21/2. 

i  L.  &  P.  Hen.  yill,  i,  p.  103. 
'  Ibid. 

'  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T96/69 ;  ibid.  D/DDw 
M78. 
8  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  M78. 
«  Ibid. 
'0  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.;    Conyers    Read,    Sir    Francis 
Wahingham,  i,  7;  D.N.B.  xx,  685. 

'4  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  M75;  D.N.B.  xx, 
685—7.  Thomas  was  knighted  in  1573. 
■5  E.R.O.,  D/DEl  M195. 
■«  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  M78. 
"  Ibid.  IS  Ibid. 

"  C 142/467/71;  D.N.B.  XX,  686.    He 
had  been  knighted  in  1597. 


2»  CP25(2)/55ifi  Mich.  1655. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DW  T4I. 

2i  E.R.O.,  D/DW  T41.  A  note  in  the 
register  of  burials  describes  Anthony 
Stanlake  as  lord  of  the  manor  in  1659: 
D/P  iii/i/i.  He  presented  to  the  church 
of  High  Laver  in  1662:  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  368. 

23  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  M76. 
«  Ibid. 

25  Ibid. 

24  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DW  T41. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DWT41. 

28  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

3"  Ibid.  31  Ibid. 

32  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  M77. 

33  E.R.O.,  D/DW  T41;  ibid.  D/DDw 
T32;    ibid.    D/DEs   T88.     Previous   oc- 


cupiers   were    Samuel    Brooks,    Thomas 
Roddington,  and  John  Pavell. 

3*  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  T88.  Information 
for  all  that  follows  has  been  obtained  from 
this  group  of  documents. 

35  E.R.O.,  D/DEs  T88.  Cf.  D/P 
1 1 1  /27/2  (Tithe  Award  1 848)  which  gave 
the  acreage  as  356  of  which  278  were 
arable. 

36  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874).  From 
1870  the  manor  of  High  Laver  was 
described  in  Kelly's  Directories  as  the  manor 
of  High  Laver  Hall  to  distinguish  it  from 
Otes  manor  which  was  apparently 
described  at  this  period  as  the  manor  of 
High  Laver. 

3'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 

38  Burke's  L.G.  (15th  edn.),  712. 


90 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  LAYER 


By  1 9 1 7  the  estate  was  apparently  no  longer  regarded 
as  a  manor.39 

The  present  farm-house  stands  on  a  moated  site 
immediately  north  of  the  church.  South  of  it  an  arm 
of  the  moat  may  have  enclosed  the  church  itself.  To 
the  north  there  was  formerly  a  third  rectangular  moated 
enclosure.'"'  The  present  house  is  of  brick,  partly 
plastered,  and  probably  dates  from  the  late  i8th  or 
early  19th  century.  At  least  two  of  the  timbered  farm 
buildings  are  older  than  the  house. 

The  manor  of  OTES  alias  OATES  may  originally 
have  formed  part  of  the  manor  of  Little  Laver  (q.v.). 

In  1288  Emma,  daughter  of  Eustace  fitz  Walter, 
granted  all  her  lands  in  High  Laver  and  Housham 
(Matching)  to  Sir  Henry  de  Enfield.^'  In  1325  Sir 
John  de  Enfield,  son  of  Henry,  John  Otes,  and  others 
were  tenants  of  the  manor  of  Little  Laver .^^  In  1329 
Sir  John  divided  his  estates  between  his  sons  Richard 
and  William.  He  conveyed  to  William  his  holding  in 
Little  Laver  which  became  the  separate  manor  of 
Envilles.^s  To  Richard  he  conveyed  i  messuage,  2 
carucates  of  land,  1 2  acres  meadow,  and  40^.  rent  in 
High  Laver  and  Housham  (Matching).^*  It  is  possible 
that  at  this  time  or  shortly  afterwards  the  lands  held  of 
Little  Laver  manor  by  John  Otes  were  merged  with 
the  lands  held  by  Richard  de  Enfield  in  High  Laver  to 
form  a  separate  manor  which  descended  in  the  Enfield 
family  but  which  became  known  by  the  name  of  Otes. 

The  heir  of  Sir  Richard  de  Enfield  was  his  daughter 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas  Battail.'^s  In  1397  the 
manor  of  Otes  was  held  by  John  Battail,  son  and  heir 
of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth.**  John  Battail  made  his 
will  in  1397,  on  the  eve  ofhis  departure  for  Jerusalem.*' 
He  gave  detailed  instructions  for  the  partition  of  his 
property  between  his  sisters,  Margaret,  soon  after- 
wards wife  of  John  de  Boys,  and  Alice,  wife  of  John 
Barrington.  Battail  died  shortly  afterwards  and  Boys 
and  Barrington  quarrelled  over  the  partition.*'  The 
dispute  was  eventually  referred  to  the  arbitration  of  the 
Countess  of  Hereford  who  decided  that  Otes  should  be 
equally  divided  between  Alice  Barrington  and  Margaret 
de  Boys,  as  John  Battail  had  instructed.*'  In  141 2 
John  de  Boys  and  John  Barrington  were  each  reported 
as  holding  lands  in  High  Laver  and  elsewhere  worth 
£20.50  Margaret  de  Boys  apparently  died  without 
issue. 51  Afterwards  two  daughters  of  John  Barrington, 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Sulyard,  and  Katherine,  wife 
of  John  Pykenham,  each  inherited  half  of  Otes. s^ 

Sir  John  Sulyard,  son  of  Elizabeth  and  John  Sulyard, 
died  in  1488  in  possession  of  half  of  Otes  which  he  held 


of  Edward,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  which  was 
worth  20  marks.'!  His  son  and  heir  Edward  died  in 
1 5 16  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  William  Sulyard 
who  held  his  first  court  in  1 523.5*  William  died  with- 
out issue  in  1540  and  his  half-brother  Eustace  Sulyard 
inherited  his  half  of  Otes.55  Eustace  died  in  1547 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  Edward. 5*  In  1 574  Edward 
conveyed  his  half  of  the  manor  to  John  Collins  who 
had  already  acquired  the  other  half  (see  below). 57 

John  Pykenham  survived  his  wife  Katherine  and 
died  in  1436  in  possession  of  half  of  Otes. '*  In  1445 
William  Hasilden  and  others  (named)  conveyed  this 
half  of  the  manor  to  John  Pykenham,  evidently  the  son 
of  John  Pykenham  (d.  1436),  and  his  wife  Margery. 59 
Margery  Pykenham  was  still  seised  of  this  half  in  1 500 
when  her  son  and  heir  George  died  childless,  leaving 
as  his  heirs  his  two  nieces,  Margery  and  Elizabeth 
Pykenham,  daughters  of  his  brother  Thomas.'"  At 
that  time  this  half  of  the  manor  was  held  of  John,  Earl 
of  Oxford,  and  was  worth  20  marks.*'  Apparently  the 
sisters  Margery  and  Elizabeth  Pykenham  each 
inherited  half  of  the  moiety. 

In  1539  John  Heron  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  who 
was  probably  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Pykenham, 
conveyed  a  quarter  of  Otes  to  John  Lymsey.*^  The 
latter  died  in  1545;  in  1558  Edward  Lymsey,  his  son 
and  heir,  conveyed  this  quarter  to  John  Collins.'^ 

Meanwhile  in  1550  John  Collins  had  received  the 
other  half  of  the  moiety  from  John  Jennyns  and  his 
wife  Joan,  one  of  whom  may  have  been  the  child  or 
grandchild  of  Margery  sister  of  Elizabeth  Pykenham.** 

Between  1 5  50  and  1 574  John  Collins  thus  acquired 
the  whole  manor  of  Otes.  It  remained  in  the  Collins 
family  until  shortly  after  16 14  when  it  was  purchased 
by  William  Masham  whose  son  William  succeeded 
him  and  was  created  a  baronet  in  i62i.*5  In  1638  Sir 
William  Masham  was  visited  at  Otes  by  Oliver 
Cromwell,  who  was  his  relative  by  njarriage.**  Sir 
William  died  about  1656.*'  His  heir  was  his  grandson 
William  Masham,  2nd  Bt.,  who  died  unmarried  about 
1662  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Francis 
Masham,  3rd  Bt.**  In  1668  there  were  59  freeholders 
and  copyholders  on  the  estate.*'  The  area  in  their 
hands  was  more  than  3  54  acres'"  and  they  paid  rents 
amounting  to  ^£9  12/.  xdJ^  In  1678  22  tenants  who 
failed  to  attend  their  lord's  court  were  each  fined  2(/.'* 

From  1 69 1  until  1704  John  Locke  the  philo- 
sopher lived  at  Otes  as  the  paying  guest  of  Sir  Francis 
Masham.'!  In  1723  Sir  Francis  died,  leaving  as  his 
heir  his  son  Samuel,  ist  Baron  Masham  of  Otes  (cr. 


3'  Kelly' %  Dir.  Essex  (1917  f.). 

*o  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/27/2. 

*>  Cal.  Close,  1279-88,  525;  Visits,  of 
Essex  (Had.  Soc.  xiii),  227;  C.  Moor, 
Knights  of  Ediu.  I  (Harl.  Soc.  Ixix),  i, 
305-6. 

**  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  p.  372;  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  143. 

*3  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  5.  See  Little 
Laver,  Manor  of  Envilles. 

<*  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  5 ;  Visits,  of  Essex 
(Harl.  Soc.),  227. 

*5  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  227. 

*«  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  268-72;  Visits,  of 
Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  227;  Cal.  Close,  1396- 
9,  282. 

*'  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  268-72. 

♦«  Ibid.;  Cal.  Close,  1396-9,  282. 

♦9  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  268-72. 

5"  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  440. 

5'  E.A.T.  N.s.  i,  272. 

5'  B.M.  Add.  Chart.  40792;  Visits,  of 


Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  147;  E.A.T.  n.s.  i, 
272.  The  historian  of  the  Harringtons 
{E.A.T.  n.s.  i,  272)  believed  that  John 
Barrington,  husband  of  Alice,  had  only  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth.  The  evidence  of  the 
B.M.  charter,  however,  suggests  strongly 
that  he  had  several  daughters. 

53  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  Vll,  i,  p.  177. 

54  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  M9;  E.A.T. 
iii,  180;  ibid.  n.s.  vi,  325. 

55  E.A.T.  iii,  180;  ibid.  n.s.  vii,  16. 

56  C142/86/63. 

57  CP25(2)/l29/l6S5. 

58  B.M.  Add.  Chart.  40792. 

50  Cal  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  ii,  p.  246. 
When  the  half  manor  was  settled  on  John 
and  Katherine  Pykenham  it  was  stipulated 
that  if  they  had  no  issue,  the  estate  should 
descend  to  Margery,  sister  of  Katherine  or, 
if  Margery  died,  to  Alice  also  sister  of 
Katherine. 

'0  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  ii,  p.  246. 

91 


6"  Ibid. 

"  CP25(2)/52/374Trin.3i  Hen. Villi 
C 142/74/72.  Elizabeth  Heron  certainly 
held  the  half  manor  in  her  own  right. 

«5  C142/74/72;  CP25(2)/7o/586  Trin. 
4  &  5  Phil.  &  Mary. 

«*  CP25(2)/57/42i  East.  4  Edw.  VI. 

65  CP25(2)/295  Mich.  12  Jas.  I  & 
Trin.  17  Jas.  I;  Hisi.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii, 
348;  Morant,  Essex,  \,  141;  G.E.C. 
Complete  Baronetage,  \,  182. 

"  E.R.  xviii,  201. 

»7  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  i,  182. 

68  Ibid. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/DXs  I. 

">  Ibid.  Some  of  the  acreages  in  indivi- 
dual tenants'  hands  are  not  given  in  the 
rent  roll. 

7"  Ibid. 

72  Ibid. 

73  See  above,  p.  88. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


1712)7'*  In  1736  Lord  Masham  impoverished  himself 
when  he  settled  the  greater  part  of  his  estates,  including 
the  manor  of  Otes,  on  his  son  Samuel  at  the  time  of  the 
latter's  marriage  to  Henrietta  Winnington.'s  The 
young  Samuel  had  already  inherited  the  property  of 
his  uncle  General  Hill  and  Henrietta  brought  him  a 
dowry  of  some  ^10,000.'*  He  was  a  lord  of  the  Bed- 
chamber to  George  II  and  auditor-general  of  the  house- 
hold of  George,  Prince  of  Wales.^'  He  was,  however, 
a  wastrel'*  and  before  he  succeeded  his  father  as  Baron 
Masham  in  175 S'''  he  was  already  in  need  of  money. 
In  1 7  5  7  he  mortgaged  Otes  and  his  two  other  manors 
of  Matchinghall  in  Matching  and  Little  Laver  to  Dr. 
Robert  Taylor  of  Albemarle  St.,  Hanover  Square 
(Mdx.)  for  ^{^3,000.80  Part  of  the  manor  farm,  which 
was  valued  at  ;^l4o  a  year,  was  then  let  to  John 
Hinson.*'  There  were  100  acres  of  woodland,  valued 
at  j^35  a  year,  in  hand.*^  The  free  and  copyhold  rents 
belonging  to  Otes  and  Matchinghall  manors  amounted 
to  £1 1  i6s.  1  i^J.  a  year  and  the  fines  and  reliefs  for 
the  two  manors  were  estimated  at  ^5  a  year.^3 

In  1 76 1  Lord  Masham  was  granted  a  pension  of 
;^i,ooo  a  year  by  George  III.*''  In  February  1762  he 
still  owed  ;^2,ooo  of  the  ^^3,000  he  had  borrowed  from 
Taylor  in  1757.85  He  then  married  as  his  second  wife 
Charlotte  Dive  whose  father  John  Dive  of  Queen 
Square,  Westminster,  gave  her  a  dowry  of  ^£8,000, 
paying  off  the  debt  to  Taylor  as  part  of  this  sum.** 
At  about  the  time  of  the  marriage  Lord  Masham  sold 
to  a  bookseller  part  of  his  family  library,  including 
books  bequeathed  by  John  Locke,  'to  make  room',  it 
was  commonly  believed,  'for  books  of  polite  amuse- 
ment'.*'  Charlotte  Masham  was  as  irresponsible  and 
as  extravagant  as  her  husband,**  and,  less  than  three 
years  after  the  marriage,  Lord  Masham  began  to  bor- 
row money  on  a  scale  which  led  rapidly  to  the  loss  of 
his  estate.  Between  January  1765  and  June  1766  he 
borrowed  a  total  of  ;/^8,6oo  on  the  security  of  jhe 
estate.*'  Most  of  this  was  lent  by  Robert  Palmer  of 
St.  Andrew's  parish,  Holborn  (Lond.)  who  had  been 
manager  of  the  estate  from  1757,  if  not  before. '°    In 

1766  the  estate  was  valued  at  ^^25,369.9'    Early  in 

1767  Palmer  acquired  the  freehold  on  terms  which 
allowed  Lord  Masham  to  live  at  Otes  for  the  rest  of 
his  life.9^   Masham  died  there  in  1776. '3   Even  at  the 

'<  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  540  j  see  above, 
p.  88. 

75  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Ti ;  P.  Laslett,  'The 
Mashams  of  Otes*,  Hist,  To-day^  iii,  541. 

■">  Hist.  To-day,  iii,  541;  D.N.B.  xii, 
1295. 

"  D.N.B.  xii,  1297. 

'8  Hist.  To-day,  iii,  541-2.  Swift,  who 
hated  him  from  a  boy,  commented  that  he 
was  'ill-natured  and  proud  and  very  little 
in  him*. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  541. 

80  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Ti.  Mr.  Laslett 
believes  (Hist.  To-day,  iii,  p.  541)  that  this 
mortgage  was  probably  owned,  in  fact,  by 
Robert  Palmer  whose  name  appears  as  a 
witness  only  to  the  deed  and  who  certainly 
lent  Lord  Masham  a  great  deal  of  money 
between  Jan.  1765  and  June  1766.  There 
is  no  evidence,  however,  to  support  this 
view.  The  fact  that  Palmer  was  manager 
■  of  Masham's  estate  in  1757  is  sufficient  to 
explain  his  attestation  of  the  deed. 

8"  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Ti. 

82  Ibid. 

83  Ibid.  There  are  no  separate  figures 
for  Otes  at  this  date. 

84  D.N.B.  xii,  1297. 
'5  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Ti.  86  ibid. 


8'  Hist.  To-day,  iii,  542. 

88  Ibid.  541-2. 

89  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Ti  ;  ibid.  D/DEw 
E3. 

«»  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  E3. 

»'  Berks.  Rec.  Off.  D/EE  F38. 

«  Ibid.;  ibid.  D/EE  E18;  E.R.O., 
D/DXs  i;  ibid.  D/DEw  Mil.  Mr. 
Laslett's  statement  (Hist.  To-day,  iii,  542) 
that  the  transfer  of  ownership  took  place 
in  1766  is,  on  the  basis  of  Palmer's  notes, 
incorrect.  The  document  to  which  Mr. 
Laslett  refers  as  the  deed  of  sale  contained 
in  fact  only  the  valuation  of  the  estate  and 
the  terms  submitted  for  Lord  Masham's 
consideration. 

93  Hist.  To-day,  iii,  542. 

9*  Ibid. 

95  See  below.  Church. 

96  P.  J.  Budworth,  Memorials  of  Green- 
sted—Budivorth,  Chipping  Ongar  and  High 
Laver,  35. 

9'  Nor  did  his  son  and  successor, 
Richard  (see  below).  Some  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  house,  including  Locke's 
possessions,  were,  however,  removed  to 
the  Palmers'  residence ;  Hist.  To-day,  iii, 
542-3;  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  T2. 

98  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  T2. 


end  he  was  'so  burdened  with  debt  that  he  could  not 
attend  the  House  of  Lords'.''*  An  interesting  comment 
on  the  characters  of  Lord  Masham  and  Robert  Palmer 
was  written  a  century  later  by  P.  J.  Budworth  whose 
family  had  been  connected  with  High  Laver  almost 
from  the  time  when  Masham  lost  his  estate.''  In  1 876 
Budworth  wrote  that  'Lord  Masham  seemed  to  have 
been  improvident  and  his  improvidence  had  been  taken 
advantage  of  by  one  to  whom  he  confided  the  manage- 
ment of  his  estates  and  who  built  up  his  own  fortune 
upon  the  ruins  of  that  of  his  master'.'* 

Robert  Palmer  never  lived  at  Otes."  He  died  in 
1786  leaving  all  his  real  estate  to  his  only  son  Richard 
but  charging  it  with  the  payment  of  ^10,000  to  each 
of  his  two  unmarried  daughters.'*  In  1801  Richard 
Palmer  put  up  his  Essex  estate  for  auction."  This 
consisted  of  1,258  acres  valued  at  £i,oj^  a  year." 
Otes  manor  farm  contained  279  acres  which  were 
valued,  with  the  manor  house,  at  ^£385  a  year.^  Of 
these  279  acres,  160  were  in  the  occupation  of  three 
leaseholders,  called  Browne,  the  elder  and  younger, 
and  Crush,  and  92  were  occupied  by  the  elder  Browne 
as  tenant  at  will.3  The  manor  house  was  empty.'*  The 
quit  rents  on  the  manor  amounted  to  about  ^10  a  year 
and  the  royalties  were  valued  at  j(^20.5  An  offer  for  the 
leasehold  land  appears  to  have  been  accepted  in  1801.* 
The  manor  house  and  1 1 6  acres  in  hand  or  in  the 
occupation  of  the  tenant-at-will  were  sold  in  1 802—3 
to  John  Hughes  who  held  his  first  court  in  1808.''  In 
181 1— 1 2  the  manor  came  into  the  possession  of  George 
Starkins*  who  had  already  acquired  much  of  the  land 
in  High  Laver  which  was  auctioned  in  1 80 1—2.  In 
1824  there  were  44  manorial  tenants  whose  rents 
totalled  £<)  igs.  6 J.  a  year'  and  in  1837  34  whose 
rents  totalled  £7  5/.  St/.'"  In  1841  George  Starkins 
owned  613  acres  in  the  parish;  of  this  he  then  occupied 
426  acres." 

Between  1841  and  1843  John  and  Thomas  Inkersole 
came  into  possession  of  the  manor.'^  In  1848  the  manor 
farm  consisted  of  68  acres  and  was  occupied  by  Thomas 
Inkersole. '3  The  Inkersoles  also  owned  an  estate  of 
155  acres  which  had  previously  been  in  the  possession 
of  George  Starkins.''*  They  were  still  lords  of  the 
manor  in  1 860  when  the  last  recorded  court  was  held.'' 
By   1870  the  manor  had  apparently  come  to  Mrs. 

99  Ibid.  ■  Ibid. 

2  Ibid.  The  figures  which  Mr.  Laslett 
gives  both  as  to  the  extent  and  as  to  the 
value   of  Otes    Manor   in    1801    are   in- 


correct. 

3  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  T2. 

*  Ibid. 

5  Ibid.  «  Ibid. 

'  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  707-8;  ibid. 
D/DXs  I. 

8  E.R.O.,Q/RPl7i6-i7;ibid.  D/DXs 
I .   He  held  his  first  court  in  Jan.  1 8 1 5. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/DXs  2. 
'0  E.R.O.,  D/DXs  3. 

>'  E.R.O.,  D/P  111/27/1.  According 
to  the  Land  'Tax  Assessments  Starkins 
owned  much  of  this  land  before  he  ac- 
quired the  manor  but  he  did  not  occupy  it 
for  many  years. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  111/27/1;  ibid. 
D/DXs  I. 

■3  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/27/2. 

■4  Ibid.;  ibid.  D/P  111/27/1.  Most  of 
the  rest  of  George  Starkins's  land  had 
passed  to  George  Starkins  Wallis  by  1848. 

'5  E.R.O.,  D/DXs  I.  The  sudden 
cessation  of  entries  in  the  Court  Book 
after  i860  suggests  that  the  i860  court 
was  in  fact  the  last  one  held  for  the  manor. 


92 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  LAYER 


Wright  and  others  who  still  held  it  in  19 14.'*  By 
19 1 7  the  estate  was  apparently  not  regarded  as  a 
manor. '7 

There  is  no  longer  a  house  at  Otes.  The  site,  which 
is  partly  moated,  is  clear  except  for  a  well  shaft  and  two 
large  lime  trees.  South-west  of  the  moated  enclosure 
are  the  remains  of  an  orchard  wall  and  of  two  out- 
buildings. One  of  these  buildings  was  constructed  of 
re-used  timbers.  South  of  the  site  a  small  stream  has 
been  dammed,  probably  in  the  i8th  century,  to  form 
an  ornamental  lake  with  a  weir  at  its  outlet. 

In  about  1770  Otes  was  said  to  be  one  of  the  only 
two  good  houses  in  the  parish:  'a  large  building,  in  a 
delightful  situation,  with  a  park,  gardens,  canals  etc.''* 
A  woodcu  t  of  the  house,  pu  blished  in  1 8  2 1 , "  shows  on 
the  left  hand  a  low  three-gabled  block,  apparently 
timber-framed  and  plastered.  It  was  probably  of 
medieval  origin,  altered  in  the  i6th  or  early  17th 
century.  There  were  slightly  projecting  oriel  windows 
and  a  two-storied  porch  with  a  pointed  entrance  arch. 
Adjoining  the  old  house  to  the  right  there  were  two 
later  additions.  In  front  was  a  square  three-story 
block,  probably  of  the  Queen  Anne  period.^"  Behind 
this  was  a  two-story  wing  in  the  picturesque  style  of 
the  late  i8th  century.  In  1801  it  was  said  that  the 
newer  part  of  the  house  had  been  recently  erected.^' 
The  building  is  said  to  have  been  demolished  in  1822." 
In  1835  it  was  described  as  'completely  destroyed'.^^ 
Some  outbuildings  remained,  however,  for  some  time.^ 
The  last  of  them  fell  in  1952.^5 

The  advowson  of  High  Laver  was  held  by  the  lords 
of  the  capital  manor  until  1315.^'  In  that 
CHURCH  year  Alcher  son  of  Henry  retained  the 
advowson  when  he  granted  the  manor  to 
his  son  Henry  and  Henry's  wife  Beatrice."  In  1331 
and  1334  Alcher  presented  to  the  church.^*  In  1337 
he  converted  his  interest  in  the  advowson  into  a  life 
interest  with  remainder  to  Sir  John  de  Shardelowe  for 
life  and  then  to  John,  son  of  Sir  John,  in  tail.^'  In  1 366 
William  de  Ferrers,  probably  Lord  Ferrers  of  Groby 
(d.  1 37 1),  presented. 3"  Later  presentations  were  made 
by  John  de  Beston  and  others  in  1398,  by  William, 
Lord  Ferrers  of  Groby  (d.  1445),  in  1400,  and  by 
John  Gwyne  and  others  in  1426.2'  By  1438  the 
advowson  again  belonged  to  the  lord  of  the  capital 
manor.32  It  then  descended  with  the  manor  until  soon 
after  1 662  when  the  manor  passed  to  coheiresses,  Sarah, 
wife  of  Jacob  Foster,  and  Martha,  wife  of  Richard 
Matthews."  In  1683  Sarah  and  Jacob  Foster,  Martha 


and  Richard  Matthews,  Samuel  and  Mary  Lewin,  and 
Joseph  Reeve  conveyed  the  advowson  to  George  Cole 
and  John  Knapp.J'*  In  17 10  George  Cole  presented 
and  in  1727  William  Cheval.^s  In  1729  the  advowson 
was  held  by  the  rector,  Martin  Hall,  who  in  that  year 
sold  it  to  Alexander  Cleeve.3*  After  Hall's  death  in 
1734  Alexander  Cleeve  presented  his  son  John."  Hall 
had  encumbered  the  hving  with  many  debts.^'  John 
Cleeve  devised  the  advowson  to  his  nephew  Thomas 
Velley.39  In  1778, after Cleeve'sdeath, Thomas Velley 
presented  his  brother-in-law  Richard  Budworth  who 
held  the  living  until  his  death  in  i8o5.*<'  Afterwards 
Richard  Budworth's  trustees  held  the  patronage  until 
his  son  Philip  was  old  enough  to  become  rector  and 
to  hold  the  advowson.*'  After  Philip  Budworth's  death 
in  1 86 1  the  advowson  was  held  by  Captain  Budworth, 
grandson  of  Richard  Budworth,  until  his  death  in 
i885.'t2  It  was  then  held  by  Captain  Budworth's 
trustees  until  after  l9o6.*3  In  191 2  and  1 9 14  the 
living  was  in  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Heales.**  By  1922  the 
advowson  was  held  by  Canon  R.  D.  Budworth  who 
retained  it  until  his  death  in  about  I938.''s  In  1940 
and  194 1  it  was  held  by  the  Revd.D.  P.  D.  Budworth.** 
Since  1942  it  has  been  in  the  gift  of  the  Bishop  of 
Chelmsford,*'  and  since  1945  has  been  united  with 
that  of  Magdalen  Laver.*' 

In  about  1254  and  in  1295  the  rectory  was  valued 
at  16  marks.*'  In  1428  the  church  was  still  taxed  on 
this  valuation.  In  1535  the  rectory  was  valued  at 
£14  IJ-.  6d.^°  In  1637  there  were  about  47  acres  of 
glebe. 5'  In  1848  the  tithes  were  commuted  for  ^^520; 
there  were  then  63  acres  of  glebe. '^ 

In  1637  a  terrier  described  the  rectory  as  consisting 
of  'a  parsonage-house,  a  kitchen  by  itself,  a  barn,  a 
stable,  and  a  hay-house,  also  an  orchard,  a  garden-plat, 
a  little  court-yard  and  a  great  outer  yard'.sJ  A  separate 
kitchen  was  a  feature  of  the  parsonages  at  all  three 
Lavers  in  the  17th  century  and  was  certainly  a  survival 
from  medieval  times.  No  mention  was  made  of  a 
separate  kitchen  in  a  terrier  of  18 10  although  the  lath- 
and-plaster  house  still  existed  then.'*  Shortly  before 
he  died  in  1805  Richard  Budworth  had  plans  drawn 
up  for  rebuilding  the  rectory. ss  On  his  death,  how- 
ever, the  plan  was  abandoned  and  it  was  not  until 
shortly  after  1864  that  the  old  parsonage  was  pulled 
down  and  a  new  one  built  on  nearly  the  same  site.'* 
The  present  building  is  a  large  red  brick  gabled  house, 
part  of  it  of  three  stories.  It  ceased  to  be  used  as  a 
parsonage  when  the  living  was  united  with  that  of 


^''Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870  f.).  For 
Kelly's  description  of  Otes  Manor  at  this 
period  see  above,  n.  36. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1917  f.). 

**  Hisi.  Essex  ify  Gent,  iii,  346. 

">  Monthly  Magazine,  Iii;  E.R.O., 
Prints,  High  Laver. 

»o  E.R.  xvii,  212. 

"  E.R.O.,  U/UEwT2. 

"  E.R.  xvii,  213. 

^3  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  346. 

2*  E.R.O.,  D/P  111/27/1  &  2;  O.S. 
6  in.  Map  ( i  st  edn.),  sheet  xlii. 

2'  Hist.  To-day,  iii,  543. 

^'  Cal.  hq.  p.m.  iv,  p.  112;  Feet  of  F. 
Essex,  ii,  1 56. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  ii,  156. 

^'  Newcourt,  i?ir^fr/.  ii,  368. 

2'  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  41. 

30  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  368. 

3"  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

M  CP25(2)/655  Mich.  35  Chas.  II. 

3'  J.  Bacon,  Thesaurus,  615. 


36  P.  J.  Budworth,  Memorials  of  Green- 
sted-Budtvorth,  Chipping  Ongar,  and  High 
Laver,  35-36.  Budworth  said  that  before 
1729  there  had  been  'several  changes  of 
patrons  rapidly  succeeding  each  other'. 

"  Ibid.  In  J.  Bacon,  Thesaurus,  615, 
however,  there  is  a  record  that  a  year 
before  Alexander  Cleeve  presented  in 
1734,  John  Turvin  presented. 

3'  P.  J.  Budworth,  Mems.  of  Greensted- 
Bud-worth  etc.  -iS-l^-  "Ibid. 

w  Ibid.  Budworth  says  that  in  1777 
Thomas  Velley  sold  the  advowson  to 
Richard  Budworth  who  bought  it  in  order 
to  present  his  son  Richard,  husband  of 
Thomas  Velley's  sister.  According,  how- 
ever, to  the  Bishop  of  London's  certificate 
of  institution  (E331/41)  Thomas  Velley 
presented  to  the  living  in  1778.  What 
probably  happened  was  that  Thomas 
Velley  presented  his  brother  in  law. 

41  P.  J.  Budworth,  Mems.  of  Greensted- 
Budiuorth  etc.  36;  Cler.  Guide,   liij  t; 

93 


Clergy  List,  1845  f- 

*^  P.  J.  Budworth,  Mems.  of  Greensted- 
Budivorth  etc.  j6 ;  Clergy  List,  1864.  For 
the  Budworths  see  also  Greenstcad. 

*3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890,  1902,  1906), 

♦*  Ibid.  (1912,  1914). 

*5  Ibid.    (1922,     1926,     1929,     1933) 
Chel.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1938. 

*<•  Chel.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1940,  1941. 

*'  Ibid.  1942  f. 

*8  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  (195 1-2);  inf. 
from  the  Revd.  W.  D.  Topping. 

*»  Lunt,  Val.  of  Nortvich,  337;  Tax. 
Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  21. 

50  ralor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

S'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  368. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/27/2.  Tithes  of  the 
glebe  were  not  included  in  the  j^520. 

53  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  368. 

5*  E.R.O.,  D/P  111/3/2. 

55  P.  J.  Budvvorth,  Mems.  ofGreensted- 
Bud-uiorth  etc.  36. 

56  Ibid. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Magdalen  Laver  and  it  is  now  a  private  house  called 
High  Laver  House. 

The  parish  church  of  ALL  SJINTS  consists  of 
nave,  chancel,  west  tower,  south  porch,  and  north 
vestry.  The  walls  are  of  flint  rubble  roughly  coursed, 
particularly  in  the  chancel.  Roman  brick  is  found 
among  the  rubble  and  forms  some  of  the  quoins.  Most 
of  the  dressings,  originally  of  clunch,  have  been  replaced. 

The  nave  was  built  late  in  the  12th  century.  It 
retains  one  small  round-headed  window  in  the  north 
wall.  West  of  this  is  an  original  doorway,  partly 
restored,  which  now  leads  to  the  vestry.  It  has  a  semi- 
circular arch  and  chamfered  imposts. 

The  chancel,  probably  built  about  1 200,  has  seven 
lancets  with  pointed  heads.  There  are  two  in  each  of 
the  north  and  south  walls  and  three  graduated  lancets 
at  the  east  end;  all  are  much  restored. 

Two  doorways,  one  in  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel 
and  one  in  the  south  wall  of  the  nave,  are  probably  of 
the  13th  century.  The  former  is  now  blocked  but  the 
arch  in  clunch  is  visible  externally.  The  piscina,  which 
has  a  trefoiled  head  and  a  double  drain,  may  be  of  the 
13th  century.  There  are  fragments  of  13th-  or  14th- 
century  glass  in  the  small  nave  window. 

The  tower,  of  three  stages,  appears  to  have  been 
added  about  1340.57  It  was  originally  of  flint  rubble, 
but  this  is  now  mostly  plastered  and  much  of  the  tower 
has  been  rebuilt  in  brick.  The  moulded  tower  arch  is 
sharply  pointed.  In  the  west  wall,  but  not  axial  with 
the  arch,  is  a  good  14th-century  window  with  a  pointed 
arch  and  two  ogee-headed  lights.  There  is  a  blocked 
window  in  the  second  stage  of  the  tower  on  the  north 
side.  The  chancel  arch  was  probably  rebuilt  in  the 
14th  century.  The.  responds  and  head  are  finely 
moulded.  It  has  spread  considerably  at  springing  level 
and  this  may  have  caused  the  arch  itself  to  drop,  giving 
the  unusual  three-centred  shape. 

Late  in  the  14th  or  early  in  the  15th  century  four 
new  windows  were  inserted  in  the  nave  and  one  in  the 
chancel.  These  are  all  square-headed  externally  with 
label  moulds  and  head  stops.  Internally  the  arches  are 
three-  or  four-centred.  The  tracery,  which  has  all  been 
replaced,  was  probably  originally  of  this  date  and  has 
been  copied  with  fair  accuracy.58 

In  the  1 5th  or  i6th  century  the  roofs  of  the  chancel 
and  nave,  which  are  ceiled  in  except  for  the  plates  and 
tie-beams,  were  renewed. 

In  1737  the  vestry  agreed  that  the  tower  should  be 
repaired  and  that  'one  Tarling  should  undertake  it  by 
the  day  and  put  up  a  brick  buttress  and  restore  the 
plaistering  where  it  is  necessary,  the  parish  finding  all 
materials'. 59  The  south-west  buttresses  may  have  been 
rebuilt  in  brick  at  this  time  as  a  result  of  this  decision. 
In  about  1789  the  spire  and  part  of  the  tower  were 
found  to  be  ruinous  and  were  taken  down.*°  The 
upper  stage  of  the  tower,  and  probably  the  south-west 
buttresses,  were  rebuilt  in  red  brick  for  some  ^^200.*' 
The  parapet  is  castellated  and  there  are  round-headed 
windows  to  the  belfry.  The  octagonal  spire  is  shingled. 


A  general  restoration  of  the  church  possibly  took 
place  in  1865,  when  the  font  and  tomb  of  John  Locke 
were  repaired.*^  The  south  porch  and  the  vestry 
appear  to  date  from  this  period.  The  porch,  which  is 
of  flint  with  a  timber  superstructure,  replaced  a 
plastered  porch*'  of  unknown  date.  The  vestry,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  nave,  is  of  flint  with  limestone  dressings. 

In  1873  an  organ  was  built  in  the  chancel.*''  In 
1927  the  chancel  was  altered,  the  choir  stalls  and  a 
19th-century  stone  pulpit  being  cleared  away  and  the 
organ  moved  to  the  west  end.  The  alterations  cost 
;^I27  of  which  ^43  was  contributed  by  the  Rhode 
Island  Society  of  America.*' 

The  font,  which  stands  in  the  tower,  dates  from  the 
middle  of  the  14th  century.  It  has  an  octagonal  bowl 
on  each  face  of  which  is  a  quatrefoil  panel  enclosing  a 
shield.  The  prayer  desk  in  the  chancel  is  a  memorial  to 
those  killed  in  the  First  World  War**  and  the  oak 
pulpit  is  of  the  same  style  and  date. 

There  is  one  bell  in  use  and  a  small  disused  sanctus 
bell.  In  1552  there  were  two  bells  in  the  steeple 
weighing  about  18  cwt.,  two  'rogacione  bells'  weighing 
9  lb.,  and  a  sanctus  bell  of  3  lb.*''  In  about  1768  there 
were  three  bells.*'  In  about  1790  the  parishioners 
agreed  that  'one  large  bell  and  a  small  bell  or  Saints 
Bell  only  shall  be  hung  in  the  steeple  of  the  church 
instead  of  three  bells  and  that  two  of  the  said  three  bells 
shall  be  sold'  and  the  money  used  to  help  defray  the 
cost  of  rebuilding  the  steeple.*'  In  1866  the  cost  of  a 
new  bell,  evidently  a  replacement,  was  raised  by  a  rate 
of  4/70  "pijg  sanctus  bell  is  inscribed  'xpe  audi  nos'." 
It  is  probably  of  the  14th  century  and  is  one  of  the  few 
remaining  medieval  sanctus  bells  in  Essex." 

From  1657-8,  or  earlier,  the  church  owned  Bell 
Acre  (i  a.  3  r.),  in  the  north-east  of  the  parish. '^  The 
rent  from  this  land,  which  was  £1  a  year  until  at  least 
1805,  was  usually  spent  on  church  repairs  in  the  i8th 
and  19th  centuries.7^  In  192 1  the  rector  informed  the 
Charity  Commissioners  that  the  rent  had  been  applied 
to  church  expenses  since  before  191 5.''  In  1945 
dividends  of  ^^2  were  spent  in  maintaining  the  church 
grounds.'*   In  1952  the  land  was  sold  for  ^120. '7 

Nearly  all  the  church  plate  was  given  by  Sir  Francis 
Masham,  Bt.,  and  his  son  Samuel,  Lord  Masham  (d. 
1758).  It  includes  two  silver  cups,  one  of  1674  given 
by  Sir  Francis  and  one  of  1 73  5  given  by  Lord  Masham ; 
two  silver  patens,  one  undated  but  given  by  Sir 
Francis,  and  one  of  1735  given  by  Lord  Masham;  and 
a  silver  almsdish  dated  1724  and  given  by  Lord 
Masham  in  1735.'' 

In  the  chancel  is  a  brass  to  MyrabyU  (Mirabel),  wife 
of  Edward  Sulyard  (c  I495).79  There  are  figures  of 
a  man  in  i  jth-century  armour  and  a  woman  in  a  full- 
skirted  gown  and  a  pedimented  head-dress.  Below  are 
figures  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter  and  a  rhymed 
inscription.  There  are  floor  slabs  in  the  chancel  to  Sir 
Francis  Masham  (1723)  and  his  granddaughter 
Elizabeth  Masham  (1724).  On  the  north  wall  is  a 
marble  tablet  to  Damaris,  widow  of  Ralph  Cudworth, 


5'  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  130. 

"  Early-igth-cent.  engravings  (E.R.O., 
Prints,  High  Laver)  show  much  the  same 
tracery. 

59  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/8/2.  ">  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  Of  this,  ^£^150  was  borrowed 
from  Thomas  Speed  of  Harlow,  maltster, 
because  the  parishioners  were  unwilling 
that  so  large  a  sum  as  ;^200  should  be 
raised  by  one  rate. 

»»  Kell/i  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 


'J  Sketch  dated  1 82 1:  E.R.O.  Prints, 
High  Laver. 

'•*  Vestry  Minute  Book  1863-1943,  in 
possession  of  the  rector. 

65  Ibid.  The  society's  contribution  was 
in  memory  of  Roger  Williams,  founder  of 
the  colony,  who  was  married  at  High 
Laver  in  1629.  ^^  Inscription  in  situ. 

<"  E.A.T.  N.s.  ii,  228-9. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  141. 

«9  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/8/2. 


'"Vestry  Minute  Book  1863-1943; 
Ci.  Bells  Essex,  316. 

"  C/i.  Bells  Essex,  316. 

"  E.A.T.s.s.xx'uzij. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  111/8/1;  ibid.  D/P 
I11/27/2. 

'*  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/8/2. 

"  Char.  Com.  Files. 

■">  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

'8  CA.  Plate  Essex,  136. 

'«  £.yj.  r.  N.s.  vii,  13-17. 


94 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  LAYER 


Master  of  Christ's  College,  Cambridge.*"  The  epitaph 
is  thought  to  have  been  composed  by  John  Locke.'' 
Also  in  the  chancel  are  tablets  to  Samuel  Lowe  (1709), 
Richard  Budworth  (1805),  and  Phihp  Budworth 
(1861),  rectors.  In  about  1835  there  was  in  the 
chancel  a  broken  brass  plate  bearing  an  imperfect 
inscription  in  ancient  characters  in  memory  of  Robert 
Ramsey  (probably  died  about  1436)  and  his  wife  Joan  ;'^ 
this  plate  has  now  disappeared. 

Outside  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  is  the  brick  altar 
tomb  of  John  Locke  (1704).  A  mural  tablet,  originally 
above  the  tomb,  was  moved  inside  the  church  for  pre- 
servation in  1932,83  the  tercentenary  of  Locke's 
birth.  Outside  the  church  near  the  east  end  there  are 
many  other  altar  tombs,  of  the  Budworth,  Cleeve, 
Velley,  and  Masham  families. 

There  is  a  chapel  of  ease  at  Matching  Green  dedi- 
cated to  ST.  EDMUND.  It  was  built  in  18748*  at 
the  expense  of  Francis  R.  Miller,  Vicar  of  Kineton 
(Warws.).8s  It  is  of  yellow  brick  with  a  small  western 
bell-cote.  It  consists  of  a  nave  and  chancel.  In  1945 
it  was  transferred  to  the  ecclesiastical  parish  of 
Matching.  8* 

The  house  of  Robert  Morris  in  High  Laver  was 
licensed  for  Presbyterian  wor- 
NONCONFORMITT  ship  in  1673,87  but  no  per- 
manent congregation  appears 
to  have  been  established.  About  1869  Mr.  Vale,  the 
Congregational  evangelist  from  Moreton  (q-v.),  started 
preaching  at  Thrushesbush  in  High  Laver.88  In  1870 
Vale  reported  that  the  work  at  Thrushesbush  was  not 
going  well,  'great  influence  is  used  to  prevent  the  poor 
from  attending'. 89  For  several  years  Thrushesbush 
continued  to  be  associated  with  Moreton.  In  1876  the 
Revd.  W.  Passmore  of  Moreton  and  the  Revd.  G.  E. 
Singleton  of  Hatfield  Heath  both  helped  there,  and 
in  1877  a  chapel  was  opened,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Matthews 
of  Campions,  near  Hatfield  Heath.'"  In  1882  it  was 
attended  by  about  60,  but  by  1883  it  had  ceased  to  be 
used  by  the  Congregationalists." 

In  1883  it  was  proposed  that  the  Wanstead  and 
Woodford  Methodist  circuit  should  take  it  over.  The 
circuit  refused,  but  Messrs.  E.  Pope,  Godwin,  and 
Bowes  purchased  the  chapel,  and  it  was  subsequently 
accepted  on  the  circuit  plan.'^  It  was  later  taken  over 
by  the  North  West  Essex  Mission  and  had  apparently 
been  closed  by  1906.'^ 

It  is  now  a  dwelling  house  called  'Drinkwaters'.  It 
lies  outside  the  parish  boundary  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Harlow  road.  The  upper  part  of  the  structure  is 
timber  framed,  the  panels  being  filled  with  brick 
Hogging  and  plaster.  The  front  is  altered. 

Vestry  minute-books  for  High  Laver  survive  for 
1657-1804M      and       1863- 

1943-'" 

Until  1682  vestry  meetmgs 

seem  to  have  been  held  only  at 

Easter  in   each  year.    From 

1682  meetings  were  held  at  Easter  and  Christmas.   In 

1739  f""""  meetings  were  recorded  and  if  a  resolution 


PARISH  GOVERN- 
MENT AND 
POOR  RELIEF 


of  23  April  1739  w*'  carried  out  there  must  afterwards 
have  been  at  least  three  meetings  a  year,  at  Easter, 
Michaelmas,  and  Christmas.  In  later  years  meetings 
were  sometimes  held  at  other  times  also. 

Until  John  Cleeve  became  rector  in  1734  the 
minutes  were  brief  and  rarely  signed.  Only  three 
resolutions  were  entered  before  1735  and  two  of  these 
were  not  signed.  Only  the  appointment  of  officers  and 
the  approval  of  their  accounts  were  usually  recorded. 
Until  the  end  of  the  17th  century  the  totals  of  officers' 
receipts  and  disbursements  were  usually  entered,  but 
from  1696  until  1735  the  minutes  only  recorded  the 
annual  balances  and  sometimes  omitted  even  this. 
Cleeve  exercised  an  immediate  influence  on  the  parish 
records.  He  attended  vestry  meetings  regularly  and 
he  wrote  the  minutes.  Vestry  resolutions  were  recorded 
regularly  and  were  always  signed  by  him  and  the 
parishioners  present.  Moreover,  from  1 75  5  it  was  again 
the  practice  to  record  the  details  of  accounts  although 
it  did  not  become  customary  to  sign  them.  From 
Cleeve's  death  in  1777  until  1804  the  accounts  con- 
tinued to  be  minuted  in  the  same  fashion,  but  only 
once,   in  1790,  was  a  vestry  resolution  recorded. 

The  number  of  parishioners  attending  vestry  meet- 
ings before  1776  varied  between  2  and  7  but  was 
usually  between  4  and  7  until  1745  and  2  or  3  after 
that  date.  At  a  vestry  in  1 771  it  was  agreed  that  in 
future  anyone  absenting  himself  from  a  meeting  with- 
out a  good  excuse  should  be  fined  6J.  The  next 
recorded  vestry,  in  1776,  was  attended  by  six  parish- 
ioners. Only  once  after  this,  in  1790,  were  the 
minutes  signed  and  then  there  were  nine  signatures. 
In  the  17th  and  early  i8th  centuries  the  Mashams  of 
Otes  evidently  took  an  active  interest  in  parish  affairs 
and  attended  vestry  meetings.  Of  the  five  occasions 
on  which  minutes  were  signed  before  1735,  Sir  Francis 
Masham,  3rd  Bt.,  signed  twice,  in  1665  and  1667, 
and  F.  C.  Masham,  half  brother  of  Samuel,  ist  Lord 
Masham,  and  heir  of  John  Locke,  signed  once,  in  1728. 
Sir  Francis  signed  before,  and  F.  C.  Masham  after, 
-the  rector.  When  it  became  the  practice  to  sign  the 
minutes  the  Mashams  were  usually  not  resident  in  the 
parish  and  their  signatures  never  appeared  in  the 
minutes.  The  owners  of  the  capital  manor  seem  never 
to  have  attended  vestry  meetings,  but  Abraham 
Thorrowgood,  tenant  of  the  estate  by  1767,  took  an 
active  part  in  parish  affairs  from  1764  and  usually 
signed  the  minutes  immediately  after  the  rector. 

The  main  work  of  the  vestry  consisted  in  appoint- 
ing officers  and  approving  their  accounts.  It  evidently 
became  the  practice,  however,  for  the  poor  to  take 
complaints  to  vestry  meetings  and  for  individuals  to  use 
these  occasions  to  settle  their  accounts  with  parish 
officers.  In  1767  it  was  resolved  that  'for  the  future  no 
business  whatsoever  shall  be  done  on  the  day  the  ac- 
counts are  settled  but  what  relates  to  the  parish  business 
of  that  day  only,  so  that  the  poor  shall  bring  their  com- 
plaints on  the  vestry  immediately  preceding,  and  all 
private  accounts  between  officers  and  others  shall  be 
settled  either  before  or  after  that  day'. 


'»  Dr.  Cudworth  and  his  wife  were 
parents  of  Damaris,  second  wife  of  Sir 
Francis  Masham,  3rd  Bt. 

8'  Undated  cutting  c.  1830:  E.R.O. 
Prints,  High  Laver. 

82  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  348  note. 

83  Inscription  in  situ. 

8-t  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874). 

85  Ibid.  (1886). 

•«  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  W.  D.  Topping, 


Rector  of  High  Laver. 

87  G.  L.  Turner,  Orig.  Recs.  of  Early 
Nonconformity,  ii,  929. 

88  Essex  Congr.  Union  Reps.  1869. 

89  Ibid.  1870. 
9"  Ibid.  1876-8. 
91  Ibid.  1882-3. 

n  Address  by  A.  W.  Leach,  J.P.,  at 
Wanstead,  Dec.  19 19,  reported  in  Mins. 
of  Local  Preachers'  Mtg.  Wanstead  and 

95 


Woodford  Circuit.  For  Pope  sec  Loughton 
Nonconformity. 

93  Ibid.;  Kellfs  Dir.  Essex  (1906). 

94  E.R.O.,  D/P  111/8/1  &  2.  Unless 
otherwise  stated  all  the  following  informa- 
tion is  derived  from  these  minute-books. 
A  separate  'Poor  Book'  was  evidently 
kept  but  this  is  now  missing. 

95  In  possession  of  the  rector. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


In  1712  it  was  agreed  that  'Henry  Marling  shall 
have  20S.  a  year  allowed  for  church  clerk's  wages'.  In 
1735  i^  ^35  agreed  that  'the  clerk  shall  receive  \J. 
yearly  of  every  householder  that  does  not  pay  to  the 
poor'.  In  1743  it  was  resolved  that  los.  a  year  should 
be  added  to  the  clerk's  wages. 

There  were  two  churchwardens  in  each  of  the  years 
161 3  and  1614.  There  were  also  two  each  year  from 
1657  until  1698.  During  this  period  they  usually 
served  for  2—4  years  consecutively.  From  1698  there 
was  only  one  churchwarden,  who  usually  served  for 
many  consecutive  years. 

Until  1672  there  were  two  overseers  each, year  and 
they  usually  served  for  two  or  three  years  consecutively. 
From  1672  there  was  only  one  overseer.  Until  1724 
it  was  usual  to  serve  two  years  consecutively,  but  after- 
wards the  overseers  served  for  one  year  only.  They 
were  evidently  chosen  on  a  rota  system  and  once,  in 
1802,  a  woman,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Speed,  tenant  of  the 
capital  manor,  was  appointed  to  serve. 

Constables  were  nominated  in  vestry  at  least  from 
1657.  Until  1704  there  were  always  two,  each  of 
whom  usually  served  two  years  consecutively.  There- 
after there  was  usually  only  one.  Until  1743  this  officer 
usually  served  no  more  than  two  years  at  a  time,  but 
after  that  date  he  usually  served  for  at  least  three  con- 
secutively and  sometimes  much  longer. 

Two  surveyors  of  highways  were  nominated  annu- 
ally. From  1682,  if  not  before,  they  were  appointed  at 
Christmas.  The  number  of  years  served  consecutively 
varied  from  one  to  five.  Sir  Francis  Masham  was 
surveyor  from  1672  until  1676. 

Until  at  least  1739,  ^"<^  perhaps  until  1743,  the 
overseers,  churchwardens,  and  constables  were  each 
granted  separate  rates  for  which  they  were  directly 
responsible  to  the  parish.  Occasionally  one  officer  was 
ordered  to  pay  another  officer's  deficit  out  of  his  sur- 
plus. In  the  churchwarden's  account  of  expenditure 
for  1692-3  there  were  four  items,  totalling  is.  \\d., 
'for  relief.  These  items  were  passed  only  after  some 
hesitation  and  it  was  resolved  'never  to  allow  any  reliefs 
hereafter  paid  by  churchwardens'.  From  1743,  if  not 
from  1739,  '^^  constables  were  no  longer  granted 
separate  rates.  Their  expenditure  was  met  by  the 
churchwardens  who  included  it  in  their  account.  There 
is  no  clear  evidence  that  the  surveyors  accounted 
directly  to  the  parish  until  1743-4  when  they  received 
a  separate  rate  for  which  they  accounted  to  the  vestry. 
From  1744  until  1747  the  churchwarden,  who  was 
also  one  of  the  surveyors,  included  their  expenditure 
in  his  accounts,  but  after  1747  there  was  always  a 
separate  surveyors'  account. 

There  was  a  workhouse  in  High  Laver  in  1767. 
In  that  year  the  vestry  agreed  'that  the  old  persons  in 
the  workhouse  shall  have  one-quarter  of  what  they 
shall  earn  and  the  other  three  parts  shall  go  to  the 
governor  of  the  workhouse'.  By  1776,  however,  the 
house  had  become  a  mere  poorhouse  where  paupers 
were  lodged  rent  free.'*  It  lay  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Harlow  Road  about  \  mile  west  of  the  church."  In 
1 84 1,  when  it  was  no  longer  a  poorhouse  and  belonged 


to  George  Starkins,  it  was  a  cottage,  occupied  by  three 
tenants.'* 

In  most  cases  poor  relief  was  given,  in  various  forms, 
outside  the  poorhouse.  In  each  of  the  years  181 3-1 5 
there  were  20-22  adults  on  'permanent'  outdoor 
relief."  Provision  for  the  poor  was  made  in  various 
ways,  including  the  binding  out  of  paupers'  children  as 
apprentices,  the  payment  of  rent,  and  the  provision  of 
clothes.  Parish  apprentices  were  allotted  on  a  rota 
system.  In  1738  it  was  agreed  that  'no  poor  person's 
rent  should  be  paid  by  the  parish  for  any  time  before 
he  becomes  chargeable  without  a  special  order  of 
vestry'.  In  1753  John  Parsons  agreed  to  attend  the 
poor  as  apothecary  and  surgeon  'except  midwifery  and 
smallpox'  for  3  years  at  4J  guineas  a  year. 

In  161 3-14  the  cost  of  poor  relief  was  ^^4  9^.'  In 
1 734— 5  it  was  ^24.  It  then  rose  sharply  to  a  maximum 
of  j^i04  in  1741-2.  In  1776  it  was  ^£133^  and  in 
1783-5  it  averaged  ;^i65.3  In  1 800-1  it  reached 
^^724,  but  in  the  next  seven  years  never  exceeded  ^^520 
and  was  sometimes  much  lower.*  In  the  remaining 
years  of  the  Napoleonic  war  the  cost  averaged  ^582. 
a  year  and  in  1816-17  it  was  ^^634. 5 

In  1836  High  Laver  became  part  of  the  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

There  were  no  schools  in  the  parish  in  1807  and 
1 8 1 8  although  at  the  latter  date  the  rector, 
SCHOOL  P.  Budworth,  was  helping  to  maintain  a 
private  school  in  Moreton,  to  which  pre- 
sumably he  sent  High  Laver  children.*  By  1 828  a  day 
school  in  union  with  the  National  Society  had  been 
established.  In  that  year  it  had  30  pupils,'  but  atten- 
dance declined  until  in  1832  it  seems  to  have  been 
closed.^  In  1833  there  was  only  a  private  school  in 
the  parish,  founded  in  1832.  It  had  40  pupils  and 
further  accommodation  was  available  at  a  dame  school 
in  Matching,  which  some  30  High  Laver  children 
attended  in  1839.'  In  1833,  however,  the  Sunday 
school  was  refounded  in  High  Laver  and  by  1846-7 
this  had  apparently  led  to  the  setting  up  of  a  day  school, 
under  the  Diocesan  Board,  with  27  pupils  and  a 
further  7  on  Sundays.  The  schoolmistress  was  paid 
;^i6  a  year.'"  This  school  had  ceased  by  1865  when 
there  was  only  an  inefficient  dame  school  in  the  parish." 

In  about  1865  the  rector,  with  the  support  of  the 
largest  landowner  (J.  W.  Perry  Watlington)  and  other 
churchmen,  established  a  Building  Committee  to  col- 
lect subscriptions  for  a  new  school  for  High  and  Little 
Laver,  with  a  teacher's  residence  of  six  rooms  attached. 
The  school,  with  accommodation  for  about  7  5  children, 
was  built  in  1 866  at  Matching  Green  at  a  cost  of  j^668, 
of  which  the  Treasury  contributed  ;^I43  i?-?.,  the 
Diocesan  Board  £35,  the  National  Society  ^^37,  and 
subscribers  the  rest.'^  It  was  placed  in  union  with  the 
National  Society  and  was  managed  by  the  rector  and 
churchwardens. '3  In  1870  there  were  75  pupils  at  the 
school  and  25  infants  in  an  unsuitable  room  nearby. 
In  1 87 1  an  infants'  classroom  was  built  with  the  help 
of  ^24  from  the  Treasury,  £,\o  from  the  Diocesan 
Board,  £,(,  from  the  National  Society,  and  some  local 
subscriptions.'*    In   1872  the  Education  Department 


'>'•  Rep.  Set  Cttee.  on   Overseers  Retns. 
iTJT,  H.C.  scr.  i,  vol.  ix,  p.  350. 
»'  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/27/1  &  2. 
»8  E.R.O.,  D/P111/27/1. 
9»  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/io. 
■  E.R.O.,  g/SBa  3. 

2  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/i. 

3  Ibid. 


-t  E.R.O.,Q/CR  1/9. 

5    Ibid. 

*  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4  (Archdeaconry) ; 
Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  pp.  260,  262 
(i8i9),ix{i). 

'  Nat.  Soc.Rep.  1828,  p.  62. 

*  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1832,  p.  61;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  281  (1835), xli. 


«  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  281 
(1835),  xli;  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

'"  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  12-13. 

"  Inf.  from  Nat.  Soc. 

'2  Ibid. 

'3  Min.  of  Educ.  File  i  3/196. 

»  Inf.  from  Nat.  Soc. 


96 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  LAYER 


said  that  the  accommodation  was  sufficient  for  the 
parish."  Attendance  increased  considerably  in  the 
next  eight  years  and  the  annual  grant  rose  from  ^^26 
in  1872  to  ^^58  in  i88o.'6  In  1899,  when  there  was 
accommodation  for  132  pupils,  there  was  an  average 
attendance  of  95  and  a  grant  of  ^^85  was  received.'^ 
In  1900  about  58  people  were  subscribing  money  for 
the  school."  8  Attendance,  however,  was  falling  as  the 
population  of  the  parish  declined.  In  1904  there  were 
84  pupils  and  3  teachers." » 

By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 


mittee as  a  non-provided  school.  The  average  atten- 
dance fell  to  76  in  1914  and  57  in  1938.  In  1939  the 
school  was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants." 
In  May  1952  there  were  2  teachers  and  44  pupils.*' 

The  school  is  a  single-story  red-brick  building.  On 
the  front  is  a  combined  chimney  and  bell-cote. 

Magdalen  Laver  school,  which  is  situated  a  little  to 
the  south-west  of  Tilegate  Green  just  within  the 
southern  boundary  of  High  Laver,  is  attended  by 
children  from  this  part  of  the  parish  as  well  as  by  those 
from  Magdalen  Laver  (q.v.). 
CHARITY.  For  Bell  Acre  charity  see  above.  Church. 


LITTLE  LAVER 


Little  Laver  is  a  small  parish  about  5  miles  to  the 
north  of  Chipping  Ongar,"  with  an  area  of  964  acres.* 
In  1428  it  contained  fewer  than  10  households.^  There 
were  15  inhabited  houses  in  1801,  20  in  181 1,  and 
16  in  1821.*  In  1 80 1  the  population  was  90.5  By 
1841  it  had  grown  to  128.*  It  declined  in  the  next  30 
years  to  104,  then  rose  to  124  in  1891.'  At  the  end  of 
the  century  it  fell  j  ust  below  1 00  and  has  since  remained 
about  this  level.'   In  195 1  it  was  96.' 

The  land  is  about  280  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the  east 
and  230  ft.  in  the  west.  Three  streams  run  across  the 
northern  half  of  the  parish.  There  is  a  small  area  of 
woodland  on  the  north-east  boundary.  The  road  from 
High  Laver  to  Abbess  Roding  crosses  the  western 
boundary  of  the  parish  and  runs  eastward.  On  the 
south  side  of  the  road,  about  \  mile  from  the  boundary, 
is  Church  Farm,  where  there  is  part  of  a  large  moat. 
Farther  east  are  Little  Laver  Mill  and  the  Mill  House.'o 
Beyond  the  mill  the  road  is  joined  by  a  road  which 
runs  southward  to  Moreton.  On  the  east  side  of  the 
road  junction  is  the  Red  House,  a  timber-framed  farm- 
house of  the  1 8th  century  or  earlier.  To  the  south  of 
the  Red  House,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Moreton  road, 
is  the  former  rectory."  East  of  the  Red  House  on  the 
road  to  Abbess  Roding  is  the  village  hall.'*  To  the 
south  of  the  road  on  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  parish 
is  Envilles.'s 

Nearly  opposite  the  village  hall  a  road  runs  north- 
west to  Matching  Green.  On  the  west  side  of  this  road 
is  Gosling  Hall,  a  two-story  timber-framed  building 
probably  of  the  1 5th  century.  It  originally  consisted 
of  an  open  hall  of  two  bays  with  a  two-story  cross-wing 
at  its  north  end.  The  south  end  of  the  hall  block  may 
be  a  later  addition.  In  the  i6th  or  early  17th  century 
a  chimney  was  built  in  the  south  bay  of  the  hall,  a  ceil- 
ing was  inserted  and  the  roof  was  renewed  and  possibly 
raised.  The  lower  part  of  the  arched  braces  to  the  tie- 
beam  of  the  original  hall  roof-truss  can  still  be  seen  in 

"  Chelmsford  Chronicle,  2  Aug.  1872. 

"  Rep.  of  Educ.  Citee.  of  Council,  i8y2 
[C.  812], p.  408,  H.C.  (1873),  ixiv;  ibid., 
1880  [C.  2948-1],  p.  577,  H.C.  (1881), 
xxxii. 

"  Retn.  of  Schs.  1899  [Cd.  315],  p.  71, 
H.C.  (1900),  Ixv  (2). 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/196. 

'•  Esiex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handhk.  1904, 
p.  185. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/196. 

"  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 
>  O.S.    2\    in.    Map,    sheets    52/50, 

S*/5'- 

'  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 
'  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 
*  Census,  1 80 1,  181 1,  1 82 1. 
»  y.C.H.  Essex,  \\,  350. 


«  Ibid.  ■ 

8  Ibid.;  Census,  191 1  f. 
«  Census,  1 95 1. 

10  See  below. 

■I  See  below,  Church. 

'2  See  below,  School.  • 

■3  See  below,  Manor  of  Envilles. 

'*  See  below,  Church. 

'5  See  below.  Manor  of  Little  Laver 
Hall.  "'  Ibid- 

J'  See  below.  Parish  Government  and 
Poor  Relief. 

18  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886,  1890). 

"  The  location  of  this  inn  in  Chapman 
and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex  lyy;,  plate  xii, 
appears  to  be  wrong.  According  to  this 
map  there  was  at  that  time  a  building  on 
the  lite  later  occupied   by   the   Leather 

97 


the  ground  floor  room  of  this  block.  A  cambered  tie- 
beam,  originally  having  arched  braces,  is  also  partly 
visible  above  the  first  floor  room  of  the  cross-wing.  The 
gabled  east  end  of  this  wing  oversails  and  has  curved 
supporting  brackets.  An  external  chimney  on  the  north 
side,  partly  rebuilt  recently,  has  diagonal  shafts  and  is 
probably  of  the  i6th  or  early  17th  century.  Beyond 
Gosling  Hall  to  the  north  are  the  church'*  and  the  old 
manor  house,  now  called  the  Grange. 's  Farther  north 
there  is  a  windpump  on  the  west  side  of  the  road. 
Opposite  this  is  a  long  drive  north-east  to  Little  Laver 
Hall.'*  To  the  north  of  the  drive  on  the  road  to  Match- 
ing Green  are  Stone  Cottages,  formerly  the  parish  poor- 
house."  About  J  mile  farther  north  is  Hull  Green 
farm-house,  which  is  probably  of  18th-century  date. 
From  Hull  Green  the  road  turns  westward  and  forms 
the  parish  boundary  for  a  short  distance  before  joining 
the  road  from  Matching  Green  to  Ongar.  South  of 
the  junction  the  Ongar  road,  called  at  this  point  Water 
Lane,  forms  the  western  boundary  of  the  parish  for 
about  a  mile.  On  the  east  side  of  this  road  is  Water- 
man's End  House,  a  timber-framed  building  of  the 
1 8th  century  or  earlier.  North  of  the  house  is  a  pair  of 
18th-century  cottages.  South  of  Waterman's  End 
House,  on  the  same  side  of  the  road,  is  a  brick  house 
which  until  1886— 90'8  was  the  Leather  Bottle  Inn." 

Postal  facilities  were  extended  to  Little  Laver  when 
a  receiving  office  was  set  up  at  Moreton  in  1846.*" 
Water  was  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  in  1912.*'  Electricity  was  supplied  to  one 
end  of  the  parish  in  1950.**  There  is  a  village  hall, 
erected  in  i89i.*3 

Little  Laver  has  always  been  a  rural  parish  devoted 
mainly  to  agriculture.  The  Collins  family,  owners  of 
the  manors  of  Little  Laver  Hall  and  Envilles  for  a 
century  or  more  after  1559,  lived  in  the  parish  at  least 
during  the  period  1599-167 1. *•♦  It  is  not  clear  whether 
the  owners  were  resident  in  the  period  immediately 

'  Ibid. 


Bottle  Inn  but  the  name  of  the  inn  was 
attached  to  a  building  about  i  mile  farther 
south  on  a  site  now  occupied  by  America 
farm  in  High  Laver.  As  there  was  un- 
doubtedly a  Leather  Bottle  Inn  in  Little 
Laver  by  1769  It  is  almost  certain  that  on 
the  map  of  1777  the  name  was  attached 
to  the  wrong  building:  E.R.O.,  D/CT 
210;  6  in.  O.S.  Map  (ist  edn.),  plate  xlii; 
2j  in.  O.S.  Map,  sheet?  52/50,  52/51; 
E.R.O.,  2/RLv  24-82. 

"  P.M.G.  Mins.  1846,  vol.  87,  p.  5. 

^'  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Waterworks 
Co. 

"  Inf.  from  East.  Elcc.  Bd. 

*3  See  below.  School. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/P  147/i/ii  ibid.  Q/RTh 
1&5. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


after  the  Collinses  disposed  of  the  estates.  The  owners 
of  Little  Laver  Hall  certainly  did  not  live  in  the  parish 
from  1 7 14  until  after  the  Meyers  acquired  the  estate 
in  1804—5.^5  Christian  P.  Meyer,  who  succeeded  to 
the  estate  in  1828-9,  was  resident  by  1848  and  since 
his  time  the  owners  of  this  estate  have  always  lived  in 
the  parish.^*  Whether  the  owners  of  Envilles  did  so  in 
the  first  three  quarters  of  the  i8th  century  is  not  clear; 
certainly  they  were  not  resident  between  1780  and 
1897." 

In  1848  the  parish  consisted  of  968  acres.^^  C.  P. 
Meyer  owned  270  acres  of  which  he  occupied  only  1 5 
acres.2'  John  Maryon  Wilson  owned  249  acres  but 
farmed  none  of  it  himself 3o  "phe  only  other  sub- 
stantial owner  in  the  parish  was  Thomas  Poynder  who 
owned,  but  did  not  occupy,  Hull  Green  Farm  (119 
acres)."  There  were  two  other  farms  of  over  40  acres.^^ 

Then,  as  now,  there  was  mixed  farming  in  the  parish, 
with  a  marked  predominance  of  arable.  In  1847  it  was 
estimated  that  there  were  716  acres  of  arable,  150  acres 
of  pasture,  and  23  acres  of  woodland.'s 

There  has  been  a  windmill  on  the  site  of  the  present 
mill  since  the  first  half  of  the  17th  century.34  From  the 
late  1 8th  century  until  the  First  World  War  the  mill 
descended  from  father  to  son,  four  consecutive  millers 
being  named  Stephen  Roast.'s  The  first  of  these,  who 
died  in  1797,  is  said  to  have  left  money  for  his  son  to 
build  the  present  mill.^*  This  was  originally  a  weather- 
boarded  post  mill  of  the  usual  local  pattern.  The  tall 
brick  base,  about  20  ft.  high,  is  an  improvement  said 
to  date  from  about  1 86o.37  The  wooden  superstructure 
was  raised  on  jacks  and  props  and  a  second  story  was 
added  to  the  round  housed*  giving  ertra  height  and 
storage  space.  It  thus  became  a  combination  of  smock 
and  post  mill  and  appears  to  be  the  only  example  known 
of  this  type.  The  fantail  was  also  added  about  i860. 
A  miller  named  Hart^'  succeeded  the  last  of  the  Roasts 
but  the  mill  ceased  working  soon  after  ig30.'»o  It  is 
now  the  property  of  J.  Brace  &  Sons  of  High  Ongar 
and  is  used  for  storage  purposes  by  their  tenant.'"  The 
Mill  House,  which  stands  west  of  the  mill,  is  a  timber- 
framed  building  probably  dating  from  the  17th  century. 

In  1066  LITTLE  LAVER  was  held  as  a  manor  by 
Brictmar.'i^  In  1086  it  was  held  of  Eustace 
MANORS  Count  of  Boulogne  by  Richard  and  was 
worth  10;.*"  In  1190  an  assize  was  held 
to  determine  whether  Eustace  de  Lagefare  had  more 
right  to  hold  the  'land  of  Lagefare'  of  the  king  than  the 
king  had  to  hold  it  in  demesne.''^  In  1200  Ralph  de 
Rochester  brought  a  suit  against  Eustace  de  Lagefare, 
the  tenant,  for  possession  of  the  land.'ts  Afterwards  they 
came  to  an  agreement  whereby  Eustace  de  Lagefare 
acknowledged  'all  the  town  of  Lagefare'  to  be  the  right 


of  Ralph  de  Rochester  who  granted  to  Eustace  the 
services  of  8  tenants  and  27  acres  of  land  to  hold  of  him 
by  the  service  of  J  knight's  fee."**  In  I2i2and  1217-18 
Ralph  de  Rochester  held  Little  Laver  in  chief  of  the 
king  by  the  service  of  \  fee  and  Richard  de  Rochester 
and  his  brother  Eustace  held  the  manor  of  Ralph.""  It 
was  probably  from  this  division  of  the  manor  between 
Eustace  and  Richard  that  there  came  to  be  two  manors 
in  Little  Laver:  Little  Laver  aliai  Bourchiers  Hall  and 
Enfields  alias  Envilles  (see  below).  It  seems,  however, 
that  until  1325,  if  not  later,  the  estates  held  by  the 
successors  of  Eustace  and  Richard  were  considered  not 
as  separate  manors  but  as  parts  of  one  manor.'**  In 
1307  this  manor  was  held  of  Robert,  2nd  Lord  Scales, 
whose  great-grandfather  Robert  de  Scales  (d.  before 
1250),  had  probably  inherited  it  through  his  wife 
Alice  de  Rochester.'"  Robert,  2nd  Lord  Scales,  died 
in  1325  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert,  3rd  Lord 
Scales.so  After  this  Envilles  and  Bourchiers  estates 
came  to  be  regarded  as  separate  manors  but  they  prob- 
ably continued  under  a  common  overlord.  Certainly  in 
1428  the  tenant  in  chief  of  both  manors  was  Humphrey 
Stafford,  later  Duke  of  Buckingham  (d.  1460). 5' 

In  1303  Bennet  le  Brun  held  \  fee  in  Little  Laver.^^ 
Shortly  afterwards  the  Bourchier  family  came  into 
possession  of  this  estate.  In  1325  John  le  Bousser  and 
others  were  tenants  of  the  manor  of  Little  Laver  which 
was  held  by  the  service  of  i  fee. 53  Soon  afterwards 
Bousser's  estate  became  a  separate  manor  known  as 
LITTLE  LAVER  HALL  alias  BOURCHIERS 
HALL.  In  1 3  30  Robert,  afterwards  ist  Lord  Bourchier, 
was  granted  free  warren  in  his  demesne  lands  in 
Laver. 54  In  1346  John  Bourchier,  son  of  Robert,  held 
the  J  fee  which  Bennet  Broun  once  held.^s  In  1384 
John,  now  2nd  Lord  Bourchier,  was  granted  free 
warren  in  the  demesne  lands  of  his  manor  of  Little 
Laver. 56  This  manor  now  followed  the  same  descent 
as  that  of  Bourchiers  Hall  in  Moreton  (q.v.)  until  1 5  59 
when  Richard,  ist  Baron  Rich,  conveyed  it  to  John 
Collins.57  Thomas  Collins  was  lord  of  the  manor  in 
1584.58  The  estate  remained  in  the  Collins  family*' 
until  it  was  sold  to  Matthew  Blucke  of  Hunsdon 
(Herts.)  who  died  about  1713.*"  From  1563  to  1660 
or  later  the  Collinses  also  held  Envilles  (see  below). 
For  some  years  Blucke  had  held  the  office  of  usher  of 
the  rolls  of  the  Court  of  Chancery  and  after  his  death 
it  had  been  decreed  by  the  court  that  his  private  estate 
should  be  sold  to  meet  debts  arising  from  his  term  of 
office.*'  Accordingly  in  1714  Little  Laver  manor  was 
sold  for  j{^2,ioo  to  Samuel,  ist  Baron  Masham.*^  At 
that  time  the  estate  contained  300  acres  and  was  in  the 
occupation  of  Thomas  Halden.*'  In  1736  Lord 
Masham  settled  the  manor  on  his  son  Samuel  at  the 


25  See  below.  Manor  of  Little  Laver 
Hall;  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685  f. 

26  See  below,  Manor  of  Little  Laver 
Hall;  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210;  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex,  1859  f. 

"  See  below.  Manor  of  Envilles ;  E.R.O., 
Q/RPl  685-737;  ibid.  D/CT  210. 

28  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210. 

"  Ibid.  30  Ibid. 

3'  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

3«  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  281/9;  D-  Smith, 
English  PVindmills,  ii,  4.9. 

35  D.  Smith,  English  Windmills,  ii,  49. 

3'  Ibid. 

3'  E.R.  xl,  163. 

3*  D.  Smith,  English  ffindmiUs,  ii,  49. 

3»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926). 

«  E.R.  xl,  163. 


4^  Inf.  from  present  tenant. 

12  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467A. 

'*3  Ibid.  See  note  under  High  Laver 
about  the  difficulty,  emphasized  by  J.  H. 
Round,  of  distinguishing  between  High 
Laver  and  Little  Laver  in  Domesday. 

'"  Pipe  R.  1 1 90  (P.R.S.  N.s.  i),  III. 

45  Rot.  Cur.  R.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  219. 

46  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  22. 
"  Bk.  of  Fees,  i,  121,  240. 
48  Cal.  Inq.p.m.  vi,  p.  372. 

4''  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  439;  W.  Farrer,  Uons. 
and  Knights'  Fees,  iii,  269-70;  Complete 
Peerage,  xi,  499—501.  The  exact  relation- 
ship of  Alice  to  Ralph  de  Rochester  is  un- 
certain but  she  may  have  been  his  grand- 
daughter.   Cf.  Morant,  Essex,  i,  143. 

5»  Cal.  Inq.p.m.  vi,  p.  372. 

98 


S'  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  222. 

52  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  136. 

53  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  p.  372. 

54  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1327-41,  191. 

55  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  160. 

5'  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1341-1417,  296. 

5'    CP25(2)/l26/l6o6. 

58  E.R.O.,  D/DK.  M29. 

s«  In  the  records  the  family  name  is 
sometimes  spelt  Collins,  sometimes  Collin, 
and  occasionally  CoUen. 

60  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Ti ;  Morant,  Essex, 
i,  143. 

61  E.R.O.,  D/DEwTi.  <'^  Ibid. 
*3  Ibid.  The  estate  was  reported  to  have 

been  previously  in  the  tenure  or  occupa- 
tion of  Richard  Collins  and  William 
Collins  'or  either  of  them  or  their  assigns'. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LITTLE  LAYER 


time  of  the  latter's  marriage  to  Henrietta  Winnington.''* 
In  1757  the  Hon.  Samuel  Masham  mortgaged  this 
manor  and  his  two  other  manors  of  Otes  in  High  Laver 
and  Matchinghall  in  Matching  to  Dr.  Robert  Taylor 
for  ;^3, 000.^5  At  that  time  the  manor  house  and  farm 
were  rented  by  Thomas  Halden  for  ;^l35^a  year.** 
There  were  no  freeholders  or  copyholders.*^  In  1765 
and  1766  the  manor  was  included  in  the  mortgage  of 
the  Masham  estates  to  Robert  Palmer  and  came  into 
his  possession  with  the  other  estates  in  1767.**  In 
1 80 1  it  was  sold  by  Richard  Palmer  to  William  Clark 
for  £5,855  of  which  ^^755  was  paid  for  the  timber  on 
the  estate.*'  At  that  time  the  manor  farm  consisted  of 
about  285  acres  of  which  235  acres  were  arable. 'o  The 
whole  farm  except  for  20  acres  of  woodland,  which 
Richard  Palmer  had  kept  in  hand,  had  been  leased  to 
John  Hall  in  1 799  for  2 1  years  at  £1 60  a  year.^'  There 
were  no  quit  rents  and  no  royalties.'^ 

William  Clark  was  owner  of  the  estate  until  1 804 
or  1805  when  it  was  acquired  by  James  Meyer.'^  In 
1 828  or  1 829  it  passed  to  Christian  P.  Meyer  who  built 
a  new  house,  afterwards  known  as  Little  Laver  Hall, 
for  his  own  occupation,  leaving  the  old  manor  house  for 
his  tenant  John  Hall.''*  C.  P.  Meyer  still  owned  the 
estate  in  1848;  it  then  consisted  of  270  acres  of  which 
he  occupied  1 5  acres  and  John  Hall  255  acres.''  C.  P. 
Meyer  was  succeeded  before  1859  by  his  son  Herman 
who  died  in  1893  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  James.'* 
In  1930  James  Meyer  sold  Little  Laver  Hall  to  Mr. 
E.  W.  Bovill."  In  1943  he  sold  the  rest  of  the  estate, 
including  the  manor  farm  and  the  old  manor  house,  to 
Mr.  T.  Glasse,  who  still  owns  and  farms  the  property.'' 

The  old  manor  house  is  now  known  as  The  Grange. 
It  stands  on  a  moated  site ;  parts  of  the  moat  were  fiUed 
in  during  living  memory  and  only  fragments  now  exist. 
The  older  part  of  the  house  is  on  its  east  side  and  con- 
sists of  an  L-shaped  timber-framed  structure  with  wings 
running  east  and  north.  In  the  centre  is  a  massive 
brick  chimney,  cruciform  above  roof  level,  on  which  the 
date  1587  has  been  recut.  The  east  wing  may  be  a 
late-i6th-century  adaptation  of  an  earlier  structure  and 
there  are  indications  that  it  was  formerly  of  greater 
extent.  The  north  range  was  probably  built  in  1587 
as  a  two-story  'solar'  wing.  The  ground  floor  fireplace 
has  a  fine  three-centred  chamfered  brick  arch,  9  ft. 
wide,  and  there  is  a  heavily  moulded  cross-beam  in  the 
same  room.  In  the  upper  room  an  arch-braced  roof 
truss  is  partly  visible.  A  single-story  extension  to  this 
wing  at  its  north  end  is  now  a  dairy.  Various  timber- 
framed  additions  and  a  staircase  were  inserted  later  in 
the  angle  of  the  two  wings.  About  the  middle  of  the 
19th  century  a  gabled  brick  wing  was  added  on  the 
west  side  of  the  house. 

Little  Laver  Hall  was  probably  built  about  1845. 


The  original  gabled  house  was  of  brick  and  stucco  with 
hood-moulds  to  the  windows  and  a  two-story  bay  on 
the  garden  side.  The  south  and  east  wings  were  added 
in  1930." 

In  1299  Sir  Henry  de  Enfield  was  granted  free 
warren  in  his  demesne  lands  in  Little  Laver  and 
Fyfield.*"  In  1303  Ralph  of  Essex  was  reported  as 
holding  i  fee  in  Little  Laver."  Ralph  probably  held 
a  life  interest  only,  for  it  seems  that  Sir  John,  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  Henry  de  Enfield,  afterwards  held  the 
estate. 82  In  1325  John  de  Enfield  and  others  were 
tenants  of  the  manor  of  Little  Laver  which  was  held 
by  the  service  of  i  fee.83  In  1329  Sir  John  de  Enfield 
divided  his  estates  in  Little  Laver,  High  Laver,  and 
elsewhere  between  his  sons.  He  granted  to  his  sons 
William  and  Thomas,  and  to  the  heirs  of  William,  a 
messuage,  a  mill,  2  carucates  of  land,  2  acres  of  meadow, 
20  acres  of  wood,  and  4.0s.  rent  in  Little  Laver,  More- 
ton,  Fyfield,  and  Beauchamp  Roding.**  In  1 346 
William  de  Enfield  was  reported  as  holding  the  J  fee 
which  Ralph  of  Essex  once  held.*'  In  1361  William 
died  in  possession  of  the  estate  which  had  been  granted 
to  him  in  1329  and  which  became  known  as  the  manor 
ofENFIELDS  alias  £NFILLES.»'>  His  heir  was  his 
son  John,  a  minor.*'  During  the  minority  of  John  his 
lands  were  in  the  custody  of  Thomas  Rokewood.'' 
John  came  of  age  in  November  1368.*'  In  June  1369 
he  had  seisin  of  his  lands. 'o  Immediately  afterwards  he 
granted  to  John  Hampton  and  John  Lepyngeden  in  fee 
a  yearly  rent  of  ^^20  'to  be  taken  of  all  his  lands  in 
Little  Laver,  Moreton  and  Beauchamp  Roding'." 
John  de  Enfield  died  in  1375.'^ 

In  or  soon  after  1 375  the  manor  descended  to  Alice, 
daughter  of  John  de  Enfield,  and  her  husband  Ralph 
de  Tyle.93  In  1397,  after  the  death  of  Ralph  de  Tyle, 
all  his  lands  in  Little  Laver  were  committed  to  the 
custody  of  William  de  Stuck  during  the  minority  of 
John  de  Tyle,  son  and  heir  of  Ralph.'*  John  de  Tyle 
died  in  1399  leaving  as  his  heir  Thomas  de  Enfield, 
uncle  of  his  mother  Alice." 

The  subsequent  history  of  the  manor  has  not  been 
traced  until  May  1 541  when  Robert  Tirrell  of  Lynton 
(Devon)  and  his  wife  Joyce  were  licensed  to  alienate  it 
to  Richard,  afterwards  ist  Baron  Rich.'*  In  1563 
Lord  Rich  conveyed  it  to  John  CoUins  of  Bourchiers 
Hall  and  his  son  Thomas."  In  1603  Nicholas  Collins 
held  the  manor. '^  In  1625  Thomas  Collins,  probably 
the  son  of  Nicholas,  and  his  wife  Dorothy  conveyed  it 
to  George  Scott  and  John  Rowley."  In  1632  and 
1634  Thomas  Collins  was  lord  of  the  manor.'  In  1640 
Thomas  Collins  and  his  wife  Dorothy  and  Richard 
Collins  held  the  estate.^  By  1660  Thomas  Collins  the 
husband  of  Dorothy  was  dead.^  In  that  year  the  widow 
Dorothy  Collins  and  Thomas  Collins,  probably  her 


<■*  E.R.O.,  D/DEwTi. 

«5  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

'8  Ibid.  See  Manor  of  Otes  in  High 
Laver. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Tz. 

'0  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

'2  Ibid.  The  deed  of  sale  drawn  up  in 
May  1 802  described  the  estate  as  a  'manor 
or  reputed  manor'.  Cf.  E.R.O.,  D/DEw 
Ti  (.765). 

'3  E.R.O.,Q/RPI  708-11. 

'4  E.R.O.,  G/RPl  732-5- 

'5  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210. 

'«  Ke!!/!  Dir.  Essex  (1859  f.);  inscrip- 
tion on  gravestone  of  Herman  P.  D.  Meyer 
in  Little  Laver  churchyard. 


"  Inf.  from  Mr.  E.  W.  Bovill. 

'8  Inf.  from  Mr.  T.  Glasse,  the  owner. 

'«  Inf.  from  Mr.  E.  W.  Bovill. 

80  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1 257-1 300,  476.    • 

81  Feud.  Aids,\\,  136.. 

82  Fisits.  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  23,  227. 

83  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  p.  372;  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  143. 

8*  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  5.  Sir  John 
granted  his  estate  in  High  Laver  to  his 
son  Richard.  (See  Manor  of  Otes  in  High 
Laver.) 

85  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  160. 

86  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  xi,  p.  50. 
8'  Ibid. 

88  Cal  Inq.  p.m.  xii,  p.  363. 

89  Ibid. 

99 


«"  Cal.  Close,  1369-74,  43. 
9"  Ibid.  99. 

92  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  (Rec.  Com.),  iii,  7.  The 
inquisition  post  mortem  on  John  de  Enfield 
is  missing  from  the  P.R.O.  files. 

93  C139/13. 

9-»  Cal.  Fine  R.  139 1-9,  246. 

95  Ci 37/14;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  144. 

9'  L.  &■  P.  Hen.  yill,^v\,  p.  426. 

97  CP2S(2)/l26/l62I. 

98  E.  Anglian,  n.s.  vi,  222. 

99  CP25(2)/4is  East.  I  Chas.  Ij  f^isiu. 
of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  379. 

■  E.R.O.,  D/DB  M79. 
»  CP25(2)/4i8  Trin.  16  Chas.  I. 
»  CP25(2)/652    Mich.    12    Chas.    II; 
,CP43/3ii. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


son,  conveyed  the  manor  to  Henry  Wheeler  and  Edwin 
Baldwin.'* 

By  1702  John  Austry  was  in  possession  of  the  estate.s 
He  was  still  lord  of  the  manor  in  1 7 1 3  .*  Within  the 
next  20  years  the  estate  passed  to  John  Evans,  ap- 
parently Austry's  grandson,  who  was  described  as  lord 
of  the  manor  in  court  rolls  from  1734  until  1757.''  In 
1745  there  were  thirteen  manorial  tenants  who  paid 
rents  amounting  to  ^l  os.  %d.  a  year.*  Between  1757 
and  1766  the  estate  descended  to  Margaret  Mary, 
who  may  have  been  the  daughter  of  John  Evans  and 
who  was  the  wife  of  John  Jones  in  1766.'  By  1780  the 
manor  had  passed  to  Sir  Thomas  Spencer  Wilson,  Bt., 
who  in  1767  had  married  Jane  daughter  of  Margaret 
Mary.'o  Sir  Thomas  died  in  1798."  His  son  and  heir. 
Sir  Thomas  Maryon  Wilson,  Bt.,  died  in  1821  having 
devised  the  manor  to  his  second  son  John  Maryon 
Wilson,  a  minor  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.'^  In 
1 848  the  manor  farm,  which  consisted  of  249  acres, 
was  in  the  occupation  of  William  NichoUs  Clay. '3  John 
Maryon  Wilson  became  9th  baronet  in  1 869  and  died 
in  1 876.''*  He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  surviving 
son.  Sir  Spencer  Maryon  Wilson,  Bt.,  who  died  in 
l897.'s  In  1899  Sir  Spencer's  trustees  were  lords  of 
the  manor  but  after  the  beginning  of  the  20th  century 
the  estate  was  apparently  no  longer  regarded  as  a 
manor.'* 

The  manor  house  site  had  an  elaborate  system  of 
moats  of  which  considerable  parts  remain.  There 
appear  to  have  been  at  least  three  moated  enclosures, 
one  of  which  was  triangular.  There  is  no  trace  of  an 
early  manor  house  although  the  present  farm-house 
probably  occupies  the  same  site.  It  probably  dates 
from  the  early  years  of  the  present  century.  A  seven- 
bay  timber  barn,  which  formerly  had  a  thatched  roof, 
may  be  of  the  i8th  century  or  earlier. 

The  early  history  of  the  advowson  of  Little  Laver  is 
not  clear.  It  was  certainly  granted  to  the 
CHURCH  priory  of  Rumilly,  a  Cluniac  house  in  the 
Pas-de-Calais,  by  a  count  of  Boulogne  after 
the  beginning  of  the  12th  century.'^  It  is  probable  that 
the  grant  was  made  by  Count  Eustace  during  the  reign 
of  Henry  I.'* 

For  some  time  in- the  13  th  century,  if  not  before,  the 
prior  and  monks  of  Rumilly  found  it  impossible  to 
exercise  their  rights  of  presentation."  This  led  them 
in  1279  to  make  an  agreement  with  Queen  Eleanor, 
wife  of  Edward  1.^°  The  queen  was  to  help  the  priory 
to  recover  the  advowson  from  usurpers.  The  prior  and 


monks  were  then  to  grant  the  advowson  to  the  queen 
for  50  marks  but  they  reserved  to  themselves  the  pen- 
sion of  i6s.  which  they  were  'wont  to  receive  in  times 
past  from  the  church'.  Apparently  the  priory's  claim 
was  successfully  established,  for  in  1280  the  prior 
granted  the  advowson  to  the  king  and  queen.^'  There- 
after the  advowson  remained  in  the  Crown  until  late  in 
thereignofHenry  VIII  when  it  was  granted  to  Richard, 
1st  Baron  Rich.^^ 

In  1559  Lord  Rich  conveyed  the  advowson  with 
the  manor  of  Bourchiers  Hall  to  John  Collins  who  pre- 
sented to  the  church  in  1569.^3  Nicholas  Collins 
presented  in  1599.^  In  1607  James  I  presented 
through  lapse.^5  In  1609  Nicholas  Collins  conveyed 
the  advowson  to  John  Adams.^*  In  1637  Benjamin 
Oliver  presented  to  the  living.^'  In  about  1654  Anne 
Gilbert  presented  William  Hiccocks  who  in  1655 
presented  Edward  Whiston.^*  Presentations  were 
made  by  Richard  Collins  in  1662,  Ann  Bayn  in  1670, 
Samuel  Burnet  in  1690,  and  Maurice  Hunt  in  1697. 2' 
Matthew  Blucke  held  the  advowson  with  the  manor  of 
Bourchiers  Hall  before  his  death  in  about  1713.3° 
After  this  the  advowson  descended  with  the  manor 
until  1767.3'  In  1767  Robert  Palmer  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  advowson  as  well  as  the  manor.'^  He 
immediately  sold  the  next  presentation  to  Timothy 
Earle  for  ;^52  5.33  The  right  of  presentation  after- 
wards reverted  to  Palmer  according  to  the  agreement 
of  1767.3*'  The  living  then  remained  in  the  gift  of  the 
lords  of  the  manor  of  Bourchiers  Hall  until  the  manor 
was  sold  to  William  Clark  in  i8oi.3s  The  advowson 
was  also  offered  for  sale  by  Richard  Palmer  in  1 80 1  but 
did  not  find  a  purchaser.^*  It  remained  with  the 
Palmers  or  their  trustees  until  1910  when  it  was 
transferred  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  Albans  from  Mary 
Isabella,  widow  of  the  Revd.  Henry  Golding-Palmer, 
grandson  of  Richard  Palmer. 3'  In  19 14  the  right  of 
presentation  was  transferred  from  the  Bishop  of  St. 
Albans  to  the  Bishop  of  Chelmsford. 3 8  Since  1933  the 
living  has  been  united  with  that  of  Moreton  in  the 
gift  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  who  have  first 
and  third  turns,  and  the  Bishop  of  Chelmsford,  who 
has  second  turn. 3' 

In  about  1254  the  church  was  assessed  at  6  marks.*" 
This  sum  did  not  include  the  pension  of  i6i'.  which 
was  at  that  time  paid  to  the  monks  of  Rumilly.*'  In 
1291  the  church  was  assessed  at  ^8.*^  In  1428  it  was 
still  taxed  on  this  valuation .*3  In  1535  the  rectory  was 
valued  at  ^^i  5  10/.  4i/.+*  Its  'improved'  value  was  £,io 


♦  CP43/311;  Vhits.  of  Essex  (Harl. 
Soc),  379.  5  CP43/476. 

'  E.R.O.,  D/DB  M79. 

'  E.R.O.,  D/DB  M79-80i  Morant, 
EsseXf  i,  144.  No  court  rolls  exist  for  the 
period  between  1713  and  1734.  Morant 
stated  that  Evans  was  grandson  of  Austry. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/DB  M79. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/DB  M80. 

■»  E.R.O.,  C/RPl  685;  ibid.  D/DB 
M80;  Burke,  Peerage  (1931),  2496. 
Margaret  Mary  apparently  married  twice 
since  Jane  was  her  daughter  by  John 
Badger  Weller. 

"  Burke,  Peerage  (1931),  2496. 

■2  Ibid.;    E.R.O.,    D/DB    MSo;    ibid. 

e/RSg  5- 

■3  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210. 

'♦  Burke,  Peerage  (193 1),  2497. 

■5  Ibid.;  Kell/s  Dir.  Essex  (1886,  1890, 
1895). 

'*  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899,  1902).  No 
court  rolls  exist  for  the  period  after  1823. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  228. 


^8  Ibid.  In  1 125  CountEustacecertainly 
gave  to  this  priory  a  charge  of  ^10  on  his 
manor  of  Fobbing  and  another  of  ^Tio 
charged  on  Shenfield.  J.  H.  Round 
thought  it  almost  certain  that  this  same 
Count  Eustace  gave  to  the  priory  the 
advowson  of  Little  Laver. 

'»  Cal.  Close,  1272-9,  577-8.  In  1250 
the  Bishop  of  Carlisle  had  claimed  the 
right  of  presentation  and  the  Bishop  of 
London  had  upheld  his  claim ;  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  368-9. 

2"  Cal.  Close,  1272-9,  577-8. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  ii,  25. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  369-70.  The 
king  held  the  advowson  until  at  least  1 540 
when  he  granted  It  to  John  Gyes :  L.  ^  P. 
Hen.  VIII,  XV,  p.  411.  Lord  Rich  pre- 
sented to  the  church  in  1554:  Newcourt, 
op.  cit. 

"  CP25(2)/i26/i6o6;  Newcourt, 

Repert.  ii,  370. 

^<  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  370.       ^s  Ibid. 

2«  CP25(2)/293  East.  7  Jas.  I. 


2'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  370. 

28  E.A.T.  N.s.  vi,  326. 

29  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  370. 

30  E.R.O.,  D/DEwTi. 

3'  Ibid.;  J.  Bacon,  Thesaurus,  615. 

32  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  Ti ;  ibid.  D/DEw 
T2. 

33  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  T2. 

3*  Ibid.;  J.  Bacon,  Thesaurus,  615. 

35  E.R.O.,  D/DEw  T2.  36  Ibid. 

37  Ibid.;  Eccl.  Reg.  1808;  Cler.  Guide, 
1822  f. ;  Clergy  List,  1845  ^-i  Lor^t^-  Gaz. 
13  Oct.  1880,  p.  5431 ;  ibid.  II  Jan.  19 10, 
230;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f.). 

38  Clergy  List,  1 9 1 3  f. ;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex 
{1912,  1914). 

39  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933);  Chel.  Dioc. 
Tear  Bk.  1952;  Lond.  Gaz.  26  May  1933, 
pp.  3536-7. 

t"  Lunt,  Val.  of  Norwich,  337. 

4'  Ibid. 

■12  Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  2i. 

«  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 

«  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 


100 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LITTLE  LAYER 


r 


in  1604,  £90  in  1650,  and  ^^140  in  i66i.t5  In  1610 
there  were  about  87  acres  of  glebe.-t*  The  tithes  were 
commuted  in  1 848  for  ;^26o;  there  were  then  89  acres 
of  glebe/' 

A  terrier  of  16 10  described  the  rectory  as  'a  fair 
dwelling-house,  the  greater  part  whereof  was  built  by 
John  Oliver,  rector  of  this  parish  in  1600'  with  'an  old 
kitchen  a  little  distant  from  the  house,  a  great  barn  for 
corn,  and  a  barn  for  hay,  with  a  stable  at  the  east  end 
of  it,  two  gardens,  a  little  square  green  court,  a  great 
old  orchard,  and  other  yards  and  easements  for  the  most 
part  compassed  about  with  a  great  ditch  or  small  moat'.** 
The  separate  kitchen  was  a  medieval  feature  which 
evidently  survived  when  the  house  was  rebuilt  by 
Oliver.  The  north  side  of  the  moat  was  still  in  exis- 
tence in  1848*'  but  only  short  stretches  now  remain. 
The  house  was  rebuilt  in  183 1  at  a  cost  of  j^2,ooo.5<' 
It  consists  of  a  square  two-story  block  with  a  pedimented 
porch  on  the  north  side  and  a  splayed  bay  to  the  south. 
A  large  wing  adjoins  it  on  the  west.  It  ceased  to  be 
used  as  a  parsonage  after  the  living  was  united  with  that 
of  Moreton  in  1933  and  it  is  now  a  private  house  called 
White  Lodge. 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  MART  consists  of  nave, 
apse,  south  porch,  and  combined  north  vestry  and  organ 
chamber.  The  walls  are  of  flint  rubble.  The  porch  is 
of  timber.  In  1872  the  church  was  largely  rebuilt  and 
very  little  medieval  work  now  remains. 

Nothing  is  left  of  the  pre- 13th-century  church 
except  the  font  (see  below).  The  nave  was  probably 
rebuilt  in  the  14th  century.  It  retains  two  windows, 
much  restored,  of  this  date.  The  south  window  has  a 
chamfered  hood-mould  externally  and  two  much- 
decayed  head  stops.  The  braced  collar-beam  roof 
appears  to  be  partly  ancient.  The  only  other  original 
feature  is  the  trefoil-headed  piscina,  which  is  probably 
of  the  14th  century  and  which  has  been  reset  in  the 
apse. 

Drawings  of  the  church  before  1872  showed  that  it 
had  a  square-ended  chancel^'  with  a  doorway  and  a 
15th-century  window  on  its  south  side. 52  In  about 
1768  the  church  was  described  as  'small,  of  one  pace, 
and  the  same  width,  with  the  chancel,  and  the  whole 
tyled.  The  belfry  stands  in  the  middle  of  the  church, 
with  a  spire  shingled,  in  which  there  is  only  I  bell.'sJ 

In  1872  the  church  was  restored  and  enlarged  at  the 
expense  of  the  Revd.  Richard  Palmer  in  memory  of 
his  brother,  the  Revd.  H.  Palmer.54  The  architects 
were  Messrs.  Turner  &  Son  of  Wilton  Street,  Gros- 
venor  Place  (Lond.).55  The  west  wall,  the  apsidal 
chancel,  the  porch,  and  the  vestry  are  all  of  this  date. 
In  general  the  new  work  is  a  free  interpretation  of  an 
early-i4th-century  style.  The  apse  has  three-light 
windows  with  an  inner  arcade  resting  on  polished 
shafts  of  pink-veined  marble.  The  west  window  is 
three-light  and  there  are  single-light  lancets  elsewhere. 
The  south  doorway  of  the  nave  is  13th-century  in  style 
with  a  Norman  zigzag  moulding  superimposed  on  the 
arch.   The  opening  from  the  vestry  to  the  nave  has  a 


large  trefoil-headed  arch.    In   1884  the  floor  of  the 
church  was  raised  and  relaid.'* 

There  is  one  bell  by  Anthony  Bartlet  inscribed  'All 
Glory  Be  To  God'  and  dated  1674."  It  has  been 
rehung  in  the  stone  cupola  above  the  west  end  of  the 
nave. 

The  square  font  bowl  is  of  the  late  12th  century 
and  is  similar  in  character  to  those  in  some  neighbour- 
ing parishes.58  The  base  is  an  addition  of  187259  and 
the  carving  of  the  bowl  was  probably  recut  at  the  same 
time.  The  decoration  includes  the  fleur-de-lis,  crescent, 
disk,  and  whorl  found  on  other  fonts  of  the  type.  (See 
plate  facing  p.  184.) 

There  is  a  chair  which  has  early- 17th-century 
carving  and  may  have  been  made  from  a  pulpit  and 
sounding  board  of  this  period.*"  The  stone  pulpit, 
carved  with  niches  and  figures,  dates  from  1872.*' 
The  carved  stone  teredos  was  given  by  the  Revd.  S.  C. 
Beauchamp  in  1886  in  memory  of  Miss  S.  Caroline 
Palmer.*^ 

The  plate  includes  a  silver  cup  with  a  bowl  of  1 562 
which  has  a  gilded  band  of  foliage  ornament,  a  silver 
cup  with  a  bowl  of  1563  to  which  a  stem  with  a 
scalloped  collar,  probably  of  the  17th  century,  has  been 
added,  and  an  undated  silver  paten  of  which  the  foot 
possibly  fits  the  bowl  of  1 562. 

Little  Laver  was  one  of  the  two  parishes  in  this 

hundred  from  which  Roman 

ROMAN  Catholics    were    reported    in 

CATHOLICISM  1676.63  No  evidence  has  been 

found    of   organized    Roman 

Catholicism  in  this  parish  at  a  later  date. 

The  surviving  court  rolls  (1528-84)  of  the  manor 
of  Little  Laver  consist  only  of 
PARISH  GOFERN-    odd  membranes,  many  illegible 
MENT  AND  as  a  result  of  decay  .^-t  Only  one 

POOR  RELIEF  legible  membrane  records  pro- 

ceedings at  a  court  leet.  This 
court,  which  was  held  in  1 564,  was  attended  by  a  jury 
of  eleven. 

■  The  parish  records  of  Little  Laver  are  brief  and  un- 
informative.  Only  three  isolated  memoranda  survive 
before  1705.  These  are  included  in  the  parish  register 
for  1 538-1773 ;*5  they  are  the  minutes  of  the  vestry 
held  at  Easter  1663  and  two  other  memoranda,  of 
1668  and  1684,  also  in  the  form  of  vestry  minutes.  A 
vestry  minute-book  survives  for  170  5-1 944,**  but  until 
the  end  of  the  19th  century  the  minutes  were  rarely 
signed,  except  in  the  period  1709-14,  and  did  no  more 
than  record  the  appointment  of  officers  and  their 
annual  balances.  Overseers'  account  books  and  rate 
books  survive  only  after  1836.*' 

Vestry  meetings  were  held  at  Easter  in  each  year  and 
from  1725,  if  not  before,  there  were  also  regular  meet- 
ings at  Christmas.  Occasionally,  until  1735,  there 
were  meetings  at  other  times  also. 

The  minutes  of  the  vestry  held  at  Easter  1663  were 
signed  by  the  rector  and  seven  parishioners.  The 
resolution  of  1668  was  signed  by  the  rector  and  one 


«  E.A.T.  N.s.  xxi,  78,  83. 
46  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  369. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210.    Tithes  of  the 
glebe  were  not  included  in  the  ^^260. 
48  Newcourt,  Refert.  ii,  369. 
«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210. 
5»  IVhite'!  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 
5'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210. 
5^  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Recs. 
"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  144. 


54  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {1874,  1886). 

55  E.R.O.,  D/P  147/8. 

56  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 

57  Ck.  Bells  Essex,  317. 

58  There  are  similar  bowls  at  Moreton, 
Fyfield,  and  Norton  Mandeville. 

59  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874). 

<">  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  157. 
"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874). 
«»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {1886). 

lOI 


«'  Wm.  Salt.  Libr.  Stafford,  Bp. 
Compton's  Census,  1676. 

<'4  E.R.O.,  D/DK  M27-29. 

«!  E.R.O.,  D/P  147/1/1. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  147/8.  Unless  other- 
wise stated  all  the  following  information 
is  derived  from  this  minute-book  and  from 
the  parish  register  quoted  above. 

«'  E.R.O.,  D/P  147/11  and  12. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


parishioner  and  that  of  1684  by  the  rector  and  three 
parishioners.  The  minutes  for  the  period  1705-9  are 
imperfect  but  in  1706  and  1708  they  appear  to  have 
been  signed  only  by  the  rector.  From  1709  until  17 14 
the  minutes  were  usually  signed  by  the  rector  and  by 
the  parishioners  present;  it  seems  from  these  signatures 
and  from  those  which  appeared  occasionally  after  17 1 5 
that  the  number  of  persons  attending  the  meetings 
varied  between  two  and  four. 

The  main  work  of  the  vestry  consisted  in  appoint- 
ing officers  and  approving  their  accounts.  In  the  first 
part  of  the  i8th  century  at  least,  however,  vestry  meet- 
ings were  held  as  required  to  regulate  the  allotment  of 
parish  apprentices  and  the  distribution  of  weekly  doles 
and  allowances. 

In  1614  there  were  two  churchwardens.**  At  Easter 
1663,  however,  only  one  was  elected  for  the  following 
year  and  it  is  clear  that  during  the  period  1705-1844 
there  was  never  more  than  one.  It  was  usual  to  spend 
many  consecutive  years  in  this  office.  From  1 844  until 
1852  there  were  two  churchwardens  each  year,  one 
being  elected  by  the  rector  and  the  other  by  the 
parishioners.  From  1852  only  one  seems  to  have  been 
elected. 

There  were  two  overseers  in  each  of  the  years  1 6 1 3 
and  1614.*"  In  1663  and  each  year  from  1709  until 
1742  one  overseer  was  appointed.  These  officers 
usually  served  for  one  year  only,  but  occasionally  for 
two  consecutive  years.  They  were  evidently  chosen 
on  a  rota  system.  On  four  occasions  during  the  period 
1709-42  a  woman,  Mrs.  Collins,  was  nominated  over- 
seer but  on  at  least  two  of  these  occasions,  in  1 721  and 
1729,  a  man  was  appointed  to  serve  the  office  for  her. 
The  minutes  of  the  vestry  held  at  Easter  1730  recorded, 
however,  that  'Mrs.  Collins  overseer  gave  up  her 
account  at  this  vestry  for  the  year  1729'. 

There  was  never  more  than  one  constable  for  the 
parish.'"  It  was  customary  for  this  officer  to  serve  at 
least  two  years  consecutively  and  sometimes  much 
longer. 

One  surveyor  of  highways  was  appointed  in  each  of 
the  years  1614"  and  1663.  Only  ten  appointments  to 
this  office  were  recorded  in  the  vestry  minute-book 
after  1705;  these  were  for  the  years  1725  and  1729 
and  for  most  years  between  1758  and  1767.  These 
appointments  show  that  in  the  i8th  century  one  sur- 
veyor was  appointed  annually  in  December. 

In  the  period  1705—42  the  overseers,  churchwardens, 
and  constables  each  submitted  a  separate  annual  ac- 
count to  the  vestry  at  Easter.  No  record  of  overseers' 
accounts  was  kept  in  the  surviving  vestry  minute-book 
after  1742.  A  separate  overseers'  account  book  was, 
however,  probably  kept  from  this  time  when,  in  other 
parishes  in  the  hundred,''^  the  cost  of  poor  relief  was 
increasing.  The  churchwardens  and  constables  con- 
tinued to  account  separately  to  the  vestry  until  1836, 
after  which  no  more  constables'  accounts  appear  in  the 
minute-book.  In  the  period  1758-67  the  surveyors 
submitted  an  annual  account  to  the  vestry  in  December. 
In  1836  the  rateable  value  of  the  parish  was  about 


There  was  a  parish  poorhouse  in  Little  Laver, 
situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  to  Matching  Green, 
about  J  mile  to  the  north-west  of  the  church.'*  In 
May  1836  the  overseer  paid  £^  \\s.  'at  the  work- 
house'.'s  In  1837  and  1838  he  received  rent  for  the 
property.'*  By  1 848  it  belonged  to  C.  P.  Meyer  and 
was  said  to  comprise  two  cottages."  It  was  refaced 
with  flint  rubble  and  largely  rebuilt  during  the  second 
half  of  the  19th  century  by  Herman  P.  D.  Meyer.  It 
now  forms  two  small  dwellings,  called  Stone  Cottages. 
They  are  timber-framed  internally  and  may  have  an 
1 8th-century  or  earlier  origin. 

In  most  cases  poor  relief  was  given,  in  various  forms, 
outside  the  poorhouse.  In  each  of  the  years  18 13-15 
there  were  8  to  9  adults  on  'permanent'  outdoor  relief.'* 
Provision  for  the  poor  was  made  in  various  ways 
including  the  binding  out  of  paupers'  children  as 
apprentices,  the  payment  of  allowances  for  lodging, 
the  provision  of  clothes  and  the  payment  of  weekly 
doles.  The  memorandum  of  1668  recorded  that  the 
inhabitants  whose  names  were  subscribed  consented 
that  Thomas  Ansell  be  transported  'into  his  Majesty's 
plantations  of  the  Barbadoes',  he  having  acknowledged 
himself  willing  to  go. 

It  was  agreed  at  a  vestry  held  in  1709  that  four 
parishioners  should  each  take  ..  parish  apprentice  for 
three  years,  and  at  another  vestry  held  in  17 14  that 
William  Clemmory  should  receive  20s.  a  quarter  for 
providing  his  mother  with  'meals,  drink,  washing  and 
lodging  only  sickness  excepted'  and  that  the  overseer 
should  buy  her  a  gown  and  a  petticoat.  Before  this 
Clemmory  had  already  received  i  os.  from  the  overseer 
to  buy  bedding  for  her.  At  the  same  vestry  it  was 
agreed  that  the  widow  Oram  should  receive  a  weekly 
dole  of  3/.  Other  doles  recorded  soon  after  this  date 
ranged  from  \s.  to  2S.  bd.  a  week. 

In  1613-14  the  cost  of  poor  relief  was  ;{^i."  In 
1776  it  was  [fiz,  and  in  1783-5  it  averaged  ^^77  a 
year.*"  In  the  hard  years  which  opened  the  19th 
century  it  rose  to  about  ^{^200.*'  The  sums  recorded 
for  the  years  1800-17  show  a  minimum  ol  [j.00  in 
1803—4  but  the  cost  was  above  ^{^160  in  almost  every 
other  year,  1812-13  and  18 16-17  being  particularly 
expensive  years  at  ^^241  and  ^^231  respectively.*^ 

In  1836  Little  Laver  became  part  of  the  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

In  1807  there  was  no  school  in  the  parish  but  the 
rector  paid  for  a  few  children  to 
SCHOOL  AND  attend  a  neighbouring  school.*^  In 
CHARITY  1 8 1 8  there  was  still  no  school  of  any 

kind  in  Little  Laver,  though  the  poor 
were  said  to  desire  education  for  their  children.**  In 
1833  some  children  were  apparently  paying  \d.  a  week 
to  attend  a  school  in  Matching;  in  their  own  parish 
there  was  only  a  Sunday  school,  founded  two  years 
before  and  attended  by  17  girls  and  8  boys.*5  In 
1 846-7  attendance  at  the  Sunday  school  had  fallen  to 
7,  a  mistress  being  paid  (jl  12s.  a  year  to  teach  them.** 
Some  children  probably  attended  the  day  school  in 
High  Laver  (q.v.)  after  its  erection  in  1866.  In  1872 
this  school  was  said  to  have  accommodation  for  all  the 


««  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

M  Ibid. 

'0  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

'^  See  for  examples  the  parishes  of 
Bobbingworth  and  High  Laver. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  147/12/1. 

'*  There  was  a  poorhouse  by  1776  at 
latest :  Rep.  Sel.  Cttee.  on  Overteers'  Retns. 


1777,  H.C.  ser.  i,  vol.  \\,  p.  350. 

'5  D/P  147/12/1.  '6  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  210.  See  above,  p.  97, 
and  also  Manor  of  Little  Laver  Hall. 

'8  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/io. 

'«  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

8"  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/l. 

8-  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/9. 


"  Ibid. 

83  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

8-»  Reim.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  260 
(i8i9),ix(i). 

85  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  281 
(183s),  xli. 

8'  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs, 
1846-7,  pp.  12-13. 


102 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LITTLE  LAYER 


19  children  from  Little  Laver  in  need  of  places.  87 
Thereafter  it  continued  to  serve  both  parishes. *' 

By  a  deed  of  1891  Arbury  Hill  Hoppit  (2  r.  17  p.) 
was  vested  in  the  rector,  the  rector's  warden,  and  the 
ovraer  or  occupier  of  Little  Laver  Hall  in  trust  for  use 


as  a  Sunday  school  and  parish  room  for  the  education 
of  the  poor.*"  The  building  erected  for  this  purpose  is 
now  known  as  the  village  hall  and  is  administered  by  a 
village  committee,  its  principal  use  being  as  a  social 
club.'"  It  is  a  single-story  building  of  brown  brick. 


MAGDALEN  LAVER 


Magdalen  Laver  is  a  small  parish  about  5  miles  to 
the  north-west  of  Chipping  Ongar  and  4  miles  to  the 
south-east  of  Harlow.'  A  very  small  detached  part 
(5-6  acres)  hes  on  the  boundary  between  Moreton 
and  High  Laver,  to  the  east  of  the  main  part  of  the 
parish.  The  area  of  the  ancient  parish  was  1,229  acres.^ 
It  was  increased  by  the  incorporation  of  two  detached 
portions  of  North  Weald  Bassett.  One  portion  of 
North  Weald  (10  acres),  lying  to  the  north-west  of 
Weald  Lodge,  was  transferred  to  Magdalen  Laver  in 
i883;3  the  larger  portion,  lying  to  the  north  of  the 
middle  of  Cripsey  Brook,  near  Weald  Bridge  and 
including  Weald  Bridge  Farm,  Weald  Lodge,  and 
Bowlers  Green,  was  transferred  to  Magdalen  Laver  in 
ig46.''  Magdalen  Laver  now  has  an  area  of  1,443 
acres. 5  The  parish  has  an  unusual  number  of  ancient 
timber-framed  farm-houses,  the  oldest  of  which  prob- 
ably dates  from  the  14th  century.*  Several  of  these,  as 
well  as  the  manor  house  and  the  old  rectory,  stand  on  or 
near  moated  sites.  There  were  28  inhabited  houses  in 
l8oi,33ini8ii,  and  3  8  in  1 8  2 1 .'  In  1 80 1  the  popu- 
lation was  228;*  it  reached  236  in  1821  and  again  in 
185 1.'  Then  it  declined  irregularly  to  134  in  1931.'" 
By  195 1  it  had  risen  to  242,"  this  being  partly  due  to 
the  incorporation  of  part  of  North  Weald  Bassett  in 
1946. 

The  land  rises  in  the  west  of  the  parish  to  just  over 
300  ft.  above  sea-level.  It  slopes  eastward  and  south- 
ward to  less  than  200  ft.  along  the  streams  that  separate 
the  parish  from  Moreton  on  the  east  and  Bobbingworth 
on  the  south.  Another  stream  rises  in  the  north-west 
and  flows  south-eastward  across  the  middle  of  the 
parish,  joining  one  of  the  other  streams  on  the  southern 
boundary.  A  small  area  of  woodland  lies  on  the 
northern  boundary. 

The  road  from  Epping  crosses  the  southern  boundary 
at  Weald  Bridge  and  runs  northward  for  about  J  mile 
until  it  is  joined  by  a  road  from  Bobbingworth.  To 
the  north  of  this  junction  the  road  meets  another  road 
which  runs  from  east  to  west  across  the  parish.  About 
i  mile  to  the  west,  on  the  south  side  of  this  last  road,  is 
the  'Green  Man',  which  was  probably  built  early  in 
the  1 8th  century.  Almost  opposite  the  'Green  Man' 
is  a  single  pair  of  council  houses  built  during  the  Second 
World  War.  Immediately  to  the  west,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  rOad,  is  the  new  rectory.'^  On  the  north 
side  of  the  road,  by  a  drive  leading  north-eastward 
to  Spencers,  is  Humphreys  which  probably  derives  its 
name  from  the  family  of  John  Humphrey,  living  in  the 
13th  century."  This  has  a  pedimented  door-hood  and 
appears  to  be  an  early- 18th-century  timber-framed 

»'  Chelmsford  Chronicle,  2  Aug.  1872. 

88  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899  f.). 

89  Char.  Com.  Files. 
9**  Local  information. 

'  O.S.  2i  in.  Map,  sheets  52/40,  52/50. 

»  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  xli. 

J  Under  the  Divided  Parishes  and  Poor 
Law  Amendment  Act,  1882, 39&40  Vict. 
C.61. 

*  County  of  Essex  {Rural  Parishes)  Con- 
firmation Order,  1946;  see  North  Weald 


house,  although  the  back  wing  may  be  older.  Immedi- 
ately west  of  Humphreys  is  Mollmans,  where  another 
road  leads  north-eastward  to  Tilegate  Green  in  High 
Laver.  At  Mollmans  a  fragment  of  a  moat  remains. 
The  south  end  of  the  house  and  the  back  wing  were 
probably  built  in  the  late  i6th  or  early  17th  century. 
On  the  north  side  of  the  road  leading  westward  from 
Mollmans  is  Rolls,"'*  a  timber-framed  farm-house  stand- 
ing on  a  moated  site.  The  moat,  more  than  half  of 
which  remains,  is  curved  in  shape  and  of  considerable 
size.  The  main  axis  of  the  house  runs  north  and  south 
and  there  is  a  cross-wing  at  the  north  end.  This  north 
wing  has  two  stories  and  an  attic  and  dates  from  the  late 
1 6th  or  early  17th  century.  It  has  a  chimney  with 
octagonal  clustered  shafts,  now  covered  with  cement. 
The  upper  flight  of  the  staircase  is  original  and  has 
turned  balusters  and  moulded  newel  caps.  The  main 
block  also  has  two  stories  and  an  attic,  but  there  are 
indications  that  it  is  an  adaptation  of  an  earlier  struc- 
ture. The  chimney,  now  cement-covered,  has  diagonal 
shafts.  The  doors  and  windows  of  the  house  mostly 
date  from  the  i8th  and  early  19th  centuries.  From 
Rolls  the  road  turns  northward  and  then  sharply  west- 
ward past  Wynters  Armourie  to  the  western  boundary 
of  the  parish. 

Wynters  Armourie,  formerly  Winters,  which  prob- 
ably derives  its  name  from  the  family  of  Alice  Winter, 
living  in  about  1248, '5  stands  on  a  moated  site.  The 
moat  encloses  a  long  narrow  rectangle  from  north  to 
south.  There  is  part  of  a  transverse  arm  in  the  centre 
but  the  south  end  has  been  obliterated  by  the  farm- 
yard. The  house  is  timber-framed  and  consists  of  a 
central  block  with  cross-wings  to  the  east  and  west  (see 
plate  facing  p.  1 37).  On  the  north  side  there  is  a  single- 
story  addition  and  a  small  staircase  wing.  The  central 
block  originally  consisted  of  a  partially  aisled  hall  of  two 
bays,  probably  dating  from  the  r4th  century.  Ceilings, 
fireplaces,  and  partitions  have  been  inserted  later  and 
the  west  bay  has  been  raised  in  height  and  rebuilt.  Most 
of  the  main  roof  truss  dividing  the  bays  is  stiU  in  posi- 
tion and  at  the  east  end  of  the  hall  are  the  remains  of  a 
'spere  truss',  suggesting  that  the  hall  is  of  the  transitional 
type  where  the  aisles  are  retained  in  the  screens  bay  only. 
The  central  truss  has  a  steeply  cambered  collar  below 
which  are  deep  curved  braces,  moulded  at  their  lower 
edge.  The  collar  purlin  and  some  of  the  original  rafters 
are  in  position  and  there  are  indications  of  a  former  king- 
post. All  the  timbers  are  blackened  with  smoke  from 
an  open  hearth.  Rising  obhquely  from  near  the  base 
of  one  of  the  principal  rafters  and  reaching  to  the  under- 
side of  the  plate  is  a  wind-brace  or  strut.'*  The  others 


Bassett. 

5  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 

6  See  below. 

7  Census  Reports,  1801,  1811,  1821. 

8  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 
«  Ibid. 

'»  Ibid.;  Census  Reports,  191 1  f. 

'"   Census  Report,  1 95 1. 

'2  See  below,  Church. 

"  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  64. 

■♦  In    1539   Rolls  Farm,  consisting  of 

103 


82  acres,  belonged  to  Sir  William  Sulyard, 
who  owned  half  of  the  manor  of  Otes  in 
High  Laver  (q.v.):  Morant,  i,  14.3;  by 
1848,  however,  Rolls  no  longer  formed 
part  of  the  Otes  estate:  E.R.O.,  D/CT  2n. 

'5  P.N,  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  64. 

^6  An  almost  identical  truss  at  the  Old 
Parsonage,  Marlow  (Bucks)  retains  its 
moulded  king-post  and  has  been  dated 
c.  1340  {^nL  Brit.  Arch,  Assoc.  3rd  scr. 
^">  54-55)- 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


are  missing.  In  the  east  bay  the  north  doorway  of  the 
screens  passage  is  in  position  and  there  is  one  jamb  of 
an  opposite  doorway  on  the  south  side.  A  post  dividing 
the  'nave'  from  the  north  aisle  still  exists  and  the  cor- 
responding post  of  the  south  aisle  has  only  recently  been 
removed.  On  this  side  a  large  curved  brace,  springing 
from  the  east  wall  and  rising  to  the  underside  of  the 
plate,  forms  part  of  the  'nave  arcade'.  Below  the  main 
truss  a  later  tie-beam  spans  the  whole  width  of  the  hall. 
The  detail  here  is  similar  to  that  of  the  open  trusses  on 
the  upper  floors  of  the  two  cross-wings  and  it  is  suggested 
that  all  these  features  represent  additions,  possibly 
dating  from  the  late  i  5th  or  early  i6th  century.  The 
rebuilding  of  the  west  bay  probably  took  place  later 
in  the  1 6th  century  when  the  roof  was  raised  to  give 
higher  rooms  and  an  attic.  The  gable  ends  have  un- 
glazed  windows  with  diagonal  mullions  and  the  roof 
has  small  curved  wind-braces.  The  central  chimney 
was  probably  inserted  at  this  time  and  the  single-story 
addition  at  the  back  of  the  house,  which  has  an  open 
queen-post  truss  and  a  large  end  chimney,  may  be  a 
kitchen  of  the  same  period.  The  present  owner 
restored  the  house,  which  was  in  poor  condition,  in 
about  1935." 

On  the  north-west  side  of  the  road  from  Mollmans 
to  Tilegate  Green  is  the  village  hall.  On  the  other  side 
of  the  road  is  the  former  rectory,"  *  on  a  moated  site. 
North  of  this,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  there  are 
three  pairs  of  white  plastered  council  houses.  Almost 
opposite  these  houses  one  drive  leads  south-eastward 
to  Spencers  and  another,  newly  made,  leads  north- 
eastward to  Magdalen  Laver  Hall."  Spencers,  which 
probably  derives  its  name  from  the  family  of  John  le 
Spenser,  living  in  1339,™  is  a  large  timber-framed 
farm-house  with  considerable  remains  of  a  moat.  It 
has  an  irregular  three-gabled  front  and  additions  on 
the  other  three  sides.  The  stop-moulded  ceiling  beams 
on  the  ground  floor  indicate  an  early-iyth-century  date 
but  it  is  possible  that  parts  of  the  structure  are  older. 
The  new  drive  to  Magdalen  Laver  Hall  is  extended  in 
a  north-easterly  direction  to  form  an  approach  to  the 
church.^'  Previously  the  approaches  to  the  church  had 
been  by  the  footpaths  which  run  from  the  road  to 
Spencers  on  the  south  and  through  the  farm-yard  of 
Magdalen  Laver  Hall  on  the  north.  Immediately 
north-west  of  the  churchyard  are  traces  of  a  large  moated 
site,  where  the  first  manor  house  probably  stood.^^  To 
the  south-east  of  the  church,  in  a  field  known  as  Redmill 
Shot,  a  stone  coffin  containing  a  skeleton  was  discovered 
in  about  1757  and  human  bones  were  found  in  other 
parts  of  the  same  field  at  different  times.^3  There  was 
a  tradition  in  the  1 8th  century  that  the  church  origin- 
ally stood  in  this  field  but  no  trace  of  a  church  or  of  any 
other  building  has  ever  been  found.^"*  It  may  be,  how- 
ever, that  the  field  was  once  a  burial  ground  belonging 
to  the  parish. 

Immediately  north  of  Magdalen  Laver  Hall  the 
road  to  Tilegate  Green  becomes  part  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  parish.  On  the  north  side  of  the  road, 
within  the  parish  of  High  Laver,  is  Magdalen  Laver 
school.^5  At  Tilegate  Green  the  road  is  joined  by  Pole 
Lane,  now  only  a  footpath,  which  leads  eastward  to  the 


Ongar-Harlow  road.  On  the  south  side  of  Pole  Lane, 
north-east  of  the  church,  is  a  moated  mound,  about 
80  ft.  in  diameter.  At  the  junction  of  Pole  Lane  and 
the  Ongar-Harlow  road  is  Start  Farm,  a  small  timber- 
framed  farmhouse,  part  of  which  may  date  from  the 
1 6th  century. 

To  the  south  of  Start  Farm  the  Ongar-Harlow  road 
is  joined  by  the  road  which  runs  right  across  the  parish 
to  Mollmans  and  Wynters  Armourie  on  the  west.  On 
the  south  side  of  this  road,  close  to  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  parish,  is  Bushes,  an  L-shaped  timber-framed 
farm-house  with  wings  extending  to  the  north  and  east. 
The  north  wing,  now  of  four  bays  but  formerly  longer, 
was  built  as  a  two-story  structure  and  probably  dates 
from  the  late  1 5  th  century.  On  the  west  side  the  upper 
floor  overhangs  on  curved  brackets.  In  1933  the  plaster 
was  stripped  away  revealing  a  fine  timbered  front  with 
close  studding  and  curved  braces.  The  roof  is  original 
except  at  its  south  end  and  there  are  two  king-posts  with 
two-way  struts  in  position.  The  chimney  is  a  later 
insertion.  The  east  wing,  lying  at  right  angles  to  the 
two-story  wing,  may  represent  the  medieval  hall,  much 
altered.  A  large  chimney  and  ceilings  have  been 
inserted.  The  roof  is  not  ancient  but  two  of  the  rafters 
are  formed  from  old  moulded  timbers.  Also  incor- 
porated is  a  cambered  and  moulded  tie-beam  of  medieval 
origin.  The  south  porch  and  the  brick  chimney  appear 
to  be  of  the  i6th  century.  There  is  a  considerable 
amount  of  1 6th-  or  early-i  7th-century  panelling  intern- 
ally. In  the  angle  between  the  wings  there  is  a  later 
timber  structure.  The  house  was  restored  and  the 
staircase  altered  in  1933.^*  The  north  and  part  of  the 
east  sides  of  a  large  moat  are  still  in  existence.  To  the 
west  of  Bushes  is  Ashlings,  where  traces  of  a  moat 
remain.  About  J  mile  south-west  of  Ashlings  is  Lunds, 
a  timber-framed  farm-house  probably  of  the  late  17th 
or  early  i8th  century;  it  has  been  faced  with  yellow 
brick.  To  the  west  of  Lunds,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
road,  is  Whites,  a  timber-framed  farm-house  probably 
dating  from  the  late  1 7th  or  early  1 8th  century.  Almost 
opposite  Whites  is  the  junction  with  the  road  leading 
south  to  Epping. 

In  1776  the  parishes  of  High  Laver  and  Magdalen 
Laver  came  to  an  agreement  about  repairs  to  roads  for 
which  they  were  jointly  responsible.^^  These  roads 
were  to  be  equally  divided  by  a  white  post  and  each 
parish  was  to  repair  the  part  lying  nearest  to  it.^' 

Water  was  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  in  1912.^'  Electricity  was  laid  on  in  part  of 
the  parish  in  1950.30  A  branch  of  the  county  library 
was  opened  in  June  1939.31 

Magdalen  Laver  has  always  been  a  rural  parish 
engaged  almost  entirely  in  agriculture.  The  lords  of 
the  manor  lived  in  the  parish  during  most  of  the  period 
from  1622  until  1832.32  After  John  Cozens  sold  the 
estate  in  1832  the  owners  were  not  resident  until 
Matthew  Torrance  purchased  the  estate  shortly  after 
1922.33 

In  1 848  James  Ewing  owned,  but  did  not  occupy, 
Magdalen  Laver  Hall  Farm  (191  acres)  .34  There  were 
only  two  other  substantial  owners  in  the  parish;  John 
Archer  Houblon  owned  but  did  not  occupy  Spencer's 


*'  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Fitzgerald. 
"  Sec  below,  Church. 
'9  Sec  below,  Manor. 
"  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  64;  Feet  of  F. 
Essex,  iii,  5 1 . 
2*  Sec  below,  Church. 
**  See  below,  Manor. 


23  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  354. 
21  Ibid. 

25  See  below,  School. 

26  Inf.    from    Mr.    Radbourne,   present 
owner. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 1 1/22.    See  also  High 
Laver.  28  Jbid. 


29  Inf.    from    Herts.    &    Essex    Water- 
works Co. 

30  Inf.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 

3^  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 
32  E.R.O.,  D/DA  Ti99i  Q/RPl  685- 
737.  33  Sec  below,  Manor, 

3*  E.R.O.,  D/CT211. 


104 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MAGDALEN  LAYER 


Farm  (126  acres)  and  Christian  P.  Meyer  owned 
MoUmans  Farm  (in  acres)  but  did  not  farm  it  him- 
self.35  There  were  seven  other  farms  of  over  60  acres; 
of  these  three  were  more  than  90  acres.3* 

Magdalen  Laver,  like  neighbouring  parishes,  has 
always  been  a  parish  of  mixed  farming  with  a  marked 
predominance  of  arable.  In  1331  the  manor  contained 
331  acres  arable,  30  acres  pasture,  6  acres  meadow,  and 
80  acres  wood. 37  In  1 847  it  was  estimated  that  there 
were  835  acres  arable,  150  acres  meadow  and  pasture, 
and  15  acres  woodland. 3  8 

From  1680,  if  not  before,  until  1731  a  regular  item 
of  income  in  the  churchwarden's  annual  account  was 
6s.  id.  'faire  money'.39  This  suggests  that  until  the 
second  quarter  of  the  i8th  century  a  fair  was  held 
annually  in  the  parish,  although  it  is  not  clear  why  it 
should  have  been  a  source  of  income  for  the  church- 
wardens. No  reference  to  'faire  money'  has  been  found 
after  173 1."*" 

In  1066  MAGDALEN  LAFER  was  probably  held 
as  a  manor  by  Sexi.*'  In  1086  it  was  prob- 
MANOR  ably  held  of  Ralf  de  Toesni  by  Roger.t2  At 
both  dates  it  was  worth  70^.'t3  In  the  12th 
century  the  manor  was  held  of  the  honor  of  Boulogne 
and  of  Pharamus  of  Boulogne,  great-grandson  of  Count 
Eustace  of  Boulogne.''^  Pharamus  died  in  1183  or 
1 1 84  and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  daughter  and  heir 
Sibyl  de  Fiennes.*5  The  manor  was  held  of  the  honor 
of  Boulogne  and  of  Sibyl  in  1 22 1-2.'«*  Sibyl's  heir  was 
her  son  William  de  Fiennes,  whose  grandson  Sir 
William  de  Fiennes  died  in  1 302.''7  In  1 33 1  the  manor 
was  held  as  \  knight's  fee  of  Hugh,  Lord  Audley  (d. 
1347),  and  his  wife  Margaret  'as  of  her  right  and 
inheritance' .'•8  By  1352  the  tenancy  in  chief  had 
passed  to  Elizabeth  de  Burgh,  Lady  of  Clare,  sister  of 
Margaret.^'  At  that  time  the  manor  was  held  by  the 
service  of  J  knight's  fee. 5"  Elizabeth  died  in  1360.5' 
Her  heir  was  her  granddaughter  Elizabeth,  suo  jure 
Countess  of  Ulster,  wife  of  Lionel,  later  Duke  of 
Clarence. 52  In  1361  the  manor  of  Magdalen  Laver 
was  held  of  Lionel  as  of  the  honor  of  Clare. 53  Lionel 
survived  his  wife  Elizabeth  and  was  succeeded  on  his 
death  in  1 368  by  their  only  daughter  and  heir  Philippe, 
wife  ofEdmund  Mortimer,  Earl  of  March  (d.  i38i).54 


The  heir  of  Philippe  and  Edmund  was  their  son  Roger, 
Earl  of  March,  who  was  tenant  in  chief  of  Magdalen 
Laver  at  his  death  in  1 398.55  Roger  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Edmund,  who  died  in  1425.5*  The  manor  was 
then  held  of  Edmund's  widow  Anne  until  her  death  in 
1432.5'  She  was  succeeded  by  Richard,  Duke  of  York, 
son  of  Anne,  sister  of  the  last  earl.'*  Richard  died  in 
1460  and  the  manor  was  then  held  of  his  widow.5» 

It  is  not  clear  who  held  the  tenancy  in  demesne  of 
the  manor  in  the  first  half  of  the  12th  century.  It  was 
probably  during  this  period  or  shortly  before,  however, 
that  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Marcys.  In  the 
reign  of  Henry  II  the  tenant  was  Ralph  de  Marcy  who 
also  held  an  estate  in  Navestock.*"  In  Navestock  at 
least  Ralph  had  by  1 152  succeeded  William  de  Marcy, 
son  of  the  Ralph  de  Marcy  who  in  1086  held  a  manor 
in  Kelvedon  Hatch  (q.v.).*'  Ralph  the  younger  was 
dead  by  1 1 89  when  his  son  William  paid  a  mark  for  a 
recognizance  of  mort  d'ancestor.*^  William  died  be- 
tween 1 198  and  1205  leaving  his  son  Ralph  as  heir  to 
his  estates  in  Navestock  and  Magdalen  Laver.*'  Ralph 
was  probably  dead  by  1217-18.*''  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  daughter  Joan  wife  of  Gilbert  de  Breaute.*5 
In  1237  Magdalen  Laver  was  known  as  Laufar 
Breute.**  In  1270  Joan  de  Breaute  acknowledged 
the  manor  of  Magdalen  Laver  to  be  the  right  of 
Robert  de  Burnevill,  her  son  or  son-in-law,  who 
granted  a  life  interest  in  the  estate  to  Joan  with  reversion 
to  himself.*'  In  1285  Cecil  de  Terling,  son  of  Joan  de 
Breaute,  brought  an  action  against  Robert  de  Burnevill, 
grandson  of  Joan.**  Cecil  claimed  the  manor  from 
Robert  on  the  ground  that  Joan,  Cecil's  mother,  was 
seised  in  her  demesne  as  of  fee  of  the  manor  at  the  time 
of  her  death.*'  A  jury  declared  that  Joan  had  granted 
the  manor  in  fee  to  Robert  de  Burnevill,  father  of  the 
defendant,  and  that  Robert  the  father  had  then  granted 
her  a  life  interest  in  the  estate.'"  Robert  de  Burnevill 
the  son  was  therefore  confirmed  in  his  seisin." 

In  1 32 1  John  son  of  Robert  de  Burnevill  conveyed 
the  manor  to  Humphrey  de  Walden'^  and  it  after- 
wards followed  the  same  descent  as  the  manor  of  Ongar 
Park  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  until  1468.73  In  1331  the 
manor  of  Magdalen  Laver,  then  worth  £12  16/.  id. 
a  year,  was  granted  to  John  de  Cantebrigg  to  hold 


"  Ibid. 

s«  Ibid. 

"  C135/26. 

3»  E.R.O.,  D/CT211. 

3«  E.R.O.,  D/P  62/5. 

40  Ibid. 

*'  y.C.H.  Essexi'i,  $;^.  It  is  impossible 
to  distinguish  with  certainty  between  the 
three  Lavers  in  Domesday. 

42  Ibid. 

«  Ibid. 

«  Bk.  of  Fee!,  1428;  Genealogist,  n.s. 
xii,  14.5— 51.  Pharamus  was  grandson  of 
Geoffrey,  who  was  apparently  a  natural 
son  of  Count  Eustace.  For  Pharamus  and 
his  heirs  see  also  Lambourne  and  Bobbing- 
worth. 

45  Bk.  of  Fees,  234-5;  Genealogist,  N.s. 
xii,  145-51. 

4'  Bk.  of  Fees,  240,  1435. 

47  Ibid.  235-6;  GcfiM/o^f/K,  N.s.  xii,  149; 
De  La  Chenaye-Desbois  et  Badier, 
Dictionnaire  de  la  Noblesse,  viii,  39-41; 
C.  Moor,  Knights  of  Ediu.  I,  ii,  23 ;  Cal. 
Inq.  p.m.  iv,  p.  60. 

48  Cal.  Inq.p.m.vn,f.2^0.  Lord  Audley 
was  grandson  of  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Sir  William  de  Fiennes  (Complete  Peerage, 
\,  346,  347).   As,  however,  the  manor  had 


apparently  descended  not  to  Lord  Audley 
but  to  his  wife  Margaret  it  is  likely  that 
Sir  William  de  Fiennes  granted  the  over- 
lordship  of  Magdalen  Laver  as  well  as  that 
of  Blake  Hall  in  Bobbingworth  (q.v.)  to 
Margaret's  grandmother,  Eleanor  of 
Castile,  to  whom  he  pledged  part  of  his 
estate  in  1275. 

4'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  X,  p.  5 ;  Complete  Peer- 
age, i,  346,  iii,  245.  Elizabeth  de  Burgh 
inherited  the  honor  of  Clare  on  the  death 
of  her  brother  Gilbert,  Earl  of  Gloucester, 
in  1 3 14  (ibid,  iii,  245).  Her  sister  Margaret 
died  in  1342,  5  years  before  her  husband. 
Lord  Audley  (ibid,  i,  346). 

5»  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  x,  p.  5. 

!■  Complete  Peerage,  iii,  245. 

52  Ibid. 

53  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  xi,  p.  1 84. 

54  Complete  Peerage,  iii,  245. 

55  Ci36/io6;    Complete    Peerage,    viii, 

448-50- 

56  C 1 39/19;     Complete     Peerage,     vni, 

45°-3- 

57  C139/S9;  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  453. 

58  C 1 39/98;  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  453. 

59  C140/68. 

'0  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1341-1417,  186-7, 
where  a  charter  of  Ric.  I  is  quoted;  Dom. 


of  St.  Paul's  (Camd.  Soc.  Ixix),  133. 

"  Domesday  Studies  (ed.  P.  E.  Dove),  ii, 
553-5;  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  9M  Rep.  pt.  i, 
App.  3ii,  66a;  Dom.  of  St.  Paul's  (Camd. 
Soc.  Ixix),  133. 

62  Cur.  Reg.  R.  viii,  387;  Pipe  R.  11 89 
(Rec.  Com.),  29. 

OJ  Rot.  Cur.  Reg.  R.  (Rec.  Com.),  197; 
Pipe  R.  1205  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  xix),  1 19, 
189. 

''4  Bk.  of  Fees,  240.  He  was  certainly 
dead  by  1222  (see  n.  65  below). 

<'5  Dom.  of  St.  Paul's  (Camd.  Soc.  Ixix), 
75;  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  100,  214,  271. 

''  E.A.T.  N.s.  xix,  35.  It  was  so 
described  by  the  assessors  and  collectors  of 
the  3^  of  1237.  Cf.  like  description  in  the 
Norwich  Taxation  of  1254  (Lunt,  yal. 
of  Norioich,  337). 

'7  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  271, 

"  Just.  Itin.  1/243  ■"•  5^- 

69  Ibid. 

7»  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

72  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  W,  197. 

73  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  250,  x,  p.  5,  xi, 
p.  1 84,  xii,  p.  1 64 ;  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii, 
241;  Cal.  Close,  1419-22,  78;  C139/98; 
E.R.O.,  D/DAT199. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


during  the  minority  of  Andrew  de  Walden.'''  In 
1 367,  after  he  came  of  age,  Thomas  de  Walden  granted 
the  estate  for  ten  years  to  Sir  John  Wade  who  had  had 
custody  of  it  during  the  minority  of  Thomas. '5  In 
141 2  the  manor  was  said  to  be  worth  ^{^12  a  year.'* 
After  the  death  of  Thomas  Bataille  in  1439  his  widow 
Isabel  held  in  dower  a  bakehouse  and  some  lands  and 
rents  in  the  manor.''  In  1439  ^^^  '^^^  annual  value  of 
the  manor  was  j^io.'*  In  about  1450  there  were  some 
fifteen  manorial  tenants  whose  rents  amounted  to 
£^  IS.  a.  yeiT.''9 

In  1468  John  BataiUe  mortgaged  the  manor  to  Sir 
Thomas  Cooke  for  ,^200.*°  Shortly  afterwards  Cooke 
became  absolute  owner  of  the  estate.*"  He  died  in 
1478  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  John.*^  In  i486  John 
Cooke  died  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Philip 
who  was  knighted  in  1497.*'  In  about  1500  there 
were  some  fourteen  manorial  tenants  paying  rents 
amounting  in  all  to  ^^4  19/.  iJM  In  1502  Sir  Philip 
Cooke  leased  the  manor  for  five  years  to  John  King  at 
an  annual  rent  of  ^12  ji.*'  The  lease  included  all  the 
manorial  lands  and  the  rents  of  manorial  tenants  but 
not  the  perquisites  of  the  court.**  Cooke  died  in  1 503 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  John.*'  In  1544  Margaret 
Cooke,  widow — probably  of  John  Cooke — received  a 
life  interest  in  the  manor  with  remainder  to  Anthony 
Cooke  (K.B.  1547)  son  of  John  Cooke,  and  the  heirs 
of  Anthony.**  In  1570  Sir  Anthony  Cooke  settled  the 
manor  on  his  second  son  William  when  William 
married  Frances  daughter  of  Lord  John  Grey  of  Pirgo 
and  cousin  of  Lady  Jane  Grey.*'  William  Cooke  died 
in  1 589.'°  In  1608  his  son  and  heir  Sir  William  Cooke 
conveyed  the  manor  to  Sir  John  Poyntz." 

In  1614  Sir  John  Poyntz  mortgaged  the  manor  to 
Sir  Edward  Buncombe  for  ^2,000.'^  It  was  then  in 
the  occupation  of  William  Aylett.'^  By  June  1622 
John  son  of  William  Aylett  had  become  lord  of  the 
manor. 9'«  In  June  1650  John  Aylett  sold  the  estate, 
which  then  contained  160  acres,  to  John  Throckmorton 
of  Twickenham  (Mdx.)  for  about  ^^2,400. 95  In  1659 
there  were  22  manorial  tenants  whose  rents  amounted 
to  £4.  15/.  9^/.  a  year.'* 

John  Throckmorton  died  in  1663-4  having  devised 
all  his  real  estate  to  his  son  George."  In  1676  George 
Throckmorton  made  a  settlement  by  which  after  his 
death  the  manor  was  to  be  held  by  his  wife  Elizabeth 
for  her  life  and  afterwards  by  his  heirs.'*  In  1692-5 
there  were  22  manorial  tenants  whose  rents  amounted 
to  £4  17s.  lod.  a  year."  In  1703  George,  William, 
and  Thomas,  sons  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Throck- 


morton, sold  to  William  Cole  the  reversion  of  the 
manor  after  the  death  of  their  mother."  WiUiam  Cole 
had  become  lord  of  the  manor  by  1707.^  He  died  on 
I  February  1730  having  devised  all  his  real  estate,  sub- 
ject to  a  life  annuity  of  ^£200  for  his  brother  Henry, 
to  his  nephew  William  Cole  in  tail  male  with  remainder 
to  his  nephew  Henry  Cole,  brother  of  William.3  The 
nephew  William  Cole  died  without  issue  on  24 
February  1730  and  his  brother  Henry  then  succeeded 
to  the  property.*  By  his  will  of  1760  Henry  Cole 
devised  all  his  real  and  nearly  all  his  personal  estate  to 
his  servant  John  Cozens.s  Between  1748  and  1764 
there  were  1 5  tenants  of  the  manor  of  Magdalen 
Laver;  the  total  of  their  rents  varied  irregularly  between 
^4  ^s.  I  \d.  and  ^^4  1 8;.  (i\d.  a  year.*  John  Cozens  died 
in  1766  having  devised  this  manor  to  his  eldest  son 
John.'  Some  time  before  April  1782  John  Cozens 
mortgaged  the  estate  to  Mrs.  George  Sealy  for  ;^75o.* 
He  died  in  1784  having  stipulated  that  the  estate 
should  be  redeemed  out  of  the  proceeds  of  sale  of  his 
freehold  lands  in  Hornsey  (Mdx.).'  He  devised  the 
manor  to  his  wife  Elizabeth  for  her  life  with  remainder 
to  his  son  John.""  Elizabeth  died  in  1791-2.""  In 
1832  John  Cozens  sold  the  estate  to  James  Ewing."^ 

In  1848  the  manor  farm,  which  was  occupied  by 
James  Edwards,  consisted  of  191  acres  of  which  34 
acres  were  meadow  and  nearly  all  the  remainder 
arable."^  In  December  1852  James  Ewing  died  leaving 
as  his  heirs  his  four  daughters:  Mary  Ann,  wife  of 
Robert  Ewing  Curwen,  Anna  Caroline,  wife  of  Caledon 
Du  Pre  Alexander,  Frances  Elizabeth,  later  the  wife  of 
William  James  Tyrwhitt  Walker,  and  Louisa,  latei;  the 
wife  of  Winthrop  Mackworth  Praed."''  In  1865  they 
sold  the  estate,  which  then  consisted  of  223  acres, 
nearly  all  arable,  to  John  Francis  Clark  of  Exning 
(Suff.)  for  ^8,380."'  At  that  time  the  manor  house 
and  farm  were  still  in  the  occupation  of  James  Edwards 
who  paid  a  rent  of  ^^320  a  year.'*  J.  F.  Clark  died  in 
1898,  having  placed  the  property  in  the  hands  of 
trustees  who  were  to  apply  the  rents  for  the  benefit  of 
his  daughters."'  At  the  time  of  Clark's  death  Matthew 
Torrance  occupied  the  estate.'*  In  1922  the  estate  was 
still  in  the  hands  of  Clark's  trustees  but  by  1926 
Matthew  Torrance  had  purchased  the  property." 
Torrance  still  lived  at  Magdalen  Laver  Hall  and 
farmed  the  estate  in  1937.^0  In  1942^'  the  property 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Charles  French  who  is  stiU  the 
owner. 

The  first  manor  house  probably  occupied  the  large 
moated  site  immediately  north-west  of  the  churchyard. 


'■•  Cal.  Fine  R.  1327-37,  256. 
'*  Cat.  Inq.  p.m.  xii,  p.  164J  Cal.  Close, 
1364-8,405. 
"  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  443. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DA  Ti99i  C139/98. 
78  E.R.O.,  D/DA  T 199. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/9. 
»»  E.R.O.,  D/DKT51. 
8'  C140/68.  «2  Ibid. 

M  Cal.  lnq.f.m.  Hen.  Vll,  i,  p.  38. 
««  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/10. 
«5  E.R.O.,  D/DAT199. 
««  Ibid. 
*'  Cat  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  ii,  p.  472. 

88  CP25(2)/i3/74  Hil.  35  Hen.  VIII. 

89  C142/221/109.  John  Grey  was  the 
youngest  son  of  Thomas,  Marquess  of 
Dorset  (d.  1530):  Complete  "Peerage,  iv, 
420-1,  vi,  135. 

O"  C142/221/109. 

9"  Ibid.;  CP25(2)/293  East.  6  Jas.  I; 
E.R.O.,  D/DAT199. 


9^  E.R.O.,  D/DA  T199.  For  a  later 
marriage  alliance  between  the  Duncombe 
and  Poyntz  families  see  Chipping  Ongar. 

93  Ibid. 

94  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/1.  He  held  his 
first  court  on  4  June  1622. 

95  CP25(2)/55oB  Trin.  1650;  E.R.O., 
D/DAT199. 

96  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/12. 

97  E.R.O.,  D/DAT199. 

98  Ibid. 

99  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/15. 
>  E.R.O.,  D/DAT199. 

2  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/3.  He  was  high 
sheriff  in  17 16  and  was  for  several  years 
treasurer  of  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  South- 
wark:  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  350.  In 
1724  he  purchased  the  manor  of  Nether 
Hall  in  Moreton  (q.v.). 

3  E.R.O.,  D/DA  T199;  ibid.  D/DU 
201/35. 

♦  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/35. 

106 


s  Ibid.  6  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/17. 

7  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/35. 

8  E.R.O.,  D/DAT199. 

9  Ibid. 
'»  Ibid. 

■■  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  695-g ;  ibid.  Q/RSg  4. 
She  died  between  Aug.  1791  and  June 
1792. 

■2  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  734-7  i  Essex  Arch. 
Soc.  Docs.  Magdalen  Laver  10;  Reg. 
Electors  S.  Essex,  1832. 

"3  E.R.O.,  D/CT  211.  James  Edwards 
occupied  the  estate  at  least  as  early  as 
1 840 :  Reg.  Electors  S.  Essex,  1 840. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/22.  "5  Ibid. 

"^  Ibid.  His  lease,  which  was  for  6  years, 
was  due  to  expire  in  September  1866. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DTcTi2. 

'8  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 

"9  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1922,  1926). 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1937). 

2'  Inf.  from  Mr.  C.  French. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MAGDALEN  LAYER 


A  short  stretch  of  dry  moat  still  remains  and  there  are 
traces  of  embankments  to  the  south  and  east  of  this. 
Further  south  is  a  large  pond  or  lake.  The  present 
house  is  immediately  to  the  west  of  the  old  site.  It  was 
probably  built  during  the  second  half  of  the  i8th 
century  and  is  of  two  stories,  timber-framed  and 
plastered.  Alterations  were  made  in  the  middle  of  the 
19th  century  and  by  the  present  owner. 

The  advowson  of  Magdalen  Laver  was  held  by  the 
lords  of  the  manor  until  shortly  after 
CHURCH  1468  when  John  Bataille  sold  the  manor 
to  Sir  Thomas  Cooke.^^  ^t  the  sale 
Bataille  apparently  retained  the  advowson,  for  his  son 
John  presented  to  the  church  in  1497.^3  In  1502  Sir 
Philip  Cooke,  then  lord  of  the  manor,  held  the  advow- 
son and  he  retained  it  when  he  leased  the  manor  to  John 
King  in  that  year.^*  John  Bataille,  probably  the  patron 
of  1497,  presented  in  1 5 1 3."  After  this  the  advowson 
was  held  by  the  lords  of  the  manor  until  1781  when  it 
was  conveyed  by  John  Cozens  and  his  wife  Elizabeth 
to  Thomas  Altham.^*  In  1783  Thomas  Burford  pre- 
sented.^^  In  1790  Peter  Thomas  Burford  and  Ann, 
probably  his  wife,  conveyed  the  advowson  to  James 
Watts.2*  James  William  Burford  presented  in  1 794.^' 
After  this  the  living  remained  in  the  gift  of  the  Burford 
family  until  about  1857.30  The  Revd.  S.  C.  Mason 
held  it  from  1857  until  about  18703' after  which  C.  G. 
Jones,  rector  1872-93,  held  it  until  1895.32  The 
advowson  appears  to  have  been  acquired  in  1895  by 
Mrs.  E.  Bellamy  who  held  it  until  her  death  in  191 2- 
13.33  After  this  it  remained  with  her  trustees  until 
about  1928  when  it  passed  to  the  Reformation  Church 
Trust,34  who  stiU  owned  it  in  1941.35  Since  1942  the 
living  has  been  in  the  gift  of  the  Bishop  of  Chelmsford3* 
and  since  1945  it  has  been  united  with  that  of  High 
Laver.37 

In  about  1254  and  in  1 291  the  rectory  was  valued 
at  10  marks.38  In  1^28  the  church  was  still  taxed  on 
this  valuation.39  In  1535  the  rectory  was  valued  at 
;^i6  125.*°  In  1661  its  'improved'  value  was  ^9o.'" 
In  1621  there  were  22  acres  of  glebe.''^  In  1848  the 
tithes  were  commuted  for  ^310;  there  were  then  30 
acres  of  glebe.*3 

Until  1950  the  rectory  house  was  situated  on  the 
east  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Mollmans  to  Tile- 
gate  Green.'M  A  terrier  of  162 1  described  it  as  'a 
dwelling-house  all  tiled,  saving  one  end,  which  is 
thatched'  with  'an  old  kitchen  standing  by  itself'.t' 
The  detached  kitchen,  a  feature  which  the  rectories 
at  all  three  Lavers  retained  until  the  17th  century,''* 
must  have  been  of  medieval  origin.  A  new  house  was 
built  in  about  1850.^7  This  is  of  red  brick  with  stone 
dressings.    It  was  occupied  by  the  rector  until  a  new 


rectory  was  built  in  i95o.4»  This  new  building  stands 
on  the  south-west  side  of  the  road  between  Humphreys 
and  the  'Green  Man'.*"  It  is  a  white-plastered  two- 
story  house  with  red  brick  dressings. 

The  parish  church'"  oi  ST.  MART  MAGDALEN 
consists  of  nave,  chancel,  west  tower,  and  south  porch. 
The  walls  are  of  flint  rubble,  those  in  the  nave  includ- 
ing also  some  Roman  brick.  The  tower  is  of  timber. 

The  nave  was  built  early  in  the  12th  century.  The 
flints  are  set  in  herring-bone  courses  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  walls,  while  above  there  are  indications  that  the 
Roman  brick  was  arranged  in  decorative  bands.  The 
north  wall  retains  a  blocked  single-light  window  of  the 
original  date.  A  window  has  been  filled  in  on  the  south 
side  and  it  is  possible  that  this  was  also  of  the  1 2th 
century.  Two  blocked  bull's-eye  windows  in  the  west 
wall  were  noted  in  1919s'  but  are  not  now  visible.  It 
is  possible  that  the  west  doorway,  which  has  brick 
jambs,  chamfered  imposts  and  a  segmental-headed 
tympanum  is  also  original.  The  door  itself,  of  heavy 
oak  battens  with  zigzag  ornament  to  the  strap  hinges, 
is  evidently  of  great  antiquity. 

The  chancel,  which  is  slightly  narrower  than  the 
nave  but  has  no  chancel  arch,  was  built  or  rebuilt  in 
the  13th  century.  The  north  wall  and  the  upper 
part  of  the  other  walls  may  have  been  reconstructed 
later. 

Most  of  the  windows  in  the  church  as  well  as  the 
two  south  doorways  appear  to  have  been  inserted  at 
difl^erent  times  during  the  14th  century.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  chancel  the  single-light  window  and  the 
pointed  door-way  are  of  late-i  3  th-  or  early-i4th-century 
date.  Two  two-light  windows  in  the  chancel  and  three 
in  the  nave  were  probably  added  later  in  the  14th 
century.  These  have  square  heads  and  segmental  rear 
arches.  The  tracery  has  been  restored  or  replaced  but 
the  design  is  probably  near  to  the  original.  In  the  two 
easternmost  windows  of  the  nave  there  is  some  14th- 
or  15th-century  glass  which  appears  to  be  in  situ. 
Similar  glass  in  one  of  the  chancel  windows  has  been 
reset.  The  east  window  of  the  chancel,  which  has  a 
pointed  head  and  tracery  in  the  14th-century  style,  is 
largely  modern  but  retains  original  carved  head-stops. 
The  south  doorway  to  the  nave  has  a  pointed  head  and 
moulded  jambs.  The  door  itself  may  be  of  late-i4th- 
century  date. 

There  is  a  14th-century  oak  rood-screen  consisting 
of  a  central  doorway  with  six  bays  flanking  it  on  each 
side.  Each  bay  has  an  ogee-headed  arch  supported  on 
slender  banded  shafts  with  moulded  capitals  and  bases. 
Above  each  arch  the  tracery  consists  of  two  quatre- 
foiled  circles.  The  screen  was  evidently  reconstructed 
in  the  1 7th  century  and  part  of  the  base  panelling  is  of 


I 


"  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19;  Feet  of  F. 
Essex,  i,  271;  ibid,  ii,  197;  ibid,  iii,  33, 
241 ;  Cal.  Close,  1 364.-8,  405  j  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  370-1. 

»5  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  371. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DA  T199. 

»  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  371. 

"  CP25(2)/i309   Trir.    21    Geo.    Ill; 

Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  371.    In  the  period 

between  1513  and  1781  the  only  known 

occasions   on   which   a   presentation   was 

1  made  by  someone  other  than  the  lord  of 

I  the   manor   were   in    1700    when   Josias 
Harvey  presented  (Newcourt,  Repert.  ii, 
371)  and  in  1702  when  Thomas  Harvey 
presented  (J.  Bacon,  Thesaurus,  616). 
"  P.R.O.  Inst.  Bks.  Ser.  C.  i  (i). 
"  CP25(2)/i3io  Mich.  30  Geo.  III. 
1 


"  P.R.O.  Inst.  Bks.  Ser.  C.  i  (i). 

»  Ecd.  Reg.  1 808 ;  Cler.  Guide,  :  8 1 7  f. ; 
Clergy  List,  1845  f. 

"  Clergy  List,  1857  f.j  Crockford's  Cler. 
£>«>.(i857f.). 

32  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870,  1874); 
Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  (1880  f.). 

33  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  (1895  f.). 

i*  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  (191 3  f.); 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1914  f-)- 

35  Ckel.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1941. 

36  Ckel.  Dioc.  rear  Bk.  1942  f. 

3'  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  (1951-2);  inf. 
from  the  Revd.  W.  D.  Topping. 

38  Lunt,  Fal.  of  Nor-wich,  337;  Tax. 
Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  21. 

39  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 

40  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

107 


4'  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  78. 

M  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  371. 

43  E.R.O.,  D/CT2II. 

44  See  above,  p.  104. 

45  Newcourt,  Repert,  ii,  371. 

4'  See  parishes  of  High  Laver  and  Little 
Laver. 

4'  In  1848  it  was  stated  that  a  new 
parsonage  house  was  about  to  be  built : 
fr kite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

48  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  W.  D.  Topping. 

49  See  above,  p.  103. 

3°  See  plate  facing  p.  202.  There  was  a 
tradition  in  the  i8th  cent,  that  the  church 
once  stood  in  the  field  known  as  Redmill 
Shot,  to  the  south-east  of  the  present  site. 
Sec  above,  p.  104. 

"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  168. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


this  date.  The  doors  and  several  of  the  shafts  are 
replacements.  Above  the  screen  the  tie-beam  of  the 
roof  has  mortice-holes  for  studs,  suggesting  that  at  one 
time  the  opening  was  filled  with  timber-work. 

The  westernmost  window  on  the  north  side  of  the 
nave  evidently  replaces  a  north  doorway  and  may  have 
been  inserted  in  the  15  th  century.  The  stonework  has 
been  replaced.  The  roof  of  the  nave  is  also  of  the  1 5  th 
century.  It  is  of  the  trussed  rafter  type  with  moulded 
wall  plates  and  two  tie-beams.  The  framing  of  the 
westernmost  bay  suggests  that  at  one  time  there  was  a 
beO  turret  in  this  position. 

The  chancel  roof,  which  has  been  restored,  has  two 
original  tie-beams.  On  one  of  the  ties  is  a  nearly 
illegible  inscription  'it  anno  dom.  161 5  h.  l.'s^ 

The  addition  of  the  timber  bell  tower  beyond  the 
west  wall  of  the  nave  may  have  been  made  in  1 567,  a 
date  which  occurs  on  one  of  the  bells. 53  The  lower 
stage  is  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  an  aisle,  while  the 
upper  stage  forms  the  belfry.  The  heavy  timber  frame 
consists  of  four  angle  posts  resting  on  a  massive  plate. 
The  westernmost  posts  have  supporting  struts.  On  the 
east  and  west  sides  the  posts  carry  queen-post  trusses 
with  arched  braces  below  the  tie-beams  and  cross- 
bracing  between  the  queen  posts.  Externally  the  tower 
is  crowned  with  a  boarded  pyramidal  roof  which  was 
formerly  leaded. ^i  Halfway  down  there  is  a  penthouse 
roof  to  the  aisle.  In  the  lower  stage  there  is  a  window 
with  two  pointed  lights  and  there  are  louvred  openings 
to  the  belfry.  The  exterior  is  weather-boarded.  At  a 
vestry  held  in  April  1 709  it  was  agreed  that  'the  north 
side  of  the  belfry  shall  be  new  boarded  with  oak 
boards'. 55  The  old  boards  were  to  be  used  for  patching 
the  other  sides,5*  suggesting  that  some  form  of  weather- 
boarding  was  already  of  long  standing  by  1709.  The 
presence  of  holes  and  grooves  for  fitting  laths  between 
the  studs  proves,  however,  that  a  plastered  finish  was 
originally  intended. 

In  1856  the  church  was  repewed;  the  cost  of  this 
and  other  repairs  was  £136.^''  In  1875  there  was  a 
further  restoration. 5 8  In  1883  the  timberwork  of  the 
tower  was  strengtheneds'  and  the  boarded  vestry  inside 
the  tower  may  have  been  inserted  at  the  same  date.  In 
1887  the  south  porch  was  rebuilt;*"  it  is  of  timber 
framing  above  a  stone  base  and  replaced  a  plastered 
porch  of  uncertain  date.*'  In  1912  a  second-hand  pipe 
organ  was  bought  from  Christ  Church,  Albany  Street 
(Lond.).62 

There  are  two  bells.*3  One  is  inscribed  to  the  honour 
of  St.  John,  and  is  probably  of  the  early  14th  century.*^ 
The  other  is  dated  1567.^5  In  1868  another  bell  was 
added**  but  this  must  have  been  subsequently  removed. 
In  19 1 9  there  were  cages  for  three  bells.*' 

A  damaged  15th-century  font,  which  stood  for  a 
time  in  the  rectory  garden,  was  restored  to  the  church 
early  in  the  20th  century .*8  It  has  an  octagonal  bowl 
with  quatrefoil  panels  and  carved  bosses.  The  stem 
also  has  carved  panels. 

Painted  boards  on  the  north  wall  of  the  nave  have 
round-headed  panels  inscribed  with  the  Ten  Com- 


mandments, the  Creed,  and  the  Lord's  Prayer.  These 
are  surrounded  by  decoration  of  18th-century  design. 

The  plate  includes  a  cup  of  1665  with  crest  and 
shield  of  arms,  given  by  George  Throckmorton,  lord 
of  the  manor,  in  1666;  a  large  flagon  and  a  small  paten, 
similarly  dated  and  engraved,  a  salver  of  1683,  similarly 
inscribed;  an  almsdish  presented  in  1925  to  com- 
memorate the  safe  return  from  a  tour  abroad  of  (Sir) 
Godfrey  J.  V.  Thomas,  then  private  secretary  to 
Edward,  Prince  of  Wales.  A  large  silver  communion 
cup  which  is  mentioned  in  an  inventory  of  church 
property  in  1678  as  'in  hands  of  John  King  of  Ashhns' 
is  not  now  among  the  church  plate.*' 

On  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  marble  tablet  in 
the  form  of  a  cartouche  shield  to  the  William  Cole,  lord 
of  the  manor,  who  died  on  24  February  1730.'"'  A 
funeral  helm  with  vizor  hangs  on  the  west  wall  of  the 
nave.  Three  brackets  for  other  trophies  are  now  empty. 
The  helm  is  probably  of  the  i6th  century:  its  crest, 
possibly  not  in  situ,  appears  to  be  that  of  Cole."  On 
the  south  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  tablet  to  John  Cozens'^ 
(1766)  and  members  of  his  family.  On  the  east  wall 
of  the  chancel  is  a  marble  tablet  surmounted  by  a 
segmental  pediment.  An  oval  panel  enclosed  by  a 
wreath  carries  a  Latin  inscription  to  George  Kindleton 
(1667),  rector  of  the  parish,  who  was  dispossessed 
during  the  Commonwealth. 

Outside  the  church  immediately  west  of  the  south 
porch  is  the  marble  altar  tomb  of  the  William  Cole, 
lord  of  the  manor,  who  died  on  i  February  17  30.'' 
Cole  had  the  tomb  built  before  his  death.74  The 
inscription  is  on  a  central  panel,  flanked  by  the  figures 
of  cherubs.  The  tomb  is  enclosed  by  a  heavy  iron  rail- 
ing, also  ordered  by  Cole,75  and  there  is  an  achieve- 
ment of  arms  on  the  wall  above. 

In  May  1709  Thomas  Redington  applied  to  have 

his     house,     called      Hum- 

NONCONFORMITT    phreys,  licensed  for  a  presby- 

terian    minister   to    preach'* 

but  there  is  no  further  evidence  of  dissent  in  the  parish. 

The  only  parish  book  which  survives  for  Magdalen 

Laver  contains  vestry 
PARISH  GOVERNMENT  minutes  and  summar- 
AND  POOR  RELIEF  ized   officers'  accounts 

for  the  period  1667- 
1764  and  detailed  churchwardens'  accounts  down  to 
1869." 

Until  1 69 1  vestry  meetings  seem  to  have  been  held 
only  at  Easter  in  each  year.  From  1691  meetings  were 
held  regularly  at  Easter  to  examine  officers'  accounts 
and  appoint  or  nominate  fresh  churchwardens,  over- 
seers, and  constables,  and  at  Christmas  to  nominate 
fresh  surveyors.  Occasionally  meetings  were  held  in 
September  or  October.  Nearly  every  meeting  was 
attended,  and  its  minutes  recorded,  by  the  rector  or 
his  curate,  who  always  signed  first.  Meetings  were 
seldom  attended  by  more  than  six  parishioners. 

The  vestry  minutes  seldom  recorded  corporate 
resolutions  as  distinct  from  mere  approval  of  the  actions 
of  officers.  Two  of  the  most  notable  resolutions  were 


5^  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  i68. 

53  See  below. 

5*  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  349. 

55  E.R.O.,  D/P  62/5. 

5'  Ibid. 

5'  Ibid. 

5«  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (\i%6). 

50  Ibid. 

'»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890). 

'•  Shown  in  sketch  of  1820:  E.R.O., 


Prints,  Magdalen  Laver. 
'2  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  W.  D.  Topping. 
"  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  317. 
'*  Ibid. 
*5  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  62/5.- 
"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Records. 
68  Ibid. 

'9  E.R.O.,  D/P  62/5. 
">  See  above.  Manor. 

108 


"  See  below. 

'^  See  above.  Manor. 

73  Ibid. 

'••  E.R.O.,  D/DA  T199. 

'5    Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/SBb  43. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  62/5.  Unless  otherwise 
stated  all  the  following  information  is 
derived  from  this  book. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MAGDALEN  LAYER 


in  1708,  when  it  was  agreed  that  a  cottage  should  be 
leased  for  the  use  of  the  parish,"  and  in  171 3,  when  it 
was  resolved  that  no  officer  should  relieve  a  passenger 
on  a  pass  with  parish  money."  Occasionally  there  were 
resolutions  on  matters  relating  to  poor  relief.  Generally, 
however,  the  officers  seem  to  have  been  allowed  to 
act  without  guidance  or  interference  from  the  vestry. 

From  1667  until  1686  one  churchwarden,  one  over- 
seer, two  constables,  and  two  surveyors  of  highways 
were  nominated  annually  at  Easter.  From  1686  until 
i6go  only  one  surveyor  was  nominated  each  year  but 
from  1 69 1  two  were  nominated  annually  at  Christmas. 
From  1706  only  one  constable  was  nominated.  From 
1732  two  names  appear  'in  nomination  for  overseer' 
but  it  seems  that  only  one  acted.  There  continued  to 
be  only  one  churchwarden.  A  paid  church  clerk  ap- 
pears first  in  1 73 1  when  the  churchwarden  accounted 
for  ;^l  paid  to  him  as  his  annual  salary.  In  1797  the 
clerk  was  receiving  ^2  a  year.  His  status  may  be 
deduced  from  the  payment  in  September  1778  of  is. 
to  'the  Clark  for  Cleaning  the  Churchyard'. 

The  surveyors  do  not  appear  to  have  levied  a  separate 
rate  but  each  of  the  other  officers  did  so  until  at  least 
1766.  The  proceeds  of  an  officer's  rates  were,  however, 
indiscriminately  applied  in  settlement  of  other  officers' 
accounts.*"  The  surveyors'  small  disbursements  of 
5/.- 10/.  a  year  were  always  paid  by  another  officer. 
Sometimes  officers'  own  personal  money  was  used  to 
provide  the  working  funds  of  the  parish.  This  occurred 
for  example  in  the  case  of  the  churchwarden  during  the 
period  17 13-15.  No  churchwarden's  rate  was  levied 
in  1713  or  in  1714.  At  the  end  of  171 3  the  parish 
owed  the  churchwarden  £4  <)s.  3a'.;  during  the  follow- 
ing year  the  debt  rose  to  £j  14J.  6d.  Not  until  171 5 
was  a  rate  levied  to  raise  £%  5/.  dJ.  in  partial  settlement 
of  his  account. 

In  1682  a  iJ.  rate  produced  ;^5  I2.r.  \ii.  Later,  only 
the  total  product  of  rates  was  recorded.  From  at  least 
1680  a  regular,  and  unexplained,  source  of  income  for 
the  churchwardens  was  'money  for  the  fair',  always 
6s.  iJ.  a  year;  it  was  last  received  in  173 1. 

There  was  a  parish  house  in  Magdalen  Laver  from 
at  least  1708.  In  October  of  that  year  the  vestry 
resolved  to  take  a  lease  of  a  cottage,  yard,  and  orchard 
called  Maggots  for  the  use  of  the  parishioners  for  2 1 
years  at  a  rent  of  £,z  c,s.  a  year.  The  lessor,  William 
Cole,  lord  of  the  manor,  covenanted  to  do  certain 
repairs.  The  vestry  which  met  in  October  17 14 
acknowledged  the  receipt  of  £5  from  him  in  discharge 
of  this  obligation  which,  it  was  stated,  he  had  been 
unable  to  perform  since  the  cottage  was  occupied  by 
'several  pensioners  of  the  parish'.  At  the  date  of  the 
meeting  the  cottage  was  empty.  The  preceding  Easter 
vestry  had  resolved  to  have  a  chimney  built  and  to  have 
an  oven  inserted  and  a  new  floor  made  'in  the  same 
room'.  In  September  17 16  Francis  Bowtell  was 
instructed  to  come  to  the  'little  end'  of  the  parish  house 
and  Goodman  Harrod  to  remain  in  the  other  end.  In 
March  1 7 1 7  it  was  agreed  that  Goodman  Storey  and 
his  family  should  be  removed  into  the  house. 

In  most  cases  poor  relief  was  given,  in  various  forms. 


outside  the  parish  house.  In  each  of  the  years  1813-15 
there  were  16-19  adults  on  'permanent'  outdoor 
relief*'  Provision  for  the  poor  was  made  in  various 
ways  including  the  payment  of  rents  and  the  provision 
of  wood,  food,  clothing,  and  medicine.  All  these  forms 
of  relief  were  used  in  the  first  years  of  the  period 
(1670-1764)  for  which  accounts  have  survived.  At 
a  vestry  held  in  October  1692  it  was  agreed  that  the 
overseer  should  have  full  power  'to  dispose  and  order 
all  things  necessary  and  convenient  for  the  poore  as 
hee  in  his  prudence  shall  think  fitt'.  In  March  1693, 
however,  a  vestry  meeting  agreed  that  the  same  over- 
seer should  'dispose  of  the  goods  of  the  widow  King 
for  the  use  of  the  parish  and  remove  Shipton  into  her 
house  and  pay  40/.  to  Mrs.  Wankford  for  Shipton's 
rent  and  do  all  other  things  for  the  good  of  the  poor 
and  the  parish  as  shall  seem  expedient'.  In  the  follow- 
ing September  it  was  agreed  that  the  overseer  should 
have  'full  power  to  provide  a  house  in  this  parish  or 
elsewhere  for  Richard  Benton  or  so  to  agree  with  his 
landlord  that  he  may  continue  where  he  now  is'.  One 
common  form  of  parish  relief,  the  weekly  dole,  was 
mentioned  in  the  parish  book  only  once,  in  December 
1693,  when  the  vestry  resolved  that  a  man  should  have 
a  'collection'  of  \s.  6d.,  but  the  use  of  the  common 
word  on  this  occasion  suggests  that  it  was  well  known 
to  the  parish. 

In  1 6 14  the  cost  of  poor  relief  was  48/.  ^^  Late  in 
the  17th  century  and  early  in  the  i8th  century  the  cost 
was  in  most  years  between  ^^13  and  ^22.  It  rose  con- 
siderably during  the  second  quarter  of  the  1 8th  century 
and  in  the  third  quarter  was  usually  above  ^60.  In 
1776  it  reached  ^ioi.'3  At  the  beginning  of  the  19th 
century  there  was  a  maximum  of  ^595  in  1801— 2  and 
the  cost  did  not  again  fall  below  £p.zi>  in  the  period 
before  i8i7.*'t 

In  1836  Magdalen  Laver  became  part  of  Epping 
Poor  Law  Union. 

In  1807  there  was  no  school  in  the  parish;  it  was 
reported  that  the  population  was  too  poor 
SCHOOL  to  support  one.ss  By  1818  a  school  had 
been  established,  in  which  13  children 
were  being  taught  by  a  dame.**  This  school,  or  one 
that  replaced  it,  became  united  with  the  National 
Society  in  about  1820  and  apparently  continued  under 
church  guidance  at  least  until  1846-7.  The  number  of 
pupils  was  27  in  1828,  25  in  1832,  and  30  in  1846-7, 
the  girls  outnumbering  the  boys.  In  1 846-7  the  mistress 
was  paid  £j  los.  a  year.*^ 

In  1862  a  permanent  school  was  built  on  land  given 
by  Anna  Maria  Meyer.  The  trust  deed  appointed  the 
rector  and  churchwarden  as  managers.  The  building 
could  accommodate  60  pupils  and  had  a  teacher's 
residence  attached.**  The  school  was  endowed  with 
j^999  raised  in  subscriptions  from  the  congregation  of 
St.  George's  Chapel,  Albemarle  St.  (Lond.)  by  W.  W- 
Ellis,  then  minister  of  the  chapel,  and  presented  to 
Magdalen  Laver,  of  which  he  was  then  rector,  in 
1872.*'  The  money  was  invested.'"  Average  atten; 
dance  rose  from  39  in  1886  to  45  in  1899,  despite  the 
falling  population."    In  1904  there  were  47  children 


'^  Sec  below. 

'»  Despite  this  resolution  the  constables 
frequently  relieved  'passengers'  as  was 
their  statutory  duty. 

">  As  in  17 1 5  when  the  constable  and 
overseer  paid  the  churchwarden  and  in 
1725  when  the  constable  paid  the  church- 
warden. 


81  E.R.O.,  g/CR  i/io. 

82  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

83  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/i. 

84  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/9. 

85  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

86  Retm.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  260 
(1819),  ix(i). 

87  Nat.   Soc.  Rep.    1820,    1828,    1832; 

109 


Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry'  into  Church  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  12-13. 

88  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/196. 

89  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899).        <">  Ibid. 
9'  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1886 

[C.  5 1 23-1],  p.  520,  H.C.  (1887),  xxviii; 
Retn.ofSchs.  1899  [Cd.  315],  p.  71,  H.C. 
(1900),  Ixv  (2). 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


on  the  roll  and  they  were  taught  by  a  teacher  and  a 
monitress.'^ 

By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee as  a  non-provided  endowed  school.  Average 
attendance  rose  from  44  in  1900  to  53  in  191  5  but 
fell  again  to  33  in  1938.93  In  1944  the  school  was 
reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants,  the  seniors 
being  transferred  to  Chipping  Ongar.  In  1950  the 
managers  applied  for  aided  status;  a  decision  about  this 
was  still  awaited  in  September  1952.  There  were  36 
pupils  and  two  teachers  at  the  school  in  May  1952.''* 


The  school  is  situated  a  little  to  the  south-west  of  Tile- 
gate  Green,  just  within  the  southern  boundary  of  High 
Laver  and  it  is  attended  by  children  from  High  Laver 
as  well  as  by  those  from  Magdalen  Laver. '5  It  is  a 
single-storied  red-brick  building. 

The  Revd.  Thomas  James  Robinson,  by  will  dated 
1876,  left  an  annuity  of  ^^2  for  the  aged 
CHARITY  and  industrious  poor  of  the  parish.  The 
will  was  disputed  but  the  legacy  was 
paid  in  1883  in  the  form  of  ^^59  5/.  stock.  In  1952 
the  income  was  used  to  give  \os.  in  cash  to  three 
people.'* 


LOUGHTON 


The  town  of  Loughton  lies  to  the  east  of  Epping 
Forest  and  west  of  the  Roding,  adjoining  Chigwell; 
it  is  12  miles  from  London.'  The  ancient  parish  of 
Loughton  became  an  urban  district  in  1900  and  in 
1933  was  united  with  the  Urban  District  of  Buckhurst 
Hill  and  Chigwell  civil  parish  to  form  the  ChigweU 
Urban  District.^  The  area  of  the  ancient  parish  was 
approximately  that  of  the  present  Loughton  (North) 
and  Loughton  (South)  Wards  of  the  urban  district, 
taken  together,  and  in  1931  comprised  3,961  acres.^ 
For  ecclesiastical  purposes  the  ancient  parish  was 
divided  in  1887  by  the  creation  of  the  new  parish  of 
St.  Mary,  in  the  south  of  the  town.'* 

The  best  approach  to  Loughton  is  from  the  north, 
by  the  road  through  Epping  Forest  from  the  'Wake 
Arms'.  The  forest  has  always  formed  an  important 
part  of  the  landscape  of  Loughton.  Over  1,300  acres 
of  the  forest  were  within  the  ancient  parish  and  were 
preserved  by  the  Epping  Forest  Acts  of  187 1-80.5 
The  road  leaves  the  forest  about  a  mile  south  of  the 
'Wake  Arms',  at  Goldings  Hill  and  runs  south  down 
hill,  becoming  Church  Hill  and  then  High  Road  and 
continuing  to  Buckhurst  Hill  and  London.  For  many 
centuries  this  road,  2  miles  long,  was  the  main  focus  of 
settlement  in  the  parish.  South-east  of  Goldings  Hill 
is  the  new  Loughton:  the  large  housing  estate  of 
Debden,  built  since  1945  by  the  London  County 
Council.  The  estate  takes  its  name  from  the  ancient 
manor  of  Debden,  which  lay  at  its  northern  end, 
around  Debden  Hall  and  Debden  Green.  Debden 
Green  itself  does  not  form  part  of  the  estate.  It  is  a 
pleasant  little  hamlet  of  about  eight  houses,  mostly  of 
the  19th  century  and  later,  grouped  about  the  ancient 
green.  Loughton  Hall,  on  the  site  of  another  ancient 
manor,  is  now  in  the  centre  of  the  Debden  estate,  a 
mile  south  of  Debden  Green.  Beside  the  hall  is  the 
Lttle  church  of  St.  Nicholas  (a  chapel  of  ease  to  St. 
John,  Loughton)  which  stands  on  the  site  of  the 
original  parish  church.  The  Roding  forms  the  boundary 
of  the  parish  in  this  direction.  There  is  an  ancient 
crossing  at  Loughton  Bridge  a  mile  south-east  of 
Loughton  Hall.  The  railway  from  London  via  Strat- 
ford and  Woodford,  now  part  of  the  Central  London 
Line,  enters  Loughton  from  the  south.  After  passing 
through  Loughton  station  it  makes  a  wide  arc  east  and 

92  Essex    Educ.    Cttee.    Handhk.    1904, 
p.  148. 

93  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/196. 
9*  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 
95  Sec  above,  p.  104  and  also  parish  of 

High  Laver.  96  char.  Com.  Files. 

'  O.S.  2\  in.  Map,  sheet  51/49. 

^  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1902);  Ciigwell 
U.D.  Official  Guide  (2nd  edn.),  22. 

3  Official   Guide,    p.    22;    Kelly's    Dir. 


Essex  (1933).  The  ward  boundary  be- 
tween Loughton  (South)  and  Buckhurst 
Hill  is  \  mile  north  of  the  ancient  parish 
boundary. 

♦  See  below,  Church.  '  See  below. 

<>  y.C.H.  Essex,  \,  277;  Hist.  Mon. 
Com.  Essex,  ii,  165—6. 

'  See  below,  Manor. 

'  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  447a,  446A,  515*, 
537a,  i>. 


north  to  Theydon  Bois  and  Epping.  Debden  (formerly 
Chigwell  Lane)  station  is  J  mile  south-east  of  Loughton 
Hall.  Rectory  Lane,  an  old  path  which  has  become  the 
main  road  through  the  new  estate,  runs  from  Church 
Hill  south-east  to  Debden  station  and  Loughton 
Bridge.  Alderton  Hall,  which  hke  Debden  Hall  and 
Loughton  Hall  was  the  centre  of  an  ancient  manor,  is 
at  the  south-west  edge  of  the  new  estate. 

An  early  settlement  in  the  parish  was  within  the 
forest  at  what  is  known  as  Loughton  Camp,  about  ij 
mile  north  of  the  railway  station.  The  camp  was  a 
rough  oval  some  6J  acres  in  area,  enclosed  by  a  single 
rampart  and  ditch.   It  is  thought  to  be  pre-Roman.* 

In  the  nth  century  there  were  eight  estates  in 
Loughton.  The  largest  were  Alderton  and  Debden, 
which  were  probably  the  main  centres  of  population 
at  that  time.'  In  1086  there  were  18  manorial  tenants 
at  Alderton  and  1 1  at  Debden  and  the  total  number  in 
the  parish  was  49.8  In  1377  the  parish  contained  44 
poll-tax-payers.' 

Although  the  total  area  of  the  parish  was  fairly 
large,  the  population  was  for  long  concentrated  in  a 
small  part  of  it.  Many  medieval  place-names  survive 
and  relate  almost  entirely  to  High  Road  and  its  im- 
mediate neighbourhood  and  to  the  areas  around  the 
three  manor  houses.  Traps  Hill,  Algers  Road,  Goldings 
Hill,  Borders  Lane,  Lyngs  Lane  (now  Pump  Hill), 
Pyrles  Lane,  OUards  Grove,  and  Ree  Lane  (now 
Englands  Lane)  have  medieval  names  or  the  names  of 
medieval  tenants  who  held  land  in  those  areas.'"  There 
appears  to  be  a  specific  reference  to  High  Road  in 
1404  when  a  tenant  was  presented  at  the  manor  court 
for  throwing  the  scourings  of  his  ditch  upon  the  high- 
way at  Richard  Algor's  Gate."  The  offence  was 
evidently  committed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
present  Alger's  Road.'^ 

While  the  concentration  of  population  along  the 
High  Road  was  probably  of  medieval  origin  it  was  no 
doubt  increased  by  the  construction,  early  in  the  17th 
century,  of  the  new  road  through  the  forest  to  Epping 
(see  below).  In  1671  there  were  89  houses  in  the 
parish'^  and  there  were  only  119  in  1801,  when  the 
population  was  68 1.'''  Chapman  and  Andre's  map 
(1777)  suggests  that  the  appearance  of  Loughton  was 
not  very  different  from  what  it  had  been  100  years 

9  W.  C.  Waller,  Loughton  in  Essex,  i, 
20. 

'»  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  67-68.  For 
details  of  the  descent  of  properties  see 
Waller,  Loughton,  \,  App.  vii. 

"  Waller,  Loughton,  \,  112. 

"  For  the  location  see  Waller,  Loughton, 


'3  E.R.O.,  Q/RTh  5  (Hearth  Tax). 
M  Census,  1801. 


I  10 


a-"    F-^  ■L-.T-.^-i^,"..- 


Map  of   Loughton 


LOUGHTON  Vo 


R.LE.T    PLAN     5HOWINC 
POSITION    OF    BUILDINGS  X.X" 


Scale 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


before. '5  It  shows  houses  dotted  along  High  Road  as 
far  north  as  Rectory  Lane.  There  were  some  houses 
around  Mutton  Row  (now  York  Hill)  and  small  groups 
round  Debden  Hall  and  in  the  centre  of  Englands  Lane. 
Other  roads  shown  were  Smarts  Lane,  Pump  Hill, 
Clays  Lane,  Traps  Hill,  and  Borders  Lane,  Pyrles 
Lane,  and  Debden  Lane.'*  Larger  houses  specifically 
named  were  the  Parsonage,  Loughton  Hall,  Alderton 
Hall,  Debden  Hall,  Golden  Hill  House,  Hempstalls 
(later  Borders  Farm),  'The  Reindeer'  (later  The' 
Warren)  and  High  Standing,  which  lay  in  the  south- 
west of  the  parish  on  the  edge  of  the  forest.  The 
ancient  parish  church  beside  Loughton  Hall  is,  of 
course,  shown  on  the  map. 

Very  few  of  the  houses  then  existing  have  survived 
to  the  present  day.  Loughton  Hall,"  which  had  been 
rebuilt  about  1616,  was  burnt  down  in  1836,  and 
Debden  Hall  has  been  twice  rebuilt  since  1777.'* 
Golden  Hill  House,  shown  on  the  map  as  the  residence 
of  Richard  Lomax  Clay,  stood  on  the  north  side  of 
Clay's  Lane  at  its  junction  with  the  main  road.  It  was 
the  centre  of  a  small  estate  built  up  by  R.  L.  Clay  and 
his  father  Richard  Clay,  a  London  draper.  The  estate 
included  the  White  Lion  Inn,  which  was  demolished 
by  R.  L.  Clay  in  1777."  Golden  Hill  House  was 
rebuilt  on  a  large  scale  early  in  the  19th  century.  It 
had  three  stories  and  the  view  from  it  was  said  to  be 
'exceedingly  rich  and  extensive,  including  most  of 
London  and  much  of  the  intervening  district  of  sub- 
urban villas  in  Chigwell,  Woodford,  Walthamstow 
etc.'^"  After  the  fire  at  Loughton  Hall  in  1836  W.  W. 
Maitland,  the  lord  of  the  manor,  moved  to  Golden 
Hill  (Goldings)  and  lived  there  until  his  death.^'  In 
1 940  the  house  was  destroyed  by  a  German  land  mine.^* 
The  former  stable  block  escaped  destruction  and  has 
now  been  converted  into  a  house  called  Stanmores. 
A  small  modern  house  of  red  brick  called  Goldings 
Manor  Cottage  has  been  built  on  the  site  of  Goldings. ^3 

Alderton  Hall,  which  dates  from  about  1600  is  the 
only  one  of  the  three  ancient  manor  houses  which  has 
survived.^^  North  Farm,  at  the  south  of  High  Road, 
is  of  the  1 6th  century.  It  has  two  stories  and  attics  and 
is  timber-framed  and  plastered.  The  north  part  has 
three  gables,  the  central  part  of  the  house  projecting 
and  supported  over  the  ground  floor  on  posts. 

Willow  Cottage,  High  Road,  about  J  mile  north  of 
the  farm  also  dates  from  the  i6th  century.  It  consists 
of  two  stories,  timber-framed  with  painted  weather- 
boarding.  There  are  gabled  cross-wings  at  each  end  of 
the  front. 

Beech  House,  High  Road,  bears  the  date  1648  and 
the  initials  rwm  (probably  William  and  Margaret 
Rutland)  and  ir  Age  4.  It  is  a  two-story  brick  building, 
altered  externally  but  with  some  oak  panelling  of  c. 
1648  inside. 

No.  363  High  Road  was  built  late  in  the  i8th 
century.  It  is  of  two  stories,  in  stock  brick  with  three 
sash  windows.  A  group  of  cottages  in  Pump  Hill, 
Nos.  20,  22,  and  24,  date  from  the  17th  century.  They 
are  of  two  stories  with  painted  weather-boarding.  Rose 
Farm,  Traps  Hill,  is  of  the  same  period  or  somewhat 

"  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
J777,  sheet  xvi. 

'*  Of  these  only  Traps  Hill  is  named  on 
the  map. 

"  See  below,  Manor. 

'8  Ibid. 

'»  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  127-8. 

"  While's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

"  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  128;  Kelly's  Dir. 


later.  It  is  of  two  stories  with  painted  weather-boarding 
and  small  casements.  In  York  Hill  there  is  a  group  of 
cottages  (Nos.  107-19  inclusive)  most  of  which  date 
from  the  1 8th  century  and  are  probably  those  shown  on 
the  map  of  1777.  Some  are  of  red  brick,  others 
weather-boarded.  Algars  at  Debden  Green  dates  from 
the  17th  or  1 8th  century.  It  is  a  two-story  weather- 
boarded  building  having  grouped  chimney-stacks  and 
a  pedimented  doorway  with  architrave  and  shaped 
brackets. 

The  population  increased  steadily  after  1801.  By 
1 82 1  it  was  979  and  there  were  166  inhabited  houses.^* 
In  1 83 1  there  were  1,269  inhabitants,  but  the  popula- 
tion subsequently  remained  stationary  until  the  1850's 
when  the  railway  was  built.^*  The  construction  of  the 
new  by-pass  road  from  Woodford  to  Epping  (see 
below)  may  have  been  partly  responsible  for  halting 
the  growth.  The  tithe  map  (1850)  shows  the  parish 
just  before  the  coming  of  the  railway.^'  The  general 
picture  had  changed  httle  since  1777.  There  were  a 
few  more  houses  at  the  east  end  of  Smarts  Lane,  in  the 
York  Hill  area  and  along  High  Road.  Albion  Hill  was 
now  clearly  marked  as  a  road  and  some  cottages  had 
been  erected  at  Baldwins  Hill.  Hatfields,  in  Rectory 
Lane,  had  been  built  in  1799.  It  consists  of  two  stories 
and  attics  and  is  of  stock  brick.  There  is  a  central 
cemented  Roman  Doric  porch.  The  date  is  on  a  rain- 
water head. 

The  Warren  (formerly  'The  Reindeer')  had  been 
rebuilt  early  in  the  19th  century.  'The  Reindeer'  was 
a  resort  of  wealthy  visitors  and  famous  for  its  rabbit 
pie.  About  1800  it  was  converted  into  a  private  house 
and  became  the  home  of  General  (later  Field-Marshal) 
Thomas  Grosvenor  (1764-18  51),  a  friend  of  the  Duke 
of  Wellington.  The  house  is  of  two  stories,  in  Roman 
cement.  To  the  rear  is  a  weather-boarded  wing  of 
earlier  date.  The  front  looks  north  over  a  field  con- 
taining a  'monument'  said  to  have  been  erected  by 
Grosvenor  to  the  memory  of  his  favourite  horse, 
which  had  carried  him  at  Waterloo.^^  The  monument 
consists  of  a  plain  square  pedestal  above  which  is  an 
obelisk  resting  on  ball  feet.^' 

Other  buildings  erected  between  1777  and  1850 
were  the  original  National  School  at  the  corner  of 
Staples  Road  (on  the  site  of  the  present  Ashley  Grove 
flats),  the  British  School  in  Smarts  Lane,  and  the 
Whitaker  Almshouses.^o  A  directory  of  1 848  spoke  of 
the  'many  genteel  houses'  of  Loughton. 3i  Meanwhile, 
in  1846  a  new  parish  church  had  been  built  in  Bhnd  ' 
Lane  (now  Church  Lane)  nearer  to  the  main  road,  and 
there  was  also  a  police  station. 

Between  185 1  and  1871  the  population  doubled, 
and  there  were  considerable  changes  in  the  landscape 
of  the  parish. 3^  The  railway  was  the  most  important 
new  feature.  The  line  from  Woodford  and  London 
was  followed  within  ten  years  by  an  extension  to 
Epping  and  Ongar,  which  looped  north-east  in  order  to 
avoid  hills  and  the  forest.  The  station  was  placed  at  the 
south-east  end  of  the  town.  On  the  south  side  of  Albion 
Hill  a  number  of  large  houses  were  built,  and  the  land 
between  them  and  Warren  Hill  was  inclosed  to  form 


Essex  (1859,  1862);  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat. 
A.  1075  (1893). 

22  Inf.  from  Mr.  Wm.  Addison. 

^5  Mr.  Wm.  Addison  has  a  photo,  of 
Goldings  House. 

^*  See  Manor. 

25  Census,  182 1. 

^*  For  these  and  later  census  figures  see 
y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 


"  E.R.O.,  D/CT235. 

28  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  22-23. 

29  The  monument  is  said  to  have  come 
from  Wanstead  House,  which  was 
demolished  in  1824. 

30  See  below,  Schools,  Charities. 
3'  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

32  O.S:25  in.  Map  (ist  edn.). 


II  I 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


their  gardens.  This  was  the  wealthiest  part  of  the 
town.  Farther  north  Upper  Park  Road  and  Lower 
Park  Road  were  laid  out  although  not  yet  built  up  by 
1 87 1.  Forest  Road  had  also  been  made,  and  it  was 
there  and  in  Smarts  Lane  that  much  of  the  new  build- 
ing had  taken  place.  The  houses  in  these  two  roads 
were  of  cottage  type,  in  short  terraces.  Another  new 
road  was  Staples  Road,  which  had  a  few  small  houses. 
Old  Station  Road  had  been  made,  but  was  not  built 
up,  and  the  present  Station  Road  was  marked  out. 
Many  smaller  houses  had  been  built  at  Baldwins  Hill. 
Some  of  the  new  building  on  the  west  of  the  town  took 
place  on  land  inclosed  from  the  forest,  but  expansion 
in  this  direction  was  stopped  by  the  Epping  Forest 
Acts  of  1 87 1—80.33  There  was  also  some  new  building 
in  High  Road,  including  St.  Mary's  Church  and  the 
present  Union  church. 

Loughton  grew  very  slowly  between  1 87 1  and  1 8  8 1 , 
but  between  1881  and  191 1  the  population  rose  from 
2,85 1  to  5,433.  The  progress  of  building  was  watched 
with  a  critical  eye  by  William  Chapman  Waller  (1850- 
19 1 7)  who  lived  at  Ash  Green  at  the  top  of  York 
Hill.  His  articles  in  the  parish  magazine  of  St.  Mary's 
and  the  entries  in  his  manuscript  notebooks  provide 
valuable  information  about  this  period.^'' 

The  new  building  after  1 881  took  place  mainly  on 
several  small  estates  along  or  near  the  main  road.  The 
'Queen's  Park'  estate,  consisting  of  14  acres  bounded 
by  York  Hill,  Pump  Hill,  and  Church  Hill,  was 
broken  up  for  building  in  1886  after  the  death  of  the 
last  owner,  George  Burney.^s  Building  was  much 
slower  than  had  been  expected.3*  By  1895  there  were 
some  25  houses  along  the  Church  Hill  front  of  the 
estate,  but  in  Queen's  Road,  which  had  been  built 
parallel  with  Church  Hill  to  the  west,  only  about  six 
had  so  far  been  built.3'  There  was  further  building  in 
Queen's  Road  up  to  1914  but  parts  of  the  road 
remained  empty  until  the  1930's. 

The  Uplands  estate,  which  lay  opposite  the  Queen's 
Park  estate  to  the  east  of  Church  Hill,  consisted  of  1 8 
acres,3  8  centred  on  a  large  house  which  had  been  a 
private  residence  and  later  a  children's  convalescent 
home. 39  The  estate  was  sold  in  1902  for  ^^5,250  and 
the  house  was  demolished.'"'  By  1914  a  number  of 
small  houses  had  been  built  along  the  Church  Hill  side 
of  the  estate.  Uplands  Park  Avenue  (now  The  Uplands) 
had  been  made  and  there  were  several  houses  there.*' 
But  there,  also,  building  was  not  completed  until  after 
the  First  World  War. 

Farther  south  the  development  of  the  area  between 
Smarts  Lane  and  Upper  Park  Road  had  begun.  By 
1895  High  Beech  Road,  Forest  View  Road,  Con- 
naught  Avenue,  Junction  Road  (now  Connaught  Hill), 
OUards  Grove,  and  Park  Hill  had  been  laid  out, 
though  as  yet  there  were  very  few  houses  there.''^  As 
elsewhere  in  Loughton  this  area  was  built  up  gradually. 
In  1914  there  were  a  number  of  houses  in  Ollards 


Grove,  Connaught  Avenue,  High  Beech  Road,  and 
Park  Hill  but  none  had  been  built  in  Forest  View 
Road  or  Connaught  Hill.+s 

On  the  east  side  of  High  Road  near  the  railway 
station  Meadow  Road  and  Algers  Road  had  been  laid 
out  by  1895.  Meadow  Road  was  half  built  up  but 
development  had  been  slower  in  Algers  Road  and  in 
Lower  Park  Road,  which  lay  between  the  two  new 
roads.'M  South  of  Algers  Road  was  then  the  Beech 
House  estate,  consisting  of  Beech  House,  Newnham 
House,  and  117  acres  land.  In  1899  this  estate  was 
put  up  for  sale  with  the  suggestion  that  it  might  be 
built  upon.45  By  19 14  The  Avenue,  The  Crescent,  and 
Spring  Grove  had  been  laid  out  on  the  north  side  of 
the  estate  and  there  were  houses  at  the  north  end  of  The 
Avenue.''* 

The  areas  mentioned  above  were  those  in  which 
most  of  the  town's  development  took  place  between 
1880  and  1 9 14.  A  few  houses  were  also  built  between 
1895  and  1914  on  the  north  side  of  Alderton  Hill,  and 
there  was  some  new  building  in  the  older  streets  of  the 
town,  where  there  were  still  many  vacant  sites.  There 
were  also  some  new  public  buildings.  Religious  needs 
had  been  met  by  the  formation  of  a  new  Anglican 
parish  in  south  Loughton  and  by  the  building  of  a 
Wesleyan  church  and  three  mission  halls.  The  Lopping 
Hall  and  the  Loughton  Club,  both  in  Station  Road, 
provided  centres  for  secular  activities.  A  new  elemen- 
tary school  had  been  built  in  Staples  Road  and  the  High 
School  for  Girls  in  Alderton  Hill.  Many  of  the  new 
buildings  erected  before  1899  were  designed  by 
Edmund  Egan,  a  local  architect  who  died  in  that 
year.'*7 

By  19 14  Loughton  had  changed  from  a  village  to  a 
residential  town,  though  still  a  very  small  one.  The 
preservation  of  Epping  Forest  had  prevented  any 
expansion  westward.'*^  To  the  east  of  the  town  much 
of  the  parish  was  owned  by  J.  Whitaker  Maitland 
(d.  1909),  rector  and  lord  of  the  manor,  who  rebuilt 
and  Uved  at  Loughton  Hall.  It  may  be  supposed  that 
he  would  hardly  have  welcomed  any  great  expansion 
of  the  town  on  this  side,  and  since  he  was  also  rich  he 
had  no  need  to  sell  any  of  his  land  for  building.  Social 
and  economic  factors  also  checked  the  development  of 
the  town.  Loughton  was  mainly  an  upper-middle  class 
residential  area,  and  its  inhabitants  (of  whom  W.  C. 
Waller  was  probably  typical)  were  jealous  of  its 
amenities.  There  was  no  large-scale  industry  to  attract 
workers  and  Loughton  was  not  one  of  the  suburbs  to 
which  population  was  drawn  from  London  by  cheap 
workmen's  fares."*'  A  sale  catalogue  of  19 12  quotes 
the  rates  for  season  tickets  to  Liverpool  Street:  ^^4  p.  <^d. 
a  quarter  first  class  and  ^3  \i.  3fl'.  second  class.so  These 
were  not  rates  to  attract  lower-paid  workers. 

Before  1 9 14,  therefore,  building  was  confined  to  a 
comparatively  small  part  of  the  parish  and  even  there 
it  proceeded  slowly."  The  population  of  Loughton  in 


35  For  some  details  of  new  roads  c.  1865 
see  Waller,  Loughton^  i,  107. 

3*  Offprints  of  the  articles  were  later 
collected  to  form  a  volume,  Loughton  in 
Essex^  of  which  1 2  copies  only  were  bound. 
The  MS.  notes  are  in  the  Essex  Record 
Office  :T/P  13. 

35  For  the  earlier  history  of  this  estate 
see  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  137—8. 

3'  E.R.O.,  5a/eCa<.  B.  490,  491.  These 
catalogues  give  details  of  a  proposed 
housing  layout  of  some  100  houses. 

3'  O.S.  25  in.   Map  (2nd  edn.),  sheet 


Ivii,  12. 

38  For  its  earlier  history  see  Waller, 
Loughton,  i,  115— 16. 

3»  Ibid.;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895). 

•to  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  ii.  The  house  stood 
almost  opposite  the  'King's  Head'.  Mr. 
Wm.  Addison  has  a  photo,  from  which  it 
appears  that  it  was  built  early  in  the  19th 
cent. 

■♦'  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (3rd  edn.),  sheet  kix. 

■f^  O.S.  25  in.  Map  (2nd  edn.),  sheets 
Ivii,  12,  16. 

♦3  O.S.  6  in.  Map  {3rd  edn.),  sheet  Ixix. 


**  O.S.  25  in.  Map  (2nd  edn.),  sheet 
Ivii,  16.  ■•s  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  500. 

«*  0.5.  6  in.  Map  (3rd  edn.). 

"  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  ii. 

■♦8  For  the  Forest  see  below. 

*•>  Cf.  Retns.  of  fVorkmen's  Trains,  H.C. 
[C.  7541],  pp.  lo-ii  (1894),  Ixxv. 

5»  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  B.  1 37. 

5'  For  an  interesting  account  of  Lough- 
ton c.  1900—14  see  articles  by  Will 
Francies,  fVest  Essex  Gazette,  24  Dec. 
1952,  16  Jan.,  20  Mch.,  24  Apr.,  21  &  28 
Aug.,  30  Oct.,  6  Nov.  1953. 


112 


Roman  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Thomas  More,  opened  1953 


Bank  of  England  Printing  Works:  Interior  of  Main  Hall  under  construction,  1954 
Mid-Twentieth-Centtjry  Buildings  at  Debden 


u 


s 

o 


o 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


192 1  was  5,749,  little  more  than  it  had  been  in  191 1. 
By  that  time,  however,  building  had  been  resumed, 
and  between  191 8  and  1939  it  went  on  steadily. 
Among  the  new  streets  laid  out  and  built  up  were 
Priory  Road,  Brooklyn  Avenue,  Brook  Road,Tycehurst 
Hill  and  Spareleaze  Hill,  all  to  the  east  of  St.  Mary's 
Church,  Woodland  Road  and  Habgood  Road  on  the 
other  side  of  the  main  road,  and  Hillcrest  Road  (near 
Newnham  House).  New  houses  were  also  built  in  The 
Drive,  Englands  Lane,  High  Beech  Road,  Forest  View 
Road  and  in  Connaught  Hill,  Connaught  Avenue, 
and  Upper  Park  Road.  Several  blocks  of  flats — a 
novelty  in  Loughton — were  built  at  the  south  end  of 
High  Road  and  in  York  Hill.  Development  also  took 
place  to  the  east  of  the  railway  between  Loughton  and 
Buckhurst  Hill,  in  Roding  Road,  Valley  Hill  and 
district.  Debden  Hall,  at  Debden  Green,  was  de- 
molished in  1929  and  replaced  by  a  modern  house  of  red 
brick.^^  Council  houses  were  built  in  England's  Lane, 
Goldings  Road,  and  Woodlands  Road. 53  The  most 
important  new  public  buildings  were  the  Council 
Offices  in  Old  Station  Road  and  the  post-office  in 
High  Road,  a  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  Traps  Hill 
and  a  Secondary  Modern  School  in  Roding  Road. 
The  north  end  of  High  Road  was  transformed  by  the 
building  of  new  shops,  including  an  impressive  block 
called  Brooklyn  Parade.  In  1939-40  the  railway 
station  was  rebuilt. 5*  The  population  in  193 1  was 
7,390  and  by  1939  had  increased  well  beyond  that 
figure. 

Since  1945  the  landscape  of  Loughton  has  been 
transformed  by  the  building  of  the  Debden  London 
County  Council  estate,  which  occupies  most  of  the 
parish  to  the  east  of  the  old  town.  There  are  now 
(1953)  4,321  dwellings  on  this  estate. 55  The  urban 
district  council  has  also  provided  over  1,000  houses 
(including  prefabricated  bungalows  and  shops),  many 
of  which  are  in  the  Loughton  wards.  Apart  from  the 
Debden  estate  most  of  the  new  building  has  been  in 
the  Roding  Road  area.  Along  Oakwood  Hill  to  the 
east  of  Roding  Road  are  many  prefabricated  houses, 
some  of  which  have  been  built  by  the  L.C.C.  and  some 
by  the  local  council.  About  200  houses  and  flats  are  also 
being  built  by  the  Chigwell  council  on  the  Hilly  Fields 
estate,  in  the  England's  Lane  area.5*  The  population 
of  Loughton  is  now  (1953)  estimated  at  29,974.57 
Factories  are  being  built  on  the  Debden  estate  so  that 
it  will  be  more  than  a  dormitory  suburb.  A  number 
of  schools  and  churches  have  been  built  and  others  are 
projected.  Loughton  Hall,  now  in  the  middle  of  the 
estate,  is  used  as  a  community  centre.  The  main 
shopping  centre,  now  almost  completed,  is  in  the 
Broadway. 

Planning  has  preserved  some  of  the  rural  landscape 
at  Debden.  Both  here  and  in  the  old  town  open  spaces 
and  many  fine  trees  survive  from  Loughton's  village 
days.  Most  of  the  houses  built  in  the  town  during  the 
past  1 50  years  are  of  red  or  yellow  brick,  some  of  which 


was  probably  made  locally  (see  below.  Industries,  also 
Chigwell).  There  are  a  few  19th-century  weather- 
boarded  houses  in  High  Road,  Smarts  Lane,  and  else- 
where. In  general  the  houses  are  well  built.  Even  in 
the  poorer  streets  they  look  solid  and  in  good  repair. 

Until  piped  supplies  were  available  water  was  often 
scarce  in  Loughton,  and  pumps  were  valuable  pro- 
perty, separately  assessed  to  the  rates.5  8  Piped  water 
was  first  supplied  by  the  East  London  (later  the 
Metropolitan)  Water  Board  in  1866.59  p^rt  of  south 
Loughton  was  sewered  about  i87i.'o  These  improve- 
ments were  overdue.  Since  1848  there  had  been 
several  Nuisance  Removal  Committees  which  tried  to 
improve  sanitation  by  the  threat  of  legal  proceedings 
against  householders.  In  1865  it  was  decided  that  a 
main  sewer  should  be  built  for  the  Smarts  Lane  district 
but  the  matter  had  later  been  shelved.*'  A  sewerage 
scheme  for  north  Loughton  was  carried  out  in  1890 
by  Epping  Rural  District  Council,  from  plans  by 
Edmund  Egan,  at  a  cost  of  ^{^6,500.*^  The  town  was 
supplied  with  gas  from  about  1873,  by  the  Chigwell, 
Loughton  and  Woodford  Gas  Co.*3  Electricity  was 
first  supplied  in  1926  under  the  Woodford  and  District 
Electricity  Special  Order  (1925).*'* 

Loughton  became  part  of  the  Metropolitan  Police 
District  in  1840.^5  There  was  a  pohce  station  by 
1845.**  In  1882  there  was  an  inspector  in  charge.*^ 
In  1902  there  were  a  station  sergeant,  three  sergeants, 
and  eleven  constables.*' 

During  the  Middle  Ages  Loughton  was  an  isolated 
parish  dominated  by  the  forest  to  the  west.  There  were 
no  roads  through  the  forest  from  Loughton,  though  no 
doubt  tracks  existed.  Until  the  17th  century  the  roads 
to  both  Epping  and  Waltham  Abbey  led  through 
Theydon  Bois.  There  was  a  road  south  to  Buckhurst 
Hill  and  one  to  Chigwell  over  Loughton  Bridge.  The 
earliest  reference  to  the  bridge  is  in  the  13th  century.*' 
In  1422  it  was  reported  that  the  road  near  the  bridge 
had  been  flooded  for  a  period  of  two  years. 7°  In  the 
early  17th  century  there  were  the  usual  disputes  con- 
cerning responsibility  for  repairing  the  bridge."  By 
the  end  of  the  century  it  had  been  accepted  as  a  county 
bridge  and  there  are  records  of  various  sums  spent  on 
its  repair.'^  In  1780  it  was  decided  to  rebuild  it  at  a 
cost  of  £\j  I  .'3  In  1 809  it  was  destroyed  by  floods.^* 
The  bridge  which  replaced  it  was  badly  sited  and  lasted 
only  until  1824.75  The  present  bridge  was  built  soon 
after  and  tunnels  were  inserted  under  the  causeway  on 
the  Chigwell  side  to  facilitate  the  passage  of  flood  ■ 
water.'* 

Early  in  the  17th  century  (probably  between  161 1 
and  1622)  a  road  was  constructed  through  the  forest 
from  Loughton  to  Epping."  This  was  of  more  than 
local  importance,  for  it  provided  a  new  and  shorter 
route  through  west  Essex  to  Cambridge,  Newmarket, 
and  East  Anglia.  It  was  the  subject  of  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment from  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary  onwards 
and  in  1768  came  under  the  control  of  the  Epping 


**  See  Manor. 

"  Inf.  from  Planning  Officer,  Chigwell 
U.D.C. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  William  Addison. 

"  Inf.  from  Chigwell  U.D.C. 

56  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

**  Waller,  Loughton^  t,  106,  notes  the 
location  of  some  springs  and  pumpe  in 
Loughton. 

"  Inf.  from  Metrop.  Water  Bd. ;  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (1898). 


00  Inf.  from  Chigwell  U.D.C. 

"  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  108. 

<"■  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1894.). 

S3  Inf.  from  North  Thames  Gas  Bd.; 
of.  Chigwell,  Loughton  and  Woodford 
Gas  Act,  1873,  36  Vict,  c.21  (priv.  act). 

6*  Inf.  from  London  Elcc.  Bd. 

"  Land.  Gaz.  13  Oct.  1840,  p.  2250. 

«»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (18+5). 

<•■'  Ibid.  (1882). 

S'  Ibid.  (1902). 

»'  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  67. 


'»  C47/58/7/300. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/CP  3,  p.  37;  Waller, 
Loughton^  i,  70. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/CP  3,  pp.  404,  597,  563, 
697,  643. 

"  E.R.O.,2/SO  13,  pp.  144,  159. 

'♦  Ibid.  20,  p.  374. 

'5  Ibid.  28,  p.  547. 

"  Ibid.  p.  594. 

"  Winstone,  Epping  and  Ongar  High- 
way Trust,  9 1 . 


E8.  IV 


113 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Highway  Trusts'  Between  1770  and  1774  the  trust 
remade  the  road  at  Goldings  Hill  in  order  to  reduce 
the  gradient.''  Soon  after  this  the  road  between 
Loughton  and  Buckhurst  Hill  was  also  remade. '<• 
Finally  in  1830-4  the  trust  built  a  new  road  through 
the  forest  from  Woodford  to  the  'Wake  Arms',  running 
along  the  western  boundary  of  Loughton  parish  and 
by-passing  the  village.*' 

In  1 79 1  a  daily  coach  ran  from  Loughton  to 
London,  and  a  wagon  on  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and 
Saturday.*^  In  18 17  a  daily  coach  from  Loughton 
called  at  the  'Three  Nuns'  and  the  'Bull',  Whitechapel, 
and  the  'Pewter  Plate',  Gracechurch  Street,  London.*' 
In  1839  there  were  coaches  to  London  and  Epping 
twice  a  day  and  carriers'  wagons  to  London  every 
weekday  except  Friday.  *■•  The  services  remained  un- 
changed until  1856,  when  the  railway  from  Stratford 
and  London  was  opened. *'  By  1 863  there  were  twelve 
trains  a  day  to  London;  coaches  still  ran  twice  a  day  to 
Epping.*^  The  extension  of  the  railway  from  Loughton 
to  Epping  and  Ongar  was  opened  in  1865.*'  By  1892 
there  were  42  trains  a  day  to  London.**  The  line 
from  Woodford  and  London  was  electrified  in  1948 
and  that  from  Loughton  to  Epping  in  1949.*'  This 
had  been  planned  before  1939.  It  is  now  possible  to 
travel  direct  from  Loughton  to  central  London.  A 
bus  service  from  London  started  in  191 5,  and  in  1920 
was  extended  to  Epping."" 

Loughton  had  a  postal  receiving  house  in  the  early 
19th  century.  The  delivery  was  extended  in  181 5" 
and  a  new  receiver  was  appointed  in  1828. '^  A  sub- 
post-office  was  set  up  by  1867.9'  Loughton  now  has 
a  central  post-office  and  sub-post-offices  at  Goldings 
Hill,  Roding  Road,  and  The  Broadway.  Telegraphy 
was  introduced  in  1 871''*  and  the  telephone  in  1906.'' 

The  history  of  Epping  Forest,  including  the  events 

which  led  up  to  its  pre- 

LOUGHTON  JND  servation    in    the    19th 

THE  PRESERVATION      century,  has  been  told  by 

Of  EPPING  FOREST      W.  R.Fisher  in  his /■ow/ 

of  Essex.'*''  Minor  in- 
cisures from  the  forest  had  been  going  on  in  Loughton 
and  other  forest  parishes  from  early  times."  In  1666 
Sir  Henry  Wroth,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Chigwell,  applied 
to  the  Crown  for  licence  to  inclose  1,500  acres  of  the 
wastes  of  the  manors  of  Chigwell  and  Loughton,  but 
this  was  refused.'*  Wholesale  inclosure  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  suggested  again  until  the  19th  century, 
and  then  the  Crown  took  the  initiative. 

In  1 8 17  the  Commissioners  of  Woods  and  Forests 
presented  to  Parliament  a  Bill  to  disafforest  the  whole 
forest,  to  extinguish  the  rights  of  common  and  to  vest 
part  of  the  forest  in  the  Crown."  Anthony  Hamilton, 
Rector  of  Loughton  1805-51,  was  one  of  the  few  sup- 
porters of  this  proposal,  which  was  withdrawn  after 

78  Winstone,  Epping  and  Ongar  High* 
nvay  Trusty  ch.  ii. 

"  Ibid.  ch.  V. 

*»  Ibid.  ch.  vi ;  and  see  Chigwell. 

"  Ibid.  ch.  ix.  For  a  map  of  this  road, 
1835  see  E.R.O.,  Q/RUm  1/54. 

»2  Univ.  Brit.  Dir.  (1791),  i,  Essex,  12. 

85  Johnstone' i  Comm.  Dir.  ( 1 8 1 7),  iv,  24. 
»■»  Pigot's  Dir.  Essex  (1839),  128. 
«5  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1855);  inf.  from 

Brit.  Rlwys. 

86  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863). 
8'  Inf.  from  Brit.  Rlwys.;  cf.  E.R.  Iviii, 

207-8. 

88  Da-vis'  Epping,  Loughton  and  Ongar 
/ilmanack,  1892. 

/ 


Strong  opposition.  The  commissioners,  however,  were 
still  determined  to  inclose  the  forest.  They  connived 
at  illegal  inclosures  and  pressed  private  land-owners  to 
purchase  the  forest  rights  of  the  Crown.  Hainault 
Forest  was  disafforested  in  1 8  5 1  and  was  inclosed  soon 
after."  In  1857  the  commissioners  invited  W.  W. 
Maitland,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Loughton,  to  purchase 
the  Crown's  rights  over  1,377  acres  of  uninclosed  waste 
within  his  manor.  He  agreed  to  pay  j^5,468  and  the 
conveyance  was  made  in  1 8  5  8-60.2  These  facts  were 
never  disputed  during  the  evidence  before  the  Epping 
Forest  Commission  in  1873,  and  they  are  important 
because  they  show  that  the  first  move  towards  the 
inclosure  of  this  substantial  part  of  the  forest  was  made 
not  by  the  lord  of  the  manor  but  by  the  Crown. 
Inclosure  appears  to  have  been  considered  locally 
during  the  lifetime  of  W.  W.  Maitland,  and  in  1859 
a  proposal  to  the  Inclosure  Commissioners  was  dis- 
cussed.' Soon  after  this  Maitland  died  and  no  further 
action  appears  to  have  been  taken  until  1864,  when  his 
son  the  Revd.  J.  W.  Maitland  decided  to  inclose  the 
forest.*  According  to  the  steward  of  the  manor,  W.  C. 
Metcalfe,  Maitland  was  moved  to  this  action  'at  the 
instance  of  some  of  the  principal  freeholders  and  copy- 
holders'.' 

Maitland  and  his  larger  tenants  stood  to  gain 
financially  by  the  inclosure  of  more  than  1,000  acres  of 
forest.  On  the  other  hand  those  who  desired  inclosure 
argued  that  the  close  proximity  of  the  forest  had  had 
some  bad  social  effects  on  Loughton  in  the  past.  In 
the  1 8th  century  the  forest  was  the  haunt  of  highway- 
men, among  them  the  notorious  Dick  Turpin  (1706— 
39)  who  is  said  to  have  roasted  an  old  woman  over  a 
fire  at  Traps  Hill  Farm  in  order  to  make  her  reveal 
where  her  money  was  hidden.*  As  a  defence  against 
such  attacks  many  of  the  houses  in  Loughton  con- 
tained 'Turpin  traps',  consisting  of  wooden  flaps  which 
were  let  down  over  the  head  of  the  staircase  and  kept 
there  by  a  pole  placed  against  the  ceiling  so  that  they 
could  not  be  raised  from  below.  As  late  as  1891  there 
were  those  still  living  who  had  seen  Turpin  traps  in 
some  of  the  houses.'  It  was  not  suggested  in  the  i86o's 
that  highwaymen  were  still  a  serious  menace,  but  the 
forest  still  harboured  some  unwelcome  characters, 
including  gipsies.*  The  supporters  of  inclosure  also 
believed  that  the  poorer  people  of  Loughton  were 
tempted  to  idleness  and  crime  by  the  custom  of 
'lopping'  for  firewood  in  the  forest  during  the  winter 
months.  The  views  of  the  inclosures  were  summed 
up  by  a  writer  in  1861:  'inclosures,  however,  seem  to 
be  commencing  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  will 
probably  check  these  irregular  and  to  a  certain  extent 
demoralizing  tendencies.''  As  a  final  argument  it  was 
asserted  that  part  of  the  forest  was  stunted  and  of  poor 
quality.'" 


89  Inf.  from  Brit.  Rlwys. 

90  Will  Francies,  'Memories  of  the  High 
Road',  fVest  Essex  Gazette,  20  Mar.  1953. 

«■  P.M.G.  Mins.  1815,  vol.  29,  p.  64. 

92  Ibid.  1828,  vol.  33,  p.  267. 

93  Brit.  Post.  Guide,  1867. 
9't  P.M.G.  Mins.  1871,  vol.  92,  Min. 

730- 

95  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  iii. 

96  Cf.  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  615  f.  For 
additional  details  about  the  forest  and 
Loughton  see  Waller,  Loughton,  \,  21  f., 
32  f.,  50  f.,  66  f.    See  also  Manor,  below. 

9'  W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  321  f. 
And  see  Agriculture. 
98  Ibid.  329. 

114 


99  Ibid.  339. 
^  See  Chigwell,  Lamborne. 

2  Proc.  of  Epping  Forest  Com.  {1873), 
i.  S3'-3- 

3  Ibid.   574-5. 

*  Ibid.  543-4. 

5  Ibid.  544. 

6  E.R.  xi,  21,  80. 

7  Ibid,  xxiv,  204. 

8  About  1830  there  appear  to  have  been 
many  criminals  in  hiding  in  the  forest  at 
Buckhurst  Hill  and  in  Hainault  Forest: 
see  Chigwell,  Parish  Govt. 

9  D.  W.  CoUer,  People's  Hist.  Essex, 
487. 

">  Proc.  of  Epping  Forest  Com.  i,  582. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


It  was  with  these  views  that  Maitland  proceeded  to 
inclose  the  forest  within  the  manor  of  Loughton.  He 
owned  the  forest  rights  formerly  held  by  the  Crown 
and  there  were  ancient  precedents  in  the  court  rolls  of 
the  manor  for  the  inclosure  of  forest  waste."  His 
principal  tenants  welcomed  inclosure.  In  1864  they 
agreed  that  the  lord  should  have  two-thirds  of  the 
inclosed  land  and  the  commoners  one-third.'^  Grants 
of  land  or  money  were  subsequently  made  to  a  number 
of  tenants  of  the  manor  in  order  to  extinguish  their 
common  rights.  Maitland  then  inclosed  some  1,000 
acres  of  forest,  started  to  drive  roads  through  it  and 
sold  some  plots  for  building  and  other  purposes. '^ 

The  opposition  to  these  inclosures  will  always  be 
associated  with  the  Willingale  family.  The  story  has, 
however,  gathered  some  accretions  of  legend  and  the 
whole  truth  is  difficult  to  determine.  The  inhabitants 
of  Loughton  had  an  ancient  right  of  lopping  wood  from 
the  forest  from  12  November  each  year  until  23  April 
following.'*  They  seem  to  have  thought  it  necessary 
for  the  preservation  of  their  rights  that  lopping  should 
begin  as  the  clock  struck  midnight  on  1 1-12  November. 
They  met  in  the  woods  for  the  purposes,  usually  at 
Staples  Hill,  and  celebrated  with  a  bonfire  and  beer- 
drinking.' 5  The  other  forest  parishes  had  also  pos- 
sessed lopping  rights.'*  At  Theydon  Bois  there  was  a 
lopping  custom  similar  to  that  at  Loughton.  At 
Waltham  Abbey  and  Sewardstone  the  lopping  rights 
had  been  converted  into  fuel  assignments  attached  to 
certain  tenements  in  those  manors."  A  polemical  tract 
published  in  i860,  at  the  beginning  of  the  inclosure 
controversy,  claimed  that  the  people  of  Waltham  Abbey 
had  been  deprived  of  their  ancient  lopping  rights  by 
means  of  a  'general  drunk  and  supper',  on  1 1  November 
1641  '.  . .  which  was  a  snare'  and  caused  them  to  forget 
and  so  to  lose  those  rights.'  *  The  writer  of  the  tract 
stated  that  the  same  scheme  was  tried  without  success 
at  Loughton:  'although  many  accepted  the  supper 
there  given,  an  old  man  gave  the  signal,  when  he  with 
others  at  once  proceeded  to  the  forest  and  duly  secured 
their  charter.'"  These  stories  may  have  some  value  as 
traditions  explaining  the  different  arrangements  as  to 
lopping  at  Loughton  and  Waltham  Abbey.  Their 
publication  in  i860  must  have  increased  the  suspicion 
of  the  cottagers  of  Loughton  that  their  rights  were  in 
danger.  It  is  significant  that  it  is  from  the  i86o's  that 
there  comes  the  story  that  Thomas  Willingale  saved 
the  lopping  rights  in  Loughton  in  a  manner  similar  to 
that  described  in  the  tract.^"  Willingale  is  supposed  to 
have  been  one  of  the  loppers  who  were  entertained  by 
the  lord  of  the  manor  to  a  supper  on  1 1  November  1 860. 
As  midnight  approached  he  'rose  up  hastily  from  the 
table,  shouldered  his  axe,  called  to  his  fellows  and  went 
out  to  lop  as  usual',  thus  'defeating  the  lawyers'.  There 
is  good  evidence  that  he  did  something  of  this  kind,  in 
the  belief  that  the  continued  existence  of  the  lopping 
rights  depended  upon  his  action.    But  he  has  a  more 

"  Ibid.  54.7-8. 

"  Ibid.  558. 

'3  Ibid.  561;  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  107; 
W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  357. 

'♦  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  249  f.  Rep, 
of  Eppiug  Forest  Com.  H.C.  187,  p.  4 
(1877),  xxvi.  By  the  original  custom 
lopping  began  on  All  Saints  Day  (r 
November)  and  ended  on  St.  George's 
Day  (23  Apr.).  In  1753  the  opening  date 
was  moved  to  12  Nov.  following  the 
national  adjustment  of  the  calendar.  For 
this  custom  see  also  below.  Parish  Govern- 
ment and  Poor  Relief. 


249-50. 


."  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex^ 

I'  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  248,  251. 

'8  T.  Maynard,  Concise  Hist,  of  Epping 
Forest,  45. 

'»  Ibid.  46. 

"  E.R.  xHii,  120,  182;  xlii,  192. 

2'  Essex  Naturalist,  xxi,  163. 

22  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  166. 

2"*  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  358. 

"  34&35  Vict.  c.  93  (1871). 

2^  The  legal  pretext  for  the  intervention 
of  the  City  was  its  ownership  of  a  small 
area   of  land   within   the   bounds   of  the 


serious  claim  to  fame  as  one  of  the  preservers  of  Epping 
Forest. 

In  December  1865  Thomas  Willingale  {c.  1793- 
1870),  a  woodman  by  trade,  was  summoned  by  J.  W. 
Maitland  before  the  Epping  bench  for  injuring  forest 
trees  in  Loughton.^'  The  case  was  dismissed.  In 
March  1 866  Thomas's  son  Samuel  Willingale  ( 1 840— 
191 1)  with  Samuel's  cousins  Alfred  Willingale  (1843- 
1934)  and  William  Higgins  (1842-70)  were  sum- 
moned at  Waltham  Abbey  for  a  similar  offence,  and 
fined.  All  three  refused  to  pay  the  fines  and  took  the 
option  of  seven  days'  imprisonment.^^  In  October 
1866  old  Thomas  Willingale  filed  a  suit  in  Chancery 
against  J.  W.  Maitland  and  others  in  support  of  the 
lopping  rights.^3  He  was  advised  and  financed  by  the 
newly  formed  Commons  Preservation  Society,  of  which 
the  leading  spirit  was  E.  N.  Buxton  (1840-1924).^* 
The  case  was  never  brought  to  a  final  hearing  and  lapsed 
on  WilHngale's  death  in  1870.  Soon  after  this  the  first 
Epping  Forest  Act^s  set  up  a  Royal  Commission  to 
investigate  the  whole  problem  of  the  forest,  and  about 
the  same  time  the  City  of  London  started  legal  pro- 
ceedings in  defence  of  common  rights  throughout  the 
forest.^*  In  1875  the  Epping  Forest  Commissioners 
made  their  preliminary  report.  They  found  that 
inclosures  made  within  the  20  years  before  1871  were 
illegal,  since  they  contravened  the  rights  of  the  com- 
moners living  in  the  forest  parishes,  and  in  some  cases 
also  the  rights  of  the  Crown.^'^  In  their  final  report 
(1877)  the  commissioners  specifically  recognized  the 
lopping  rights  of  the  inhabitants  of  Loughton. ^^  Mean- 
while, in  1876  the  City  of  London  had  purchased  from 
J.  W.  Maitland  the  soil  and  the  forest  rights  formerly 
held  by  the  Crown  in  992  acres  of  the  open  waste  of 
the  manor  of  Loughton.^'  This  was  the  whole  area 
inclosed  in  the  i86o's  within  Loughton  parish  except 
for  land  actually  built  upon.  In  their  final  report  the 
Forest  Commissioners  recommended  that  all  the  illegal 
inclosures  should  be  retained  by  their  occupants  on 
payment  of  rent  charges,  but  there  was  strong  opposi- 
tion to  this  proposal,  led  by  George  Burney,  owner  of 
a  small  estate  in  Loughton. so  The  objectors  removed 
the  fences  of  some  of  the  inclosures  and  were  largely 
responsible  for  causing  the  government  to  disregard 
the  recommendation  that  the  inclosures  should  remain. 

The  forest  question  was  finally  settled  by  the  Epping 
Forest  Act  of  1 878. 3'  This  Act  appointed  the  Corpora- 
tion of  the  City  of  London  to  be  Conservators  of  the 
Forest,  with  the  duty  of  keeping  the  forest  as  an  open  . 
space  for  public  recreation.  All  illegally  inclosed  lands, 
except  those  actually  built  on,  were  to  be  thrown  open. 
The  owners  of  waste  lands  not  thrown  open  were  to 
pay  for  the  quieting  of  their  titles.  The  Conservators 
were  to  buy  up  the  lopping  rights  of  Loughton. 

The  forest  was  thus  saved.  The  City  of  London  paid 
j^7,ooo  for  the  extinction  of  the  lopping  rights  and 
with  this  money  the  Lopping  Hall  was  built.^^   The 

forest  near  Ilford. 

2'  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  366. 

2'  Rep.  of  Epping  Forest  Com.  (1877), 
p.  4. 

^«  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  367.  Mait- 
land received  ^30,000:  Speech  of  City 
Solicitor  before  Epping  Forest  Com.  Nov. 
1876,  p.  60. 

3°  The  'Queen's  Park'  estate,  which 
was  broken  up  for  building  in  1886:  see 
above,  p.  112. 

"  41  &  42  Vict.  c.  213  (priv.  act); 
Fisher,  op.  cit.  368—70. 

32  See'Social  Life. 


115 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


lord  of  the  manor  and  his  principal  tenants  contended 
to  the  last  that  the  inclosures  of  185 1-7 1  were  bene- 
ficial to  the  parish  by  providing  a  larger  rateable  area 
and  more  work  for  the  poor,  and  they  continued  to 
deny  the  existence  of  the  lopping  rights.^s  In  the  end, 
however,  it  was  J.  W.  Maitland  himself  who  per- 
formed the  official  opening  of  the  Lopping  Hall  in 
I884.3'*  Though  he  has  sometimes  been  severely 
criticized  for  his  advocacy  of  inclosure  he  is  in  general 
a  figure  who  commands  respect.^s  He  was  a  faithful 
priest  and  zealous  public  servant,  prominent  on  the 
Epping  Board  of  Guardians  and  the  Rural  District 
Council  and  first  Chairman  of  the  Loughton  Urban 
District  Council.3*  As  for  old  Thomas  Willingale  it 
has  been  pointed  out  that  he  himself  made  illegal 
inclosures  within  the  manor;  but  his  general  character 
appears  to  have  been  good. 3' 

Until  the  19th  century  most  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Loughton  were  engaged  in  agri- 
jfGRICULTURE,    culture  or  forestry.    Waller  has 
TRADE,  AND         suggested    that   the   amount   of 
IND  USTRT  forest  land  in  the  parish  may  not 

have  altered  greatly  between 
1086  and  1850.38  If  the  hide  is  taken  as  120  acres  the 
eight  estates  in  Loughton  included  2,165  acres  exclusive 
of  pannage  for  970  pigs. 3'  In  1 8  5 1  the  parish  contained 
2,563  acres  apart  from  forest,  roads,  and  water.''*'  If 
the  calculations  from  the  Domesday  figures  are  correct 
only  about  400  acres  were  taken  from  the  forest  be- 
tween 1086  and  1850.  Waller,  however,  doubted 
whether  so  much  as  2,000  acres  could  have  been 
cultivated  by  the  small  Domesday  population. 

Since  most  of  the  land  in  the  parish  descended  from 
the  nth  century  as  a  single  manor,  information  con- 
cerning the  manor,  its  tenants,  and  land  use  has  been 
included  in  the  section  on  the  manor.  Apart  from  the 
forest  most  of  the  land  in  the  parish,  until  built  upon, 
seems  to  have  been  used  for  pasture.  This  was  certainly 
the  case  in  l6l2.'*'  In  1850  it  was  estimated  that  there 
were  831  acres  of  arable,  1,551  acres  of  pasture,  131 
acres  of  woodland,  and  1,309  acres  of  common  forest 
in  the  parish,  exclusive  of  45  acres  of  glebe  most  of 
which  was  grass  land.'*^  A  directory  of  1863  listed  14 
farmers  in  the  parish.''^  In  1933  the  chief  crops  were 
wheat,  oats,  peas,  and  roots,  but  the  land  was  chiefly 
in  pasture.**  Since  the  building  of  the  Debden  estate 
very  little  agricultural  land  has  remained  but  there  are 
still  two  farms.  Hill  Farm  and  North  Farm,  in  the 
extreme  south  of  Loughton. 

Strip  cultivation  seems  to  have  existed  in  the  Buck- 
hurst  Hill  area  in  the  13th  century,  but  to  have  been 
discontinued  after  the  land  in  question  was  acquired 
by  Waltham  Abbey .+5 

In  1066  and  1086  there  was  a  mill  at  Loughton  on 
one  of  the  manors  held  by  Peter  de  Valognes.*' 
Waltham  Abbey  had  a  mill  in  the  parish  in  the  13  th 


century.-*'  In  1336  the  abbot  was  presented  before  the 
forest  court  for  erecting  a  windmill  within  the  covert 
of  the  forest  in  the  vill  of  Loughton.  This  mill  prob- 
ably gave  its  name  to  Mill  Hill,  where  the  Warren 
now  stands.  It  had  disappeared  by  I739.**  The 
medieval  court  rolls  contain  several  references  to  the 
mill  and  the  mill-dam  at  Loughton  Bridge.*'  In  1270 
some  of  the  manorial  tenants  were  fined  for  going  to 
a  mill  other  than  that  of  their  lord. 5"  In  1404  a  fuller 
was  charged  before  the  manor  court  with  spoiling  some 
cloth  given  him  to  full  in  his  mill.s' 

Before  the  19th  century  those  not  engaged  in  agri- 
culture followed  the  usual  village  trades  or  were 
domestic  servants,  notably  at  Loughton  Hall  and 
Goldings.  The  last  class  became  more  numerous  after 
about  1830,  when  some  middle-class  houses  were 
built.  This  was  one  of  the  main  arguments  urged  in 
defence  of  the  inclosures  from  the  forest.  'They  have 
built',  said  a  witness  before  the  Epping  Forest  Com- 
missioners, 'large  houses  and  greenhouses  and  so  on. 
It  employs  a  great  deal  of  labour  .  .  .  the  labour  was 
I2s.  a  week  in  1864  and  now  I  do  not  think  you  can 
engage  a  man  under  i8.f.  or  ^i.'^^  Domestic  service 
of  all  kinds  continued  to  be  an  important  occupation 
in  Loughton  until  the  Second  World  War. 

Wealthy  residents  required  a  wide  range  of  goods 
and  services.  Many  of  these  must  have  been  obtained 
from  London,  especially  after  the  completion  of  the 
railway.  But  in  1882  there  was  a  much  wider  range 
of  occupations  than  in  1848.53  The  shopping  centre 
of  Loughton  grew  very  slowly  until  after  191 8.  North 
Loughton  was  badly  served  until  this  time.  Before 
191 8  there  were  only  three  shops  in  High  Road  north 
of  Bincombe  House  (now  Messrs.  Parrott's).'*  Between 
1918  and  1939  the  shopping  centre  was  extended  as 
far  as  Traps  Hill.  The  shops  now  stretch  for  J  mile 
along  High  Road  and  provide  a  good  range  of  com- 
modities. 

Industry  in  Loughton  has  been  on  a  very  small 
scale  in  the  past.  Brick-  and  tile-making  was  carried 
on  at  least  from  i486,  when  a  tile-house  was  men- 
tioned.55  There  was  a  tile-kiln  in  1556;  it  may  have 
been  the  one  at  the  foot  of  Albion  Hill,  whose  history 
has  been  traced  from  1673  to  1851,  and  whose  last- 
recorded  owner  was  Noah  Heath.s^  Another  kiln- 
house  was  also  mentioned  in  1851.57  In  the  court  roll 
for  1 72 1  there  is  an  order  which  suggests  that  there 
were  potters  in  Loughton. 58 

There  has  been  much  nursery  gardening  in  the 
parish  since  about  1862,  when  Messrs.  William  Paul 
&  Son  of  Waltham  Cross  established  their  Loughton 
nursery,  which  grew  to  be  one  of  the  biggest  in  Essex. 59 

During  the  20th  century  several  small  engineering 
works  have  been  set  up.  One  of  the  most  interesting  of 
these  was  the  automobile  assembly  works  of  Leonard 
Wilson  in  Forest  Road.*"  Wilson,  the  son  of  a  Canadian 


"  Essex  Naturalist,  xxi,  159. 

"  W.  Addison,  Epping  Forest,  222. 

35  Essex  Naturalist,  xxi,  166.  For 
tributes  paid  to  him  at  his  jubilee  as  rector 
in  1906  see  E.R.O.,  T/P  1 3  iii. 

3'  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  iii. 

37  Essex  Naturalist,  xxi,  167.  The  papers 
of  Cmdr.  J.  W.  Maitland,  M.P.,  of 
Harrington  Hall,  Spilsby,  Lines.,  include 
some  material  relating  to  the  forest 
question;  this  was  not  examined  for  the 
present  survey.  There  are  also  many 
documents  about  the  forest  question  in 
the  Public  Record  Office  and  the  Guildhall, 
London. 


38  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  7.  39  Ibid. 

«>  E.R.O.,  D/CT  225. 

♦^  See  Manor. 

"^  E.R.O.,  D/CT  225. 

*3  fV kite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863). 

**  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

45  E.R.  Ivii,  96. 

4'  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  537. 

4'  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  159. 

48  Ibid.  22;  cf  Chapman  and  Andr^, 
Map  of  Essex,  J777,  sheet  xvi. 

4«  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  24,  26,  75. 

50  Ibid.  75.  SI  Ibid.  25. 

5^  Proc.  of  Epping  Forest  Com.  {1873),  i, 
567. 

116 


53  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {i%%z).  Ci.  White's 
Dir.  Essex  (^%^%). 

54  Will  Francies,  'Memories  of  High 
Road',  fVest  Essex  Gax,  20  Mar.  1953 ;  inf, 
from  Mr.  Francies. 

55  Waller,  Loughton,  ii,  72. 

56  Ibid,  ii,  76,  i,  146.  Heath  was  a 
bricklayer  and  builder :  White's  Dir.  Essex 
(:848). 

5'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  225. 

58  E.R.O.,T/P  18. 

59  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  480,  482.  For  later 
nurseries  see  e.g.  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

60  Will  Francies,  'My  Loughton*  (3), 
West  Essex  Gax.  27  Feb.  1953. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


mining  engineer,  bought  a  butcher's  business  in 
Smart's  Lane  about  1898.  In  1906  he  opened  the 
motor  works  and  accepted  the  sole  Essex  agency  for 
Panhard  and  Levasseur  cars.  Only  the  chassis  of  these 
cars  came  over  from  France.  The  processes  necessary 
for  completing  them,  including  the  making  of  the 
bodies,  were  carried  out  at  the  Forest  Road  works. 
During  the  First  World  War  the  Wilson  works  pro- 
duced munitions.  Afterwards,  in  the  1920's,  Wilson 
had  an  agency  for  another  French  car,  the  Citroen. 

When  completed  the  Debden  estate  will  have 
several  large  factories,  including  one  for  making  bank- 
notes for  the  Bank  of  England.*' 

Balthasar  de  Guercis,  an  Italian  surgeon  to  Queen 
Katherine  of  Aragon,  became  a 
WORTHIES  AND  tenant  of  the  manor  in  1538.^2 
SOCIJL  LIFE  Early    in    the    17th    century, 

when  Sir  Robert  Wroth  and 
Mary  his  wife  lived  at  Loughton  Hall,  they  were 
visited  by  Ben  Jonson  and  other  poets.  James  I  was 
entertained  at  the  hall  in  1605  and  the  Prince  of  Wales 
in  1606  (see  below,  Manor).  Sarah  Adams  (1805-48) 
author  of 'Nearer  my  God  to  Thee'  lived  at  Woodbury 
Hill.63  Walter  Kerr  Hamilton  (1808-69),  Bishop  of 
Salisbury,  was  the  son  of  a  Rector  of  Loughton  and 
spent  his  early  childhood  there.*'*  Sarah  Catherine 
Martin  (1768-1826)  reputed  author  of 'Old  Mother 
Hubbard',  in  its  metrical  form,*'  is  buried  in  the  old 
parish  churchyard.  She  was  the  sister  of  Admiral  Sir 
Thomas  B.  Martin  (1773-1854).  When  she  was  17 
Prince  William  (later  King  William  IV)  fell  in  love 
with  her.  She  and  her  parents  handled  the  affair  very 
discreetly.**  The  Martins  were  connected  with 
Loughton  through  relatives,  the  Powells,  who  lived 
there.*'  Sir  George  Carroll  (d.  i860)  Lord  Mayor  of 
London  1846—7  and  Contractor  for  State  Lotteries, 
was  owner  of  Uplands,  and  lived  there. *8  W.  W. 
Jacobs  ( 1 863-1 943),  the  author,  lived  for  many  years 
at  the  Outlook,  Upper  Park  Road.  Soon  after  1910  he 
moved  to  Feltham  House,  Goldings  Hill.*'  Rudyard 
Kipling  (i 865-1936)  stayed  when  a  boy  at  Goldings 
Hill  Farm,  opposite  Goldings  Hill  Pond.'"  Sir  Jacob 
Epstein  lived  at  Baldwin  Hill  for  some  years  after 
1920.  While  there  he  carved  his  'Rima'  and  'Visita- 
tion'." 

During  the  late  19th  and  early  20th  cer»tury 
Loughton  was  strongly  represented  in  the  Essex  Field 
Club  and  the  Essex  Archxological  Society,  and  it  pro- 
duced three  local  antiquaries  of  ability:  H.  W.  Lewer 
(1859-1949),  I.  Chalkley  Gould  (1845-1908),  and 
W.  C.  Waller,  the  historian  of  Loughton.'^  Millican 
Dalton  (d.  1947),  pioneer  camper  and  mountaineer, 
lived  for  a  time  at  Baldwins  Hill.'' 

In  the  late  19th  century  there  was  a  fairly  sharp 
division  in  Loughton  between  Anglicans  and  the  non- 
conformists, which  coincided  roughly  with  the  political 
division  between  Conservatives  and  Liberals.  It  gave 
rise  to  controversy  over  the  establishment  of  a  school 
board'''  and  was  shown  in  the  duplication  of  some  local 
societies.    In    1892   the  president  of  the   Loughton 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  Wm.  Addison;  fVesl 
Eaex  Gaz.  i8  Feb.  1955. 

*"■  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  39,  40. 

«3  Ibid,  i,  136. 

««  D.N.B. 

*5  For  her  claims  to  the  authorship  see 
I.  and  P.  Opie,  Oxford  Dictionary  of 
Nunery  Rhymes,  320—1. 

"  Letters  of  Sir  H.  Byam  Martin  (Navy 
Rcc.  Soc),  i,  21. 


Liberal  and  Radical  Association  was  Julius  Rohrweger, 
owner  of  Uplands,  and  one  of  the  vice-presidents  was 
Edward  Pope,  a  prominent  local  Methodist.'s  The 
rector,  J.  W.  Maitland,  was  a  councillor  of  the 
Primrose  League.  Edward  Pope  was  secretary  of  the 
Temperance  League;  the  rector  was  president  of 
the  Church  of  England  Temperance  League.  Julius 
Rohrweger  was  president  of  the  Loughton  Cricket 
Club;  the  Loughton  Park  Cricket  Club  had  as  its 
president  Sir  Henry  Selwin-Ibbetson,  Bt.,  Conservative 
M.P.  for  West  Essex.  There  were  also  the  Epping 
Forest  Military  Band  (president  the  rector)  and  the 
Excelsior  Brass  Band  (president  H.  H.  Francis).'* 
There  were  other  clubs,  for  football,  lawn  tennis,  and 
a  number  of  charitable  or  provident  purposes. 

By  1900  Loughton  was  quite  well  provided  with 
facilities  for  social  intercourse  and  recreation.  There 
were  two  parish  churches  and  three  nonconformist 
churches.  The  local  Volunteers  had  a  drill  hall,  and 
the  Lopping  Hall  provided  a  valuable  centre  for  all 
kinds  of  social  activities.  As  already  described,"  the 
Lopping  Hall  had  been  erected  out  of  ^^7,000  paid  by 
the  City  of  London  for  the  extinction  of  lopping  rights 
in  Epping  Forest.  Out  of  that  sum  ^^1,030  was  set 
aside  as  compensation  to  householders.  The  remainder 
formed  the  capital  of  the  Lopping  Hall  Endowment 
Trust.'*  Land  was  bought  at  the  corner  of  High 
Road  and  Station  Road  and  the  hall  was  built  and 
furnished  at  a  cost  of  ^3,236.  The  official  opening 
took  place  in  1884.  The  hall  contained  reading  and 
lecture  rooms  and  accommodation  for  parish  meetings. 
In  1902  it  was  enlarged  at  a  cost  of  ^^i, 3 30  by  a  new 
wing  of  which  the  upper  floor  was  let  to  the  newly 
formed  urban  district  council  for  a  council  chamber  and 
offices  and  the  lower  floor  to  the  Midland  Bank  Ltd. 
In  1933  proposals  to  improve  the  hall  and  stage  ac- 
commodation at  the  expense  of  the  reading-room  pro- 
voked a  public  inquiry.  It  was  decided  that  although 
the  provision  of  books  and  a  reading-room  was  one  of 
the  original  objects  of  the  endowment  more  people 
made  use  of  the  lecture  and  concert  halls.  A  reading- 
room  was  retained,  but  it  was  smaller  and  contained 
only  newspapers.  In  1936  the  library  was  sold.  In 
1937  further  alterations  to  the  hall  were  made  at  the 
cost  of  the  Midland  Bank.  In  1951  the  endowment 
consisted  of  over  ^^2,400  stock  in  addition  to  the  pre- 
mises. The  income  was  mainly  used  on  general 
maintenance  and  improvement,  wages  and  newspapers. 
There  are  six  trustees,  elected  by  ratepayers. 

Two  bequests  have  supplemented  the  original 
endowment  of  the  Lopping  Hall.  In  1905  William 
F.  Turner  left  j^ioo  to  be  invested  for  the  purchase 
of  books."  When  the  library  was  closed  this  was 
diverted  to  the  purchase  of  newspapers.  In  19 1 2 
Henry  Lincoln  left  ^200  to  be  spent  for  the  general 
purposes  of  the  hall.*"  The  hall  remains  a  valuable 
social  centre.  It  is  a  red-brick  building  with  a  tower, 
designed  by  Edmund  Egan. 

Opposite  the  Lopping  Hall  in  Station  Road  is  the 
Men's  Club,  built  in  1901  by  the  Revd.  W.  Dawson 


"  E.R.  XXV,  117, 171. 

68   ^.^.r.  N.S.  Xiv,  285. 

M  E.R.  lii,  205. 

'">  Addison,  Epping  Forest,  226. 
"  Ibid.  227. 

'2  For  Lewer  see  E.R.  Iviii,   163;  for 
Gould  see  i'.i?.  xvii,  3 1 . 
■"  E.R.  Ivii,  55-56. 
'<  See  Schools,  below. 
'5  Davis*  Epping,  Loughton  and  Ongar 


Almanack,  1892,  20-23;  ''"'^  almanack 
gives  details  of  all  local  societies  and  clubs. 

"  Francis's  religious  and  political  affilia- 
tions have  not  been  traced. 

77  See  Preservation  of  Epping  Forest, 
above. 

'8  For  the  Lopping  Hall  Endowment 
Bce  Char.  Com.  Files. 

"  Char.  Com.  Files. 

80  Ibid. 


117 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


and  conveyed  by  him  in  1903  to  trustees  for  use  as  a 
club.  In  1920  two  houses  in  Meadow  Road  were  con- 
veyed to  the  trustees.  Their  rents  provide  much  of  the 
club's  income,  which  in  1941  was  ^194  and  was  used 
for  current  maintenance  and  expenses.^' 

Loughton  now  (1953)  has  many  clubs  and  societies, 
including  at  least  four  for  amateur  dramatics.*^  The 
Loughton  Community  Association  acts  as  a  co- 
ordinating body.  There  are  several  private  sports 
grounds,  including  that  of  the  Loughton  Cricket  Club 
opposite  the  'King's  Head'.  The  local  council  has 
provided  about  100  acres  along  the  Roding  for  play- 
ing fields  and  recreation  grounds. ^3  A  branch  of  the 
County  Library  was  first  opened  in  1936.  The  pre- 
sent library,  a  fuU-time  branch,  was  opened  in  1948.^'* 

During  the  First  World  War  Loughton  provided 
accommodation  and  financial  support  for  Belgian 
refugees.  The  subscriptions  totalled  ;^420  in  191 5 
and  ^£310  in  1916.85 

Domesday  Book  mentions  no  fewer  than  six  separate 
estates  in  Loughton  and  also  two  others, 
MANORS  Alderton  and  Debden,  which  later  be- 
came part  of  the  parish  of  Loughton.  A 
small  holding  of  20  acres  in  Loughton  belonged  to 
the  manor  of  Havering:  it  had  been  held  in  1066  by  the 
reeve  of  King  Harold  and  in  1086  was  held  by  the 
reeve  of  King  William.**  Peter  de  Valognes  had  two 
manors  in  Loughton  in  1086:  each  was  worth  20/.*^ 
One  of  them,  containing  a  hide  and  30  acres  was  held 
of  Peter  by  Ralph.  Before  the  Conquest  it  had  been 
held  by  Ulvric,  a  free  man.  The  other,  of  I  hide,  was 
held  in  demesne.  It  had  been  held  in  1066  by  Leofcild. 
The  descent  of  a  part  of  these  lands  of  de  Valognes  is 
traced  below  under  Monk  Wood.  Some  other  parts 
became  merged  in  the  main  manor  of  Loughton  (see 
below). 

An  estate  of  44  acres  which  had  belonged  to  a  free 
man  before  the  Conquest  was  held  in  1086  by  W. 
Corbun  of  Robert  Gernon;  it  was  then  worth  lor.** 
This  also  seems  to  have  been  later  merged  in  the  manor 
of  Loughton. 

By  far  the  greatest  part  of  the  parish  belonged  in 
1066  and  1086  to  Waltham  Abbey.  The  abbey's 
property  was  listed  in  Domesday  book  as  four  manors. 
Two  manors  were  named  Loughton:  one  contained  4 
hides  and  20  acres  and  was  worth  40/.;  the  other  con- 
tained 2j  hides  and  was  worth  20/.*"  These  manors 
were  said  to  be  in  Becontree  hundred.  The  other  two 
abbey  manors,  Alderton  and  Debden,  were  in  Ongar 
hundred.'"  Alderton  consisted  of  4I  hides  and  10 
acres  and  was  worth  ^^4  in  1086.  Debden  consisted  of 
3  hides  and  40  acres  and  was  worth  40^.  All  these  lands 
in  Loughton,  Alderton,  and  Debden  had  been  given 
to  the  abbey  on  its  foundation  in  1060  by  Earl  Harold. 
The  gift  was  confirmed  by  Edward  the  Confessor  in 
1062.91 


Waltham  Abbey  remained  owner  of  most  of  the 
land  in  the  parish  until  the  Dissolution,  and  its  pro- 
perty was  known  from  the  13th  century  onwards  as 
the  manor  of  LOUGHTON.  A  detailed  rental  of 
about  1 1 80  deals  separately  with  the  three  estates 
although  they  had  all  belonged  to  the  abbey  for  over 
a  century.  It  lists  32  tenants  in  Alderton  who  paid 
£2  5^.  3^(2'.  in  money  rents  in  addition  to  rents  in  kind 
and  labour  services.  The  tenants  of  Loughton  num- 
bered only  8,  who  paid  12s.  2\J.  rent.  There  were  24 
tenants  at  Debden  paying  16/.  ii^J.'^^ 

It  was  probably  soon  after  this  time  that  the  abbey 
acquired  the  manor  in  Loughton  which  in  1086  had 
been  held  of  Robert  Gernon.  This  had  descended  with 
Gernon's  other  lands  to  Richard  de  Montfichet  (d. 
1202).  He  or  his  son  Richard  de  Montfichet  (II) 
(d.  1267)  granted  the  Loughton  estate  to  Waltham 
Abbey. '3  At  the  time  of  the  grant  there  were  two 
tenants  of  the  manor,  Edward  Reyntot,  who  paid  an 
annual  rent  of  2s.  \d.,  and  John  son  of  Roger  de  Pyrle, 
who  paid  ix.  Both  these  tenants  held  lands  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  modern  Pyrles  Lane.'''  About 
the  same  time  Waltham  Abbey  acquired  further  land 
from  Reyntot  and  Pyrle  themselves. '5  Another 
acquisition,  early  in  the  13th  century,  was  of  one- 
quarter  of  Monk  Wood ;  the  remaining  three-quarters 
became  the  property  of  Stratford  Abbey  (see  below. 
Monk  Wood). 

In  about  1254  the  manor  of  Loughton  (now  ap- 
parently including  Alderton  and  Debden)  was  valued 
at  £\  I  12/.,  of  which  ^8  issued  from  the  demesne  and 
£1,  J2S.  from  rents.'* 

The  property  of  Waltham  Abbey  was  taken  into  the 
king's  hands  in  1 540  on  the  dissolution  of  the  abbey. 
The  manor  of  Loughton  was  at  that  time  occupied  by 
John  Stoner  on  an  80-year  lease  running  from  1522.'^ 
Stoner  died  in  the  year  of  the  dissolution  and  was  suc- 
ceeded as  lessee  by  his  son  George.'* 

In  1 5  5 1  the  manor  was  given  to  Thomas  Darcy, 
Baron  Darcy  of  Chiche,  as  part  of  the  endowment  of 
his  barony,  created  in  that  year."  A  year  later,  how- 
ever, he  gave  the  manor  back  to  the  king  in  exchange 
for  property  in  Surrey.'  In  1553  Loughton  was 
granted  to  Mary  Tudor  two  months  before  she  be- 
came queen.^  The  manor  was  thus  again  merged  in 
the  Crown.  In  1558  it  was  annexed  to  the  Duchy  of 
Lancaster. 3  It  remained  part  of  the  duchy  until  i6i3.'* 
George  Stoner,  who  had  inherited  the  lease  of  the 
manor,  died  in  1559.'  His  son  and  heir  John  Stoner 
built  a  house  at  Luxborough  in  Chigwell  (q.v.)  in 
which  he  usually  lived.  It  was,  however,  at  Loughton 
Hall  that  he  entertained  the  queen  in  1578.*  He  died 
in  1579  and  the  lease  of  Loughton  passed  to  his 
daughter  Susan  and  her  husband  Robert  Wroth. 
Susan  and  Robert  were  probably  established  at 
Loughton  Hall  before  Stoner's  death.^  Robert  Wroth, 


8'  Char.  Com.  Files;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex 
(1914). 

82  Chigwell  U.D.  Official  Guide  (2nd 
edn.),  41-47.  *'  Ibid.  28. 

*♦  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

85  E.R.O.,T/P  13  iv. 

««  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  430a. 

8'  Ibid.  537  a,  b.  For  Peter  de  Valognes 
sec  also  North  Weald.       88  Ibid.  515^. 

89  Ibid.  446A.  '»  Ibid.  447a. 

9'  Kemble,  Cod.  Dipl.  iv,  pp.  156-7. 
For  a  discussion  of  the  bounds  of  Alderton 
and  Debden  in  1062  see  P.N.  Essex 
(E.P.N.S.),  65-66. 

«2  W.  C.  Waller,  Loughton,  \,  17.    The 


rental  is  in  a  Waltham  Abbey  cartulary, 
B.M.  Cott.  MS.  Tib.  c.  ix.  For  Waller's 
comments  on  it  see  ibid.  11—17. 

95  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  159.  For  the 
Gernon— Montfichet  descent  see  Staple- 
ford  Abbots. 

'♦  Ibid.  1 58,  29-30.  The  modern  name 
of  the  lane  is  a  return  to  the  ancient  form. 
For  centuries  it  was  known  as  Pooles  and 
Poles  lane.  '5  Ibid.  158. 

96  W.  E.  Lunt,  Val.  of  Norivich,  521. 
9'  Waller,    Loughton,    \,    36-37.     The 

original  lease  was  for  40  years.  In  1535 
this  had  been  extended  for  a  further  40 
years. 

1x8 


98  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  146-7. 

99  Cal.    Pat.     1550-3,     136;    Complete 
Peerage,  iv,  78. 

'  Cal.  Pat.  1550-3,  458. 

2  Ibid.  1553,  176.  Mary  had  also 
acquired  the  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers 
(q.v.).  3  Ibid.  1557-8,  50. 

*  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  161 1-18,  187;  Waller, 
Loughton,  i,  62. 

5  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  147. 

6  Ibid.  For  the  Stoners  and  Wroths  see 
also  Chigwell  Hall  in  Chigwell. 

^  W.  C.  Waller,  'An  Extinct  County 
Family,  Wroth  of  Loughton  Hall',  E.A.  T. 
N.s.  viii,  148. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


\ 


knighted  in  1597,  was  a  large  landowner,  a  forest 
official,  and  a  Member  of  Parliament.*  He  entertained 
James  I  at  Loughton  Hall  in  1605.9  He  died  in  1606 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  Robert  Wroth,  who 
had  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert,  Baron  Sidney 
of  Penshurst,  later  Earl  of  Leicester,  and  niece  of  Sir 
Philip  Sidney.  Mary  and  her  husband  had  literary 
interests  and  were  intimate  with  a  number  of  poets, 
including  Ben  Jonson,  who  dedicated  'The  Alchemist' 
to  Mary  and  'The  Forest'  to  Sir  Robert.  Mary  was 
also  a  friend  of  the  queen,  Anne  of  Denmark.  The 
Prince  of  Wales  probably  visited  Loughton  Hall  in 
1606  and  it  may  have  been  through  the  influence  of 
the  queen  that  Sir  Robert  was  permitted,  in  161 3,  to 
purchase  the  manor  of  Loughton  from  the  Duchy  of 
Lancaster.'" 

In  1608  a  survey  had  been  made  of  all  the  timber 
on  the  demesne  lands  of  the  manor,"  and  in  16 12  the 
whole  manor  was  surveyed.'^  The  latter  survey  gave 
the  clear  annual  value  of  the  manor  as  £'^17.  Al- 
lowance was  made  in  this  estimate  for  a  fee-farm  rent 
of  ;^58  and  a  further  deduction  of  ^192  for  the  feeding 
of  the  king's  deer  on  the  grounds  of  the  manor.  The 
manor  house,  recently  repaired,  with  its  orchard  and 
grounds,  was  valued  at  £6  a  year.  There  were  640 
acres  of  pasture,  304  acres  of  arable,  and  156  acres  of 
meadow.  The  perquisites  of  the  courts  leet  and  baron 
were  valued  at  £7,  the  bailiwick  of  the  manor  at 
£j  6s.  8(2'.,  and  the  rents  of  the  29  copyholders  at  ^^23. 
In  addition  to  the  demesne  lands  there  was  the  moiety 
of  a  tenement  called  Hatfields,  containing  24  acres. 
The  timber  trees  in  the  manor  were  valued  at  ^^1,028; 
the  lessee  had  the  right  of  topping  and  lopping. '^  The 
waste  of  the  manor  consisted  of  200  acres  in  Fair 
Mead,  1,000  acres  in  High  Wood,  and  100  acres  in 
Monk  Wood.  In  Fair  Mead  the  ancient  tenants  of 
the  manor  and  several  inhabitants  in  adjoining  manors 
claimed  and  usually  had  common  of  pasture  for  cattle 
without  number  at  all  times  of  the  year,  and  the 
Loughton  tenants  also  had  common  of  estovers.  In 
High  Wood  the  ancient  tenants  had  common  of 
estovers,  for  which  each  paid  annually  a  'smoke  hen' 
or  IS.  in  lieu.  In  Monk  Wood  the  lessees  of  the  manor 
had  always  taken  the  lops  and  the  ancient  tenants  had 
common  of  pasture  only.  Sixty  pollard  oaks  in  Fair 
Mead  and  High  Wood  were  valued  at  ;^24. 

Sir  Robert  Wroth  paid  ^^1,224  for  the  manor,  which 
remained  subject  to  a  fee-farm  rent  of  ^^58,  and  for  the 
advowson  of  the  rectory  (see  below.  Churches).'*  The 
fee-farm  rent  was  not  extinguished  until  18 14. '5 
Shortly  after  purchasing  the  manor  Sir  Robert  died 
(1614).  His  infant  son  died  in  1616.'*  His  estates 
were  left  heavily  in  debt  and  some  of  them  had  to  be 
sold.  Mary  Wroth  continued  to  live  at  Loughton  Hall 
for  some  years,  harried  by  creditors. '7  In  162 1  she 
published   Urania,  a  pastoral  romance  which  caused 


8  Ibid.  148-9. 

'  Ibid.  154. 

'"  Ibid.  157-8,  162-3.  I"  i6'3  Sir 
Rbt.  was  holding  a  lease  due  to  expire  in 
1685  :  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  59;  C142/524/ 
II. 

"  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  59. 

'2  Ibid.  60—61,  where  the  survey  is 
printed  in  full. 

'3  This  was  on  the  demesne  lands  and 
the  lands  held  by  tenants. 

'*  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  163.  The  purchase 
price  seems  low  but  clearly  takes  into 
account  Sir  Robert's  previous  purchase  of 
a  long  lease. 


her  to  be  accused  of  hbel.'*  The  next  heir  to  Loughton 
was  Sir  Robert's  brother  John  Wroth,  who  died  in 
1642. '9  Before  his  death  John  settled  the  manor  on 
John  Wroth,  son  of  his  brother  Henry .^0 

Loughton  descended  in  the  Wroth  family  until  the 
death  in  1738  of  Ehzabeth,  wife  of  John  Wroth  (d. 
17 1 8),  the  fourth  of  his  name  to  hold  the  manor.^' 
The  manor  then  passed  to  William,  4th  Earl  of  Roch- 
ford,  grandson  of  Elizabeth  Wroth's  sister  Jane." 

John  Wroth  (III),  who  was  lord  of  the  manor  from 
1662  to  1708  was  described  as  'a  blustering  county 
justice  and  gentleman  grazier'.^^  In  1688  he  is  said  to 
have  entertained  Princess  (later  Queen)  Anne  at 
Loughton  Hall  when  she  fled  from  London  during  the 
revolution  which  deposed  James  11.^''  Between  1662 
and  1667  the  income  from  rents  of  the  manor  averaged 
about  ;^7oo  a  year.  In  addition  to  this  over  j{^700  was 
received  during  the  whole  period  for  fines  and  wood.^' 
About  1700  the  manor  was  said  to  be  worth  about 
;£i,ooo  a  year.^*  John  Wroth  (III)  left  124  neat 
cattle,  12  horses,  and  over  200  sheep,  Welsh  and 
Weyhill,  wool  and  wheat  to  the  value  of  ;{^II7  and 
;£i  70  respectively  and  i  ,000  oz.  plate,  valued  at  £2  54.^' 
A  survey  of  1739  8^^^  ^^^  extent  of  the  lands  of  the 
manor,  including  Monk  Wood,  but  not  the  waste,  as 
1,319  acres.  It  had  thus  increased  by  35  acres  since 
1612.^*  The  largest  farm,  described  as  Jonathan 
Parker's  tenure,  was  455  acres.  This  ran  from  WeUfield 
across  Rectory  Lane  to  the  Theydon  Bois  boundary. 
Alderton  Hall  farm  was  267  acres.  Elizabeth 
Gilderson's  tenure  was  224  acres  stretching  east  of 
Chigwell  Lane  from  the  pound  to  the  river.  Loughton 
Hall  farm  was  202  acres  from  the  hall  south  to  the 
river.  Debden  Park  covered  30  acres,  Margery  Field 
held  21  acres.  Monk  Wood  was  loi  acres,  and  the 
remaining  area  was  made  up  of  Loughton  Warren 
(8  acres),  Loughton  Piece  (5  acres),  and  the  tenements 
of  three  cottagers.^" 

In  1745  the  Earl  of  Rochford  sold  the  manor  to 
William  Whitaker  of  Lime  Street,  London,  an  alder- 
man of  the  City.3o  Whitaker  died  in  1752  and 
Loughton  passed  to  his  widow  Anne,  and  on  her  death 
in  1770  to  their  daughter  Anne  Whitaker.^' 

Whitaker  had  not  been  living  at  Loughton  Hall  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  the  tenant  then  being  a  Mr. 
Roberts.32  Miss  Whitaker,  however,  did  Hve  there,  'a 
very  formall  lady  of  the  old  school  or  court,  and 
reconned  very  rich,  hving  in  good  style'. 33  She  died  in 
1825,  leaving  the  manor  to  John  Maitland  of  Wood-' 
ford  Hall.34 

The  manor  passed  from  John  Maitland  (d.  1831) 
successively  to  his  son  William  Whitaker  Maitland 
(d.  1 861)  and  his  grandson  John  Whitaker  Maitland, 
who  also  became  Rector  of  Loughton  and  died  in 
1909.35  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  WiUiam  W. 
Maitland  (d.  1926).  In  1944  Cmdr.  J.  W.  Maitland, 

"■  Ibid.  164-5. 


'5  Ibid. 

■'  Ibid.  174-80. 

>8  Ibid.  168-72;  D.N.B.  Wroth,  Lady 
Mary. 

'»  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  345-7. 

2°  Ibid.  347. 

"  Ibid.  181,  where  the  pedigree  is  given ; 
in  Waller,  Loughton,  ii,  are  printed  the 
wills  of  many  members  of  the  family. 

22  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  181. 

"  Ibid.  351.  2*  Ibid. 

25  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  63-64. 

2'  Ibid,  ii,  39. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  352. 

28  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  64-65. 


29  Loughton  Warren  was  where  the 
Warren  (house)  now  is.  Loughton  Piece 
was  near  it  on  the  Buckhurst  Hill  boundary. 

3»  E.A.  T.  N.s.  ix,  14;  E.R.O.,  D/DC  J7 
729-30.  "  E.A.T.  N.s.  ix,  14. 

32  Waller,  Loughton,  ii,  47.  Previous 
tenants  had  been  a  Jewish  family  named 
Suasso,  emigrants- from  Holland:  ibid, 
ii,  62.  33  E.A.T.  N.s.  ix,  14. 

3*  Ibid,  J  cf.  G.  H.  R.  Harrison,  Genealog. 
Acct.  oj  Maitland  Family;  Burke  z  Landed 
Gentry,  1952,  1681. 

35  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  65 ;  E.R.  xix,  50. 
The  Reyd.  J.  W.  Maitland  left  a  fortune 
of  ^  1 26,000 :  E.R.O.,  T/P  1 3  iii. 


119    • 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


M.P.,  son  and  heir  of  W.  W.  Maitland,  sold  Loughton 
Hall  and  644  acres  of  land  to  the  London  County 
Council  for  the  building  of  the  Debden  housing  estate, 
which  started  soon  after  1945.  With  a  few  short 
intervals  Loughton  Hall  had  been  the  home  of  the  lords 
of  the  manor  (including  lessees  under  the  Crown)  since 
the  1 6th  century. 

In  185 1  W.  W.  Maitland  owned  some  1,120  acres 
in  Loughton. 3*  The  tithe  on  most  of  his  demesne  land 
appears  to  have  been  commuted  long  before  this.3^ 
The  estate  was  let  out  in  10  farms  of  which  the  largest 
were  Alderton  farm  (about  360  acres),  Loughton 
Bridge  farm  (about  300  acres),  and  Loughton  Hall 
farm  (about  200  acres).  Debden  Hall  farm,  of  164 
acres,  no  longer  formed  part  of  the  estate.  In  the  i8th 
century  it  had  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Hamilton 
family,  one  of  whom,  Archdeacon  Hamilton,  was 
Rector  of  Loughton  1805-51.38  In  1851  the  farm 
was  owned  by  John  Williams.'' 

Between  1850  and  1930  the  Maitland  estate  was 
gradually  reduced  by  sales  for  building  purposes, 
mainly  in  the  neighbourhood  of  High  Road.*"  The 
Revd.  J.  W.  Maitland  was  prominent  in  the  Epping 
Forest  inclosure  controversy.  If  his  plans  had  been 
successful  some  650  acres  of  the  forest  waste  would 
have  become  his  freehold  property  as  the  result  of 
inclosure.  In  the  event  he  received  j^30,ooo  for  his 
rights  in  the  992  acres  of  forest  waste.^' 

The  court  rolls  of  the  manor  of  Loughton  are 
described  below  (see  Parish  Government  and  Poor 
Relief). 

The  present  Loughton  Hall,  which  stands  in  the 
middle  of  the  Debden  housing  estate  and  is  used  as  a 
community  centre,  is  a  large  red-brick  mansion  erected 
by  the  Revd.  J.  W.  Maitland  in  i878.'t2  It  was  built 
on  the  site  of  an  earlier  house  which  was  burnt  down  in 
1836.  The  old  house  probably  incorporated  parts  of 
a  timber  manor  house  of  the  i6th  century  or  earlier. 
In  1602,  during  the  tenancy  of  the  first  Sir  Robert 
Wroth,  the  Commissioners  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster 
made  a  report  on  the  condition  of  the  house.'*'  This 
indicates  a  typical  medieval  or  16th-century  establish- 
ment with  many  ancillary  buildings  including  a 
detached  gatehouse.  It  was  then  in  poor  repair,  which 
suggests  that  it  was  already  of  considerable  age.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  estimated  cost  of  repair  was  for 
carpentry  and  the  quoted  sum  of  ;^ioo  specifically 
excluded  the  value  of  70  trees  to  be  had  from  the 
manor.  This  makes  it  clear  that  the  house  was  of 
timber  and  was  to  be  restored  in  the  same  material. 

In  1612a  new  survey  was  made.'*^  The  accommoda- 
tion, apart  from  outbuildings,  now  included  a  hall, 
buttery,  kitchen,  larder,  bakehouse,  pastryhouse,  milk- 
house,  and  wash-house,  together  with  'eight  other 
lodgings  with  faire  lodginge  and  greate  roomes  over  the 
said  roomes  new  built  and  redified  at  the  chardgs  of  Sir 
Robert  Wroth,  the  now  farmer  thereof.  The  obliga- 


tion of  entertaining  royalty  and  the  higher  standard  of 
comfort  demanded  by  the  times  had  evidently  induced 
the  second  Sir  Robert  to  increase  the  number  and  size 
of  the  reception  rooms.  There  is  some  evidence  that 
further  improvements  were  put  in  hand  when  the 
manor  had  at  last  been  acquired  by  the  Wroths  in 
161 3:  in  1630  it  was  stated  that  Sir  Robert  Wroth 
'about  sixteene  yeres  past'  had  built  some  part  of 
Loughton  Hall  upon  an  old  foundation.^'  The  date 
on  the  front  of  the  building  at  the  time  of  the  fire  is 
said  to  have  been  1616.''*  It  seems  possible  that  work 
was  in  progress  at  Sir  Robert's  death  in  16 14  and  was 
completed  two  years  later. 

The  description  of  a  lodge  in  the  forest,  'a  faire 
house  built  on  a  Hill',  which  occurs  in  Lady  Wroth's 
Urania,  is  thought  to  apply  to  Loughton  Hall  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage.*'  It  includes  a  reference  to 
the  Lady's  Walk,  an  avenue  of  trees  leading  up  to  the 
house  from  a  bridge  over  the  river.  This  was  cut  down 
during  the  Napoleonic  Wars  when  a  high  price  could 
be  obtained  for  timber."** 

No  record  has  been  found  of  alterations  to  the  house 
between  161 6  and  1825,  but  it  cannot  be  assumed  that 
none  took  place.  The  claim  that  parts  of  the  interior, 
including  a  stone  staircase,  were  designed  by  Inigo 
Jones  should  be  taken  with  the  usual  reserve.*' 

After  1825,  when  the  house  became  the  property 
of  the  Maitlands,  over  j^6,ooo  is  said  to  have  been 
spent  on  it.  On  11  December  1836  the  house  was 
burnt  down.  Contemporary  newspaper  reports  stated 
that  50  rooms  were  destroyed  or  damaged. s"  There 
had  been  two  frontages,  both  162  ft.  long,  and  one  at 
least  of  these  had  the  date  16 16  on  the  rainwater  heads. 
The  style  is  said  to  have  been  Elizabethan,  modernized 
later,  and  the  interior  was  adorned  with  Ionic  and 
Corinthian  orders.'' 

A  picture  of  the  building  shows  a  very  curious  two- 
story  front.'^  It  appears  to  be  of  brick  and  is  divided 
into  five  bays  by  a  pilaster  treatment  in  stone  or  plaster. 
Each  pilaster  consists  of  two  tiers  of  coupled  Doric 
columns  supporting  detached  entablature  blocks.  The 
only  horizontal  members  which  are  continuous  across 
the  front  are  a  string  course  at  the  upper  cornice  level 
and  the  coping  of  the  parapet.  This  parapet  rises  in 
the  centre  to  form  a  small  curvihnear  gable.  Each 
story  has  ten  tall  sash  windows  and  the  roof  has  gabled 
dormers.  A  central  doorway  with  a  scrolled  pediment 
is  surmounted  by  a  niche.  If  this  front  dated  from  1616 
it  is  clear  that  the  doors  and  windows  were  altered 
later.  In  general  the  features  are  more  consistent  with 
a  date  near  the  middle  of  the  17th  century. 

Alderton  Hall  is  a  timber-framed  and  weather- 
boarded  building  having  two  stories  and  attics.  There 
is  a  main  block  with  east  and  west  wings.  The  oldest 
parts  are  the  centre  and  the  east  wing,  which  date  from 
the  late  1 6th  or  early  17th  century.  The  west  wing 
was  probably  rebuilt  early  in  the  i8th  century. 


34  E.R.O.,  D/CT  225  (Tithe  Award). 

3'  See  Churches. 

3'  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  98-99;  ii,  53. 

3»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  225. 

«  Nat.  Reg.  Archives,  Rep.  on  MSS.  of 
Cmdr.  J.  W.  Maitland. 

*'  See  above.  Preservation  of  Epping 
Forest. 

*'  Architect  Eden  Nesfield :  N.  Pevsner, 
Buildings  of  Eng.  Essex,  261. 

«  Essex  Naturalist,  vii,  1 6. 

«  Ibid.  18. 

«>  Ibid.  21. 


46  Newspaper  reports  on'  the  fire,  see 
below. 

♦'  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  173,  quoting  Urania 
ii,  297-8. 

*'  Ibid. 

*'  Lewis's  Topog.  Diet.  1844.  It  has 
been  common  practice  to  attribute  any 
mature  classical  work  of  the  first  half  of 
the  17th  cent,  to  Inigo  Jones.  In  this  case 
there  might  be  some  justification  for  the 
claim  because  of  the  Wroth's  connexion 
with  the  Earl  of  Pembroke  and  with  the 
court  of  James  I.    Mary  Wroth  is  known 


to  have  taken  part  in  at  least  one  court 
masque  (the  Masque  of  Blacknesse)  for 
which  Inigo  Jones  designed  the  costumes 
at  the  outset  of  his  career. 

5"  Essex  Naturalist,  vii,  20,  quotes  accts. 
from  the  Essex  Standard  and  the  Essex 
Herald.  5i  Ibid. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  345:  from  a  water- 
colour  then  in  the  possession  of  Miss  I.  R. 
Maitland.  See  plate  facing  p.  226.  The 
will  of  Miss  Whitaker  (pr.  1826)  refers  to 
the  'Saloon*,  gallery  and  'King's  Rooms'  in 
the  hall:  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  i. 


120 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


The  present  Debden  Hall  was  built  about  1930  to 
replace  a  previous  building  on  the  site  which  was  de- 
molished in  the  previous  year.*^  A  photograph  of  the 
earlier  building  {c.  1898  ?)  shows  a  large  house  of  two 
stories  and  attics  having  a  pedimented  doorcase  and  a 
long  range  of  outbuildings.  The  house  appears  to  have 
dated  from  the  early  19th  century.54 

The  two  manors  held  in  1086  by  Peter  de  Valognes 
probably  included  what  later  became  known  as  MONK 
WOOD.  In  1 166  Phihp  de  Snaring  held  \  knight's 
fee  and  Geoffrey  de  Snaring  J  knight's  fee,  both  of  the 
honor  of  Valognes. ss  These  tenements  were  probably 
in  Loughton,  for  early  in  the  13th  century  the  Snaring 
family  held  an  important  position  in  the  parish,  part  of 
which  was  for  a  time  named  after  them.s*  Before  1 240 
a  wood  in  'Loughton  Snarryngs'  had  come  to  be  divided 
between  the  abbeys  of  Stratford  Langthorne  and 
Waltham.  Three-quarters  of  the  wood  had  been 
granted  to  Stratford  by  Ralph  de  Assartis;  the  remain- 
ing quarter  had  been  granted  to  Waltham  by  Geoffrey 
Reyntot  and  Roger  Fitz  Ailmar.57  Ralph  de  Assartis  is 
known  to  have  been  a  tenant  of  Geoffrey  de  Snaring.s^ 
In  1236  he  was  holding  \  knight's  fee  in  Loughton  of 
the  barony  of  Valognes. 59 

In  1 240  an  agreement  was  made  between  the  abbeys 
of  Stratford  and  Waltham  concerning  their  timber 
rights  in  their  jointly  owned  wood.  When  one  abbot 
wished  to  fell  timber  in  the  wood  he  was  to  notify  the 
bailiff  of  the  other  abbot.  Four  trees  of  equal  value 
were  then  to  be  selected,  of  which  Stratford  was  to 
take  the  first,  second,  and  fourth  choices,  and  Waltham 
the  third.  Trees  not  required  for  immediate  felling 
might  be  marked  by  either  abbey  for  future  use.*° 

The  portion  of  the  wood  owned  by  Waltham  Abbey 
became  merged  from  the  13th  century  in  the  main 
manor  of  Loughton  (see  above).  The  three-quarters 
owned  by  Stratford  became  known  as  Monk  Wood 
and  remained  the  property  of  that  abbey  until  the 
Dissolution. 

Like  the  manor  of  Loughton  Monk  Wood  became 
part  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  in  the  i6th  century, 
and  appears  to  have  been  leased  along  with  the  manor. 
In  1582  the  wood  was  said  to  contain  53  acres  but  in 
16 1 2  its  area  was  loi  acres  of  which  74  acres  com- 
prised Great  Monk  Wood  and  27  acres  Little  Monk 
Wood.*'  There  was  sometimes  doubt  whether  the 
wood  was  demesne  or  waste  land.  Historically  there 
is  little  doubt  that  it  was  demesne.*^ 

After  the  i6th  century  Monk  Wood  descended 
along  with  the  manor  of  Loughton.  In  1767,  when 
Alderton  Hall  was  leased,  it  was  provided  that  the 
lessee  should  receive  1,000  faggots  and  100  logs  every 
year  from  the  wood.  In  1787  this  was  altered  to  500 
faggots  and  250  logs.*' 

In  1 8  5 1  Monk  Wood  contained  97  acres  of  which 
73  acres  were  in  Great  Monk  Wood  and  24  acres  in 
Little  Monk  Wood.** 


There  is  a  legend  of  Monk  Wood  which  concerns  a 
monk  who  murdered  a  maiden.*' 

The  advowson  of  the  rectory  of  Loughton  has  always 
descended  along  with  the  manor.  The 
CHURCHES  present  patron  is  Cmdr.  J.  W.  Mait- 
land,  M.P.** 

The  rectory  was  never  appropriated.  It  was  valued 
at  ^5  in  about  1254,  at  ^^2  in  1291,  and  ^5  6s.  %d.  in 
1428.*^  In  1535  the  value  was  returned  as  ;^i8  4^.*^ 
Tithe  was  commuted  in  185 1  for  ;^5i8.*'  It  would 
have  produced  much  more  than  this  if  a  partial  com- 
mutation had  not  taken  place  long  before,  by  which 
1,052  acres  belonging  to  the  lord  of  the  manor  had 
been  freed  from  tithes  in  kind  in  return  for  an  annual 
'modus'  of  ;^3  IS.  On  another  326  acres  the  tithe  rent 
was  assessed  at  a  much  lower  rate  than  in  the  main  body 
of  the  parish.  There  were  45  acres  of  glebe  in  1851.'° 
It  had  increased  from  36  acres  in  1610  and  41  acres  in 
1714.^'  The  old  rectory  house  in  Rectory  Lane  has 
been  demohshed. 

The  original  parish  church  of  ST.  NICHOLAS 
stood  beside  Loughton  Hall.'^  After  the  building  of 
the  new  parish  church  of  St.  John  in  1 846  most  of  the 
old  church  was  demolished,  but  the  chancel  was  pre- 
served as  a  mortuary  chapel  until  1877  when  it  also 
was  removed.  The  old  church  consisted  of  nave, 
chancel,  north  aisle,  south  porch,  and  weather-boarded 
tower  with  shingled  spire.  Nave  and  chancel  were  of 
the  same  width  (about  18  ft.)  and  together  measured 
about  60  ft.  in  length.  A  sketch  of  182 1  shows  a  large 
15th-century  window  at  the  east  end  of  the  chancel. 
This  is  said  to  have  been  replaced  before  the  final 
demolition  of  the  church  by  an  iron  window. '3  In  the 
south  wall  of  the  chancel  there  was  a  two-light  window, 
and  also  a  low-side  window.  The  aisle  of  the  church 
measured  about  18  ft.  by  54  ft.  At  its  east  end  there 
was  a  chapel  divided  from  the  rest  of  the  aisle  by  a 
wooden  screen  with  a  central  doorway.  The  tower  was 
of  two  stages,  the  lower  of  which  projected  to  allow 
space  for  a  vestry. 

Julia  Stokesby,  by  her  will  proved  1384,  left  20/. 
to  the  work  of  the  church.'*  The  form  of  the  bequest 
suggests  that  building  operations  were  then  in  progress. 
The  will  of  John  Stoner  (proved  1540)  directed  that 
he  should  be  buried  in  the  chapel  of  Our  Lady  in  the 
parish  church  of  Loughton.'s  George  Stoner,  son  of 
John,  similarly  directed  (1558)  that  he  should  be 
buried  in  the  'new  chapel'  in  the  church.'*  This 
chapel  was  probably  that  at  the  east  end  of  the  aisle 
which  was  later  regarded  as  the  private  chapel  of  the 
lord  of  the  manor.  William  Harryson  of  Loughton  by 
his  will  proved  1540  left  \os.  towards  the  building  of 
the  steeple."  The  tower  and  spire  were  repaired  in 
1737.  General  repairs  to  the  church  were  carried  out 
in  1825-7  and  1829. 

In  about  1768  the  church  had  three  bells. '^  One 
of  them  is  said  to  have  been  sold  at  the  end  of  the  i8th 


53  Inf.  from  the  present  occupier  of 
Debden  Hall. 

5*  E.R.O.,  Sah  Cat.  B.  9. 

55  RcdBk.  ofExch.  (Rolls  Ser.),  360. 

5'  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  156. 

5'  Ibid.  58  Ibid. 

59  £k.  of  Fees,  579. 

'"  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  156;  Eaex 
Naturalist,  v,  1 74. 

^'  Essex  Naturalist,  v,  1775  and  see 
above,  Manor  of  Loughton. 

'2  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  52,  10-11;  cf. 
E.R.O.,  D/CT  255. 


63  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  11, 

't  E.R.O.,  D/CT  255. 

'5  E.  Hardingham,  Lays  and  Legends  of 
the  Forest  of  Essex,  113. 

66  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  395-6 ;  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  164;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1862  f.); 
Chel.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1952. 

0'  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  17;  Tax  Eccl. 
(Rec.  Com.),  24;  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  204. 

'8  yalor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  435. 

'9  E.R.O.,  D/CT  225. 

■">  Ibid. 

'"  E.R.O.,  T/P  i().   For  the  history  of 


the  glebe  see  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  55, 
119-22. 

'2  The  following  account  is  based  on 
W.  C.  Waller,  'Some  account  of  the 
vanished  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  Lough- 
ton', E.A.T.  N.s.  xir,  275  f.  (illustrated). 

73  This  alteration  was  said  to  have  been 
made  by  Archdeacon  Hamilton,  rector 
1805-51. 

'*  Waller,  Loughton,  ii,  i. 

'5  Ibid.  5. 

'<■  Ibid.  8,  "  Ibid.  74. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  1 64. 


ES.  IV 


121 


K 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


century.  The  other  two,  dated  162 1  and  1655,  were 
later  recast  to  form  the  fifth  bell  of  St.  John's  church 
(see  below).  There  was  a  16th-century  painted  cup- 
board, some  16th-century  glass  and  four  sepulchral 
brasses;  all  of  these  are  in  the  present  church  of  St. 
Nicholas.  Several  floor  slabs,  left  in  situ  when  the  old 
church  was  demolished,  were  examined  by  Waller  in 
about  19 1 7.  They  included  slabs  to  Jeffery  Lee,  1670, 
and  Thomas  Tuson,  1702.  A  brass  to  Robert  Ramp- 
ston,  1585,  founder  of  a  parish  charity,  existed  in  1835 
but  has  now  disappeared."  In  1790  there  were  several 
hatchments  of  arms  of  the  Wroths,  former  lords  of  the 
manor,  in  the  north  aisle  chapel. 8° 

Wright  commented  in  1835  that  the  parish  church 
was  inconveniently  distant  from  the  village.^'  The 
destruction  of  Loughton  Hall  in  1836  left  the  church 
even  more  isolated  than  before.  The  new  church  of 
St.  John  was  therefore  built  in  1846  to  provide  more 
effectively  for  the  religious  needs  of  the  growing  parish. 
It  was  decided  that  the  old  church  should  be  demo- 
lished to  defray  part  of  the  cost  of  building  St.  John's 
and  a  faculty  was  issued  for  this  purpose  in  1847.  It 
had  been  hoped  that  St.  Nicholas'  would  fetch  ^^250 
but  it  was  sold  by  auction  for  only  ^^89.  The  chancel 
was  for  some  reason  left  standing  and  with  the  addition 
of  new  north  and  west  walls  (costing  £'^6)  became  a 
mortuary  chapel.  This  chapel  was  demolished  in  1877 
and  the  present  church  of  St.  Nicholas  was  built 
slightly  to  the  west  of  it.  This  rebuilding  was  clearly 
connected  with  that  of  Loughton  Hall,  and  St. 
Nicholas'  was  used  for  many  years  after  1877  as  the 
private  chapel  of  the  hall.  In  1947  it  was  repaired  and 
refitted  for  use  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to  St.  John's  for  the 
Debden  estate.  ^^  It  is  a  small  flint  building  consisting 
of  nave,  chancel,  north  porch,  and  bellcote  with  one 
bell.  On  the  gable  of  the  porch  are  carved  barge- 
boards  which  are  said  to  have  come  from  the  original 
church  of  St.  Nicholas.  In  the  chancel  are  brasses  from 
the  old  church  to  John  Stonnard  (Stoner,  1540)  and 
Joan  and  Katherine  his  wives,  William  Nodes  (1594) 
and  Elizabeth  (WoUsey)  his  wife.  Others  are  probably 
to  George  Stoner  (15  5 8)  and  Abel  Guilliams  (i637).*3 
On  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  cupboard  with 
elaborately  carved  double  doors  flanked  by  columns 
and  strapwork  and  surmounted  by  an  entablature.  On 
the  panel  below  the  doors  is  a  late-i6th-century  paint- 
ing of  the  Annunciation.  The  north  and  south  windows 
have  early- 16th-century  glass  showing  two  kneeling 
figures  with  coloured  nimbi. '■♦ 

The  parish  church  oiST.  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST 
was  consecrated  in  November  1846.85  It  was  built  in 
Blind  (now  Church)  Lane  near  the  junction  with  the 
main  road,  on  land  most  of  which  had  previously  been 
held  by  Samuel  Brawm,  the  Baptist  minister,  copyhold 
of  the  manor  of  Loughton. **  The  new  church  was 
much  nearer  the  village  than  St.  Nicholas',  but  the 
people  of  south  Loughton  had  still  to  travel  ^  mile  or 
more  to  the  church,  mostly  up  hill.  The  total  cost  of 
St.  John's,  including  furnishings,  was  slightly  less  than 


£6,500.  The  rector  gave  ;£i,i34,  Mrs.  Pearse  £700 
Mrs.  Powell  ;^65o,  and  there  were  many  other  sub- 
stantial voluntary  contributions.  By  1848  a  total  of 
,{^5,850  had  been  raised,  of  which  £1,000  came  from 
a  church  rate.  The  balance  required  was  met  by  an 
Exchequer  Loan,  which  was  finally  paid  off  in  1866. 

The  church  is  a  yellow  brick  building  in  'Norman' 
style,  consisting  of  nave,  chancel,  transepts,  north 
porch,  and  central  tower.  The  architect  was  Sydney 
Smirke  (1798-1877),  brother  of  Sir  Robert  Smirke 
(1781-1867).*'  He  originally  submitted  three  alterna- 
tive designs,  one  'Norman'  and  two  'Early  English'. 
Between  1875  and  1878  the  chancel  was  enlarged  at 
a  total  cost  of  about  £1 ,600.  The  church  was  slightly 
damaged  by  bombing  during  the  Second  World  War. 

There  are  eight  bells,  all  of  which  were  installed 
between  1866  and  1874.  The  fifth  bell  was  recast 
from  two  of  the  bells  of  St.  Nicholas'  church,  which 
had  been  dated  1621  and  1655.  The  old  church  plate 
was  destroyed  when  Loughton  Hall  was  burnt  down. 
It  consisted  of  a  silver  cup,  silver  paten,  plated  flagon, 
and  plated  dish.  A  silver  almsdish  of  1848  formerly  in 
the  church  was  stolen  in  1930.  The  present  plate 
includes  many  vessels,  of  which  the  oldest  areof  1 836.*' 
The  parish  chest,  now  kept  in  the  south  transept,  prob- 
ably dates  from  about  1607.*'  It  is  remarkable  for 
the  geometrical  patterns  incised  on  the  three  front 
panels. 

St.  John's  parish  hall  was  built  in  1914-1 5  at  a  cost 
of  £808.  It  adjoins  the  church  to  the  west.  In  1947 
the  mission  church  of  ST.  FRANCIS  was  built  at 
Oakwood  Hill  on  the  Debden  estate.  It  is  a  small 
timber  building."*  In  1950  a  church  hall  was  opened 
opposite  St.  Nicholas'  church,  and  in  1953  the  mission 
church  of  ST.  GABRIEL  was  opened  in  Grosvenor 
Drive,  Debden;"  this  is  a  permanent  brick  church. 
St.  Francis'  and  St.  Gabriel's  are  chapels  of  ease  to 
St.  John's. 

The  church  of  ST.  MART  THE  VIRGIN,  High 
Road,  Loughton,  was  built  in  1871  and  consecrated  in 
the  following  year  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to  St.  John's.'^ 
The  site  was  given  by  the  rector,  J.  W.  Maitland.'s 
In  1887  the  parish  of  St.  Mary  was  formed  out  of  that 
of  St.  John.'*  Its  endowment  included  £50  from  the 
mother  parish.  The  patron  of  the  vicarage  is  the 
Rector  of  Loughton.  The  church  is  a  stone  building 
in  Gothic  style,  consisting  of  nave,  chancel,  aisles,  south 
porch,  and  bellcote  containing  one  bell.  The  north  aisle 
wasaddedin  1883.  The  architect  was  T.  H.Watson.'' 

The  church  of  ST.  MICHAEL  AND  ALL 
ANGELS,  Roding  Road,  was  built  and  dedicated  in  or 
about  September  1937,  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to  St.  Mary's. 
It  received  its  present  name  about  1942."* 

Among  parochial  charities  which  include  provision 
for  the  churches  are  Parish  Clerk's  Piece  and  W.  C. 
Waller's  Charity."  The  following  charities  are  also 
for  the  use  of  the  churches.'* 

Emily  Jane  Hanson,  by  will  proved  1933,  left  three 
cottages  (now  nos.  20,  22,  and  24  Pump  Hill)  for  the 


'9  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  385. 

80  E.J.T.-N.s.h,  II. 

81  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  384.. 

'^  Inf.  from  Canon  M.  N.  Lake, 
Rector  of  Loughton. 

«3  Cf.  E.A.T.  N.s.  xiv,  278,  287-8; 
T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  384-5. 

*<  Cf.  Hist.  Men.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  166. 

85  For  the  following  acct.  see  Percy 
Thompson,  Story  of  the  Parish  Church  of 
Loughton  (illustrated),  also  E.R.O.,  T/P  1 3 


(cuttings  from  parish  magazines). 

86  E.R.O.,  T/P  18.  For  other  sites  con- 
sidered see  E.R.O.,  T/P  13. 

87  See  D.N.B.  Sydney  Smirke  later 
designed  (1850)  St.  Mary's,  Theydon 
Bois  (q.v.). 

88  Cf.  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  103. 

89  Ch.  Chests  Essex,  154.  (illus.). 

90  Inf.  from  Canon  M.  N.  Lake,  Rector 
of  Loughton. 

9>  Ibid. 


92  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926). 

93  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  142.  The  site 
was  formerly  known  as  Thistley  Field. 

9*  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926). 

95  Ibid.;  N.  Pevsner,  Buildings  of  Eng., 
Essex,  260. 

9'  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  D.  V.  Wright  of 
Loughton. 

9'  See  below.  Charities. 

98  Char.  Com.  Files. 


122 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


additional  endowment  of  St.  Mary's  Loughton,  and  for 
charitable  purposes  not  connected  with  the  parish. 

Frederick  Joseph  Brand,  by  will  proved  1940,  left 
j^ioo  duty-free  in  trust  for  distribution  each  Christmas 
among  the  choirboys  of  St.  John's.  There  is  no  further 
record  of  this  charity  at  the  Charity  Commission. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church,  Traps  Hill,  dedicated 

to   St.   Edmund   of  Canterbury, 

ROMAN  was    built    in    1926-7.99     The 

CATHOLICISM     church    of   St.    Thomas    More, 

Debden,  was  opened   in    1953.' 

In  1672  Joseph  Brown,  who  had  been  ejected  from 
the  vicarage  of  Nazeing  in 
PROTESTANT  1662,      was      licensed      to 

NONCONFORMITY    minister     to     a     congrega- 
tion    of     Presbyterians     at 
Loughton.^ 

On  3  October  1813  a  small  nonconformist  chapel 
was  opened  at  the  south  end  of  High  Road.  The 
preachers  at  the  opening  were  the  Revds.  J.  Hughes  of 
Battersea,  J.  Clayton  of  Camomile  Street,  London 
(E.C.  3),  and  G.  Collinson  of  Walthamstow.3  In 
1 8 17  Samuel  Brawn,  formerly  of  Stepney  Academy, 
was  ordained  minister.*  The  church  supported  the 
Baptist  Union,  though  it  was  not  at  first  affiliated  to  it.5 
Brawn  remained  until  1868.*  In  1829  he  reported  a 
congregation  of  175.'  A  new  church  was  built  in 
1 860-1.  It  cost  £1,800,  of  which  j^i,4oo  had  already 
been  raised  by  the  opening  day.*  This  was  attended  in 
the  i86o's  by  W.  T.  Whitley,  later  a  distinguished 
Baptist  minister  and  historian.  He  gave  some  of  his 
reminiscences  of  the  church  in  'A  Scenario  of  Baptist 
Essex'.'  "He  mentioned  the  arrival  of  a  new  minister 
(W.  Bentley,  1868)  to  help  Samuel  Brawn.  The  old 
minister  watched  his  assistant  from  an  armchair  on  the 
platform,  'snorting  at  any  questionable  doctrine'. 
Whitley  helped  to  collect  for  the  church  soup  kitchen. 
His  mother  did  missionary  work  among  the  gipsies  of 
Epping  Forest. 

In  1880  the  church  had  193  members  and  210 
Sunday  school  children,  with  a  minister  and  two 
evangelists.'"  It  was  and  remains  one  of  the  strongest 
nonconformist  churches  in  the  district.  Membership 
was  181  in  1900  and  the  Sunday  school  had  risen  to 
356."  In  1920  there  were  21 1  members.'^  A  decline 
to  164  in  1930  has  subsequently  been  reversed  and  in 
195 1  there  were  181  members  and  143  pupils.'^ 
Except  for  brief  vacancies  there  has  always  been  a 
resident  minister.  Although  still  closely  connected 
with  the  Baptist  Union  the  church  is  now  a  united 
free  church,  known  as  Loughton  Union  Church. 

Associated  with  the  church  are  the  Lincoln  Alms- 
houses.'* Henry  Lincoln,  by  his  will  proved  in  191 2, 
left  £1,300  in  trust  to  build  five  small  almshouses  to 
be  let  at  low  rents  to  people  over  50  years  old  who  had 
attended  the  church  for  the  past  ten  years.  The  alms- 
houses were  built  opposite  the  church.  The  sum  of 
£99  17/.  was  received  during  the  Second  World  War 
in  local  savings  weeks,  and  the  income  from  this. 


together  with  £20  16/.  in  rents  from  four  cottages,  and 
with  donations,  brought  in  £1 16  i  is.  \d.  in  1950.  It 
was  all  spent  on  repairs  and  maintenance. 

The  founder  of  Methodism  in  Loughton  was 
Edward  Pope,  who  came  to  the  district  in  1873,  when 
the  nearest  Methodist  church  was  at  Wanstead.'s  In 
that  year  he  took  over  a  small  disused  chapel  in  Englands 
Lane.'*  Among  the  first  converts  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fred  Smith,  whose  nephews  later  became  the  famous 
gipsy  evangelists.  The  chapel  was  placed  on  the  plan 
of  the  Hackney  (Wesleyan)  Methodist  circuit  in  1874 
and  five  years  later  became  part  of  the  newly  formed 
Wanstead  and  Woodford  circuit.  In  1880  land  was 
purchased  on  a  more  central  site  in  Forest  Road,  and 
an  iron  church  erected  there,  at  a  total  cost  of  £697. 
In  1885  the  land  was  sold  for  £250  and  a  new  site  in 
the  High  Road  was  bought  for  £300.  The  iron  church 
soon  proved  inadequate  and  in  1903  a  new  brick 
church  with  a  schoolroom  was  built  for  £3,300,  of 
which  £1,000  was  borrowed  from  an  insurance 
company.  This  church  was  opened  in  1903  (see  plate 
facing  p.  1 13). 

In  1934  the  minister  at  Buckhurst  Hill  (see  Chig- 
well)  was  transferred  to  Loughton  at  the  request  of  the 
latter  church.  In  1934  also  it  was  decided  to  build  a 
new  hall  behind  the  church  on  land  given  nine  years 
before  by  Sir  Joseph  Lowrey.'^  The  hall  was  opened 
in  1936.  It  cost  £3,880,  of  which  £2,024  were 
raised  by  donations.  In  1944  it  was  totally  destroyed 
by  a  bomb,  and  other  church  premises  were  badly 
damaged. 

In  1946  further  land  was  bought  and  a  scheme  was 
drawn  up  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  hall.  The  work 
was  to  be  done  in  three  stages.  The  second  of  these 
was  completed  in  June  1952,  when  the  new  Wesley 
Hall  was  opened.  The  present  (1953)  membership 
of  the  church  is  159.  The  church  is  of  red  brick  in 
gothic  style.  The  chapel  in  England's  Lane  still  exists, 
having  been  converted  into  dwellings  called  Kirk 
Cottages.  It  is  a  small  building  of  stock  brick  probably 
dating  from  the  middle  of  the  19th  century  and  some- 
what similar  in  appearance  to  the  former  Congrega- 
tional Chapel  at  Abridge  (in  Lambourne,  q.v.).'* 

In  June  1946,  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
Methodist  General  Purposes  Committee,  it  was 
decided  to  negotiate  for  a  site  on  the  new  London 
County  Council  estate  at  Debden.  In  1949  a  trust  was 
formed  and  in  1950  land  was  offered  by  the  L.C.C. 
for  £785.  The  first  part  of  the  building,  costing- 
£7,000,  was  opened  in  July  1952.  The  money  came 
from  compensation  for  a  bombed  church  in  Waltham- 
stow.  In  March  1953  it  was  decided  to  apply  for  a 
deaconess.  The  church  is  at  present  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  Loughton  minister  and  has  a  member- 
ship of  19. 

Soon  after  the  Methodists  moved  to  Forest  Road 
their  former  chapel  in  England's  Lane  was  taken  over 
by  the  Baptists,  who  held  services  there  under  the 
leadership  of  James  Herbert  Tee,  a  local  solicitor,  from 


w  Kelly't  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

■  Cath.Dir.  (1954.),  128. 

>  G.  L.  Turner,  Orig.  Rea.  of  Early 
Nonconformity^  ii,  929. 

3  Evang.  Mag.  xxii,  66.  For  the  site 
see  Waller,  Loughton^  i,  145. 

*  Baptist  Mag.  1818,  39. 

s  W.  T.  Whitley,  Baptists  of  London, 
147;  Bapt.  Handhlt.  1869. 

'  Ibid. 

'  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2. 


'  Bapt.  Mag.  i860,  453;  ibid.  1861, 
165. 

9  Bapt.  Hist.  Soc.  Trans,  n.s.  x,  56. 

'0  Bapt.  Handbk.  1880. 

"  Ibid.  1900.  '2  Ibid.  1920. 

'3  Ibid.  1930,  1951. 

'«  Char.  Com.  Files. 

'5  The  following  account  is  based  on  an 
address  by  A.  W.  Leach  at  Wanstead, 
Dec.  1919  (reported  in  Mins.  of  Local 
Preachers    Mtg.,   Wanstead   and   Wood- 

123 


ford  Circuit),  Trust  Deeds  and  other 
church  records.  Cf.  also  Methodism  in 
Loughton  igo3—53  (Jubilee  pamphlet). 

"6  It  is  said  to  have  been  a  Congrega- 
tional chapel.  Nothing  is  known  of  its 
earlier  history. 

"  He  was  Director  of  the  Salvage 
Association,  London,  and  lived  at  the 
Hermitage,  Loughton. 

»8  It  was  built  after  1850:  cf.  E.R.O., 
D/CT  225. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


1884  to  1889."  About  the  same  time  Anglican  mission 
services  were  being  held  by  Mrs.  John  Pelly  in  a  room 
over  the  coach  house  at  Goldings  Hill  House.  These 
services  vi'ere  primarily  for  poor  people  who  might 
have  hesitated  to  attend  a  regular  place  of  worship 
owing  to  lack  of  suitable  clothes.  About  1887  Mrs. 
Pelly  left  Loughton  and  her  congregation  transferred 
to  the  Englands  Lane  chapel.  In  1889  J.  H.  Tee  and 
his  associates  erected  the  present  iron  church  at  the 
corner  of  Englands  Lane  and  Goldings  Hill.  The 
trust  deeds  of  the  new  church  made  strict  provision 
that  the  Goldings  Hill  Mission  should  be  undenomina- 
tional in  character.  Tee  remained  superintendent  of 
the  mission  until  his  death  in  1909.  He  has  had 
several  successors,  of  whom  Mr.  E.  S.  Currey  (c. 
1925-40)  was  superintendent  for  the  longest  period. 

Other  nonconformist  places  of  worship  are  the 
Forest  Mission  Hall,  High  Beech  Road,  belonging  to 
the  Plymouth  Brethren  and  the  Lincoln  Hall,  built  in 
19 1 2  and  presented  to  the  Loughton  Brotherhood  by 
Henry  Lincoln.^"  A  Congregational  church  is  now 
(1953)  being  built  in  Borders  Lane,  Debden,  with  sup- 
port from  the  Loughton  Union  Church.^' 

The  earliest  surviving  court  roll  of  the  manor  of 

Loughton  is  for  1 270." 

PARISH  GOFERNMENT    The  next  is  for  1400, 

AND   POOR  RELIEF  and  there  are  later  rolls 

recording  the  proceed- 
ings of  courts  held  on  eleven  occasions  in  the  period 
1404-69.^3  There  are  rolls  for  1 5 1 1,  1538,  1585,  and 
1593.^  A  roll  for  the  period  1 570-1602  was  used  as 
evidence  in  connexion  with  the  Epping  Forest  Com- 
mission in  the  1870's  but  could  not  be  found  in 
1894-5.25  Rolls  and  court  books  for  1609-1865 
existed  in  the  1890's  when  full  abstracts  from  them 
were  made  by  W.  C.  Waller.^s  So  far  as  it  relates  to 
the  period  after  1609  the  present  survey  is  based  upon 
these  abstracts,  not  the  original  roUs.^^ 

The  medieval  rolls  contain  nothing  unusual  in  con- 
nexion with  local  government.  They  note  the  appoint- 
ment of  manorial  officials,  the  regulation  of  minor 
nuisances  such  as  foul  ditches  and  of  the  descent  of 
copyhold  tenements.  There  are  also  a  few  entries 
relating  to  petty  civil  suits.^* 

Although  few  rolls  have  survived  for  the  i6th 
century  there  is  evidence  that  courts  were  held  regularly 
(perhaps  once  a  year)  after  the  manor  had  passed  to  the 
Crown.29  The  series  that  began  in  1609  was  ap- 
parently complete  apart  from  some  gaps  in  the  period 
1609-59.  Courts  leet  were  usually  held  once  a  year 
until  about  1780,  when  they  became  less  frequent. 
The  last  was  held  in  1828.  The  court  retained  its 
vitality  for  much  longer  than  in  many  places.  The 
reason  was  probably  the  survival  of  Epping  Forest. 
The  main  business  of  the  court  during  its  last  300 
years  was  to  administer  the  customs  relating  to  the 
lopping  rights  of  the  tenants.  The  conditions  under 
which  these  rights  of  estover  were  exercised  were 


frequently  restated  in  the  court.  The  rights  were 
traditionally  limited  to  those  holding  ancient  tene- 
ments. Lopping  was  permitted  only  between  i 
November  and  23  April  and  might  be  done  only  on 
Mondays.30  The  wood  had  to  be  removed  on  sledges, 
wheeled  carts  being  forbidden,  and  no  lopper  might 
employ  more  than  two  horses  to  draw  his  sledge.  As 
late  as  1828  there  were  presentments  for  cutting  wood 
on  days  other  than  Mondays,  and  for  using  wheeled 
carts.  Encroachments  on  the  waste  of  the  manor  (often 
the  forest)  were  presented  at  the  leet.  Usually  they 
were  allowed  to  remain  on  payment  of  a  small  fine,  but 
sometimes  (as  in  1794)  the  court  ordered  inclosures  to 
be  thrown  open.  There  were  frequent  presentments 
of  foul  ditches  and  of  clay  pits  that  had  been  allowed 
to  become  full  of  water.  On  one  occasion  a  tenant  was 
ordered  to  make  two  foot-bridges.  In  1721  it  was 
ordered  that  each  alehouse  keeper,  baker,  and  potter 
within  the  manor  should  pay  40/.  a  year  to  the  poor 
for  the  forest  wood  which  he  used  in  his  trade.  The 
court  habitually  appointed  two  constables  and  two 
woodwards.  It  was  sometimes  stated  that  one  of  the 
woodwards  was  elected  by  the  tenants  and  the  other 
by  the  lord  of  the  manor  (e.g.  18 17). 

Courts  baron  were  held  at  the  same  time  as  the  courts 
leet  and  on  many  other  occasions.  At  some  periods 
there  were  several  courts  baron  in  a  year  and  they 
continued  to  be  held  regularly  until  1865.  Their 
main  business  was  the  regulation  of  copyhold  tenure, 
but  after  the  leet  had  ceased  to  meet  the  courts  baron 
became  increasingly  concerned  with  grants  of  waste. 
In  1864-5,  when  J.  W.  Maitland  decided  to  inclose 
the  forest,  the  manor  court  was  used  for  the  purpose 
of  making  grants  of  waste  in  extinguishment  of  com- 
mon rights. 3'  After  a  long  interval  the  court  was  held 
once  more  in  October  1 891,  when  some  copyhold 
business  was  transacted. ^^  One  tenant  complained  of 
encroachments  on  his  land  and  the  bailiff  of  the  manor 
was  ordered  to  cause  them  to  be  abated.  No  evidence 
has  been  found  of  any  later  court. 

The  manorial  pound  was  near  the  manor  house 
(Loughton  Hall).   It  still  existed  in  1895.33 

A  vestry  minute-book  survives  for  the  period 
1720—41.34  In  each  year  of  that  period  there  were 
two  regular  meetings,  at  Easter  for  the  approval  of  the 
accounts  of  the  parish  overseer  of  the  poor,  the  church- 
wardens and  constables,  and  for  the  appointment  of 
churchwardens  and  the  nomination  of  the  overseer, 
and  on  26  December  for  the  nomination  of  the  sur- 
veyors of  highways.  As  noted  above  the  appointment 
of  constables  continued  to  be  made  in  the  manor  court 
until  the  19th  century.  In  1724,  1725,  and  1738  these 
were  the  only  meetings.  In  other  years  additional 
meetings  were  held  when  required.  In  1726  there 
were  nine  meetings.  The  number  of  those  signing  the 
minutes  varied  from  4  to  19.  At  the  Easter  vestry, 
which  was  best  attended,  lo-i  2  usually  signed.  There 
were    two    rectors    during    this    period,    Christopher 


"  The  following  account,  supplied  by 
Mr.  William  Addison,  is  from  a  type- 
script history  of  the  Goldings  Hill  Mis- 
sion, 1889-1939,  compiled  by  R.  E. 
Currey. 

20  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933);  inf.  from 
Mr.  W.  Addison. 

"  Inf.  from  Revd.  M.  N.  Lake. 

"  SC2/173/30. 

»  SC2/173/31-38,  174/42A. 

»  SC2/174/42B,    173/19,    DL/30/61/ 

749- 


25  E.R.O.,  T/P  18. 

2'  They  were  then  in  the  possession  of 
the  Revd.  J.  W.  Maitland.  Their  present 
location  is  now  (1953)  being  investigated 
by  the  National  Register  of  Archives. 

"  E.R.O.,  T/P  18. 

2*  For  fuller  details  see  Waller,  Loughton, 
1,46. 

29  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  4.6. 

30  The  opening  date  was  altered  to  12 
Nov.  in  1753:  see  above,  Preservation  of 
Epping  Forest. 

124 


3^  For  the  Epping  Forest  question  see 
above. 

32  E.R.O.,  T/P  131.  It  is  evident  from 
the  proceedings  of  the  court  of  1891  that 
there  had  been  no  court  since  1868  or 
earlier. 

33  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  i. 

34  E.R.O.,D/P  233/8/1.  The  book  was 
used  by  Waller,  Loughton,  \,  149—53.  ^' 
contains  a  single  entry,  out  of  order,  of  1 
meeting  in  July  1743. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


Sclater  (1706-35)  and  his  son  William  Sclater  (1735- 
78).  Each  regularly  attended  the  vestry  and  usually 
kept  the  minutes.  Mrs.  EKzabeth  Wroth  of  Loughton 
Hall  was  also  a  regular  attendant  until  her  death  in 
1738,  and  she  frequently  signed  the  minutes  first. 
The  parish  clerk  does  not  figure  prominently  in  these 
minutes.  There  is  no  evidence  that  he  was  paid  a  cash 
salary,  but  there  was  a  piece  of  land  attached  to  his 
office.35  All  parish  expenses  except  the  repair  of  roads 
seem  to  have  been  normally  met  out  of  a  single,  over- 
seer's rate,  but  special  church  rates  were  sometimes 
levied.  The  overseer's  rate  was  usually  dd.  or  ga'.  in 
the  ^i ;  a  penny  rate  produced  about  [^\o. 

One  churchwarden  was  elected  by  the  rector,  the 
other  by  the  parishioners.  One  usually  retired  each 
year  but  the  same  man  often  held  office  more  than  once 
during  the  period.  Most  of  those  who  served  as 
churchwardens  also  served  in  other  years  as  overseers. 
There  was  only  one  overseer  at  a  time.  In  several  cases 
a  woman  acted  as  overseer.  Mrs.  Wroth  not  only  held 
the  office  but  also  carried  out  her  duties  in  person.  In 
1720  the  magistrates  at  Epping  objected  to  the  inclu- 
sion in  her  account  of  constables'  and  surveyors'  bills, 
but  the  vestry  reiterated  its  support  of  her  action.  The 
surveyors'  bill,  which  comprised  most  of  the  money 
involved,  was  re-entered  in  the  overseer's  account  in 
1722  and  was  then  apparently  passed  by  the  magistrates. 
There  is  very  little  other  information  about  the  sur- 
veyors. It  is  not  even  clear  how  many  were  appointed. 
Nominations  of  persons  suitable  for  the  office  varied 
between  3  and  6.  No  surveyors'  accounts  were  entered 
in  the  vestry  book. 

Between  1720  and  1741  poverty  was  not  a  serious 
problem,  and  was  met  mainly  by  out-relief  in  cash  or 
in  kind.  The  poor  were  provided  with  clothing, 
medical  aid,  home-help,  and  firewood  from  the  forest. 
In  1723  special  allowances  were  made  to  victims  of 
smallpox.  A  few  poor  children  were  bound  ap- 
prentices; usually  they  went  to  masters  within  the 
parish,  but  on  one  occasion  (1720)  the  parish  granted 
{/>,  to  a  widow  to  apprentice  her  daughter  to  a  cook 
in  Shoreditch. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  the  parish  owned  a  poor- 
house  at  this  time.  In  1722  it  was  agreed  'that  the 
overseer  of  the  poor  should  pay  a  year's  rent  ending 
next  Lady  Day  for  the  house  which  Heath  lives  in, 
being  50^.,  and  to  get  it  as  cheap  as  the  officers  can'. 
In  the  following  year  the  vestry  decided  to  repair  'the 
parish  house'.  Accounts  for  this  work  were  allowed 
in  1724  and  1725.  In  1726  it  was  agreed  that  the 
parish  officers  should  forthwith  provide  a  workhouse 
to  keep  the  poor  employed,  and  later  in  the  same  year 
the  vestry  negotiated  with  widow  Dimion  and  her  son 
William  Rich  for  the  house  which  she  held  for  hfe, 
in  order  to  secure  it  as  a  workhouse.  In  1743  it  was 
agreed  that  'Riches  house'  should  be  hired  as  a  work- 
house, which  suggests  that  the  negotiations  of  1726  had 
not  then  been  successful.  In  1726,  however,  the  parish 
had  acquired  a  copyhold  cottage,  formerly  the  tene- 
ment of  George  Baldwin,  for  the  use  of  the  poor.  It 
is  fairly  certain  that  this  became  the  poorhouse  later 
known  as  Baldwins  Buildings. 3* 


35  See  Charities,  below. 

3*  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  1 30. 

3'  E.R.O.,  e/CR  i/i,  1/9,  1/12. 

38  In  1844—69  the  poor  rates  for 
Loughton  were  usually  2J.  in  the  j^i, 
producing  about  ^^00  a  year:  Waller, 
Loughton,  i,  106. 


3«  See  Charities. 

♦»  E.R.O.,  D/P  233/8/2.  Cf.  Waller, 
Loughton,  \,  104-9.  S^^  ^'^^  Church, 
Charities.  ♦'  See  above. 

«  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  i. 

<3  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  102-4,  ii,  47. 

44  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 


Later  details  of  poor  relief  come  from  returns  to 
government  inquiries.37  In  1776  the  poor  rate  pro- 
duced ;^28o,  in  1783  ;^39i,  in  1784  ;^464,  and  in 
1785  /^332.  Between  1801  and  1821  the  sums  varied 
between  ^885  and  ^^491,  being  highest  in  1804  and 
lowest  in  1802.  Not  all  the  money  was  spent  on  poor 
relief.  Administrative  and  legal  expenses,  church 
repairs,  the  county  rate  for  the  maintenance  of  jails 
and  bridges,  and  allowances  to  the  dependants  of 
militia-men  on  active  service  were  all  met  out  of  these 
rates.  Mihtia  allowances  were  heaviest  in  1804  (^^63) 
and  1 813  (^87).  In  18 13-16  inclusive  an  annual 
salary  of  j^20  was  paid  to  the  overseer.  Between  1801 
and  1 8 17  the  amount  actually  spent  on  the  poor  varied 
from  ^785  (1805)  10^442  (1802). 

In  1836  Loughton  became  part  of  the  Epping  Poor 
Law  Union. 3*  Baldwins  Buildings  became  the  pro- 
perty of  that  union  but  were  purchased  by  public  sub- 
scription for  use  as  almshouses  for  the  people  of 
Loughton. 3  9 

After  1836  the  vestry  was  mainly  concerned  with 
the  church,  the  parish  charities,  rating  assessments,  and 
roads.  The  vestry  book  for  1844-69  gives  details  of 
these  and  a  few  other  activities.'*"  In  1865,  when  the 
forest  inclosures  were  being  made,  the  vestry  adopted 
some  of  the  new  roads.  In  the  same  year  it  was  stated 
that  a  manor  court  had  directed  that  the  building 
formerly  used  as  the  parish  cage,  situated  on  the  waste, 
should  be  removed,  and  the  vestry  accepted  an  offer 
of  ;^7  for  the  materials  of  the  building.  The  cage  stood 
opposite  the  'King's  Head'.  In  and  after  1848  the 
vestry  concerned  itself  with  problems  of  drainage  and 
sanitation  through  the  formation  of  a  nuisance  removal 
committee.4' 

A  parish  council  was  elected  for  the  first  time  in 
1 894-5. ■♦^  It  became  an  urban  district  council  in 
1900. 

There  is  said  to  have  been  a  school  in  Loughton  in 
about  175 1,  which  had  existed  for  many 
SCHOOLS  years.  In  1761  the  curate.  Pierce  Dod, 
obtained  subscriptions  from  local  persons 
and  opened  a  school.  Subscriptions  soon  decreased, 
however,  so  that  pupils  remained  few,  only  13  in  1766, 
and  teachers  were  poorly  paid.  Gradually,  with  the 
aid  of  an  annual  sermon,  the  school's  position  was 
improved,'*^  and  in  1807  it  had  20  pupils.  These  were 
all  taught  reading  and  writing  and  the  girls  were  also 
learning  housecraft,  in  accordance  with  the  original 
rules  of  1761.**  By  this  time  local  interest  in  the  school  ■ 
was  increasing.  In  18 10  James  Powell  gave  ;{^io  to 
introduce  the  monitorial  system,  and  a  few  years  later 
two  new  schoolrooms  and  two  teachers'  houses  were 
built  at  a  total  cost  of  ^^500.45  In  18 17  the  school  was 
united  with  the  National  Society,  and  the  number  of 
pupils  increased  rapidly  to  about  100.46 

The  population  of  Loughton  was  growing  rapidly 
at  this  time  and  new  private  schools  were  being  estab- 
lished for  children  of  all  classes.  The  National  School 
also  expanded.  The  number  of  boys  attending  it 
increased  from  48  in  1833  to  75  in  1846-7,  and  o'f 
girls  from  58  to  85.'"  This  was  made  possible  by  the 
enlargement  of  the  building  soon  after  1834,**  and 

-4;  Retm.  Educ. 

819).  «(0- 
1828. 


45  Waller,  op.  cit.  102 

Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  261  (i 

4'  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1820, 

47  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr. 
(1835),  xli;E.R.O.,  D/P 
Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 

48  E.R.'O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 


lOZO. 

H.C.  62,  p.  282 
30/28/19;  A^a/. 
1846-7,  12-13. 


125 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


again  in  i842.'*»  At  this  time  the  children  paid  no  fees 
and  were  sometimes  given  clothes.  In  1838-9  the 
school  received  ^^85  from  subscriptions  and  possibly 
also  part  of  the  £^  2  paid  annually  from  Anne  Whitaker's 
legacy  to  the  Sunday  school,  which  was  administered 
jointly  with  the  National  School.  In  1846-7  the 
master  was  receiving  ^^50  a  year  and  the  mistress  £30.5° 
Between  1851  and  1856  the  school  received  grants 
from  the  government  for  training  pupil  teachers.s' 
but  an  inspection  in  1850  or  185 1  revealed  a  depress- 
ing situation.  The  master,  though  a  decent  man,  was 
untrained  and  in  very  poor  health.  The  mistress  could 
not  work  in  three  figures,  so  that  arithmetic  was  'a 
nullity'.sJ 

In  1863  the  school  was  enlarged  at  a  cost  o{£i,4.S^. 
The  diocesan  board  contributed  £30,  the  National 
Society  £75,  and  local  supporters  the  remainder.  The 
government  refused  help  on  the  ground  that  the  addi- 
tional accommodation  was  unnecessary.  National 
Society  officials  suspected  that  its  real  motive  in  refusing 
aid  was  to  protect  the  position  of  the  local  noncon- 
formist school.  The  school  committee  was  not  able  to 
provide  as  much  new  accommodation  as  they  had 
hoped,53  but  the  rapid  increase  in  the  number  of 
children  attending  the  school,  from  100  in  1862  to 
150  in  1864,  encouraged  the  committee  to  appeal  for 
funds  for  another  classroom.  The  diocesan  board  gave 
£10,  the  National  Society  £15,  and  subscribers  some 
j^zoo.  The  building  was  finished  in  1866.  At  this 
time  the  committee,  with  the  rector  as  chairman,  was 
very  active.  In  1868  it  introduced  gas-lighting,  defray- 
ing the  cost  by  entertainments,  and  in  the  same  year 
set  up  an  infants'  department.  In  1871  the  school 
garden  was  enlarged  by  a  grant  of  land  from  the  rector. 
A  cricket  club  was  started  in  1866,  a  night  school  in 
1868,  and  a  scholars'  bank  in  1872.54  By  1875  the 
average  attendance  was  193.  By  1865  the  school  was 
receiving  an  annual  government  grant. ss  Additional 
income  came  from  school  fees,  local  contributions,  and, 
in  1876,  the  levy  of  a  voluntary  rate.  Teachers'  salaries 
had  been  improved.  The  headmaster,  after  long  ser- 
vice at  the  school,  was  in  1879  receiving  ^^155  a  year, 
with  a  house  allowance  of  ;{^20.  In  1883  the  mistress 
and  the  assistant  master  each  received  ^^40  a  year.  The 
educational  standard  also  improved. 5* 

As  a  result  of  the  Education  Act  of  1870  a  survey 
was  made  of  the  accommodation  in  Loughton  schools. 
The  National  School  was  found  to  have  places  for  134 
boys,  104  girls,  and  42  infants,  which,  with  the  104 
places  at  the  British  School  were  declared  by  the 
government  to  be  sufficient  for  local  needs. 5'  The 
continued  increase  of  population,  however,  soon  made 
further  accommodation  necessary,  and  in  1878-9  the 
government  required  the  National  School  to  provide 
this,  failing  which  a  school  board  would  be  set  up.  This 
led  to  a  fierce  controversy  between  Anglicans  and  non- 
conformists. In  March  1879  the  Anghcans  convened  a 

«  Waller,  Loughton,  i,  102-4.  '*  Woodford     Times, 

50  E.R.O.,   D/P   30/28/19;   Nat.   Soc.       (E.R.O.,  T/P  13). 
Enquiry,  1846-7,  12-13.  '«  E.R.O.,  T/P  13. 

5'  Mint,  of  Educ.  Cttes.  of  Council,  1856 
[2237],  p.  95,  H.C.  (1857,  Sess.  2),  iiiiii. 

5'  Ibid.  1850  [1357],  p.  448,  H.C. 
(1851),  xliv. 

"  Inf.  from  Nat.  Soc. 

54  E.R.O.,  D/P  233/25/1. 

55  Ibid.;  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council, 
1875  [C.  1513-1].  P-  533.  H.C.  (1876), 
xxiii. 

56  E.R.O.,  D/P  233/25/1. 
5'  Chelmsford  Chron.  2  Aug.  1872. 


61  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1886 
[C.  5123-1],  p.  520,  H.C.  (1887),  xxviii. 

"  Gazette,  2  June  191 1  (E.R.O., 
E/ML  51/1);  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899); 
Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.  1902  [Cd.  1490], 
p.  72,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 

6*  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handbk.  1904, 
p.  148. 

'3  Gasutte,  2  June  1911;  inf.  from  Mr. 
William  Addison. 

64  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  (1835),  p.  282; 


parish  meeting  to  authorize  a  voluntary  rate  for  the 
National  School.  The  meeting  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  widely  publicized  except  among  the  Anglicans. 
The  nonconformists,  suspecting  that  this  had  been 
deliberately  contrived  in  order  to  prevent  their  atten- 
dance and  probable  opposition  to  the  rate,  arrived  at 
the  meeting  in  full  force,  led  by  C.  H.  Vivian,  the 
Baptist  minister.  After  a  heated  debate  the  voluntary 
rate  was  abandoned. 5*  During  1879  ;^300  was  raised 
by  subscription  and  by  1882  the  school  enlargement 
fund  stood  at  ^^400  out  of  an  estimated  £500  required." 
By  1886  the  school  had  been  extended  to  provide  342 
places.*"  Even  this,  however,  was  insufficient  for  the 
growing  town,  and  in  1887  the  government  insisted 
on  the  formation  of  a  school  board.  In  the  same  year 
the  managers  of  the  National  School  transferred  their 
building  to  the  board.  When  the  Board  School  was 
opened  in  1888  the  former  National  School  was  used 
for  girls  and  infants,  the  boys  being  accommodated  in 
the  new  school.  In  1891  the  infants  were  moved  to  a 
new  building  in  Staples  Road,  the  girls  remaining  at 
the  old  school.*'  In  1904  there  were  240  girls,  though 
the  accommodation  was  then  estimated  at  only  210 
places.*^  In  1907  the  board  resolved  to  build  a  new 
girls'  school  in  Staples  Road.  When  this  was  com- 
pleted in  igii  the  former  National  School  was  ap- 
parently no  longer  used  for  educational  purposes. 
About  1938—9  it  was  demolished  to  provide  a  site  for 
Ashley  Grove  flats,  which  stand  on  the  corner  of  York 
Hill  and  Staples  Road.^J 

The  British  School  was  established  between  1839 
and  1845.  It  may  have  originated  in  a  Sunday  school 
which  was  being  held  by  the  Baptists  in  1833  and 
1839.^4  A  mistress  was  in  charge,  apparently  until 
1865  when  a  master  was  appointed.  He  seems  to  have 
done  much  to  improve  discipline,  attendance,  and 
standards  of  work,  winning  the  approval  of  the 
inspector,  Matthew  Arnold.  The  latter  reported  in 
1867  that  87  children  had  been  presented  for  examina- 
tion, that  the  average  attendance  for  the  year  had  been 
69  and  that  the  building  and  stafl^  would  need  enlarge- 
ment if  the  number  of  pupils  continued  to  grow.*' 
There  was  some  increase  in  attendance  during  the 
next  20  years.**  The  government  grant  rose  from  ^^40 
in  1872  to  ^62  in  1886.*'  In  1887  the  managers 
transferred  the  school  to  the  new  school  board,  which 
closed  the  British  School  in  1888.*^  The  building  has 
subsequently  been  used  for  a  variety  of  industrial  pur- 
poses. It  is  of  red  brick,  single-storied,  and  has  a  slate 
roof 

In  1887  the  new  school  board  built  a  school  at  the 
east  end  of  Staples  Road,  giving  accommodation  for 
320  boys.  The  cost  was  about  ^6,000.  In  1891  a 
new  infants'  department  was  built  beside  the  boys' 
school,  giving  a  total  accommodation  of  about  540.*' 
In  1899  there  was  an  average  attendance  of  169 
infants  and  197  boys.'"  The  infants'  department  was 

Mar.  1879  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19;  Kelly's  Dir. 
£iKr  (1845). 

65  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1845,  1862); 
While's  Dir.  Essex  {1848,  1863),  E.R.O., 
E/ML  51/1. 

6'  Chelmsford  Chron.  2  Aug.  1872;  Rep. 
of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1886,  p.  520. 

6'  Ibid. ;  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council, 
1872  [C.  812],  p.  408,  H.C.  (1873),  xxiv. 


June     1911;     E.R.O., 


68  Gazette, 
E/ML  51/2. 
6»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/252, 
'»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 


126 


Former  Village  School  at  Greenstead 
Built  c.  1846 


County  Primary  School:  High  Oncar 
Built  1867 


LoucHTON  County  High  School  for  Cjirls 
Built  1908 


LucTON  Secondary  Modern  School,  Debden 
Built  1950 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


LOUGHTON 


enlarged  in  1906  to  provide  360  places."  In  191 1  a 
girls'  department  was  added  to  the  Staples  Road  build- 
ings, with  accommodation  for  316.'^  In  that  year 
there  was  an  average  attendance  of  231  boys,  231 
infants,  and  181  girls^^  A  former  pupil,  Mr.  W.  R. 
Francies,  has  recently  recorded  that  the  headmaster  at 
this  period,  George  Pearson,  was  a  man  of  vivid 
personality  who  left  the  school  in  191 3  to  become  one 
of  the  earliest  film  producers.  The  then  second  master, 
Herbert  Lebbon,  ran  a  string  orchestra  at  the  school, 
and  to  encourage  this  Mr.  (later  Sir)  Joseph  Lowrey 
present  three  violins  to  the  School  every  year.''* 

In  1929  there  was  an  average  attendance  of  213 
boys,  152  infants,  and  185  girls.  In  1938  the  school 
was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants. '5  In 
May  1952  there  were  345  children  and  8  teachers  in 
the  infant  school  and  594  children  and  16  teachers  in 
the  junior  school.'*  The  buildings  are  chiefly  of  red 
and  yellow  brick,  with  tiled  roofs.  Prefabricated  huts 
have  been  added  recently. 

Secondary  education  for  boys  was  provided  after 
1902  by  means  of  scholarships  to  Loughton  school,  a 
private  school  then  run  by  William  Vincent  (see 
below).'7  Since  1938  Loughton  boys  have  gone  to 
Buckhurst  Hill  County  High  School  (see  Chigwell). 

Loughton  County  High  School  for  girls  was  opened 
in  January  1906  in  a  house  in  York  Hill.'*  There 
were  then  29  girls,  under  a  headmistress  and  one 
assistant  mistress,  and  there  was  also  a  visiting  science 
master.  In  May  1908  the  first  part  of  the  present  build- 
ing in  Alderton  Hill  was  opened,  and  in  191 2  the 
average  attendance  was  118."  Temporary  buildings 
were  added  in  1917.  In  1922  a  swimming-bath  was 
added  and  in  1923  the  first  part  of  a  new  permanent 
wing  was  built.  By  1929  there  was  accommodation 
for  450  girls. 8°  In  1930  a  new  assembly  hall  was  built 
and  the  final  part  of  the  new  wing  added.  Playing- 
field  space  has  been  increased  from  time  to  time.  There 
are  now  (1954)  approximately  550  pupils  and  the 
staff,  including  the  headmistress,  numbers  30. 

The  Loughton  County  Secondary  Modern  School, 
Roding  Road,  was  opened  as  a  senior  school  in  1938, 
when  it  had  places  for  520.  In  1949  huts  were  added 
to  provide  a  further  150  places.  In  May  1952  there 
were  26  teachers  and  485  pupils.*' 

As  a  result  of  the  building  of  the  Debden  estate  since 
1945  there  have  been  a  number  of  new  schools.  The 
educational  programme  is  still  (1953)  incomplete.*^ 
Fairmead  County  Secondary  Modern  School  (Mixed), 
Pyrles  Lane,  was  opened  in  September  1949.  In  May 
1952  there  were  27  teachers  and  977  pupils.  Lucton 
County  Secondary  Modern  School  (Mixed),  Borders 
Lane,  was  opened  in  June  1950.  In  May  1952  there 
were  24  teachers  and  501  pupils.  St.  Nicholas  County 
Primary  School  (Mixed  Juniors  and  Infants),  Borders 
Lane,  was  opened  in  February  1948.  In  May  1952 
there  were  12  teachers  and  428  pupils  in  the  junior 
school  and  13  teachers  and  445  pupils  in  the  infant 
school.    Alderton   County   Primary   School   (Mixed 


Juniors  and  Infants),  Alderton  Hall  Lane,  was  opened 
in  September  1952.  In  November  1952  there  were  1 1 
teachers  and  396  pupils  in  the  junior  school  and 
1 1  teachers  and  355  pupils  at  the  infant  school.  White 
Bridge  County  Primary  School  (Mixed  Juniors  and 
Infants),  Greensted  Road,  was  opened  in  September 

1952.  In  November  1952  there  were  7  teachers  and 
235  children  in  the  junior  school  and  7  teachers  and 
278  children  in  the  infant  school.  Pyrles  Lane  County 
Primary  School  (Mixed  Juniors  and  Infants)  is  regarded 
by  the  Ministry  of  Education  as  part  of  Chingford 
Forest  View  Camp  School,  which  was  opened  in 
January  1950.  In  January  1953  the  school  was 
temporarily  situated  in  Fairmead  Secondary  School. 
Loughton  Hall  County  Primary  School  (Infants), 
Rectory  Lane,  is  a  temporary  school,  opened  in  May 
1950.  In  May  1952  there  were  7  teachers  and  232 
pupils. 

There  have  been  many  private  schools  in  Loughton. 
In  1833-9  there  seem  to  have  been  two  private 
boarding-schools,  one  or  two  middle-class  day  schools, 
and  three  or  more  dame  schools. *3  One  of  these  may 
have  been  the  school  at  Algers  House  which  was  con- 
ducted by  the  curate,  one  Rogers.**  Between  about 
1850  and  about  1870  a  school  was  run  by  the  Misses 
Brawn,  daughters  of  Samuel  Brawn,  the  Baptist 
Minister. *5  Miss  Fanny  Hogard  kept  a  girls'  school  in 
1870-4.**  In  1878  there  was  a  school  for  boys  kept 
by  J.  C.  Holloway.*'  This  was  known  in  1886  as 
Madras  Hall  and  was  'a  middle  class  school  for  the  sons 
of  gentlemen'.**  By  1890,  as  Madras  House  School, 
it  had  been  taken  over  by  William  Vincent,  who 
shortly  afterwards  acquired  Loughton  School,  High 
Road.89 

Loughton  School  was  opened  in  1890  under  the 
name  of  St.  John's  College,  Loughton.  Unlike  many 
private  schools  it  was  specially  built  for  its  purpose. 
The  proprietor  and  headmaster  was  the  Revd.  W.  L. 
Wilson,  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge.  The  school 
was  planned  on  ambitious  lines.'"  The  Bishop  of  St. 
Albans  was  patron  and  there  was  a  council  which 
included  Col.  Lockwood,  M.P.,  of  Bishops  Hall  in 
Lambourne  (q.v.).  Among  the  subjects  taught  were 
Latin,  Greek,  German,  French,  Science,  and  Book- 
keeping. 'Many  pupils  take  up  commercial  pursuits 
and  a  large  number  join  the  ranks  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession, some  proceed  to  the  universities,  to  the  naval 
service  and  the  Indian  Civil  Service.'  There  were  some 
pupils  from  the  continent.  Soon  after  its  foundation 
the  school  was  acquired  by  WiUiam  Vincent,  who 
remained  owner  and  headmaster  until  his  retirement 
in  1924."  The  school  has  been  recognized  as  efficient 
by  the  Ministry  of  Education  since  1907.  There  were 
140  boys  in  1924,  168  in  1952,  and  190  in  September 

1953.  There  are  seven  forms,  of  which  the  first  is  for 
boys  of  ages  7  to  10.  Beside  the  headmaster  there  are 
seven  trained  and  qualified  masters  and  one  part-time 
master.'^  Other  private  schools  have  existed  for  short 
periods  in  Loughton. '3 


"  Ibid.  (1910). 

"  Ibid.  (1922). 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/252. 

'*  'Staples  Road.  School',  IVest  Essex 
GaK.  16  Jan.  1953;  inf.  from  Mr.  Francies. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/252. 

"  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

"  If'est  Essex  Gaz.  16  Jan.  1953. 

''  This  account  has  been  supplied  by 
Miss  M.  E.  Heald,  headmistress  of  the 
school;  and  see  plate  facing  p.  127. 


'»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1912). 

8»  Ibid.  (1929). 

"  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

82  The  following  account  is  based  on 
information  from  the  Min.  of  Educ, 
Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  and  Miss  E.  A. 
Phillips,  Headmistress  of  Loughton 
Staples  Road  Infant  School. 

83  Educ.  Enquiry  Abstr.  (1835),  p.  282; 
E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

8*  E.R.O.,  T/P  13  i. 


85  Kelly's    Dir.    Essex    (1855,     1862); 
Bapt.  Hist,  Soc.  Trans,  n.s.  x,  56. 
8'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  ( 1 870,  1 874). 

87  Ibid.  (1878).   . 

88  Ibid.  (1886). 

89  Ibid.  (1890). 

»»  E.R.O.,  Avery  Coll.  Loughton. 
9'  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  E.  Winkworth,  the 
present  Headmaster. 
9^  Ibid. ;  School  Prospectus. 
"  Kelly  Dir.  Essex,  passim. 


127 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Robert  Rampston,  by  will  dated  1585,  left  to  the 
poor  of  Loughton  ^^i  a  year  issuing 
CHARITIES'"*  from  Stone  Hall  Farm  in  Little 
Canfield.  In  1834  the  money  was 
spent  on  bread  which  was  distributed  after  church  one 
Sunday  in  the  spring  to  those  poor  parishioners  who 
had  attended  the  service.  In  1872  it  was  decided  that 
flannel  was  a  more  useful  gift  than  bread.  In  1951-2  the 
rent  charge  was  spent,  together  with  the  income  from 
the  following  six  charities,  on  coal  and  clothing  tickets. 

In  1 8 1 3  the  Rector  of  Loughton  was  admitted  as 
tenant  of  3  acres  formerly  waste  of  the  manor,  to  hold 
to  the  use  of  the  poor  to  grow  potatoes  or  other 
vegetables. '5  The  land  was  to  be  divided  into  allot- 
ments. In  1 817  he  was  admitted  to  another  3  acres 
for  the  same  purpose.  In  1834  the  land  was  divided 
into  48  gardens,  each  let  at  2S.  (yd.  a  year,  and  the 
income  was  spent  on  fencing  and  on  twelve  prizes  for 
good  cultivation.  The  Potato  Ground  lies  north-west 
of  Whitaker's  Almshouses  at  Goldings  Hill  and  in 
1952  was  divided  into  80  plots,  let  at  312'.  a  rood.  The 
total  rent  of  ^^i  2  1 2J.  was  spent  on  maintenance  and 
management. 

Anne  Whitaker,  by  will  proved  1825,  left  £;i,200 
stock  in  trust  for  ^^40  to  be  spent  each  year  on  the 
charity  school  and  the  rest  of  the  income  given  to  the 
deserving  poor,  with  preference  to  women  lying  in. 
In  1905  the  two  parts  of  the  charity  were  separated 
and  the  Eleemosynary  Charity  was  given  an  endow- 
ment of  ^^380  stock.  In  195 1-2  the  income  was 
spent  on  coal  and  clothing  tickets. 

Miss  Whitaker  also  left  j{^i,ooo  to  repair  the  poor- 
house.'*  In  1847  most  of  this  money  was  spent  on 
building  six  two-roomed  almshouses  under  one  roof, 
to  the  north-west  of  Arewater  Green  at  Goldings 
Hill.  The  remaining  ^115  formed  the  permanent 
endowment  of  the  almshouses.  To  this  additions  have 
been  made  by  the  charities  of  Jane  M.  Waller  and 
Olivia  Houghton  (see  below)  and  in  the  Second  World 
War  the  charity  also  received  Savings  Certificates 
worth  ;^iio,  raised  in  local  savings  weeks.  Part  of 
this  last  sum  has  been  spent  on  electric  lighting.  Part 
of  the  almshouse  garden  is  now  let  as  allotments  with 
the  neighbouring  Potato  Ground  (see  above).  The 
almswomen,  who  hve  rent  free,  usually  receive  part  of 
the  other  parish  charities. 

Nicholas  Pearse,  by  will  proved  1825,  left  £50  in 
trust  for  the  poor  of  the  parish.  In  1834  it  was  reported 
that  the  income  was  distributed  every  two  or  three 
years  to  poor  parishioners  selected  by  the  vestry.  In 
195 1-2  the  dividend  of  ^^i  \s.  %d.  was  spent  on  coal 
and  clothing. 

In  1834  an  inscription  in  the  church  recorded  the 
existence  of  Poor's  Piece,'^  comprising  part  of  the 
glebe  land  in  Round  Mead.  In  that  year  the  rector 
paid  ;£3  rent  for  it,  which  was  distributed  with  the 
income  from  Rampston's  Charity.  In  191 7  the  land 
was  sold  for  £,\io  stock.  In  195 1-2  this  produced  a 
dividend  of  £■},  which  was  spent  on  coal  and  clothing. 

Sarah  Pearse,  by  will  proved  before  1846,  left  ^50 
to  be  invested  for  the  poor  of  the  parish.  In  195 1-2 
the  income  of  ,{^1  6s.  was  spent  on  coal  and  clothing. 

The  above  seven  charities,  together  with  Olivia 
Houghton's  (see  below),  are  in  practice  administered 
together  under  the  name  of  the  Parochial  Charities. 


In  195  1-2  they  yielded  together  ^^9  is.  zd.  This  was 
spent  on  coal  and  clothing  tickets  for  seventeen  people, 
five  of  whom  were  the  inmates  of  Whitaker's  Alms- 
houses and  two  of  Lincoln's  Almshouses  (see  above, 
Protestant  Nonconformity). 

Baldwins  Buildings  or  the  Parish  Houses  were 
founded  as  a  charity  by  a  public  subscription  to  buy 
the  old  parish  workhouse  after  the  Poor  Law  Unions 
were  formed.'*  The  workhouse  was  divided  into  six 
tenements  with  gardens,  which  according  to  the  founda- 
tion deed  of  1837  were  to  be  occupied  free  or  at  low 
rent.  In  1873  five  were  occupied  but  all  were  in  a  very 
poor  condition,  so  they  we're  pulled  down  and  the  land 
was  used  as  allotments.  In  1927  the  land,  then  said  to 
front  on  Wroth's  Path,  was  sold  for  ^^430.  The  charity 
now  holds  over  ^{^500  stock,  the  income  from  which  is 
to  be  spent  on  the  payment  of  weekly  allowances  to 
deserving  parishioners.  In  195 1  £"]  <)s.  6d.  was  spent 
on  coal  for  the  almshouses  and  £6  I  ox.  on  gifts  to  poor 
people. 

Eliza  Watson,  by  will  proved  1871,  left  ^1,000  in 
trust  for  the  purchase  of  bread,  coal,  or  clothing  for 
poor  parishioners.  In  195 1  the  income  oC £27  2S.  Sd. 
was  spent  on  los.  vouchers  and  coal  for  the  almshouses. 

The  Parish  Clerk's  Piece  is  of  unknown  but  ancient 
origin.  It  may  be  identical  with  Sexton  Acre,  mentioned 
in  I  585.99  In  1877  the  parish  clerk  held  a  small  piece 
of  pasture  on  Traps  Hill,  supposedly  by  virtue  of  his 
office.  Its  origin  could  not  then  be  traced.  In  1922  the 
land  was  sold  for  ^^650  which  was  invested  for  the 
benefit  of  the  parish  clerk.  The  income  in  1950  was 
;^24  1 8s.  6d.  and  was  used  for  the  general  expenses  of 
St.  John's,  Loughton. 

Jane  Miller  Waller,  by  will  proved  1882,  left 
^1,000  in  trust  for  distribution  early  each  year  to  the 
six  inmates  of  Whitaker's  Almshouses.  The  endow- 
ment was  augmented  in  1 897  by  £<)0  from  one  of  the 
trustees:  this  was  to  be  spent  with  the  main  fund,  and 
called  the  Longest  Reign  Augmentation  Dole.  In 
1945  the  income  of  £■}!  los.  \d.  was  given  in  cash 
half-yearly  to  the  six  almswomen. 

William  Frederick  Turner,  by  will  proved  1905, 
left  two  bequests  of  ^^250  in  trust  for  the  purchase  of 
boots  for  deserving  poor  men  and  of  underlinen  for 
deserving  poor  women,  respectively.  In  195 1  the 
whole  income  was  ^^14  is.  4^.  Nineteen  los.  vouchers 
were  given  away. 

William  Chapman  Waller,  by  will  proved  19 17, 
left  ;^300  in  trust  to  spend  ^i  \s.  a  year  each  on  ser- 
mons at  St.  Mary's  and  St.  John's,  Loughton,  and  ^^i  is. 
a  year  in  gifts  to  two  or  three  deserving  old  parishioners 
of  St.  Mary's,  preferably  Anglicans,  and  an  unspecified 
sum  in  the  same  way  in  St.  John's  parish.  The  lych- 
gate  at  St.  John's  was  to  be  maintained  and  £2  2S. 
spent  on  the  maintenance  of  the  graveyard  there.  In 
1950  the  Vicar  of  St.  Mary's  was  paid  ;^i  is.  for  the 
sermon  and  three  poor  parishioners  of  St.  Mary's 
received  js.  each.  The  churchwardens  of  St.  John's 
received  ^^9  1 5^.  Sd.  in  195 1 ;  ^^i  is.  was  spent  on  the 
sermon  and  £4.  los.  on  mowing  the  churchyard. 

Mrs.  Olivia  Houghton,  by  will  proved  1922,  left 
^300  duty  free  for  the  general  purposes  of  the  Whitaker 
Almshouses.  The  money  was  invested  in  stock  and  in 
1 95 1-2  the  income  of  £13  13/.  6d.  was  handed  over 
to  the  trustees  of  the  almshouses. 


'♦  This  section  is  based  on  Refi.  Com. 
Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216,  pp.  230-2 
(1835),  xxi  (i)  and  Char.  Com.  Files. 
Charities  not  treated  here  will  be  found 


in    the    sections    relating    to    Churches, 
Protestant  Nonconformity,  and  Worthies 
and  Social  Life. 
95  See  Waller,  Loughton,  i,    129.    The 

128 


Potato  Ground  has  also  been  known  as  the 
Potney  Allotment  Ground. 

9'  Ibid,  i,  130.  "  Ibid,  i,  47,  120. 

98  Ibid,  i,  1 30.       99  Ibid,  i,  47, 1 1 1,  &c. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MORETON 


MORETON 


Moreton  is  a  parish  about  3  miles  north  of  Chipping 
Ongar.'  Its  area  is  1,474  acres.^  In  1946  a  small 
detached  part  of  Moreton  (i  acre)  lying  immediately 
to  the  north  of  Bobbingworth  Lodge  was  incorporated 
into  the  parish  of  Bobbingworth. 3  A  detached  part  of 
Magdalen  Laver  (5-6  acres)  still  lies  in  Moreton,  to 
the  north-west  of  High  Laver  Bridge.  An  unusual 
number  of  moated  sites  and  of  pre-i8th-century  houses 
confirms  other  evidence  which  indicates  that  Moreton 
was  formerly  an  important  place  in  the  area.  There 
were  63  inhabited  houses  in  1801,73  in  i8ii,and69 
in  1821.*  In  1801  the  population  was  360. s  By  1851 
it  had  grown  to  544;  then  it  declined  to  378  in  1901.* 
By  1931  it  had  risen  again  to  471  but  in  1951  it  was 
only  411.^  The  soil  is  mainly  Boulder  Clay  but  there 
are  patches  of  London  Clay  and  glacial  gravel. 

The  land  rises  from  about  1 70  ft.  above  sea-level  in 
the  south-west  to  280  ft.  in  the  north-east.  Cripsey 
Brook,  a  tributary  of  the  Roding,  flows  through  the 
south-western  part  of  the  parish  and  forms  a  small  part 
of  the  southern  boundary  at  Moreton  Bridge.  At 
Padlers  End,  J  mile  south-west  of  the  bridge,  are 
several  small  i8th-  and  early- 19th-century  cottages 
and  four  pairs  of  council  houses.  Moreton  Bridge 
Road  enters  the  parish  at  Moreton  Bridge  and  runs 
northward  to  join  the  Fyfield  Road  at  Moreton  End, 
the  main  centre  of  population.  Moreton  End  includes 
some  attractive  groups  of  18th-century  houses.  The 
White  Hart  Inn  at  the  road  junction  may  be  of  16th- 
century  origin.  At  its  east  end  the  first  floor  oversails 
and  is  supported  on  curved  brackets.  It  has  been  altered 
at  var'ous  times.  Opposite  the  'White  Hart'  is  the 
'Nag's  Head',  a  roughcast  early-i8th-century  build- 
ing with  a  moulded  eaves  cornice.  Rose  Cottage  and 
the  Castle  House  Stores  form  another  group  of  the 
same  date.  Part  of  Ivylands,  at  the  Moreton  Bridge 
end  of  the  village,  has  a  pedimented  door  hood  and 
may  be  of  the  i8th  century  or  earlier.  Black  Hall,  also 
known  as  Guildhall  Cottage,^  stands  immediately 
north  of  Ivylands.  From  Moreton  End  the  Harlow 
road  runs  northward.  There  are  five  pairs  of  council 
houses  on  the  west  side  of  this  road.  On  the  east  side 
about  J  mile  farther  north  is  the  site  of  Church  Farm,' 
from  which  a  footpath,  formerly  North  Lane,  leads 
eastward  to  join  Fyfield  Road  at  Makings  Farm. 
Farther  along  on  the  west  side  of  Harlow  Road  is  a 
late-l8th-century  weather-boarded  house,  now  called 
Crispins.  This  is  said  to  have  been  built  on  the  site  of 
the  Castle  Inn'"  and  the  Castle  House  Stores,  now 
moved  to  Moreton  End,  occupied  part  of  it  for  many 
years."  Nearly  opposite  Crispins  is  a  row  of  thatched 
cottages,  apparently  of  early-i8th-century  date.  From 
here  Harlow  Road  runs  north-west  past  the  Congrega- 
tional chapel'^  to  High  Laver  Bridge  while  Mill  Road 
runs  north  past  Moreton  Mill.'s  There  are  two  pairs 
of  council  houses  on  the  road  north  of  the  mill. 


'  O.S.  2\  in.  Map,  sheet  52/50. 

^  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 

3  County    of    Essex    (Rural    Parishes) 
Confirm.  Order  1946. 

*  Census,  1801,  181 1,  1821. 

5  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

«  Ibid. 

'  Census,     1 9 1 1  f . ;    inf.    from    Essex 
County  Council. 

«  See  below,  Church.         »  Ibid. 
»o  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton  (in 
possession  of  rector).   For  the  'Castle*  see 

ES.  IT 


Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex  ijjy, 
plate  xii. 

"  Inf.  from  Miss  Ball. 

"  See  below,  Nonconformity. 

'5  See  below. 

'^  See  below.  School. 

"  See  below,  Church. 

■«  Ibid. 

*'  For  these  manors  see  below. 

'8  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

'»  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Recs. 

^o  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex 

129 


From  Moreton  End  Fyfield  Road  runs  east  past  the 
village  school,''*  a  red-brick  police  house  built  in  195 1, 
and  a  small  cottage  which  has  an  oversailing  gable-end 
and  may  be  of  the  1 6th  or  early  17th  century.  Opposite 
the  cottage  stands  the  rectory.'^  The  church'*  is  im- 
mediately north-east  of  the  rectory.  Opposite  the 
church  is  a  lane  to  Nether  Hall  and  Upper  Hall.'^ 
About  \  mile  farther  along  the  Fyfield  road  is  Makings 
Farm,  a  low  two-story  cottage,  probably  converted 
from  an  18th-century  malt  kiln.'*  Beyond  Makings 
Farm  stands  Hill  Farm,  a  small  timber-framed  house 
of  the  15  th  century.  It  originally  had  an  open  central 
hall  of  two  bays,  flanked  by  cross-wings  to  east  and  west. 
These  have  overhanging  gables  at  the  front  of  the  house 
and  still  exist  more  or  less  in  their  original  form.  A 
ceiling  has  been  inserted  in  the  central  block  and  the 
roof  raised,  so  that  the  ridge  level  is  now  higher  than 
that  of  the  side  wings.  The  moulded  wall  posts  and 
arched  braces  of  a  central  truss  are  visible  on  the 
ground  floor,  but  the  upper  part  of  the  truss  is  missing. 
The  hall  originally  had  a  screens  passage  at  its  east  end 
and  the  roughly  four-centred  head  of  its  front  entrance 
is  still  in  position.  The  east  wing  retains  an  arch-braced 
roof  truss  above  the  first  floor.  It  has  a  king-post  and 
steeply  cambered  tie-beam.  The  rebuilding  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  hall  probably  took  place  in  the  late 
1 6th  or  early  17th  century,  and  the  four-centred  arch 
of  a  fireplace  of  this  date  was  observed  in  1919." 
Both  this  chimney  and  that  at  the  west  end  of  the  house 
have  diagonal  shafts. 

At  Hill  Farm  Fyfield  Road  is  joined  by  a  road 
running  northward  to  Little  Laver.  About  J  mile 
along  this  road  stands  Newhouse,  a  timber-framed 
house  on  a  moated  site,  probably  built  in  the  i6th 
century.  It  retains  original  panelhng  and  a  brick  fire- 
place with  a  moulded  three-centred  arch.  The  farm 
has  a  timber  barn  of  the  same  date. 

In  this  area  of  the  parish  are  several  disused  roads^" 
and  the  sites  of  several  former  houses.  Spencer's 
Hoppet,  north-west  of  Newhouse,  contained  a  house 
from  at  least  the  middle  of  the  14th  century  but  by 
1 840  it  was  only  pasture  land.  The  last  of  its  farm 
buildings  was  taken  down  about  then  by  the  tenant, 
Henry  Clarence.^'  South  of  Newhouse  a  lane  leads 
eastward  to  Greens,  a  timber-framed  house  on  a 
moated  site,  rebuilt  probably  in  the  17th  century. 
From  Greens  a  footpath,  formerly  a  lane,  leads  south- 
east past  a  moated  site  where  Tanner's  Cottage^^ 
formerly  stood,  and  thence  to  join  Fyfield  Road  near 
Embley's  Farm,  a  timber-framed  house  of  the  17th 
or  early  i8th  century  which  may  once  have  been  two 
cottages. 

Just  before  Fyfield  Road  leaves  the  parish  it  is 
joined  by  a  lane  running  southward  past  Harriets  and 
Cross  Leys  to  Bundish  Hall.^3  Stacey's,  which  was 
situated  nearly  opposite  to  Harriets,  is  said  to  have  losj 

J777,  plate  xii. 

21  Cat.  hq.  p.m.  n,  p.  298;  E.R.O., 
D/CT  244.  William  Talbot,  who  lived 
at  Moreton  and  wrote  a  history  of  the 
parish  c.  1885,  said  that  Henry  Clarence 
took  down  the  last  farm  building  in  1833 
but  a  building  was  still  marked  on  the 
Tithe  Map  in  1839. 

"  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  li. 

2'  From  Cross  Leys  to  Bundish  Hall  it 
is  a  green  lane. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  last  of  its  farm  buildings  through  a  gale  in  1834.^* 
Gross  Leys  is  a  timber-framed  house  on  a  moated  site, 
rebuilt  probably  in  the  17th  century,  and  encased  in 
brickwork  in  the  late  1 8th  or  early  19th  century.  There 
is  an  old  timber  barn. 

Bundish  Hall  is  on  the  parish  boundary,  near  its 
southern  extremity. ^5  To  the  west,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Cripsey  Brook,  stands  Wood  Farm  on  the  road 
from  Moreton  to  Shelley.  This  farm,  formerly  South- 
end Farm^*  or  Henhouse  Farm,^'  has  an  1 8th-century 
farm-house. 

The  inhabitants  of  Moreton  were  at  first  responsible 
for  the  upkeep  of  Moreton  Bridge  which  spans  the 
Cripsey  Brook  where  it  forms  the  boundary  between 
the  parishes  of  Moreton  and  Bobbingworth.^*  At  a 
vestry  meeting  held  in  1 76 1  the  parishioners  of  Moreton 
agreed  that  a  new  cart  bridge  should  be  built  in  place 
of  the  old  horse  bridge  and  that,  having  obtained  an 
estimate  of  the  cost  of  a  timber  and  of  a  brick  bridge, 
they  should  meet  the  parishioners  of  Bobbingworth  to 
determine  of  what  materials  it  should  be  built.^'  A 
combined  meeting  took  place  in  May  1762  when  it 
was  agreed  that  the  money  raised  should  be  spent  on  the 
bridge  only  and  that  each  parish  should  'make  their 
way  to  the  bridge  at  their  own  expense'.^o  It  was  also 
agreed  that  work  on  the  bridge  should  begin  im- 
mediately.3'  A  grant  of  ^^30  was  made  from  county 
funds  towards  the  building.^^  By  1783  the  bridge  had 
become  a  county  charge  and  in  the  same  year  it  was 
ordered  that  it  should  be  rebuilt  with  brick  according 
to  the  plan  prepared  by  John  Johnson,  the  county 
surveyor.33  In  1857  the  county  surveyor  described  it 
in  detail.34 

A  postal  receiving  house  was  set  up  at  Moreton  in 
1846  to  serve  the  surrounding  villages;  the  receiver 
was  to  have  £\  a  year  and  a  messenger  i  zs.  a  week.^s 
There  is  now  a  post-office  in  the  village.  The  tele- 
phone service  was  established  in  1927.36  A  police 
officer  is  stationed  in  the  village." 

Water  is  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works C0.3*  There  is  no  sewerage  but  a  site  for  a 
pumping-station  has  been  agreed  on. 3'  Electricity  was 
provided  in  195 1.'"'  The  village  hut  was  built  in 
1920.4'  A  branch  of  the  county  library  was  opened  in 
April  1929.42 

Moreton  has  always  been  a  rural  parish  devoted 
mainly  to  agriculture.  Few  of  the  large  landowners 
have  lived  there.  The  owners  of  Upper  Hall  were 
never  resident  except  possibly  for  a  few  years  after 
1349.45  During  the  whole  of  the  period  1342-1832 
the  owners  of  Nether  Hall  were  not  resident  except  in 
the  time  of  William  Cozens,  lord  of  the  manor  from 
1775  until  1790,  and  even  he  did  not  live  at  the  manor 
house  or  farm  the  main  part  of  the  estate.44   W.  H. 

»4  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton.  30  Inf.  from  Rector  of  Moreton. 

"  See  below.  Manor  of  Bundish  Hall.  4o  j^f.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 

*'  Chapman  and  Andri,  Map  of  Essex 
J777,  plate  xii. 

2'  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  353;  W. 
Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

«  E.R.O.,  <2/SR  175/53;  ibid.  Q/CP3, 
p.  127. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/8/r. 

30  Ibid.  3>  Ibid. 

31  E.R.O.,  Q/SO  10,  pp.  338-9. 

33  Ibid.  Q/SO  13,  pp.  369,  384.      ' 

34  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

35  P.M.G.  Mins.  1 846,  vol.  87,  p.  5. 

36  British  Postal  Guide,  1927. 
3'  Inf.  from  Chief  Constable  of  Essex. 
3'  Inf.   from    Herts.   &   Essex   Water- 
works Co. 


4'  Inf.  from  Rector  of  Moreton. 

42  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

43  See  below,  Manor  of  Upper  Hall. 

44  See  below.  Manor  of  Nether  Hall. 

45  Ibid. 
4'  See  below,  Manor  of  Bundish  Hall; 

E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685. 

47  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  693-737. 

48  E.R.O.,  D/CT  244. 
4»  Ibid.  50  Ibid. 
5>  Ibid.  52  Ibid. 

53  y.C.H.  Essex,  \,  551a. 

54  Cal,  Doc,  France,  ed.  Round,  162. 

55  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

56  E.R.O.,  D/CT  244.    The  woodland, 
which  was  south-east  of  Moreton  Bridge, 


Alger,  lord  of  the  manor  from  1829,  was  resident  at 
the  Hall  by  1840  and  both  he  and  his  son,  who  died 
in  1900,  farmed  most  of  the  estate.45  The  owners  of 
Bundish  Hall  did  not  live  in  Moreton  in  the  middle 
of  the  1 6th  century;  there  is  no  further  evidence  about 
their  place  of  residence  until  1780,  when  the  owner 
was  not  resident.46  After  Richard  Eve  purchased  the 
estate  in  1787  it  was  occupied  by  members  of  the  Eve 
family.47 

In  1840  W.  H.  Alger  owned  256  acres  in  Moreton 
of  which  he  farmed  197  acres  himself.48  J.  H.  Frere 
of  Upper  Hall  owned  246  acres  but  farmed  none  of  it 
himself.49  Bundish  Hall  Farm,  then  owned  by  the 
trustees  of  the  late  J.  Chaplin,  and  occupied  by  W. 
Eve,  consisted  of  166  acres  of  which  107  acres  lay  in 
Moreton. 50  There  were  two  other  substantial  owners 
in  the  parish;  J.  White  owned  Wood  Farm  (153  acres) 
which  he  farmed  himself,  and  E.  F.  Maitland  owned, 
but  did  not  occupy,  Newhouse  Farm  (129  acres).'' 
There  were  three  other  farms  of  over  40  acres. 5^ 

Moreton  has  always  been  a  parish  of  mixed  farming. 
In  1086  there  were  5  plough  teams  in  the  manor, 
woodland  for  400  swine  and  20  acres  of  meadow. 53  In 
the  late  12th  century  the  manor  contained  a  flax 
ground. 54  In  the  i8th  century  there  was  a  malt  kiln 
in  the  parish,  situated  probably  at  the  east  end  of  North 
Lane. 55  In  1838  it  was  estimated  that  there  were 
1,151  acres  of  arable,  273  acres  of  pasture,  and  II 
acres  of  woodland. 5^ 

There  was  once  a  water-mill  on  the  Cripsey  Brook 
near  Padlers  End.  The  mill  house  was  demolished 
about  1860.5'  Moreton  windmill  is  still  standing  but 
ceased  working  about  1932.58  It  is  of  a  type  formerly 
common  in  the  area:  a  weather-boarded  post  mill, 
turned  by  hand,  with  the  base  enclosed  by  a  brick 
'round  house'.  At  the  base  of  the  central  post  are  three 
cross-trees  instead  of  the  more  usual  two.  It  is  said 
that  the  mill  was  formerly  at  Bishop's  Stortford  and 
was  erected  in  Moreton  early  in  the  1 8th  century.'' 
The  central  post  is  dated  17 15  and  1821.*"  The  mill 
was  reroofed  in  191 8.*'  After  it  ceased  working  it  was 
given  by  Messrs.  C.  and  A.  Gould  to  the  Society  for 
the  Protection  of  Ancient  Buildings.*^  In  195 1  one 
sail  came  off  and  another  had  to  be  removed  for  safety.*^ 
The  thatched  mill  house  is  partly  occupied  as  an  office 
for  Messrs.  C.  and  A.  Gould. 

In  about  1885  it  was  said  that  until  1832a  fair  was 
held  in  the  village  annually  on  I  May*4  but  that  'having 
degenerated  from  its  former  social  gathering  into  an 
annual  disorderly  assembly,  an  edict  was  issued  by  the 
magistrates  for  its  abolition  .*5  .  .  .  Mr.  George  Rogers 
of  Upper  Hall**  attended  personally  in  the  village  with 
the  constable  to  force  obedience  to  the  edict,  but  the 
ancient  fair  still  tries  to  lie  on  private  premises.'*' 

was  uprooted  in  1 883  '  to  the  general  regret 
of  the  parish'. 

5'  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

5*  It  was  still  working  in  193 1 :  E.R.  xl, 
130. 

59  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

60  D.  Smith,  English  (Vindmills,  ii,  51. 
«■  Ibid.        '^  S.P.h.^.Ann.Rep.  1933. 
M  Inf.  from  Messrs.  C.  and  A.  Gould. 
64  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton.    It 

did  not  appear,  however,  in  the  lists  of 
Essex  fairs  compiled  in  1780  and  1792: 
Essex,  Herts,  and  Camhs.  Almanack,  1 780; 
Rep.  Com.  Mkt.  Rights  [C.  5550],  p.  161 
(1888),  liii. 

*5  This  order  cannot  be  traced. 

66  See  below,  Manor  of  Upper  Hall. 

"  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 


130 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MORETON 


In  1066  MORETON  was  held  by  Sexi  as  a  manor 
and  as  l  hide  and  20  acres  and  was  worth 
MANORS  £8.**  In  1086  this  was  held  in  demesne 
by  William  de  Scohies  of  the  king  in  chief 
and  was  valued  at  ^^lO.*'  Another  43  J  acres  which  in 
1066  did  not  belong  to  the  manor  of  Moreton  was 
annexed  by  William  and  in  1086  was  held  of  him  by 
Ralf.'o  This  tenement  was  worth  20J.  in  1086  as  in 
1066  but  William  received  30/.  for  it."  In  1283  the 
manor  was  held  of  the  king  in  chief  by  the  service  of 
finding  for  him  when  he  went  into  Wales  for  40  days 
'a  horse  price  10/.,  with  a  leather  sack  and  an  iron 
skewer  for  fastening  the  sack,  for  carrying  a  weight  of 
2  bushels  of  corn,  with  one  man'.'^  The  manor  con- 
tinued to  be  held  of  the  king  in  chief  by  this  petty 
sergeanty  until  at  least  the  middle  of  the  14th  century  .'3 
At  some  date  between  1 1 74  and  1 1 82  the  tenant  of 
the  manor  was  William  d'Avranches.74  In  1 2 1 2  it  was 
held  by  another  William  d'Avranches.'s  He  died  in 
1230  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  William  who  died 
before  the  end  of  1 23  5  .'*  The  heir  of  William  the  son 
was  his  sister  Maud,  wife  of  Hamon  de  Crevequer. 
She  had  one  son,  who  predeceased  his  father,  and  four 
daughters,  Agnes  wife  of  John  de  Sandwich,  Iseult  wife 
of  Nicholas  de  Lenham,  Eleanor  wife  of  Bartholomew 
de  Kyriell,  and  Isabel  wife  of  Henry  de  Gaunt."  On 
Hamon's  death  in  1263  the  manor  fell  to  the  share  of 
the  youngest  daughter  Isabel  and  her  husband.'* 
When  Isabel  died  in  1283,  several  years  after  her 
husband,  she  left  as  her  heirs  her  sister  Eleanor,  John 
de  Lenham  son  of  her  sister  Iseult,  and  Juliane  de 
Sandwich  granddaughter  of  her  sister  Agnes.79  With- 
in a  few  months  the  manor,  which  was  valued  at 
£2^  l2s.  4/,  was  by  order  of  the  king  divided  between 
these  three  heirs.*"  Eleanor  was  assigned  land  to  the 
value  of  34/.*'  The  residue  of  the  manor  and  the  chief 
messuage  were  divided  between  Juliane  and  John, 
two-thirds  of  the  messuage  being  given  to  John  and 
one-third  to  Juliane.*^  Eleanor  seems  to  have  disposed 
of  her  share  in  the  manor  shortly  afterwards  and  its 
rights  and  services  became  divided  equally  between 
John  and  Juliane.  An  inquisition  taken  in  September 
1285  found  that  half  of  the  manor  was  held  by  Robert 
Burnell  as  guardian  of  Juliane  and  half  by  John  de 
Lenham  and  his  wife  Margery.  *3  From  this  date  the 
two  halves  had  separate  histories.  Though  at  first  each 
was  regarded  as  half  a  manor,  they  had  before  1400  be- 
come separate  manors,  eventually  known  as  Bourchiers 
or  Nether  Hall  and  Ladyhall  or  Upper  Hall.  After  the 
division  of  Moreton  manor,  the  services  by  which  it 


had  been  held  of  the  king  were  shared  between  the 
tenants  of  each  half.*^ 

In  1305  John  de  Lenham  granted  a  hfe  interest  in 
his  half  of  Moreton  manor  to  John  de  Burndish,  on 
whose  death  in  1336  it  reverted  to  Eleanor,  wife  of 
John  GifFard  and  niece  of  John  de  Lenham.**  During 
the  next  few  years  John  Gifiard  alienated  a  number  of 
tenements,  some  of  which  were  later  held  of  the  king 
in  chief.**  In  1342  Gifl^ard  conveyed  the  residue  to 
Robert,  afterwards  Lord  Bourchier,  and  to  Robert's 
son  John.*'  When  Robert,  Lord  Bourchier,  died  of 
the  plague  in  1349,  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  John, 
this  'half  of  Moreton  manor',  which  had  been  worth 
;^lo,  was  valued  at  only  ^^6,  the  decline  in  value  prob- 
ably representing  the  general  fall  in  the  value  of  land, 
occasioned  by  the  plague.**  John,  Lord  Bourchier, 
died  in  May  1400,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Bartholomew,  Lord  Bourchier,  who  died  in  i409.*9 
The  sole  heir  of  Bartholomew  was  his  daughter 
Elizabeth  who  died  without  issue  in  1433.'°  In  1430 
the  manor  had  been  settled,  failing  issue  of  Elizabeth, 
on  her  cousin  Henry  Bourchier,  Count  of  Eu  and 
afterwards  Earl  of  Essex."  He  died  in  1483  leaving 
as  his  heir  his  grandson  Henry,  2nd  Earl  of  Essex  (d. 
1 540).'^  The  sole  heir  of  the  2nd  earl  was  his  daughter 
Anne  who  married  William,  afterwards  Baron  Parr, 
by  whom  the  manor  was  conveyed  in  1 542  to  Sir 
Richard  Rich,  afterwards  Baron  Rich.'3  At  this  date 
the  manor  was  described,  for  the  first  time  as  far  as  is 
known,  as  NETHER  HALL  or  BOURCHIERS 
HALL.  Lord  Rich  endowed  the  chantry  which  he 
founded  in  1554  for  the  parishioners  of  Felsted,  Little 
Leighs,  and  Great  Waltham  with  55  acres  of  land  at 
Moreton.'*  On  the  death  of  the  first  baron  in  1567, 
the  manor  passed  to  his  son  Robert,  the  2nd  baron,  and 
afterwards  in  1 581  to  Robert,  the  3rd  baron,  by  whom 
it  was  conveyed  in  1608  to  Robert  Bourne,  lord  of  the 
manor  of  Blake  Hall  in  Bobbingworth  (q.v.).'5  In 
1636  Bourne  (d.  1639)  settled  Nether  Hall  on  his 
second  son  Robert  when  the  son  married  Rose 
Walcott.'*  Alice,  only  child  of  Robert  and  Rose 
Bourne,  and  wife  of  John,  3rd  Baron  Digby,  died  in 
1658."  Robert  Bourne  died  in  1666  having  settled 
the  manor  on  Digby  for  life  with  remainder  to  Martha 
King,  niece  of  Bourne.'*  In  1669  Martha  King  con- 
veyed the  reversion  to  Richard  Bourne  who  in  1682 
granted  it  to  Francis  Drake."  Digby  died  in  1698.' 
In  1699  Thomas  Drake,  heir  of  Francis  Drake,  was 
lord  of  the  manor.^  In  1703  William  Drake  conveyed  ■ 
the   manor   to  Josiah   Woodward,   D.D.,   Rector   of 


*»  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,Siia. 

"  Ibid.  William's  name  was  given  in 
other  documents  as  William  de  Escoiis  and 
William  de  Scociis. 

'<>  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

'*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  293. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  493;  ibid,  viii, 
p.  309  j  ibid,  ix,  pp.  241,  268,  314. 

'■»  Cal.  Doc.  France,  ed.  Round,  162. 

"  Bk.  of  Fees,  1215  Dugdale,  Baronage, 
i,  468.  The  heir  to  the  estates  of  the 
William  d'Avranches  who  held  Moreton 
in  1 174-82  was  Simon  d'Avranches  whose 
heir  was  the  William  d'Avranches  holding 
Moreton  in  1212  but  the  relationship  of 
Simon  to  the  two  Williams  cannot  be 
ascertained. 

"  Ex.  e  Rot.  Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  296; 
Dugdale,  Baronage,  \,  469. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  \,  pp.  171-2. 

'«  Ibid.;  Cal.  Pat.  1258-66,  267. 


"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  293. 

8»  Cal.  Close,  1279-88,  226,  244. 

8>  Ibid. 

»2  Ibid. 

'3  Morant,  Essex,  i,  144.  There  is  no 
evidence  that  either  Eleanor  or  her 
husband  or  their  issue  died  in  possession 
of  any  rights  in  Moreton :  Cal.  Inq.  p.m. 
iii,  p.  168;  ibid,  iv,  pp.  40,  242. 

*■»  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  493;  ibid,  viii, 
p.  309;  ibid,  ix,  pp.  241,  268,  314. 

*5  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  493 ;  Cal.  Pat. 
1334-8,  228. 

»<■  Cal.  Pat.  1338-40,  50,  247;  ibid. 
1340-3,  74i  ibid.  1343-5,  306;  ibid. 
1350-4,  486;  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  47; 
Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ix,  p.  298. 

*'  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  64. 

88  Cal.  Inq,  p.m.  ix,  p.  24 1  j  Complete 
Peerage,  ii,  246. 

89  Ci  37/1 ;  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  247. 

90  Cl 39/59;  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  248. 


"  C139/59;  Cal.  Close,  1429-35,  81, 
216-17. 

'*  C141/3;  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  248-9. 

"  CP25(2)/i3/72  Mich.  34 Hen.  VIII; 
L.  &  P..Hen.  Fill,  xvii,  p.  563. 

9t  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  531-2.  In  1564 
Lord  Rich  converted  the  endowment. to 
educational  purposes. 

"   C142/147/14I,      192/29;      CP25(2)/ 

293  Trin.  6  Jas.  I. 

9'    C  1 42/494/ 1  20. 

9'  E.R.O.,  D/DMg  T31;  Complete 
Peerage,  ii,  322. 

98  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/26-9;  'bid- 
D/DMg  T31;  ibid..D/DDwTi22. 

99  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  T122.  Richard 
Bourne  was  probably  a  cousin  of  the 
Robert  Bourne  who  died  in  1666.  See 
Sepulchral  Memorials  of  Bobbing'worth, 
ed.  F.  A.  Crisp,  30-33. 

^   Complete  Peerage,  ii,  322. 
2  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/5. 


131 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Poplar  (Mdx.).J  By  his  will,  made  in  17 lo,  Josiah 
Woodward  devised  to  his  son  John  the  Nether  Hall 
estate  which  was  then  in  the  occupation  of  Thomas 
Prentice  and  was  estimated  to  contain  '180  acres  land 
and  30  acres  more  called  Moreton  Wood'.*  In  1720 
John  Woodward  sold  the  manor  for  ^^1,750  to 
Ambrose  Page,  a  Director  of  the  South  Sea  Company.' 
At  that  time  the  estate  was  still  in  the  occupation  of 
Prentice  who  rented  it  at  £100  a  year.*  Soon  after- 
wards it  came  into  the  hands  of  the  trustees  liquidating 
the  South  Sea  Company  and  in  1724  they  sold  it  for 
£2,505  to  William  Cole,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Magdalen 
Laver  (q.v.).7  From  1724  until  1766  the  Nether  Hall 
estate  descended  with  the  manor  of  Magdalen  Laver.' 
Both  the  Coles  and  John  Cozens  lived  at  Magdalen 
Laver.'  When  John  Cozens  died  in  1766  the  Nether 
Hall  estate  was  in  the  occupation  of  William  Schooling 
and  James  Edick.'"  Cozens  devised  this  estate  to  his 
second  son  Henry,  a  miller."  In  1773  Henry  Cozens 
mortgaged  the  estate  for  £600."  He  died  in  1775 
leaving  the  manor,  still  mortgaged,  to  his  youngest 
brother,  William  Cozens. '^  Between  1782  and  1789 
William  Cozens  borrowed  further  sums,  making  the 
total  mortgage  on  the  estate  ;^i,2  50,  all  of  which  was 
owing  to  Robert  Ray.''*  By  March  1790  Cozens  had 
repaid  only  ;{^ioo  of  this  debt  and  he  then  sold  the 
manor  to  Robert  Tindal  for  ^^3,800,  it  being  agreed 
that  Tindal  should  pay  off  the  debt  to  Ray  as  part  of 
the  purchase  money.'s  Neither  Henry  nor  William 
Cozens  occupied  the  manor  house  or  farmed  the  main 
part  of  the  lands  appurtenant  to  it.'*  Henry  Cozens 
was  apparently  a  miller  living  in  High  Laver  until  at 
least  1773  and  afterwards  at  Latton."  William  Cozens 
did  live  on  the  Nether  Hall  estate  but  occupied  only  a 
small  piece  of  ground,  formerly  waste  ground  but 
enclosed  by  Henry  Cozens,  about  2  acres  in  area  and 
having  'a  messuage,  stable  and  other  buildings  erected 
thereon'  and  had  besides  3  acres  of  meadow  for  per- 
sonal use.'*  The  manor  house  and  most  of  the  estate 
were  occupied  by  William  Schooling  until  178 1-2  and 
afterwards  by  John  Schooling  until  1790-1."  A 
small  part  of  the  estate  was  occupied  in  1 790,  as  in 
1766,  by  James  Edick.^"  A  survey  taken  in  July  1788 
showed  that  on  the  average  of  the  previous  57  years  the 
lord  of  the  manor  received  £^  p.  8  J//,  a  year  in  fines, 
£t  Ss.  2|<2'.  a  year  in  heriots,  and  £3  12/.  6</.  a  year  in 
rents.^'  In  1771  there  were  nineteen  freeholders  and 
copyholders,  several  less  than  there  had  been  in  1745.^2 
Robert  Tindal  sold  the  manor,  in  1790,  less  than 
three  months  after  purchasing  it,  to  Stephen  Alger, 
who  held  his  first  court  baron  in  June  1793.^3  Alger 
never  lived  on  the  Nether  Hall  estate  which  was 
occupied  by  Nathaniel  Green  from  1 790-1  until 
181 5-16  and  then  by  James  Green  who  was  tenant 


until  after  Alger's  death  in  1829.^  Alger's  heir  was 
his  son  V/illiam  Hill  Alger  who  was  lord  of  the  manor 
until  his  death  in  iSSc^^s  James  Green  still  occupied 
the  estate  in  1832  but  by  1840  W.  H.  Alger  lived  at 
Nether  Hall  and  farmed  most  of  the  estate  which  then 
consisted  of  256  acres.^*  He  continued  to  farm  until 
his  death."  In  1872  there  were  nine  freeholders  who 
paid  rents  totalling  £1  gs.  %d.  and  eight  copyholders 
who  paid  a  total  of  16/.  '},\d^^  During  the  time  that 
W.  H.  Alger  was  lord  of  the  manor  the  estate  was 
mortgaged  at  least  once.^'  He  left  as  his  heir  his  son 
William  White  Alger  who  also  lived  at  Nether  Hall 
and  farmed  the  estate.^o  He  died  in  May  1900  having 
provided  that  the  manor  should  be  sold  by  his  trustees.^' 
Nether  Hall  was  accordingly  put  up  for  sale  by  auction 
in  August  1900.  The  sale  catalogue  described  the 
manor  farm  as  consisting  of  2 1 6  acres  of  which  1 76 
were  arable.32  Quit  and  free  rents  amounted  to 
£1  1 3^.  31/.  a  year  and  fines,  reliefs  and  heriots  amounted 
to  iCS  ^  y^r  on  the  average  of  the  previous  30  years.33 
The  farm  on  the  one  hand  and  the  manor  'with  courts, 
fines,  heriots,  reliefs,  quit  and  free  rents,  profits  and 
emoluments'  on  the  other  hand  were  offered  as  separate 
lots.  The  manor  was  sold  for  ;^26o  to  the  Revd. 
Frederick  William  Bussell  of  Brasenose  College, 
Oxford.3*  The  farm  passed  into  the  hands  of  Ernest 
Schwier.ss  The  Revd.  F.  W.  Bussell  was  stiU  lord  of 
the  manor  in  1914  but  by  1926  the  Revd.  Joseph 
Gordon  Walker  owned  the  manorial  rights.^*  In 
1937  Walker  was  still  lord  of  the  manor  and  Nether 
Hall  farm  was  still  owned  by  the  Schwier  family.^'' 

The  present  farm-house  probably  dates  from  the  late 
17th  century.  It  is  rectangular  in  plan  with  a  small 
projecting  wing  at  the  back.  The  central  chimney  has 
diagonal  shafts.  Late  in  the  19th  century  there  were 
additions  to  the  back  and  front.  In  the  farm-yard  is  an 
altered  timber  barn,  probably  of  17th-  or  18th-century 
date. 

Juliane  de  Sandwich  married  John  de  Segrave, 
younger  son  of  John,  Lord  Segrave  (d.  1325),  and  on 
the  death  of  her  husband  in  1343,  her  half  of  Moreton 
manor  passed  to  their  only  son  John  de  Segrave  whose 
death  in  1 349  was  followed  in  little  more  than  a  month 
by  that  of  his  only  child,  an  infant  Mary.'*  Both  John 
and  Mary  were  probably  victims  of  the  plague.  As 
there  remained  no  direct  descendant  of  Juliane,  the 
half  manor  passed  to  her  cousin  Nicholas  de  Sandwich, 
son  of  her  father's  brother  Nicholas. 39  He  conveyed  it 
to  William  de  Clynton,  Earl  of  Huntingdon  (d.  1354), 
who  regranted  it  to  Nicholas  for  life  with  remainder  to 
John  de  Sandwich,  brother  of  Nicholas,  and  his  heirs 
and  reversion  to  the  earl  and  his  heirs.'"'  Within  a  few 
years,  however,  the  half  manor  passed  to  John,  Lord 
Mowbray    (d.    1368),    the    heir    through    his    wife 


3  E.R.O.,  D/DDw  T122. 

4  E.R.O.,  D/DMg  T31. 

s  CP25(2)/ioi3  Hil.  6  Geo.  I ;  E.R.O., 
D/DDw  Ti22i  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist. 
Moreton. 
6  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 
'  E.R.O.,D/DU  201/35;  ibid.  D/DDw 
Ti22i  Hist.  Essex  hy  Gent,  iii,  362. 
*  See  Manor  of  Magdalen  Laver. 
»  E.R.O.,  D/DA  T199;  ibid.   D/DU 
201/35. 
«>  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/35. 
■■  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  ■♦  Ibid. 

'5  Ibid.;  CP25(2)/i3io  East.   30  Geo. 
III. 
«'  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/35;  'bU-  fi/RPl 


685-94. 

"  E.R.O.»D/DU  201/35. 

>8  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685-96. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/35;  ibid.  g/RPl 
694-5. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/21. 

22  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/14-16  and  19. 

"  E.R.O.,  <2/RPl  695;  ibid.  D/DU 
201/2  and  35. 

«  E.R.O.,  6/RPl  696-737;  ibid. 
D/DU  201/36. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/36. 

2'  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  737;  ibid.  D/CT  244. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/36;  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex  (1855,  1874). 

28  E.R.O.,    D/DU    201/23.     I"    '871 


there  had  been  9  copyholders.  One  was 
enfranchised  in  1872. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/36. 

30  IhiA.;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (189O,  189S, 
1899). 

3"  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/36. 

32  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/38. 

33  Ibid. 

34  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/37. 

35  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1906). 

3*  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1914,  1926). 

3'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1937). 

38  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  viii,  p.  309,  ix,  p.  268 ; 
Complete  Peerage^  xi,  609. 

3'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ix,  p.  268. 

«  Cal.  Pat.  1348-50,  430;  Feet  of  F. 
Essex  J  iii,  96. 


132 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MORETON 


Elizabeth  of  John,  Lord  Segrave(d.  iSSS).""  Mowbray 
died  in  1368,  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  John,  later  ist 
Earl  of  Nottingham.'*^  By  1383,  when  John,  Earl  of 
Nottingham,  died  without  issue,  his  estate  at  Moreton 
had  become  known  as  LADYHALL,  apparently 
through  its  association  with  Juliane  de  Sandwich,  and 
by  the  end  of  the  century  was  described  as  a  manor .^3 
From  the  i6th  century  it  was  more  commonly  known 
as  UPPER  HALL. 

John  was  succeeded  in  1383  by  his  brother  Thomas, 
later  Duke  of  Norfolk,  who  granted  a  life  interest  in 
Ladyhall  to  William  Hall,  with  reversion  to  himself.** 
Hall  died  in  i4oo.*s  The  Duke  of  Norfolk  had  died 
shortly  before  and  left  as  his  heir  his  son  Thomas,  a 
boy  of  14."'*  At  the  end  of  1401,  although  Thomas's 
lands  had  been  assigned  for  his  household  expenses, 
the  king  granted  the  custody  of  Ladyhall  to  John  de 
Burgh  during  Thomas's  minority  provided  that  he 
accounted  at  the  Exchequer  for  all  issues  above  the 
value  of  24  marks  a  year.*^ 

Thomas  was  beheaded  in  1405  and  his  lands 
escheated  to  the  Crown.*'  In  1406  the  king  granted 
the  'messuage  called  Ladyhall'  to  his  esquire  Nicholas 
Alderwich  and  his  wife  Alice  to  hold  for  life  'to  the 
value  ai £20  a  year  so  that  they  answer  for  any  surplus 
at  the  Exchequer'.*'  Within  the  next  ten  years  the  . 
manor  was  restored  to  Thomas  de  Mowbray's  brother 
and  heir  John,  who  was  granted  the  title  of  Duke  of 
Norfolk  in  1425:50  the  manor  probably  descended 
with  the  title  until  the  death  of  the  4th  Duke  of  Norfolk 
in  1476.5'  Afterwards  the  manor  was  probably  held 
by  John,  Lord  Howard,  who  succeeded  to  a  moiety 
of  the  Mowbray  estates  on  the  death  in  148 1  of  his 
cousin  Anne,  only  daughter  and  heir  of  John,  4th  Duke  of 
Norfolk.52  Lord  Howard  was  created  Duke  of  Norfolk 
in  1483  and  Ladyhall  probably  descended  again  with 
this  tide  until  1538.53  In  1538  Lord  Edmund 
Howard,  a  younger  son  of  Thomas,  7th  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  was  licensed  to  alienate  the  manor  to  his 
brother  Thomas,  8th  Duke  of  Norfolk,  who  im- 
mediately granted  it  to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  ist 
Baron  Rich.5*  Subsequently  for  nearly  two  centuries 
the  manor  of  Upper  Hall  followed  the  same  descent 
as  Nether  Hall. 55  In  1708  it  had  11  freeholders  and 
17  copyholders  whose  rents  amounted  to  £(>  \\s.  \od., 
much  more  than  those  of  Nether  Hall.5*  In  1722,  two 
years  after  selling  Nether  Hall,  John  Woodward  con- 
veyed Upper  Hall  to  Lewen  Cholmley  of  Sutton 
(Surr.).57  Cholmley  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Lewen 
who  died  in  1753.5'  The  manor  was  then  held  by 
Mary   Cholmley,   widow  of  Lewen,   until  at  least 


1760.59  In  1763  John  son  of  Lewen  Cholmley  con- 
veyed the  manor  to  John  Hookham  (d.  1786),  a  rich 
London  merchant.*"  Hookham's  heir  was  his  only 
child  Jane,  wife  of  John  Frere  of  Roydon  Hall  (Norf.).*' 
John  Hookham  Frere,  author  and  diplomatist,  the 
eldest  son  of  Jane  and  John  Frere,  succeeded  to  the 
family  estates  on  his  father's  death  in  1807.*^  He  died 
in  1 846  having  been  for  many  years  resident  in  Malta.*' 
Soon  after  his  death  the  manor  of  Upper  Hall  seems 
to  have  dissolved.  A  manor  court  was  held  as  late  as 
1 82 1  and  writers  during  the  next  40  years  continued 
to  describe  the  estate  as  a  manor,  but  by  1874  Nether 
Hall  had  come  to  be  described  as  the  only  manor  in 
Moreton.**  The  lords  of  the  manor  of  Upper  Hall 
were  never  resident  in  the  parish.  Henry  Starkey  was 
tenant  of  the  estate  before  1750  and  members  of  his 
family  continued  to  farm  the  land  and  live  at  the  hall 
until  1 8o9.*5  In  1 8 1 1  the  Rector  of  Moreton  wrote 
that  before  1 809  Upper  Hall  Farm  had  been  'occupied 
by  a  family  of  Dissenters  for  so  long  a  period  that  no 
one  living  was  able  exactly  to  ascertain  what  seat  in  the 
church  belonged  to  it'.**  In  view  of  the  uncertainty 
the  rector  gave  the  new  tenant,  John  Ingham,  permis- 
sion to  sit  in  his  own  pew.*'  John  Ingham  was  tenant 
of  the  estate  until  1819-20  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
George  Rogers.*'  In  1840  Rogers  still  farmed  the 
whole  estate  which  then  consisted  of  246  acres.*' 
After  J.  H.  Frere's  death  in  1846,  D.  Taylor  Gingell 
took  over  the  lease  and  farmed  the  estate  for  the 
remainder  of  the  century.'" 

The  present  house  may  date  from  the  i6th  century 
but  has  been  much  altered.  The  older  part  has  a  T- 
shaped  plan  with  a  wing  projecting  on  the  north  side. 
In  the  south  wing  a  brick  fireplace,  probably  of  the 
1 6th  century,  has  been  uncovered.  It  has  a  stop- 
chamfered  four-centred  arch  and  the  chimney  above  it 
has  two  diagonal  shafts,  now  cement  rendered.  Several 
additions  have  been  made  to  the  house,  the  most  recent 
in  gault  brick  probably  dating  from  the  19th  century. 
There  is  an  eight-bay  timber  barn  with  one  porch  wing. 
A  post  inside  the  barn  is  dated  1782  and  initialed 
R.  P. 

The  early  history  of  5  UNDISH  alias  BRENDISH 
alias  BR  UNDISH  manor  is  obscure.  It  probably  took 
its  name  from  the  family  of  John  de  Burndish  which 
came  from  Brundish  (Suff.).  From  1305  until  his 
death  in  1336  John  de  Burndish  held  a  life  interest  in 
the  half  of  Moreton  manor  which  belonged  to  John 
de  Lenham.  On  the  death  of  John  de  Burndish  this 
half  manor  reverted  to  Eleanor  GifFard,  the  heir  of 
John  de  Lenham."  In  1338  John  and  Eleanor  GifFard 


*'  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  384.  John, 
Lord  Scgrave  (d.  1353),  was  a  cousin  of 
John  de  Segrave  (d.  1 349)  and  the  heir  of 
part  of  his  lands  in  1 349. 

*^  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  384.  Cf.  Cal. 
Inq.  p.m.  xii,  p.  380. 

«  0136/27/6;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  145. 
In  1383  the  estate  was  still  described  as  a 
half  manor.  In  and  after  1399  it  was 
always  described  as  a  manor,  though  not 
always  in  the  15th  cent,  by  the  name 
of  Ladyhall. 

**  €136/27/6;  C137/16;  Complete  Peer- 
age,\x,-i%^.  «  Ci 37/82. 

♦*  Ci 37/16;  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  384. 

*'  Cal.  Pat.  1401-5,  24. 

*•  Ci 37/63;  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  384. 

*•>  Cal.  Pat.  1405-8,  no. 

5°  Cal.  Pat.  1413-16,  320;  Complete 
Peerage,  ix,  384,  605—6. 

5'  Complete  Peerage,  IX,  6oS~i). 


52  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  610— 11.  The 
manor  of  Bundish  Hall  (see  below)  was 
held  of  John,  Lord  Howard,  in  148 1. 

53  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  61 1-20. 

54  CP25(2)/i2/66  Trin.  30  Henry 
VIII. 

55  C142/147/14I,       192/29,      494/120; 

CP25(2)/293  Trin.  6  Jas.  I;  CP25(2)/829 
Hil.  10  Will.  Ill;  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T656; 
ibid.  D/DGe  T75. 

56  E.R.O.,  D/DU  201/12. 

57  CP25(2)/ioi4  Mich.  9  Geo.  I. 

58  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T6s6;  W.  Talbot, 
MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

5»  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T656. 

">  CP25(2)/i3o6  Hil.  3  Geo.  Ill; 
D.N.B.  vii,  707. 

'■  E.R.O.,  Q/RSg  4,  p.  54  i  D.N.B.  vii, 
707. 

62  D.N.B.  vii,  708.  He  was  a  fnend  of 
Canning  and  Coleridge.  *'  Ibid. 


'♦  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/ 1 8 ;  D.  W.  CoUer, 
People's  Hist.  Essex,  480;  ff kite's  Dir. 
Essex  (1848),  426;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex 
(1874). 

'5  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/3/2;  ibid.  D/P 
72/25/12;  ibid.  Q/RPl  705-15. 

66  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/20.  67  Ibid. 

68  E.R.O.,e/RPl  715-25. 

69  E.R.O.,  D/CT  244;  ibid.  D/P  72/21. 
The  owner  of  the  estate  in  1840  was* 
described  in  the  Moreton  Tithe  Award  as 
Robert  Henry  Frere.  No  mention  of 
Robert  Henry  can  be  traced  in  the  Frere 
family  lineage,  however,  and  the  name  was 
probably  a  misinterpretation  of  'Rt.  Hon.', 
John  Hookham  Frere  being  a  privy  council- 
lor. 

7»  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/21;  ibid.  Q/RPr 
1/27  &  34;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f.). 

7'  Cal.  Iriq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  493.  See  above. 
Manor  of  Nether  Hall. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


conveyed  to  Nicholas  de  BurndisK  24  acres  of  land  in 
Moreton  to  hold  of  the  king  in  chief.'^  Nicholas  de 
Burndish  died,  probably  of  the  plague,  in  1 349,  still 
holding  this  24  acres  of  the  king.'^  In  addition  he  held 
another  60  acres  in  Moreton  and  i  messuage  of  the 
manor  of  Moreton  by  service  of  2  u.  313'.  a  year  and  suit 
of  court,  and  20  acres  land  in  Shelley  and  the  other 
half  of  his  messuage  which  he  held  of  John  de  Legh, 
lord  of  Shelley  manor,  by  service  of  8^.  \od.  a  year  and 
suit  of  court. '■♦  It  seems  clear  that  these  lands  of 
Nicholas  de  Burndish  formed  the  main  core  of  the 
estate  which  later  became  known  as  Bundish  or 
Brendish  manor.  Nicholas  evidently  occupied  a  house 
which  was  situated  partly  in  Moreton  and  partly  in 
Shelley  and  he  farmed  lands  in  both  parishes.  During 
the  period  when  Bundish  manor  is  known  to  have 
existed,  its  lands  were  situated  in  Shelley  and  Moreton 
and  the  manor  house  lay  on  the  boundary  between  the 
two  parishes  which  'divided  at  the  entrance  end  of  the 
great  hall'.'s 

Nicholas  de  Burndish  left  as  his  heir  his  brother 
John,  Rector  of  South  Ockendon,  who  in  1 3  5  3  enfeoffed 
Richard  de  Fifhide  with  24  acres  which  he  held  in 
Moreton  of  the  king  in  chief.'*  When  Fifhide  died  in 
1374  his  lands  were  described  as  tenements  only.'' 
Thomas  Wynslowe  died  in  1481  holding  the  'manor 
of  Brundisshe'  of  Henry,  Earl  of  Essex  (d.  1483),  who 
was  then  lord  of  the  manor  of  Nether  Hall.'*  At  the 
time  of  his  death  Thomas  also  held  2  messuages,  79 
acres  of  arable,  and  5  acres  of  meadow,  in  Moreton, 
of  John,  Lord  Howard,  who  was  then  probably  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Upper  Hall."  Thomas  apparently 
did  not  hold  any  tenement  of  the  manor  of  Shelley. 

He  devised  Bundish  manor  to  his  daughter  Margaret, 
wife  of  William  Nynge.*"  Margaret  died  in  1522, 
leaving  as  her  heir  her  grandson  Thomas  Nynge.*' 
On  Thomas's  death,  before  March  1524,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  sisters  Amphyllis  and  Isabel.^^  Sub- 
sequently the  manor  seems  to  have  come  into  the  sole 
possession  of  the  elder  sister  Amphyllis,  for  in  1533  it 
was  held  by  her  and  her  husband  John  Shereff.*'  In 
the  same  year  Amphyllis  conveyed  the  manor  to  Sir 
Richard  Rich,  later  ist  Baron  Rich,  from  whom  it 
passed  in  1567  to  his  son  Robert,  the  2nd  baron  and 
afterwards  in  1581  to  Robert,  the  3rd  baron. **  In 
1585  Lord  Rich  conveyed  the  manor  to  William 
Ramsey.  *5 

The  history  of  Bundish  in  the  1 7th  century  is  not 
clear,  but  at  the  end  of  the  century  it  was  apparently  in 
dual  ownership.  In  168 1  Henry  Herbert  and  his  wife 
Anne  conveyed  half  of  the  manor  to  Joseph  and  Thomas 
Offley.**  In  1690  Sir  William  Boughton  and  his  wife 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Ramsey,  alderman  of  the  city 
of  London,  conveyed  half  the  manor  to  Matthew  and 
Robert  Skinner.*'  It  may  be  that  Lady  Boughton  and 
Anne  Herbert  were  granddaughters  of  William  Ramsey 
and  had  inherited  Bundish  as  coheiresses  of  their  father 
John  Ramsey.   Subsequently  the  manor  came  into  the 


undivided  ownership  of  John  Lingard,  common 
Serjeant  of  the  City  of  London,  who  died  in  1729 
leaving  several  daughters  as  coheiresses.**  In  1740 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Anne,  and  Frances  Lingard  conveyed 
the  manor  to  Samuel  Brackley,  merchant.*'  In  1753 
Sarah  and  Anne  Lingard  and  Robert  Chase  and  his 
wife  Frances,  daughter  of  John  Lingard,  conveyed  it 
to  Francis  Capper.'"  In  1775  the  estate  was  still 
described  as  a  manor."  In  all  later  documents  and 
histories  it  was  described  merely  as  a  farm.  In  1840 
the  farm  consisted  of  166  acres  of  which  107  acres  lay 
in  Moreton  and  59  acres  in  Shelley;  at  that  time  the 
estate  was  held  by  Thomas  Chaplin,  trustee  of  John 
Chaplin,  deceased.'^ 

Bundish  Hall  occupies  a  large  moated  site.  At  some 
time  prior  to  183  5,  but  probably  after  1768,  the  parishes 
of  Shelley  and  Moreton  agreed  that  the  whole  of  the 
farm-house  should  be  considered  within  the  parish  of 
Moreton."  Consistently  with  this  the  parish  boundary 
runs  along  the  west  wall  of  the  farm-house,  leaving  some 
of  the  outbuildings  in  Shelley.'*  Wright's  statement 
that  formerly  the  parish  boundary  was  'at  the  entrance 
end  of  the  great  hall' '5  confirms  the  existence  of  a 
medieval  manor  house  here,  and  the  present  farm- 
house incorporates  at  its  west  end  what  was  probably 
the  late- 1  jth-century  solar  wing.  This  is  of  two  stories, 
the  solar  itself  being  on  the  first  floor  and  having  an 
open  arch-braced  roof  truss  above  it.  The  roof  is  now 
ceiled  in  but  the  rebated  king-post  with  four-way  struts 
is  still  visible  in  the  attic.  The  ceiling  probably  dates 
from  the  i6th  or  early  17th  century  and  in  the  solar  is 
panelling  of  the  same  period  and  later.  The  timbers  of 
the  lower  part  of  the  great  hall  are  probably  still  in 
position  to  the  east,  but  this  part  of  the  house  has  been 
much  altered.  A  northward  extension  of  the  solar  wing 
has  the  date  1697  scratched  on  the  brickwork.  At 
some  time  previous  to  1835  the  house  was  reduced  in 
size, '6  and  at  this  period  or  later"  was  partly  cased  in 
brick  and  reroofed.  It  now  gives  the  impression 
externally  of  a  small  farm-house  of  the  early  19th 
century.  The  west  wall  was  damaged  by  flying  bombs 
in  1944  and  has  been  rebuilt.'*  In  the  farm-yard  are 
two  large  timber  barns  of  the  17th  or  1 8th  century. 

There  was  a  church  in  Moreton  before  the  end  of  the 
nth  century.  William  de  Scohies,  lord  of 
CHURCH  the  manor  of  Moreton  by  1086,"  gave 
the  church  with  its  land  and  tithe  to  the 
abbey  of  St.  Stephen,  Caen.'  Between  1 174  and  1 182 
a  charter  of  confirmation  described  the  gift  as  the 
church  of  Moreton  and  the  tithe  of  the  demesne  of 
William  d'Avranches  from  his  mill,  pannage,  poults, 
apples,  nuts,  and  other  tithes  belonging  to  that  church, 
according  to  William's  charter;  also  the  messuage  of 
John  the  chaplain,  near  the  churchyard,  with  the 
adjacent  flax-ground  of  William's  gift.^  A  vicarage 
was  ordained  to  which  the  prior  of  Panfield,  a  cell  of 
the  abbey  of  St.  Stephen,  usually  presented  until 
1335.3  After  this  Edward  III,  having  seized  the  priory 


'»  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  47;  Cal.  Pat. 

1338-40,  50. 
"  Ca/. /ny./>.w.  ix,  p.  314.  '<  Ibid. 

'5  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  355. 
"  Ca!.  Intj.  p.m.  ix,  p.  314;  Cal.  Pat. 
"  C135/235/16. 
See    above.     Manor    of 


'35°-+.  486. 

'8  C140/79. 
Nether  Hall. 

"  C140/79. 
Upper  HaU. 

«»  C142/40/: 


See    above.     Manor     of 
8.         8'  Ibid.         82  Ibid. 


»»  CP25{2)/i2/62  East.  25  Hen.  VIII. 


8*  Ci42/i47/:4i;  €142/192/29;  Ci/ 
708/14.  85  CP2i;(2)/i 32/1696. 

8'  CP25(2)/763  East.  33'  Chas.  II. 

8'  CP25(2)/827  Mil.  I  Wm.  &  Mary; 
G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  1625-4.9, 
122.  88  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  356. 

8«  CP25(2)/ii22  Mich.  14  Geo.  II. 

«»  CP25(2)/ii24  Mich.  27  Geo.  II. 

«"  CP43/767  rot.  426. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  244. 

13  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  355. 

«♦  O.S.  2$  in.  Map  (2nd  edn.),  sheet  Ii 


(5).  «s  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  355. 

«6  Ibid. 

"  The  date  1839  is  on  the  brickwork. 
'8  Inf.    from    Mr.    Lavender,    present 
occupier.  ^9  See  above.  Manor. 

'  Cal.  Doc.  France,  ed.  Round,  156, 
157;  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  422;  Dugd. 
Mon.  ii,  957;  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  198. 

^  Cal.  Doc.  France,  ed.  Round,  162. 

3  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  423;  Reg. 
Baldock,  Seagrave,  etc.  (Cant.  &  York 
Soc),  306. 


134 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MORETON 


on  account  of  the  war  with  France,  presented  to  the 
living  several  times  during  the  remainder  of  his  reign.* 
The  advowson  continued  in  the  Crown  during  the 
reigns  of  Richard  II  and  Henry  IV. 5  In  1414  Panfield 
priory  and  its  possessions  came  to  the  king  under  the 
act  suppressing  non-conventual  alien  priories.*  In 
1441  Henry  VI  granted  to  Eton  College  from  Moreton 
church  an  annual  pension  equal  to  the  value  of  the 
church  on  the  assessment  of  1291  (see  below).'  The 
living  remained,  however,  in  the  gift  of  the  Crown, 
which  presented  to  the  church  as  a  vicarage  until  at 
least  1484.8  In  1532  Henry  VIII  presented  to  it  as  a 
rectory  and  it  afterwards  continued  as  a  rectory.'  In 
1538  the  king  granted  the  advowson  first  to  Thomas, 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  then,  in  December,  to 
Charles,  Duke  of  Suffolk  (d.  1545),  who  immediately 
alienated  it  to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  ist  Baron  Rich.'" 
On  the  death  of  Lord  Rich  in  1567  the  advowson 
passed  to  his  son  Robert,  the  2nd  baron,  and  afterwards 
in  1 5  8 1  to  Robert,  the  3rd  baron,  later  Earl  of  Warwick 
(d.  1619)."  Jacob  Morris  and  John  Morrice  pre- 
sented pro  iac  vice  in  1591.'^  Between  1595  and  1632 
the  advowson  was  the  subject  of  various  conveyances 
but  it  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Earl  of  Warwick 
and  his  heirs.'^  In  1626  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick  (d. 
1658),  presented  his  chaplain  Samuel  Hoard  (see 
below)  to  the  rectory.'*  In  1658  Edward,  Earl  of 
Manchester  (d.  1 671),  and  others,  trustees  of  the  earl, 
presented  Edmund  Calamy  the  younger  (see  below) 
to  the  living.'s  Charles,  Earl  of  Warwick  (d.  1673), 
presented  in  1662.'*  After  his  death  his  nieces  Anne, 
Mary,  and  Essex,  daughters  of  his  brother  Robert, 
Earl  of  Warwick  (d.  1659),  all  secured  rights  in  the 
advowson  as  also  did  Frances,  sister  of  Robert  and 
Charles  and  wife  of  Nicholas,  Earl  of  Scarsdale  (d. 
1681)."  By  1687  Daniel,  Earl  of  Nottingham  (d. 
1730),  and  husband  of  Essex,  had  apparently  secured 
sole  rights  of  patronage.'*  Soon  afterwards  the  advow- 
son was  acquired  from  Nottingham  by  Ralph  Smith 
of  Ishp  (Oxf.)."  In  1693  it  was  purchased  from 
Smith  for  ;{^420  by  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  who 
retained  it  until  1933.20  Since  1933  the  living  has 
been  united  with  that  of  Little  Laver  in  the  gift  of  St. 
John's  College,  who  have  first  and  third  turns,  and  the 
Bishop  of  Chelmsford,  who  has  second  turn. 2' 

In  1254  the  church  was  assessed  at  18  marks  and 
the  vicarage  at  5  marks.^^  In  1291  the  church  was 
assessed  at  /^I2  and  the  vicarage  at  £6  13/.  4(/.^3  In 
1324  it  was  recorded  that  Panfield  priory  received  ;^I2 
a  year  from  Moreton  church.^  In  1428  the  church 
was  still  taxed  on  the  valuation  of  1291.^5 

In  1 44 1  Henry  VI  granted  to  the  Provost  of  Eton 
College  and  to  his  successors  an  annual  pension  of  1 8 
marks  from  Moreton  church.^*  In  1535  the  rectory 
was  valued  at  ^18  p.  4</."  In  1661  the  living  was 
valued  at  £160.^8  Previous  estimates  in  the  17th 
century  had  been  £50  in  1604  and  ;^I20  in  1650.^9 


The  tithes  were  commuted  in  1840  for  ;^390  5/.'* 
There  were  then  68  acres  of  glebe. 3' 

A  terrier  of  1 6 1  o  refers  to  'a  dwelling  house  newly 
built  by  the  incumbent'. s^  The  present  rectory  is  an 
L-shaped  building,  originally  timber-framed  and 
plastered  but  now  partly  faced  with  brick.  The  base  of 
the  massive  chimney  at  the  south  end  and  some  of  the 
timbers  may  be  part  of  the  early-i7th-century  rectory. 
The  house  was  evidently  remodelled  early  in  the  i8th 
century  and  the  staircase  and  panelling  are  of  this  date. 
The  north  wing  probably  dates  from  the  incumbency 
of  W.  Wilson  (1796— 1822)  when  the  house  was 
extended.33  The  Georgian  front,  facing  east,  has  six 
sash  windows  on  the  first  floor.  The  doorcase  has  a 
Doric  entablature,  fluted  pilasters,  and  a  pediment. 

Samuel  Hoard,  rector  1626-58,  was  a  theological 
writer.3''  The  puritan  Edmund  Calamy  the  younger 
was  rector  from  1658  until  ejected  in  1662.35  Richard 
Vaughan,  rector  from  1591— 2  until  1596,  was  bishop 
successively  of  Bangor,  Chester,  and  London. 3* 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  MJRK  THE  FIRGIN 
consists  of  nave,  chancel,  west  tower,  south  porch,  and 
north  vestry.  The  nave  and  chancel,  which  are  struc- 
turally undivided,  are  of  flint  rubble.  The  dressings 
of  clunch  have  now  mostly  been  replaced  with  more 
durable  stone.  The  tower  and  vestry  are  of  red  brick. 
The  south  porch  is  of  wood. 

Nothing  remains  of  the  pre-i3th-century  church 
except  the  font  (see  below).  The  present  nave  and 
chancel  date  from  the  first  half  of  the  13th  century,  the 
nave  having  been  built  first.  The  nave  has  two  restored 
lancet  windows  in  the  north  wall  and  one  in  the  south. 
The  position  of  the  north  and  south  doorways  is  prob- 
ably original.  The  east  wall  of  the  chancel  has  three 
lancets,  a  central  one  in  the  gable  and  two  below.  The 
north  wall  of  the  chancel  has  two  lancets,  one  of  them 
being  behind  the  organ. 

In  the  15th  century  the  chancel,  and  nave  were 
probably  reroofed.  The  chancel  retains  one  moulded 
tie-beam  of  this  date.  The  nave  has  two  15th-century 
roof  trusses  near  the  west  end.  These  have  long  struts 
from  the  tie-beams  to  the  heads  of  the  octagonal  king- 
posts as  well  as  one  short  strut  each  to  the  central  purlin. 
In  both  chancel  and  nave  the  rafters  are  ceiled  in.  The 
roof  of  the  south  porch  retains  some  r5th-century 
timbers.  The  two-light  window  near  the  east  end  of 
the  north  wall  of  the  nave  was  inserted  in  the  late  1 5  th 
century.  The  single-light  window  on  the  south  side 
of  the  chancel  is  also  of  this  date.  The  perishable  nature 
of  the  clunch  of  which  the  windows  were  constructed 
accounts  for  their  replacement  at  difl^erent  dates  and 
for  the  extremely  varied  character  of  the  windows  on 
the  south  side  of  the  church.  The  westernmost  window 
in  the  nave,  recently  replaced,  was  probably  originally 
of  the  15  th  century.  Two  other  windows,  one  of 
the  1 8th  and  one  of  the  19th  century,  may  also 
have  replaced  windows  of  the  1 5th  century  or  earlier. 


*  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  423;  y.C.H. 
Essex,  ii,  198. 

5  Newcourt,  Repert,  ii,  423. 

'  Rot.  Pari,  iv,  22. 

'  Newcourt,  Repert,  ii,  423. 

8  Ibid. 

0  Ibid,  ii,  424. 

'»  Ibid,  ii,  423;  L.  ©■  P.  Hen,  VUI, 
xiii  (2),  pp.  494,  496. 

'■  0142/147/141;  C142/192/29. 

■^  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  424. 

"    CP25(2)/, 37/1738;  CP2S(2)/292 

Hil.  3  Jas.  I;  CP25(2)/385  East.  &  Trin. 
6  Jas.  I;  CP2  5(2)/296  Trin.   19  Jas.  I; 


CP25(2)/4i6  Mich.  8  Chas.  I. 

"  D.N.B.  ix,  918. 

"5  D.N.B,  iii,  682. 

16  Newcourt,  Repert,  ii,  424. 

"  CP25(2)/654  Trin.  26  &  East.  28 
Chas.  II. 

'8  CP25(2)/777  Trin.  3  Jas.  II. 

'»  Inf.  from  Revd.  J.  S.  Boys  Smith, 
Senior  Bursar,  St.  John's  College,  Cam- 
bridge. 

"  Ibid. 

2'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933);  Chel,  Dioc. 
Tear  Bk.  1952. 

"  hunt,  Val,  of  Nor-wich,  337. 

^25 


"  Tax.  Eccl,  (Rec.  Com.),  21. 

"  y,C,H,  Essex,  u,  198. 

^5  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 

2'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  423. 

"  Valor  Eccl.  (Rec^Com.),  i,  437. 

28  E.A.T.ti,s,  xxi,  83. 

"  Ibid. 

3°  E.R.O.,  D/CT  244. 

3"  Ibid. 

3*  Newcourt,  Repert,  ii,  423. 

33  T.  Wright,  Hist,  Essex,  ii,  353. 

3«  D.A'.S.  ix,  917-18. 

35  D,N,B,  iii,  682-3. 

36  D,N,B. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


The  tower  may  originally  have  been  of  the  i6th 
or  early  17th  century.  Morant  (1768)  described 
the  tower  as  'of  brick,  plaistered  over,  with  a  spire 
shingled'.^'  Parts  of  the  nave  and  chancel  roofs  date 
from  the  17th  century. 

The  south  doorway  with  its  six-panelled  door  is  of 
18th-century  date.  The  weather-boarded  south  porch, 
incorporating  earlier  timbers,  may  have  been  recon- 
structed at  the  same  time.  In  1727  twisted  com- 
munion rails,  chancel  wainscoting,  box  pews,  and  a 
west  gallery  were  given  by  Mrs.  Judith  Elford.38 

In  1786  part  of  the  tower  fell  in  a  gale. 39  It  was 
rebuilt  by  James  Marrable  in  1787  'upon  the  model  of 
the  old'.^"  It  is  of  red  brick,  in  three  stages,  and  has  a 
castellated  parapet  and  a  short  shingled  spire.  The 
doorway  into  the  nave  was  built  at  the  same  time.  The 
two-light  window  near  the  east  end  of  the  nave  on  the 
south  side  is  like  the  wooden  west  window  of  the  tower 
and  is  probably  of  about  the  same  period. 

In  i868-g  there  was  a  thorough  restoration  of  the 
interior  of  the  church.'"  Many  of  the  fittings,  including 
the  box  pews,  the  chancel  wainscoting,  the  lists  of 
benefactions  to  the  poor,  texts  and  hatchments,  were 
removed.  New  pine  seating  was  installed.*^  The  pulpit 
was  reconstructed  and  the  sounding-board  removed. 
The  vestry  may  have  been  built  at  the  same  time. 

Between  1877  and  1 891  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel 
was  rebuilt,  the  lancet  windows  being  restored  and 
reset  at  the  expense  of  the  rector,  the  Revd.  A.  Calvert.''^ 
The  easternmost  window  on  the  south  side  of  the 
chancel  appears  also  to  be  of  late-igth-century  date, 
probably  replacing  a  15th-century  two-light  window. 

In  1897  the  west  gallery  was  removed.''*  In  1904 
a  new  organ  was  built.^s 

In  1953  the  two  lower  lancets  at  the  east  end  and 
the  quoins  at  the  west  end  of  the  church  were  restored 
in  Clipsham  stone.  The  westernmost  window  on  the 
south  side  of  the  nave  was  replaced  by  a  copy  of  a 
square-headed  two-light  late-i5th-century  window  in 
the  same  material.'**  The  tower  was  restored  and  the 
spire  reshingled. 

There  are  six  bells.  Two  were  recast  in  1928  when 
the  wooden  framework  supporting  the  bells  was 
replaced  by  steel.'*'  The  inscription  on  one  of  these, 
'Miles  Graye  and  William  Harbert  me  fecit  1627',  has 
been  cut  out  and  mounted  on  a  pedestal  in  the  church. 
Of  the  remainder  one  is  inscribed  'Miles  Graye  1632', 
one  'Thomas  Gardiner  Sudbury  17 12',  and  one 
'Thomas  Lester  175 1'.  The  sixth  bell  (No.  l)  was 
presented  by  the  ringers  themselves  in  1933.** 

The  Purbeck  marble  font  is  of  the  late  1 2th  century. 
It  consists  of  a  square  bowl  standing  on  a  circular  base, 
which  has  four  detached  shafts.  Two  sides  of  the  bowl 
are  ornamented  with  fleur-de-lis,  one  has  round- 
headed  arcading,  and  the  fourth  a  crescent,  disk,  and 
spiral.  The  surface  is  much  decayed  and  the  carving 
incomplete. 


The  oak  pulpit  is  hexagonal  and  probably  dates 
from  the  restoration  of  1868.  It  incorporates  four 
carved  panels  and  a  cornice  of  about  1600.  The  paint- 
ing above  the  altar  is  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Family  by 
Andrea  del  Sarto  and  was  acquired  in  1951.^9 

On  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  is  an  inscribed  tablet 
to  George  Goodwin,  rector  (1625). 

The  plate  consists  of  an  almsdish  of  1648  with  a 
shield  of  arms,  a  cup  of  1663,  a  paten  of  1663  (dated 
1664),  and  a  flagon  of  17 19  presented  by  A.  Heron, 
rector  (1698-1733). 

A  Chancery  decree  of  1638  recognized  the  Church 
Lands  Charity,  the  origin  of  which  was  then  unknown. 50 
Its  property  was  then  and  afterwards  stated  to  be  'a 
tenement  and  6  acres  of  land  called  the  Church  Land', 
held  in  trust  for  the  repair  of  the  church. 5'  The  pro- 
perty was  at  the  west  end  of  North  Lane.s^  In  deeds 
from  1787  until  1832  it  comprised  a  freehold  cottage 
or  tenement  called  'the  Church  House',  a  close  of 
pasture  adjoining,  2  acres  by  estimation,  and  two  other 
closes  or  crofts  of  arable,  4  acres  by  estimation,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  road  leading  towards  Moreton  wind- 
mill.53  The  estate  seems  always  to  have  been  let 
together  and  in  the  19th  century  was  called  Church 
Farm.5'»  In  1646  it  was  rented  at  ^^5  12s.  a  year.ss 
The  annual  rent  remained  at  this  figure  until  1 8 1 1 
when  it  rose  to  ^i2.5*  By  1879  it  had  risen  to  j^20 
but  it  fell  to  £18  before  1895  when  it  was  further 
reduced  to  ^^i  2,  after  the  farm-house  had  been  destroyed 
by  fire.57  In  1947  the  rent  was  £1 5.'*  After  1895  the 
income  from  rent  was  supplemented  by  the  interest  on 
j^ii2  2s.  fire-insurance,  which  was  invested. ''  In 
1869  ;^i  13  3/.  9</.  stock,  representing  accumulations  of 
surplus  income,  was  sold  and,  supplemented  by 
voluntary  contributions,  was  used  to  erect  new  pews.*" 
The  sum  of  ;^50,  invested  in  1874,  was  also  used  in 
1878  for  large  repairs.*'  In  1950  the  income  of 
£2  1 2S.  id.  from  stock  was  spent  in  part  payment  of 
repairs,  but  apparently  no  rent  was  received  from  the 
lands  of  the  charity .^^ 

The  payment  to  the  verger  from  Wilson's  charity 
(1822)  is  mentioned  below  (Charities). 

William  Talbot,  by  will  proved  1894,  left  ^^loo 
stock  to  the  rector  and  churchwardens  in  trust  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  churchyard.*'  In  1950  the 
income  of  ^■^  lis.  zd.  was  spent  in  part  payment  for 
its  upkeep.*'' 

The  Guild  of  All  Saints,  Moreton,  probably 
founded  in  1473,  was  a  religious  guild  of  a  type  com- 
mon in  rural  parishes  in  the  14th  and  15  th  centuries. 
Its  statutes,*!  drawn  up  in  1473,  prescribed  that  it  was 
to  hold  an  annual  general  meeting  on  the  Sunday  after 
All  Saints  Day,  for  worship  and  the  election  of  officers. 
Any  member  who  failed  to  attend  mass  on  this  Sunday, 
'in  his  best  clothynge',  or  failed  to  attend  evensong  the 
previous  evening,  was  to  pay  I  lb.  of  wax  'to  the 
amendment  of  the  lyghtes'.   The  guild  officers,  who 


3'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  146. 

38  Wright,  Hisl.  Essex,  ii,  353;  W. 
Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

3«  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

*»  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/12;  W.  Talbot, 
MS.  Hist.  Moreton;  inf.  from  tablet  in 
tower. 

<■  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (iiS6). 

«  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

<3  Kell/s  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 

♦♦MS.  notes  in  possession  of  present 
rector,  the  Revd.  A.  W.  I.  Weir.  Cf. 
Kelly's   Dir.   Essex   (19 14),   which    gives 


1904  as  date  for  removal. 

■•'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1914). 

♦^  Inf.  from  present  rector. 

<'  Inscription  in  Ringing  Chamber. 

ts  Ibid. 

♦9  Inf.  from  present  rector. 

50  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/3,  4,  19. 

5"  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/3-4,  10-16,  19, 
20. 

5^  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/12-16;  Hist. 
Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  363. 

S3  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/12-16.  Cf.  ibid. 
D/CT  244  where  locations  of  the  pasture 


and  one  of  the  arable  fields  are  reversed. 

54  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  230-2  (1835),  xxi  (i);  Char.  Com. 
Files. 

55  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/20. 


56  Ibid. 

57   Ibid. 

58  Char.  Com. 

Files. 

59  Ibid. 

'»  Ibid. 

'■  Ibid. 

'2  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

<'4  Ibid. 

'5  R.   Cough, 

History  0/  Fleshy,   App, 

pp.  113-31. 

136 


Navestock  Hall 
Built  in  the  early  i8th  century,  demolished  i8i  i 


The  Former  Rectory,  Stondon  Massey 
Built  in  the  early  17th  century,  demolished  c.  1800 


Wynter's  Armourie,  Magdalen  Layer,  containing  part  of  a  i4th-centurv  aisled  hall 


Black  Hall,  or  Guildhall  Cottage,  Moreton 
Probably  a  guildhall  of  c.  1473 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MORETON 


were  to  be  elected  at  the  meeting,  were  to  be  an  alder- 
man, two  masters,  a  clerk,  and  a  dean.  At  the  feast 
after  mass  the  allowance  of  ale  was  graduated  to  the 
status  of  the  officers;  the  alderman  had  a  gallon  for 
himself  and  his  guests,  each  master  a  pottle,  the  clerk 
a  pottle,  and  the  dean  a  quart.  The  clerk  was  to  receive 
idd.  and  the  dean  id.  a  year.  Every  new  member  of 
the  guild  was  to  pay  2/.  dd.  'to  the  sustynance  and  to 
the  fortherance  of  the  gylde'  and  \d.  each  to  the  clerk 
and  to  the  dean.  When  a  member  died  the  guild 
masters  were  to  sing  masses  'of  the  costys  of  the  gylde' 
and  all  members  'wythin  the  towne  and  having 
knowynge  thereof  were,  under  penalty  of  \d.,  to 
attend  the  funeral  and  'to  ofFyre  for  the  sawle  at  the 
mess  done  therfor  a  \d^  The  Vicar  of  Moreton  was 
to  be  paid  4^.  \d.  every  year  to  pray  and  say  masses 
every  Sunday  for  guildsmen.  It  was  further  laid  down 
that  if  any  member  'fall  into  old  age  or  into  great 
poverty  nor  have  noth  wharwyth  to  be  founden  nor  to 
helpe  hymselfe'  he  was  to  have  \d.  a  week  of  the  goods 
of  the  guild  as  long  as  its  chattels  were  worth  \os.  or 
more.  If  there  were  several  such  needy  members,  the 
\d.  was  to  be  divided  between  them.  It  was  also  laid 
down  that  if  a  member  accused  any  of  his  brethren  of 
a  trespass  he  should  not  in  the  first  instance  have  re- 
course to  the  common  law  but  should  submit  to  the 
arbitration  of  2  to  4  guildsmen.  If  the  arbitration 
failed  the  alderman  could  license  the  disputants  to  go 
to  law  but  if  any  member  refused  to  submit  to  arbitra- 
tion in  the  first  instance,  he  was  to  pay  \od.  to  the 
guild.  Under  a  statute  of  1504**  every  brother  was 
to  have  at  his  death  five  priests,  and  every  sister  two 
priests,  each  of  whom  was  to  have  \d.  at  the  cost  of  the 
guild;  on  every  such  occasion  dd.  was  to  be  given  in 
bread  to  the  poor  people  of  the  parish.  There  is  no 
later  reference  to  this  guild.*' 

The  house  known  as  Black  Hall  or  Guildhall  Cottage, 
at  Moreton  End,  is  traditionally  supposed  to  have  been 
the  meeting  place  of  the  Guild  of  All  Saints.  The 
evidence  of  the  building  itself,  which  dates  from  the 
later  15th  century,  confirms  this.  The  comparatively 
elaborate  moulding  of  the  timbers  internally  and  the  " 
reports  of  carving  externally  also  suggest  a  building  of 
more  status  than  a  small  domestic  house  of  the  period. 
The  present  house  (see  plate  facing  p.  137)  is  L-shaped 
and  consists  of  what  was  originally  an  open  hall  of  two 
bays  with  a  two-story  gabled  wing  at  its  north  end.  The 
external  wall  at  the  south  end  of  the  hall  is  of  later  con- 
struction and  incorporates  an  arch-braced  roof  truss. 
It  has  been  suggested*^  that  the  hall  may  originally  have 
had  an  additional  bay,  used  for  service  purposes,  at  this 
end.  Original  door-heads  at  the  front  and  back  of  the 
hall,  adjacent  to  this  south  truss,  would  be  consistent 
with  a  screens  passage  between  the  service  bay  and  the 
hall  proper.  The  two  remaining  bays  of  the  hall  are 
divided  by  another  arch-braced  roof  truss  of  a  more 
elaborate  character.  This  has  been  partially  enclosed  in 
a  later  partition,  but  the  moulded  wall  posts  and  a  king- 
post with  a  moulded  base  can  still  be  seen.  The  north 
cross-wing,  corresponding  to  the  'solar  wing'  of  a 
domestic  building,  has  two  rooms  to  the  ground  floor 
and  two  above.   In  each  case  these  were  connected 


by  doorways  of  which  the  four-centred  heads  remain. 
On  both  floors  the  front  rooms  are  the  more  elaborately 
finished:  the  room  below  has  moulded  ceiling  timbers, 
and  that  above  has  stop-moulded  wall  plates  and  an 
arch-braced  roof  truss  of  which  only  the  lower  part  is 
now  visible.  There  are  indications  that  the  back  room 
on  the  first  floor  was  once  subdivided.  In  many  cases 
the  original  position  of  the  windows,  some  now  blocked, 
can  be  traced.  Externally  the  building  is  covered  with 
rough-cast  which  is  said  to  conceal  carved  or  moulded 
timbers,  in  particular  a  carved  sill  to  the  first  floor  win- 
dow at  the  front  of  the  cross-wing.*'  At  the  north-west 
corner,  where  the  first  floor  oversails  on  both  sides,  is  a 
moulded  angle  post  and  curved  bracket.  This  post 
supports  a  diagonal  or  'dragon'  beam.  Many  of  the 
alterations,  including  the  insertion  of  the  hall  ceiling, 
the  chimneys,  and  the  present  front  door,  probably  date 
from  the  late  i6th  or  early  17th  century.  At  this  date  or 
later  a  small  staircase  wing  was  inserted  in  the  angle 
between  the  hall  block  and  the  cross-wing. 

In  1 8 1 3  a  house  in  Moreton  was  licensed  for  wor- 
ship by  nonconformists.'"  In 
NONCONFORMITY  1 829  the  Revd.  J.  Corbishley 
of  Abbess  Roding  (q.v.) 
reported  that  he  sometimes  preached  at  Moreton." 
Some  of  his  hearers  may  have  formed  the  nucleus  of  the 
later  Congregational  society.  This  appears  to  have  been 
started  about  1850,  when  Mr.  Vale,  the  evangelist 
from  North  Weald  (q.v.),  began  preaching  at  More- 
ton.'2  Vale's  work  at  Moreton,  which  was  assisted  by 
a  small  annual  grant  from  the  Essex  Congregational 
Union,  was  so  successful  that  by  1 856  his  Sunday  even- 
ing congregation  numbered  80—100,  and  there  were 
also  a  Sunday  school  attended  by  30  children  and  an 
adult  evening  school.'^  About  this  time  Vale  moved 
to  Moreton,  where  he  continued  to  minister  until 
about  1873.'*  In  1857  it  was  reported  that  the  Sunday 
school  had  been  given  up  owing  to  opposition  from 
neighbouring  clergy  'who  used  promises  and  threats 
to  deter  attendance',  but  in  spite  of  this  the  work 
flourished.  In  1862  a  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
£150.  In  1875  A.  M.  Kemsley,  an  evangehst,  had 
charge  of  the  church  under  the  superintendence  of  the 
Revd.  J.  R.  Clarkson  of  Chipping  Ongar.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  the  Revd.  W.  Passmore,  formerly  of  Welling 
(Kent),  started  to  work  at  Moreton.  Since  that  time 
the  church  has  continued  with  fluctuating  fortunes. 
It  has  frequently  been  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
minister  from  Chipping  Ongar.  In  1904  there  were 
7  church  members,  34  pupils  in  the  Sunday  school, 
and  3  teachers.'s  From  1939  to  1948  there  was  a  lay 
evangehst,  Mr.  W.  J.  Frost.'*  In  1950  there  were  18 
members,  15  pupils,  and  3  teachers."  Since  191 1  the 
church  has  been  vested  in  the  Essex  Congregational 
Union.'*  The  building  is  of  gault  brick  with  red 
brick  dressings  and  is  dated  1862. 

The  earliest  parish  book  ( 1 666-1 81 5)  for  Moreton 
was  kept  and  written  by 
PARISH  GOFERNMENT    the  rector.''  In  it  the  . 
AND  POOR  RELIEF  rectors     from     Jacob  " 

Houblon   to   William 
Salisbury  recorded  every  Easter  from  1666  until  1761 


*^  Ibid.  131— 2.  The  date  1404.  given  in 
the  printed  text  is  almost  certainly  a 
misprint  for  1 504.. 

*'  It  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Chantry 
Certificates  of  1546  and  1548  (E301/19, 
20  and  30). 

"  Hist.  Men.  Com.  Records,  revised 
1953- 


<">  Inf.  from  Mr.  Talbot,  present  oc- 
cupier. '»  E.R.O.,  52/RRw  I. 

'■  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2.  The  Revd.  Isaac 
Taylor  of  Chipping  Ongar  also  preached 
at  Moreton  at  this  time. 

'2  Essex  Congr.  Union  Reps.  1850. 

'3  Ibid.  1856. 

'*  Ibid.  1857  f.    Unless  otherwise  stated 


subsequent  information  in  this  section  is 
from  these  reports. 

75  Cong.  Tear  Bk.  1904. 

"  Ibid.  1939-48.  "  Ibid.  1950. 

78  Essex  Congr.  Union  Trust  Deeds. 

'»  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/8/1.  Unless  other- 
wise stated-all  information  in  the  follow- 
ing account  is  based  on  this  source. 


137 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  annual  elections  of  officers  and  summaries  of  the 
previous  year's  accounts.  The  few  vestry  resolutions 
which  they  entered  related  to  the  repair  and  cleaning 
of  the  church,  the  renting  of  the  glebe  and  the  responsi- 
bility for  the  maintenance  of  the  churchyard  fencing. 
After  1761  the  rectors,  William  Salisbury  (to  1796) 
and  William  Wilson  (1796-1822)  used  the  few  remain- 
ing pages  to  record  occasional  vestry  minutes,  notes  of 
their  own  and  amounts  collected  on  charitable  briefs. 
The  only  other  surviving  parish  books  are  a  volume  of 
overseers'  accounts  for  the  period  1715—49  and  a  later 
parish  book  which  was  begun  in  1828  but  which  con- 
tained vestry  minutes  only  from  1845.*"  Thus  from 
the  middle  of  the  1 8th  century  there  is  no  record  of 
the  general  government  of  the  parish.  The  annual 
audit  of  accounts  in  the  rector's  book  was  not  signed 
by  the  parishioners  present  but  the  few  vestry  resolu- 
tions were  signed.  It  seems  from  these  signatures  that 
normally  no  more  than  6  persons  attended  the  meet- 
ings. In  1 76 1  and  1762*'  8  or  9  persons  attended  the 
important  meetings  held  to  consider  the  repair  of  the 
bridge.  There  were  probably  other  vestry  meetings 
held  during  the  year  but  not  recorded  in  the  rector's 
book,  for  in  1724-5  the  overseer  mentioned  in  his 
account  book  expenses  incurred  at  9  vestries.  William 
Wilson  gave  a  patriotic  lead  to  the  parish  during  the 
Napoleonic  Wars,  heading  subscription  lists  for  the 
dependants  of  those  who  fell  at  Trafalgar  and  Waterloo 
and  for  the  relief  of  prisoners,  and  sponsoring  voluntary 
bread  rationing  in  1 800.  In  his  will  also  he  left  funds 
to  provide  annuities  for  the  clerk  and  the  beadle. 

A  distinction  between  the  various  officers'  accounts 
and  rates  was  not  always  maintained.  In  1743  a  sur- 
veyor's deficit  was  met  out  of  the  churchwarden's  rate, 
and,  conversely,  in  1744  the  surveyor  was  granted  a 
^.  rate  and  was  ordered  to  pay  any  surplus  to  the 
churchwarden.  When  Jonas  Crouchman  was  both 
churchwarden  and  constable  between  1743  and  175 1, 
the  surplus  of  one  of  his  accounts  was  allowed  to 
balance  a  deficiency  in  the  other.  In  1739  ^  ^^^^  °^ 
id.  in  the  pound  produced  just  over  {j:)\  the  rateable 
value  of  the  parish  had  only  advanced  to  ;£86o  by 
1 803 .82  In  1 840  a  new  valuation  was  made  by  order  of 
the  Ongar  Union,  when  the  rateable  value  was  fixed  at 
almost  j^2, 1 80.83  This  had  risen  tOj^2,452  by  1874.** 
The  usual  officers  were  appointed  at  Easter  and 
Christmas  and  often  remained  in  office  for  more  than 
a  year  at  a  time.  A  woman  occasionally  served  as  sur- 
veyor or  overseer.  In  1673  a  scale  of  expenses  was 
fixed  for  journeys  made  by  parish  officers.  Regular 
payments  were  made  to  the  parish  doctor  from  1 74 1. 
The  average  annual  expenditure  on  poor  relief  in 
the  second  half  of  the  17th  century  was  ^25.  This  had 
risen  to  about  /lOo  by  1749  when  the  detailed  over- 
seers' accounts  ceased.  In  the  overseers'  account  book 
(1715-49),  each  overseer  kept  his  accounts  in  two 
sections  called  the  'standing'  and  the  'bye'  collections; 
the  former  contained  the  regular  weekly  pensions,  the 
latter  all  other  payments.  Information  about  parish 
expenditure  on  the  poor  after  1749  depends  on  sum- 
maries given  in  official  returns.    In  1776  the  cost  of 


poor  relief  was  ^^105.85  In  the  three  years  1783-5  the 
average  annual  cost  was  (j.\o.'^*'  In  the  year  1 801-2 
the  cost  was  ;^38o.8'  This  was  not  exceeded  until 
18 12-13  when  nearly  ;^56o  or  the  equivalent  of  a  rate 
of  I3J'.  in  the  pound  was  spent.^*  In  December  1800, 
following  a  royal  proclamation,  the  vestry  agreed  to  a 
form  of  bread  rationing  reducing  consumption  by  25 
per  cent.  The  same  meeting  also  agreed  to  offer 
encouragement  'to  render  their  poor  industrious'  by 
providing  them  with  wool  for  spinning  and  allowing 
them  to  retain  their  earnings  in  full.  In  1828  and  1829 
meetings  were  held  nearly  every  month,  with  the  over- 
seer presiding,  to  hear  requests  for  clothing,  footwear, 
and  medical  attention.  Few  of  these  requests  were 
refused.*'  After  1829  the  meetings  became  less 
frequent  and  finally  ceased  in  1835. 

The  overseer's  accounts  for  1726  included  a  bill  for 
;^I9  for  building  a  parish  house.  In  1809  'the  able 
young  persons  who  had  been  occupying  three  of  the 
parish  houses  rent-free  to  the  exclusion  of  widows  and 
old  poor  people  who  had  to  be  furnished  with  rooms 
at  the  parish  expense'  were  ordered  to  give  up  pos- 
session or  pay  a  weekly  rent  of  \s.  In  1840  there  were 
two  parish  cottages  at  Padlers  End.'"  They  were  sold 
in  1856. 

In  1836  Moreton  became  part  of  the  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

In  1807  there  were  two  private  day  schools  in 
Moreton,  both  of  them  elementary.  In 
SCHOOL  one  a  master  taught  some  28  children, 
mostly  boys,  of  whom  9  had  their  fees  paid 
by  benefactors.  In  the  other  a  dame  taught  some  37 
children,  mostly  girls,  the  fees  of  17  of  whom  were 
similarly  paid.  The  rector,  William  Wilson,  was 
troubled  because  both  teachers  appeared  to  be  non- 
conformists; he  himself  had  tried  unsuccessfully  to 
establish  a  Sunday  school. «'  By  181 8  there  were  a 
Sunday  school  and  a  day  school  with  more  than  20 
pupils,  under  the  control  of  Wilson  and  the  Rector  of 
High  Laver;  only  one  of  the  two  earlier  day  schools 
seems  to  have  survived.'^  Meanwhile  Wilson  was 
planning  to  build  a  permanent  schoolroom.  He  col- 
lected subscriptions'^  and,  in  his  will  of  1 821,  provided 
for  its  endowment.  Having  redeemed  the  Land  Tax 
of  ;^2  3  ^.  a  year  on  his  living,  he  directed  that  this 
sum  should  be  paid  annually  by  future  rectors  for  the 
support  of  the  school.  He  made  further  arrangements 
which  resulted  in  ^^400  3  per  cent.  Reduced  Annuities 
being  added  to  the  endowment.  He  required  that  the 
teachers  should  be  Anglicans  and  should  teach  Church 
doctrine  to  their  pupils.  'I  do  not',  he  wrote,  'feel  dis- 
posed to  allow  more  than  £22  a.  year  for  the  master's 
salary.'  The  education  was  to  be  elementary  and  fees 
were  to  be  paid,  if  the  parents  could  afford  them.''' 

In  1 82 1  the  school  was  built  on  a  site,  purchased  for 
j^l5,  on  the  north  of  the  Fyfield  road,  about  300  yds. 
west  of  the  church.  Subscribers  nominated  pupils  in 
numbers  proportionate  to  the  amount  of  their  sub- 
scription, but  any  Moreton  child  could  attend  by  right.'' 
There  were  62  pupils  in  1828,  76  in  1833,  70  in  1835, 
and  56  in  1846-7.'*   Most  pupils  paid  !</.  a  week;  a 


»o  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/1 2  i  ibid.  D/P  72/8/2. 
■    8'  Sec  below. 

*'  Retm.Exp.anJMaint.  of  Poor,  H.  C. 
175,  p.  160  (1803-4),  xiii. 
«3  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/1 1/2. 
**  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/1  i/i. 
S5  E.R.O.,  e/CR  i/i.  w  Ibid. 

8'  E.R.O.,  C/CR  1/9. 


88  Ibid. 

89  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/8/2. 
«»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  244. 
'■  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

92  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  262 
(i8i9),ix{.). 

93  Inscription  on  present  school  build- 
ing, 1952. 


»4  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/1. 

95  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  230-2(1835),  xxi(i). 

96  Nal.  Soc.  Rep.  1828,  p.  70;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Ahitr.  H.C.  62,  p.  283  (1835), 
xli ;  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schools, 
1846-7,  pp.  12-13. 


138 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MORETON 


few  paid  more."  Some  Bobbingworth  children  seem 
to  have  attended,  their  fees  being  paid  by  Capel  Cure; 
in  1823  he  paid  4J.  a  week  for  the  schooling  of  12 
boys.'*  The  master  received  at  least  some  of  the  fees 
in  addition  to  his  ^22  salary,  and  his  wife  was  paid  for 
teaching  the  girls."  Further  income  came  to  the 
school  from  charity  sermons  and  private  subscriptions.' 

After  1850  the  school  proved  sufficient  for  the  fall- 
ing population  of  the  parish.  In  1867  there  were  67 
pupils,^  but  in  1871  only  about  50.3  An  inspector 
reported  in  1 871  that  accommodation  was  necessary 
for  82  children  to  ensure  universal  elementary  educa- 
tion in  the  parish  and  that  87  places  were  available  at 
the  school.*  By  1880  average  attendance  had  fallen  to 
47,5  but  it  subsequently  increased  to  76  in  1899,* 
possibly  owing  to  the  closing  of  a  private  school  in  the 
parish. 7  The  annual  grant  also  increased  from  ^^28  i  p. 
in  1880  to  ^^65  10/.  in  1899.8  In  1888  the  Charity 
Commissioners  allowed  the  sale  of  stock  worth  ;^i  50 
towards  the  ^^170  needed  for  a  new  teacher's  residence 
and  in  1909  a  further  sale  was  permitted  to  provide 
funds  for  a  playground.'  In  a  scheme  of  1896  the 
Charity  Commissioners  directed  that  the  trustees  were 
to  be  the  minister,  3  members  elected  by  the  sub- 
scribers, and  3  others  to  be  co-opted;  the  teacher  was 
to  be  an  Anglican  and  the  religious  teaching  was  to  be 
in  accordance  with  Church  doctrine,  but  admission 
was  not  to  be  refused  on  denominational  grounds.'" 

By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee, Ongar  District.  In  1904  there  were  3  teachers 
and  98  children."  Average  attendance  fell  from  72  in 
19 14  to  54  in  1929.  In  I936the  school  was  reorganized 
for  mixed  juniors  and  infants,  the  seniors  attending  the 
new  Ongar  Senior  School.  In  1950  it  was  granted 
'aided  status'.'^  In  May  1952  there  were  3  teachers 
and  59  pupils.'^ 

Soon  after  the  foundation  of  the  school  in  1821,  it 
was  described  as  'a  neat  building  with  a  centre  contain- 
ing convenient  apartments  for  the  master  and  mistress'.''* 
There  was  a  wing  for  boys  and  one  for  girls.  Additions 


in  1888  evidently  spoilt  the  symmetry  of  the  early 
building.' 5  New  classrooms  have  been  added  on  the 
east  side  and  a  new  master's  house  on  the  west.  The 
buildings  are  of  gault  brick. 

For  Church  Lands  Charity  see  above.  Church. 

Jonathan  Carver,  citizen  and  cloth- 
CHARITIES^''  worker  of  London,"  by  will  dated 
1699,  left  £e„  issuing  from  lands  at 
Moreton  End'^  in  trust  for  the  poor  of  Moreton.  In 
1834  blankets  and  clothing  were  given  to  all  the  poor 
families  in  proportion  to  their  size.  In  1949  the 
income,  which  was  paid  out  of  five  separate  properties, 
was  spent  together  with  Brecknock's,  Wilson's,  and 
Talbot's  charities  for  the  poor,  in  j^32  worth  of 
vouchers  for  seventeen  persons  in  varying  amounts. 

Anne  Brecknock,  by  will  dated  1804,  left  ^^200 
stock  for  the  upkeep  of  her  grave  and  for  quarterly  dis- 
tribution to  the  poor  of  the  parish.  The  first  purpose 
was  void  by  the  rule  against  perpetuities.  The  income 
was  spent  with  that  of  Carver's  Charity  in  1834  and 

'949:  . 
William  Wilson,  Rector  of  Moreton,  by  will  proved 

1822,  made  various  legacies  to  the  parish.    That  for 

the  support  of  the  school  (see  above)  was  much  the 

largest;  the  others  were  ;^ioo  and  £200  stock  in  trust 

for  the  beadle  and  parish  clerk  respectively,  and  ;^300 

stock  in  trust  for  the  poor.  At  least  as  late  as  1933  the 

first  two  were  duly  paid  to  the  clerk  and  beadle,  but 

by  1947  the  income  of  £j  los.  from  both  was  spent 

in  part  payment  of  the  verger's  fee.  The  charity  for  the 

poor  was  distributed  in  1834  and  1949  along  with 

Carver's  Charity. 

William  Talbot,  by  will  proved  1894,  left  ^£200 

stock,  subject  to  a  life-interest,  in  trust  for  one  or  two 

poor  persons  yearly,  who  had  been  resident  in  the  parish 

for  ten  years.  The  legacy  came  into  effect  in  1923  and 

in  1925  the  bench  of  magistrates  at  Chipping  Ongar, 

who  were  the  original  administrators,  were  replaced 

by  five  trustees  as  enumerated  for  Carver's  Charity 

(above).  In  1949  the  income  was  distributed  with  that 

from  Carver's  Charity." 


NAVESTOCK 


Navestock  is  about  3  miles  south  of  Ongar  and  4 
miles  north-east  of  Romford.'  With  an  area  of  4,518 
acres  it  is  one  of  the  largest  parishes  in  the  hundred. 
The  varied  scenery  includes  a  patch  of  ancient  wood- 
land, an  open  green,  and  an  open  heath.  Though  so 
close  to  Romford,  Navestock  is  not  traversed  by  main 
roads  and  remains  completely  rural.  It  was  one  of  the 
few  parishes  in  this  area  to  retain  a  large  uninclosed 
common  until  the  i8th  century,  and  where  Roman 
Catholic  worship^  continued  after  the  Reformation. 

The  relief  of  the  parish  consists  principally  of  two 
spurs,  the  larger  in  the  west  including  Navestock 
Heath,  the  smaller  in  the  north-east  with  Beacon  Hill 


as  its  highest  point.3  Both  spurs  rise  to  a  height  of  over 
300  ft.  They  descend  quite  steeply  to  the  north-west 
where  the  winding  River  Roding  forms  the  parish 
boundary.  On  the  south  and  south-east  the  boundary 
is  not  allied  to  any  marked  physical  feature  and  the  land 
slopes  gently  away  to  Havering  Plain  and  South  Weald 
Common.  Between  the  spurs  is  the  valley  of  the 
WetstafF  Brook,  formerly  a  tributary  of  the  Roding, 
now  dammed  to  form  the  Lady's  Pond,  a  rush-grown 
lake  in  Navestock  Park.  This  pond  is  the  largest  stretch 
of  inclosed  water  in  the  parish  but  the  poor  drainage 
afforded  by  the  stiff  London  Clay  has  encouraged  the 
formation  of  many  other  smaller  ponds  in  various  parts 


»'  Ref).  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  230-32. 
»8  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/1;  D/DCc  E6. 
"  Ibid.;  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church 
Schools,  1846-7. 

1  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/1. 

2  KC.H.  Essex,  i\,  558. 

'  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
112-13  (1871),  Iv. 

*  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/269. 

5  Ref.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1880 
[C.  2948-1],  p.  578,  H.C.  (1881),  xixii. 

<•  Rein.  Schools,  1899  [Cd.  315],  p.  72, 
H.C.  (1900),  Ixv  (2). 


'  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  (1871),  pp.  112- 

'3- 

8  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1880, 
p.  578;  Retn.  Schools,  1899,  p.  72. 
»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/269. 

10  Ibid. 

"  Essex    Educ.    Cttee.    Handbk.     1904, 
185. 

■2  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/269. 

"  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

>4  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  353. 

■s  W.  Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

"  Ref.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C.  216, 


pp.  230-2  (1835),  xxi  (i);  Char.  Com. 
Files. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/25/17.  Carver  was 
apparently  a  native  of  Moreton :  W. 
Talbot,  MS.  Hist.  Moreton. 

■8  E.R.O.,  D/P  72/15/20. 

"  For  another  legacy  left  by  Talbot  see 
above,    Church. 

•  0.5.  2i  in.  Maf,  sheet  51/59. 

*  See  below  Manors,  Roman  Catholi- 
cism. 

3  There  was  a  beacon  on  this  hill  in 
1619:  E.R.  xvii,  221. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


of  the  parish.  There  are  several  areas  of  parkland  and 
plantation,  mainly  at  the  lower  altitudes.  Of  these  the 
principal  are  at  Navestock  Park  and  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  WetstafF  Valley  near  Bois  Hall.  Curtismill 
Green  in  the  extreme  west  of  the  parish  is  the  patch 
of  open  woodland,  about  loo  acres  in  extent,  which 
was  formerly  part  of  the  forest  of  Essex.  Its  north- 
eastern and  south-eastern  corners  are  still  marked  by 
:he  old  forest  boundary  stones,  known  respectively  as 
Richard  Stone  and  Navestock  Stone.  Navestock  Com- 
mon, the  name  of  which  survives  in  the  south-west,  was 
formerly  much  larger  in  extent,  stretching  across  the 
south  of  the  parish  for  most  of  its  length  and  containing 
some  600  acres. 

The  main  centre  of  population  is  Navestock  Side  in 
the  extreme  east  of  the  parish,  where  the  houses  cluster 
round  a  green.  There  are  also  some  houses  around 
Navestock  Heath  which  was  formerly  a  more  important 
hamlet  than  it  is  today.  The  former  workhouse  and 
the  old  almshouse,  both  now  demolished,  were  at  the 
south  end.'*  The  village  school  has  been  closed  and  the 
vicarage,  which  adjoins  it,  is  unoccupied.  The  Heath, 
which  is  still  used  for  grazing  cattle,  has  a  desolate  ap- 
pearance. 

The  parish  church  is  a  mile  north  of  Navestock 
Heath,  adjoining  the  old  manor  house  of  Navestock 
Hall.  A  little  to  the  north  of  them,  in  Navestock  Park, 
is  the  site  of  the  former  mansion  of  Navestock  Hall, 
built  in  the  i8th  century  by  Lord  Waldegrave  but 
demolished  about  100  years  later.  Other  ancient 
manor  houses  were  at  Slades  near  Beacon  Hill  and 
Bois  Hall  ^  mile  south  on  the  same  spur.s  A  home- 
stead moat  still  survives  at  the  former  site  of  Slades 
and  there  are  other  moats  at  Dycotts  in  the  south- 
west of  the  parish  and  at  Yew  Tree  Farm  to  the  north 
of  Navestock  Heath. 

Fortification  Wood,  on  the  south  side  of  the  road 
about  J  mile  west  of  Bois  Hall,  covers  an  entrenchment 
some  350  ft.  long  by  240  ft.  wide.'  It  occupies  a  good 
defensive  position  and.  has  been  thought  to  be  a 
fortification  at  some  unknown  date.  It  is  probably 
identical  with  a  wood  called  'the  defence'  which 
existed  in  1222.'  Another  ancient  earthwork,  of  which 
hardly  any  traces  remain,  was  situated  on  Navestock 
Common,  by  the  road  from  Ditchleys  (in  South 
Weald)  to  Princesgate,  near  the  parish  and  hundred 
boundary.  It  was  visited  on  several  occasions  in  the 
l8th  century  by  William  Stukeley  (1687-1765)  who 
described  it  as  an  'alate  temple'.* 

Navestock  probably  means  'the  stump  on  the  head- 
land',' a  derivation  which  suits  the  topography  and 
suggests  early  Saxon  settlement  on  one  of  the  spurs. 
Although  some  of  the  parish  place  names,  including 
those  of  the  manor  houses,  are  medieval,'"  none  of  the 
present  buildings,  apart  from  the  church,  appear  to  be 
earlier  than  the  1 6th  century.  Navestock  Hall  (see 
Manors)  is  perhaps  the  most  interesting  of  these.  Like 
Stondon  Hall  in  Stondon  Massey  it  is  an  old  manor 
house  that  has  survived  the  grander  house  built  in  the 
1 8th  century  to  supersede  it  as  the  residence  of  the  lord 
of  the  manor.  Dabbs  Farm,  formerly  Hole  Farm, 
about  J  mile  south-west  of  Shonks  Mill  Bridge,  is 
probably  on  the  site  of  a  medieval  house.    It  is  now 


approached  by  a  track  past  Howletts  Hall  Farm,  the 
lane  leading  from  the  east  being  impassable.  The 
house,  which  was  probably  built  in  the  late  i6th 
century,  is  timber-framed.  It  retains  a  chimney  with 
six  shafts  set  diagonally.  Sabine  Cottage,  about  J  mile 
east  of  Navestock  Heath,  facing  the  end  of  Tan  House 
Lane,  is  a  small  timber-framed  building  of  the  i6th 
century  or  earlier.  This  house  and  the  neighbouring 
Sabine's  Green  take  their  name  from  the  family  of  a 
13th  century  resident,  William  fitz  Sabine." 

At  Dycotts  a  medieval  building  undoubtedly  oc- 
cupied the  moated  site  but  the  oldest  building  there 
now  is  part  of  an  outbuilding  which  has  16th-century 
timbers.  Wattons  Green,  which  lies  between  Dycotts 
and  the  road,  extends  north-west  as  a  narrow  strip  of 
common  until  it  strikes  the  Navestock-Havering  road 
south  of  Jenkins  Farm.  Its  name  is  derived  from  the 
family  of  John  de  Walton  (fl.  1319).'^ 

By  the  17th  century  the  pattern  of  settlement  in  the 
parish  was  probably  very  much  as  it  is  today.  Larger 
houses  dating  from  that  period  are  Bois  Hall  (see 
Manors),  Beacon  Hill  Farm,  in  the  north-east  corner 
of  the  parish,  and  Yew  Tree  Farm.  Beacon  Hill  Farm 
is  a  red-brick  house  probably  built  in  the  late  17th 
century.  It  was  much  altered  in  the  i8th  or  earher 
19th  century  but  retains  some  original  woodwork 
inside.  The  cottage  which  adjoins  the  house  on  the 
north  is  probably  of  the  same  period  with  fewer 
alterations.  Yew  Tree  Farm,  probably  built  in  the 
17th  century,  has  a  cruciform  chimney  set  diagonally 
on  a  square  base.  Two  wings  at  the  back  and  other 
features  date  from  the  i8th  century.  North  of  the 
house  is  part  of  a  large  rectangular  moat.  The  surface 
of  the  ground  inside  it  is  uneven,  suggesting  the  posi- 
tion of  an  earlier  building.  Several  smaller  buildings, 
all  timber-framed,  also  date  from  the  17th  century. 
Brook  House,  to  the  east  of  Curtismill  Green,  is  a 
weather-boarded  cottage  probably  built  in  the  second 
half  of  that  century.  On  the  north  side  of  the  road 
almost  opposite  Bois  Hall  is  a  cottage  of  the  17th 
century  or  earlier  with  an  original  chimney.  At  Nave- 
stock Side  and  near  it  there  are  other  cottages  of  about 
the  same  period.  Houghtons,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
road  at  Horseman  Side,  may  well  be  an  ancient  house 
altered  in  the  i8th  or  early  19th  century.  It  is  a 
weather-boarded  range  of  four  cottages. 

Shonks  Mill  was  probably  rebuilt  in  the  17th 
century.  It  took  its  name  from  a  medieval  family,  but 
this  may  have  come  indirectly  from  some  other  topo- 
graphical feature  in  the  area.  A  map  of  1835,  based 
upon  one  of  1785,  shows  the  old  course  of  the  Roding 
'before  Shonks  Mill  was  erected'. ''  This  suggests  that 
the  existing  mill  had  been  built  not  very  long  before 
1785,  and  the  humped  brick  bridge  that  still  survives 
on  the  site  and  has  a  small  arch  for  the  mill  race  is  prob- 
ably of  the  17th  century.  The  parapets  have  been 
rebuilt.  The  mill  itself  was  still  standing  in  the  present 
century  but  does  not  appear  to  have  been  used  after 
about  1 860,  and  it  has  since  been  demolished.'* 

Great  changes  took  place  in  Navestock  in  the  i8th 
century.  Early  in  the  century  the  new  mansion  of 
Navestock  Hall  was  built  and  a  large  park  constructed 
around  it. '5    Later  came  the  inclosure  of  Navestock 


<  See  below  Parish  Government,  also 
Charities. 

'  For  the  manor  houses,  including  Loft 
Hall,  sec  below,  Manors. 

'  For  details  see  Hist,  Mon.  Com,  Eisex, 
ii,  193;  V,C,H,  Essex,  i,  279.    Described 


on  O.S,  2j  in.  Map  as  a  camp. 

'  Dom,  of  St,  Paul's  (Camd.  Soc.  1858), 

79- 

*  Essex  Naturalist,  viii,  214,  220-2. 
Stukeley's  drawing  of  the  site  is  repro- 
duced ibid.  214.  His  last  visit  was  in  176 1. 


9  P.N,  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  70. 

■<•  Ibid.  70-71. 

"  Ibid.  71.  "  Ibid.  70. 

■3  E.R.O.,  D/DXa  24. 

'<  Local  inf. ;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i  845  f.). 

■5  See  below,  Manors. 


140 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


NAVESTOCK 


Common.  These  changes,  while  they  altered  the  land- 
scape of  the  parish,  did  not,  however,  alter  the  main 
pattern  of  settlement.'*  Before  the  inclosure  there  were 
several  houses  along  the  north  edge  of  the  common, 
mostly  at  Horseman  Side.  Their  occupants  had  no 
doubt  found  the  situation  convenient  for  the  exercise 
of  common  rights.  Inclosure  of  the  common  evidently 
led  to  the  building  of  one  new  farm,  Princesgate  Farm, 
which  existed  by  1840,"  and  a  few  of  the  houses  to 
the  south  of  the  road  between  Navestock  Side  and 
Horseman  Side  are  of  late  1 8th-  or  19th-century  date. 
The  extinguishment  of  the  rights  of  common  in  this 
part  of  the  parish  may  have  led .  to  the  building  of 
cottages  around  the  edges  of  the  wood  at  Curtismill 
Green,  which  was  not  affected  by  the  inclosure.  This 
was  not,  however,  the  first  development  round  Curtis- 
mill  Green.'* 

Chapman  and  Andre's  Map  of  Essex,  lyyj  shows 
houses  along  most  of  the  western  edge  of  Navestock 
Side  but  none  on  the  eastern  edge.  The  'Green  Man', 
which  may  have  existed  long  before,  was  probably  re- 
built in  the  i8th  century  when  Navestock  Side  became 
a  cricket  centre.  It  is  a  tall  rectangular  building, 
recently  modernized.  During  the  late  1 8th  century 
Navestock  Park  was  embellished  by  the  construction 
of  the  Lady's  Pond  and  at  about  the  same  time  there 
were  alterations  to  Bois  Hall.  Abbotswick,  at  Navestock 
Side,  is  a  small  country  house  standing  in  a  well- 
timbered  garden  with  a  small  lake.  It  seems  to  date 
from  about  1800  and  has  since  been  rebuilt  probably 
early  in  the  present  century.  In  18 17  it  was  described 
as  the  seat  of  Adam  Chadwick."  The  1777  map  shows 
a  small  piece  of  common  at  Slades,  but  this  had  been 
inclosed  by  1840.^0 

In  1801  the  population  of  Navestock  was  623,  and 
by  1 82 1  it  had  risen  to  840.^'  It  continued  to  rise  until 
1 85 1  when  a  peak  of  982  was  reached.  The  number 
of  inhabited  houses  in  the  parish  increased  from  1 3 1 
in  1801  to  188  in  1851.^^  After  1851  there  was  a 
gradual  decline  in  population  which  became  most  rapid 
between  1871  and  1881,  the  period  of  agricultural 
depression.  By  1901  there  were  only  692  inhabi- 
tants. 

The  most  remarkable  event  in  the  life  of  the  parish 
in  the  19th  century  was  the  demolition  (181 1)  of 
Navestock  Hall.  During  the  course  of  the  century 
some  of  the  other  larger  houses  in  the  parish  were 
extended  or  improved  and  continued  to  offer  op- 
portunities of  employment  for  the  cottagers,  but  the 
disappearance  of  the  great  house  of  Navestock,  at  a 
time  when  the  population  was  increasing  rapidly,  may 
have  been  partly  responsible  for  the  ultimate  decrease. 
Even  if  it  had  no  other  effect  the  demohtion  increased 
the  isolation  of  the  parish  church  and  must  have  re- 
inforced the  existing  tendency  for  the  population  to 
concentrate  in  the  east  and  south  of  the  parish.  This 
tendency  may  have  been  partly  counteracted  by  the 
rebuilding  of  the  vicarage  at  Navestock  Heath  and  the 
erection  beside  it  of  a  village  school.  On  the  other  hand 
again  there  was  the  closure  of  Shonks  Mill,  which 
probably  failed  in  competition  with  the  new  steam  mill 
at  Princesgate.  The  new  mill  was  built  adjoining 
Princesgate  Farm.    It  is  an  impressive  structure  of 


black  weather-boarding,  with  a  tall  chimney  (see  plate 
facing  p.  I  56).  It  is  no  longer  used  as  a  mill. 

Between  1901  and  193 1  the  population  of  Nave- 
stock fluctuated  at  around  700.^3  In  1953  it  was 
estimated  at  680,  which  is  the  lowest  figure  since 
i8oi.^'»  Among  the  houses  built  during  the  past  fifty 
years  are  five  pairs  of  council  houses  at  the  north  end  of 
Navestock  Heath  and  twelve  pairs  near  Navestock  Side 
on  the  road  to  Bentley  church.  Three  of  the  last 
twelve  have  been  erected  since  1945,  two  of  them 
being  of  Swedish  timber.  The  Navestock  Club,  built 
at  Navestock  Side  in  1920,  increased  the  amenities  in 
that  part  of  the  parish.  Some  provision  for  communal 
activities  at  Horseman  Side  had  been  made  by  the 
building  there  of  the  Navestock  Mission  Room  in 
1897.  This  was  originally  a  nonconformist  chapel  but 
is  now  used  for  services  in  connexion  with  the  parish 
church.  During  the  Second  World  War  Slades  Farm 
was  totally  demolished  by  enemy  action  and  the  parish 
church  damaged. 

The  Brentwood-Ongar  road  touches  Navestock's 
easternmost  edge,  forming  the  boundary  with  South 
Weald  for  a  short  distance.  Its  principal  connecting 
link  runs  south-west  through  Navestock  Side  and 
Horseman  Side  to  Havering  and  Romford,  and 
another  road  goes  west  and  south-west  past  Bois  Hall, 
Navestock  Hall,  and  Navestock  Heath  to  Havering 
and  Romford.  Linking  these  two  principal  roads  are 
several  by-roads  aligned  from  north-west  to  south-east. 
The  most  important  of  these  follows  the  WetstafF 
valley  for  most  of  its  course  and  passes  out  of  the  parish 
by  Shonks  Mill  Bridge  over  the  Roding  to  join  the 
Ongar-Abridge  road. 

Most  of  the  parish  roads  are  probably  earlier  in 
origin  than  the  1 8th  century.  They  may  always  have 
been  poor  in  the  west  of  Navestock,  where  the  wood 
of  Curtismill  Green  formed  a  barrier,  but  there  was 
evidently  a  thoroughfare  of  some  sort  in  that  area  as 
early  as  the  i6th  century.  In  1583  it  was  reported  at 
Quarter  Sessions  that  the  road  from  Brentwood  through 
Navestock  to  Epping  was  blocked  by  a  gate  called 
'Curtinsmiir  Gate  which  was  'the  only  defence  for 
the  cattle  commoning  on  that  part  of  the  forest  there'.^s 
There  are  detailed  reports  from  the  surveyors  of  the 
highways  on  their  statute  labour  for  1607-9,  1618, 
and  1645.^* 

The  inclosure  award  of  1770  contained  the  usual 
provisions  concerning  the  construction  of  roads  to 
serve  the  inclosed  area.^^  Ten  new  roads  were  specified  1 
but  many  of  these  were  very  short  lengths  and  it  is 
clear  from  the  inclosure  map  that  some  of  them  already 
existed  in  whole  or  in  part.  The  most  important  changes 
that  resulted  from  the  award  were  the  continuation  of 
the  road  from  Horseman  Side  to  Navestock  Side  and 
roads  running  south  and  south-east  from  that  road. 
Not  all  the  provisions  of  the  award  were  actually 
carried  out.  This  may  have  resulted  from  disputes 
concerning  responsibility  for  the  new  roads.  At  a 
parish  vestry  meeting  in  1844  it  was  resolved  tha't  the 
roads  set  out  by  the  inclosure  commissioners  should 
not  be  repaired  by  the  parish.^*  This  decision  was 
repeated  at  vestry  meetings  later  in  the  same  year  and 
in   1845,  when  the  parish  surveyor  was  ordered  to 


"  Compare  the  Inclosure  Map  (E.R.O., 
J2/RDc  i)  with  Chapman  and  Andr^, 
Map  of  Essex,  lyjT,  sheets  xvi,  xvii  and 
later  maps. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248. 

»8  a.  E.R.  xiv,  I  go. 


'9  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Navestock. 
^0  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248. 
^'  For   census    figures    1801— 1901    see 
F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 
22  Census,  1801,  1851. 
"  Census,  i  901-3 1. 


^*  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council.  At 
the  1951  census  it  was  6go. 

25  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  86/60,  cf.  ibid.  90/31. 

2' -Ibid.  188/80,  329/27;  E.R.O.,Q/SB« 
4/5.  "  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  I. 

28  E.R.O.,  D/P  148/8/2. 


141 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


request  the  inhabitants  whose  lands  abutted  on  Goats 
Wood  Lane  to  repair  it.^' 

Much  of  the  parish  on  the  north-west  is  bounded  by 
the  Roding  and  there  are  many  references  to  bridges 
in  records  relating  to  Navestock.  The  most  important 
was  Shonks  Mill  Bridge  between  Navestock  and  Stan- 
ford Rivers.  In  1566  this  lay  between  the  land  of 
Robert  Shanke  and  WiUiam  Melbourne:  its  timbers 
were  then  badly  decayed.^o  A  little  later  there  was 
some  doubt  whether  it  should  be  repaired  by  Nave- 
stock or  by  Stanford  Rivers.  In  161 7,  when  it  had 
been  damaged  by  floods,  Navestock  was  ordered  by 
Quarter  Sessions  to  repair  it,3'  but  in  161 8  both 
parishes  were  presented  as  responsible  for  the  bridge, 
then  'very  much  in  decay'. 32  Both  parishes  were  held 
responsible  in  1641.23  By  about  1800  the  bridge  had 
become  a  charge  on  the  county  and  it  appears  in  the 
later  lists  of  county  bridges.^*  In  1857  it  was  described 
in  detail  by  the  county  surveyor.^s  It  was  damaged  by 
floods  in  1943.  One  abutment  was  rebuilt  in  concrete 
and  the  decking  was  replaced  with  a  temporary  struc- 
ture.3* 

A  foot-bridge  called  Hawkes  or  Hackes  Bridge  was 
in  need  of  repair  in  1579  and  1580  and  John  Greene 
of  Navestock  Hall  was  said  to  be  responsible. 3'  In 
1586  floods  destroyed  this  bridge  (then  said  to  be  in 
Broad  Mead)  and  the  same  John  Greene  and  the 
parishioners  of  Stanford  Rivers  were  ordered  to  repair 
it.38  In  the  same  year  Bartholomew  Partrych  of  Nave- 
stock was  ordered  to  replace  a  foot-bridge.39 

For  its  communications  with  the  outside  world 
Navestock  has  depended  on  Ongar,  Brentwood,  and 
Romford.  Even  today,  no  bus  route  passes  through 
the  parish,  and  this  has  the  effect  of  making  the  centre 
of  the  parish,  especially  Navestock  Heath,  seem 
isolated  and  rural.  This  is  the  more  remarkable  as 
there  is  suburban  development  reaching  out  in  this 
direction  from  both  Romford  and  Brentwood,  and  the 
great  new  housing  estate  of  Harold  Hill  is  only  3  miles 
from  Navestock  Heath. 

An  application  in  1840  for  a  post-office  in  Nave- 
stock was  refused.**"  A  receiver  was  mentioned  in 
1855  and  in  1856  Navestock  had  a  post-office  under 
Romford.*'  There  were  several  changes  in  the  later 
postal  arrangements  for  the  parish.  In  1870  and  up  to 
1884  the  only  post-office  was  at  Shonks  Mill,  where 
letters  were  received  via  Stanford  Rivers  from  Rom- 
ford.''^  In  1884  a  second  post-office  was  opened  at 
Navestock  Side,  and  in  the  same  year  the  telegraph  was 
extended  to  both  offices.'ts  In  about  1890  the  main 
office  was  that  at  Navestock  Side  and  the  sub-post- 
office  at  Shonks  Mill  had  no  telegraph.''*  Four  years 
later  the  Shonks  Mill  office  had  been  replaced  by  one 
in  the  centre  of  the  parish  at  Sabine's  Green.^s  During 
the  past  60  years  the  Navestock  Side  office  has  con- 
tinued to  be  the  more  important  of  the  two.    The 


Sabine's  Green  (or  Navestock  Heath)  office  has  existed 
for  most  of  this  period  but  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
operating  immediately  after  the  First  World  War.** 

Piped  water  is  supplied  to  the  parish  by  the  Herts, 
and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.  but  there  is  no  main 
drainage.*'  The  Romford  Gas  Co.  acquired  powers 
to  supply  gas  in  Navestock  in  1935  and  this  has  been 
laid  on  for  Navestock  Side.**  Electricity  was  supplied 
to  Navestock  Heath  in  1931.*"  The  Navestock  Club 
established  at  Navestock  Side  in  1920  has  as  its  meeting- 
place  a  single-story  wooden  building  given  by  Mr. 
Walter  Tyser,  the  lord  of  the  manor.'"  A  branch  of  the 
county  hbrary  was  opened  in  1938.'' 

Cricket  has  been  played  at  Navestock  since  1784 
and  probably  earlier.s^  In  1790  the  'Essex  Cricket 
Club'  was  holding  fortnightly  matches  at  the  'Green 
Man',  Navestock  Side.  The  members  of  the  club 
included  Lord  Petre  and  Lord  Winchilsea.ss  A  map 
of  1835,  based  on  one  of  1785,  shows  the  cricket 
ground,5*  and  for  most  of  the  19th  century  this  was 
the  home  ground  of  the  West  Essex  Cricket  Club,  one 
of  the  best  known  in  the  county. 55 

The  map  of  1835  marks  the  fields  immediately  to 
the  east  of  the  cricket  ground  at  Navestock  Side  as  a 
'horse-race  ground'. 5*  Occasional  race  meetings  were 
being  held  at  Navestock  in  the  i86o's  but  had  long 
been  discontinued  by  1906.57 

During  the  Middle  Ages  the  most  important  estate 
in  the  parish  was  that  owned  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter 
of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral.  Their  property  passed  in  the 
1 6th  century  to  the  Waldegrave  family.  From  the 
1 6th  century  to  the  19th  the  Waldegraves  (later 
barons  and  eventually  earls)  increased  their  estate  until 
by  1 840  it  comprised  almost  three-quarters  of  the  total 
area  of  the  parish.'*  From  the  early  1 8th  until  the  early 
1 9th  century  Navestock  Hall  was  their  main  seat.  Later 
in  the  19th  century,  in  spite  of  the  demolition  of  the 
hall,  Lady  Waldegrave  returned  to  the  parish  to  live  at 
Dudbrook.5' 

It  was  John,  Earl  Waldegrave  who  secured  the 
inclosure  of  the  common  in  ijjofi"  The  total  area 
inclosed  was  502  acres  exclusive  of  90  acres  set  aside 
for  roads  and  waste.  The  earl's  allotment  was  about 
350  acres. 

In  1840  there  were  some  25  farms  in  the  parish, 
of  which  about  12  were  over  100  acres  and  9  between 
50  acres  and  100  acres.  The  largest  was  Bois  Hall  with 
Slades,  480  acres.  It  was  one  of  the  largest  in  the  whole 
of  Ongar  hundred  at  that  time.*'  Two  years  earlier  it 
had  been  estimated  that  some  2,1 50  acres  of  the  parish 
were  cultivated  as  arable  and  1,850  acres  as  meadow 
or  pasture.*^  These  proportions  of  arable  to  pasture 
were  typical  of  this  area  of  mixed  farming.  As  else- 
where in  the  hundred  the  arable  open  fields,  if  they 
ever  existed,  must  have  been  inclosed  at  an  early  date. 
Open  meadow  lasted  longer.  The  map  of  1835  shows 


"  E.R.O.,  D/P  148/8/2. 

30  E.R.O.,  e/SR  20/6. 

"  Ibid.  218/30.  But  cf.  Q/CP  3,  p.  34. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  4/5.   Cf.  ibid.  1/35. 

33  E.R.O.,  e/SR  314/62. 

3«  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  I,  2. 

35  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

^^  Inf.  from  County  Surveyor. 

37  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  73/62,  77/46,  78/43, 
cf.  93/19. 

38  Ibid.  98/19. 
»  Ibid.  98/15. 

«  P.M.G.  Mins.  1840,  vol.  52,  p.  25. 
«'  Kelly' t  Dir.  Essex  (i^SS);  Brit.  Post. 
Guide,  1856. 


*2  Kelly  s  Dir.  Essex  (1870  f.). 

♦3  P.M.G.  Mins.  1884,  vol.  272,  min. 
7096;  vol.  274,  min.  8334;  vol.  271,  min. 
6546;  vol.  277,  min.  10446;  vol.  280, 
min.  13222. 

«  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890). 

45  Ibid.  (1894). 

46  Ibid.  (1898  f.). 

47  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  and  Miss  O.  Porter. 

48  Inf.  from  North  Thames  Gas  Bd.  and 
Miss  O.  Porter. 

4«  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elec.  Bd. 
50  Inf.  from  Mrs.  L.  F.  Pryor. 
5'  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

142 


52  E.R.  Iviii,  49. 

53  E.R.O.,  T/B  69. 

54  E.R.O.,  D/DXa  24. 

55  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  599. 

56  E.R.O.,  D/DXa  24. 

57  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  587. 

58  See  Manors. 
s«  Ibid. 

6"  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  I.  For  the  inclosure 
Act  (1768)  see  E.R.O.,  Q/SBb  261. 

61  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248. 

62  Ibid.  These  figures  may  both  have 
been  underestimates,  but  they  probably 
express  the  proportions  of  arable  to  pasture 
correctly. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


NAVESTOCK 


strip  holdings  (in  private  ownership)  in  'Navestock 
Common  Mead'  adjoining  the  Roding  south  of 
Shonks  Mill.'s  There  is  no  suggestion  that  they  were 
still  farmed  in  common,  but  it  is  likely  that  they  repre- 
sented the  areas  of  earlier  strips  in  the  open  water 
meadow. 

Navestock  has  always  been  an  agricultural  parish 
and  there  do  not  appear  to  have  been  any  important 
occupations  that  were  not  connected  with  agriculture. 
The  fragment  of  the  parish  that  was  within  the 
ancient  forest  of  Essex  escaped  the  destruction  that 
overtook  most  of  the  neighbouring  forest  at  Hainault.*^ 
Curtismill  Green  was  disafforested  in  185 1  and  in 
1858  was  allotted  as  common  to  the  parish  of  Nave- 
stock.*5 

Apart  from  the  Waldegraves,  several  of  whom 
achieved  distinction,**  Navestock  numbers  among  its 
worthies  William  Stubbs  (i 825-1901),  the  historian 
and  Bishop  successively  of  Chester  (1884-8)  and 
Oxford  (i  888-1901)  who  was  Vicar  of  Navestock 
from  1850  to  1866.*'  Much  of  his  early  work  for  the 
Rolls  Series  was  done  in  the  parish.  He  married  a 
local  girl,  Catherine  Dellar,  who  had  been  mistress  of 
the  village  school.  His  predecessor  as  vicar,  James  Ford 
(1779-18  50,  vicar  from  1830  to  his  death),  founded 
the  Ford  Lectureship  at  Oxford  University.* *  He  is 
said  to  have  made  manuscript  notes  towards  a  history 
of  the  hundred  of  Ongar  and  to  have  left  them  to 
Trinity  College,  Oxford.*'  He  and  Stubbs  were  not 
the  only  historians  to  be  connected  with  Navestock, 
for  Adam  de  Murimuth  (1275  ?-i347),  Canon  of  St. 
Paul's,  to  whom  the  manor  was  leased  in  1335  by  the 
Dean  and  Chapter,'"  was  the  author  of  the  Continuatio 
Chronicorum,  a  chronicle  which  is  a  primary  authority 
for  the  history  of  England  in  the  first  half  of  the  14th 
century." 

The  manor  of  NAVESTOCK  was  acquired  in  or 
before  the  nth  century  by  the  Dean  and 
MANORS  Chapter  of  St.  Paul's.  There  is  a  charter 
purporting  to  have  been  issued  by  King 
Edgar  (958-75)  but  dated  867."  In  this  the  king  is 
made  to  say  that  at  the  request  of  Bishop  Deorwulf  and 
Alderman  Ealdred  he  has  granted  to  the  church  of  St. 
Paul  1 5  mansiones  of  land  at  Navestock.  The  first 
witness  to  the  charter,  Oda  the  Archbishop,  held  the 
See  of  Canterbury  from  942  to  95  8.  The  other  witnesses' 
names,  2  5  in  number,  are  consistent  with  the  date  867, 
and  so  also  are  the  names  of  Deorwulf  (who  was 
Bishop  of  London)  and  Ealdred.  The  formula  by 
which  the  king  makes  the  grant  at  the  request  of  certain 
named  persons  is  found  occasionally  in  the  9th  century, 
but  never  in  the  ioth.'3  It  therefore  seems  probable 
that  the  Navestock  charter  is  based  upon  a  genuine 
original  of  867  or  thereabouts.  Perhaps  the  property 
was  granted  to  St.  Paul's  in  867  and  confirmed  by 
Edgar  in  958,  and  some  of  the  names  from  the  con- 
firmation have  crept  into  the  original  through  careless 
transcription.'*  But  in  view  of  its  inconsistencies  the 
charter  of  867  cannot  be  accepted  as  genuine  in  its 
present  form,  and  must  be  treated  with  reserve. 


If  the  canons  of  St.  Paul's  had  ever  held  land  in 
Navestock  before  the  Norman  Conquest  they  had 
evidently  lost  it  by  1066.  In  that  year  the  landowners 
included  Houard  and  Ulsi,  who  held  two  manors 
amounting  together  to  5  hides  less  20  acres,  Turstin 
the  Red,  who  held  a  manor  of  i  hide  and  40  acres, 
seven  unnamed  freemen  who  held  2  hides  between 
them,  and  Gotil,  who  held  a  manor  of  80  acres.  In 
1086  Gotil's  manor  was  held  by  Ralph  de  Marcy  of 
Hamon  dafifer.  All  the  other  estates  were  held  by  St. 
Paul's.  It  was  stated  that  the  canons  claimed  the  manors 
of  Houard  and  Ulsi  as  of  the  king's  gift,  and  that  they 
had  seized  Turstin's  manor.  The  Domesday  Survey 
also  recorded  that  a  priest  held  \  hide  and  20  acres  in 
Navestock  but  that  the  hundred  court  considered  this 
to  be  the  rightful  property  of  St.  Paul's.  It  is  not  clear 
whether  the  priests'  tenement  was  included  in  any  of 
the  other  estates  mentioned  above.  In  1086  it  was  in 
the  king's  hand.'s  To  support  their  title  to  the  Nave- 
stock manor  the  canons  of  St.  Paul's  produced  a 
charter  stating  that  William  I  on  his  coronation  day 
(25  December  1066)  regranted  to  St.  Paul's  lands  at 
Navestock  and  elsewhere  which  had  belonged  to  the 
cathedral  church  before  but  which  had  been  lost.'* 
This  charter  must  be  looked  upon  as  a  forgery. 

The  manor  of  Navestock,  however  acquired, 
remained  in  the  possession  of  St.  Paul's  until  the  i6th 
century,  and  was  annexed  to  a  prebendal  stall  in  the 
cathedral."  The  manor  in  Navestock  which  Ralph 
de  Marcy  held  in  1086  was  probably  merged  by  him 
or  one  of  his  immediate  heirs  with  the  estate  which  he 
held  in  Kelvedon  Hatch  (q.v.).  Shortly  after  1086  the 
canons  of  St.  Paul's  accused  Ralph  of  seizing  several 
lands  belonging  to  their  manor  of  Navestock.  The 
dispute  was  not  settled  until  after  his  death.  Before 
1 1 20  William  son  of  Ralph  made  a  compromise  with 
the  canons  whereby  he  was  to  hold  all  the  lands  in 
Navestock  which  his  father  had  held  at  his  death  on 
payment  to  St.  Paul's  of  lbs.  a  year.'*  Ralph  de 
Marcy's  heirs  continued  to  hold  this  Navestock  estate 
of  St.  Paul's  until  after  12 22."  They  also  held  the 
manor  of  Magdalen  Laver  (q.v.).  No  certain  reference 
to  their  Navestock  estate  has  been  found  later  than 
1222,  but  it  is  possible  that,  together  with  their  estate 
in  Kelvedon  Hatch,  it  became  the  manor  of  Myles's 
(q.v.)  in  Kelvedon  Hatch. 

In  I  544  the  manor  of  Navestock  and  other  manors 
belonging  to  St.  Paul's  were  surrendered  to  the  king 
in  exchange  for  properties  elsewhere.  8"  Navestock  ' 
remained  in  the  possession  of  the  Crown  for  ten  years 
until  in  1554  Queen  Mary  sold  it  with  the  advowson 
of  the  vicarage  to  Sir  Edward  Waldegrave,  who  had 
been  appointed  steward  in  1553,  for  ^^1,228,  to  hold 
for  55  knight's  fee.  The  manor  was  then  occupied  by 
Richard  Greene  on  a  lease  granted  by  St.  Paul's  in 
I  526  for  40  years  at  a  rent  of  ,^50  a  year.*' 

On  the  death  of  Mary  Sir  Edward  Waldegrave,  who 
had  been  Chancellor  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  was 
imprisoned  in  the  Tower  of  London,  and  he  remained 
there  until  his  death  in  i  561.82   pjg  jgft  Navestock  in 


«3  E.R.O.,  D/DXa  24. 

'♦  For  Hainault  Forest  see  Chigwell, 
Lambourne. 

05  E.R.O.,  e/RDc  42,  55. 

"  See  Burke'i  Peerage,  Waldegrave. 

"  D.N.B.  2nd  Suppl.  68  D.N.B. 

<">  Ibid.;  E.R.  1,  p.  77.  The  MSS.  can- 
not now  be  found  at  Trinity  College.  For 
a  MS.  biography  of  Ford  see  E.R.O., 
T/G  35. 


■">  See  below.  Manors.  "  D.N.B. 

'2  Birch,  Carl.  Sax.  iii,  p.  488;  Early 
Charts,  of  St.  Paulas  (Camd.  Soc.  3rd  ser. 
Iviii),  p.  2,  n.  2. 

"  Cf.  Birch,  op.  cit.  ii,  p.  169. 

7*  For  such  occurrences  see  e.g.  J.  A. 
Robinson,  Times  of  St.  Dunstan,  48. 

"  V.C.H.  Essex,  \,  443a,  502A. 

'<■  Dugdale,  Hist.  St.  Paul's  {181 8  edn.), 
297. 


"  For  tenants  of  the  manor  in  the  14th 
and  15th  cent?,  see  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  gth 
Rep.  pt.  i  Afp.  32  f. 

'*  Domesday  Studies  (ed.  P.  E.  Dove),  ii, 

553-5- 
'«  Dom.  of  St.  Paul's  (Camd.  Soc.  1858), 

75. '33- 
8°.  L.  &  P.  Hen.  nil,  xix  (i),  p.  495. 
8"  Cal.Pat.  1553-4,248,393. 
8»  D.N.B. 


143 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


his  will  to  his  wife  Frances  for  life,  with  remainder  to 
his  eldest  son  Charles.*^  Frances  died  holding  the 
manor  in  l^()()M  Charles  Waldegrave  succeeded  her 
and  in  the  same  year  settled  the  manor  on  his  son 
Edward  on  the  latter's  marriage  with  Eleanor,  daughter 
of  Sir  Thomas  Lovell.^s  Edward  was  knighted  in 
1607  and  created  a  baronet  in  1643  for  his  services  to 
the  king  in  the  Civil  War,  when  he  commanded  a 
regiment  of  horse  with  distinction. **  Navestock 
descended  with  the  family  honours  until  the  19th 
century.  In  1686  the  4th  baronet  was  raised  to  the 
peerage  as  Baron  Waldegrave  and  in  1729  his  son  was 
created  Earl  Waldegrave. *'  The  original  Waldegrave 
estate  in  Navestock  was  increased  during  the  17th  and 
1 8th  centuries  by  the  acquisition  of  the  manors  of 
Slades,  Bois  Hall,  Loft  Hall,  and  probably  other  pro- 
perties in  the  parish.  The  6th  Earl  Waldegrave  (d. 
1835)  gave  the  whole  estate  to  his  eldest,  but  illegitimate, 
son  John  J.  H.  Waldegrave,  who  in  1840  was  holding 
some  3,000  acres  in  Navestock,  almost  three-quarters 
of  all  the  land  in  the  parish.**  J.  J.  H.  Waldegrave 
married  Frances  Braham.  He  died  in  1840  and  his 
widow  married  his  younger,  legitimate,  brother  George 
Edward,  Earl  Waldegrave  (d.  1846).  Through  her 
marriages  the  countess  acquired  all  the  Waldegrave 
estates  in  Essex  and  elsewhere,  for  in  1876  they  were 
alienated  from  the  earldom  and  became  her  absolute 
property.  She  died  in  1879  leaving  Navestock  to  her 
fourth  husband.  Lord  Carlingford.  On  his  death  in 
1898  the  manor  was  sold  to  James  Tabor  of  Roch- 
ford.*'  In  1919  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  Walter 
P.  Tyser,  who  had  leased  the  manor  house  since  191 1. 
The  estate  is  now  (1955)  owned  by  the  Church  Com- 
missioners.'" 

An  inventory  of  1335  gives  interesting  details  of  the 
manor  house  of  Navestock."  Adam  de  Murimuth, 
Canon  of  St.  Paul's,  to  whom  the  manor  was  then  com- 
mitted, also  received  'under  one  roof  a  bakehouse  and 
dairy,  a  kitchen  with  an  oven  and  two  cisterns,  a  hen 
house,  a  hall  with  buttery  and  pantry  at  the  west  end 
of  the  hall  and  a  chamber  at  the  east  with  galleries. 
And  a  chamber  with  store  room  {celarium)  and  room 
above,  roofed  with  tiles,  and  belonging  to  the  same 
chamber  a  chapel  of  plaster  of  Paris  roofed  with  timber 
(tendulis),  an  old  granary  with  four  bays  {interfinis) 
and  an  old  kiln  and  a  little  house  for  calves  outside  the 
door  and  a  smithy,  a  sheepfold  outside  the  door,  a 
windmill.' 

The  building  described  in  the  inventory  was  pos- 
sibly on  the  site  of  the  present  Navestock  Hall,  which 
is  about  1 50  yds.  south-east  of  the  church.  This  house, 
now  a  farm,  dates  from  the  early  i6th  century.  The 
north  wing  was  probably  added  in  the  1 8th  century  or 
later.  The  explosion  of  a  German  landmine  in  Sep- 
tember 1940  dislodged  the  external  plaster,  revealing 
the  fact  that  much  more  of  the  house  was  of  the 
original  date  than  had  been  supposed.'^  This  is  a  two- 
story  timber-framed  structure  with  a  four-centred  door- 


head  on  its  north  side.  The  timbering  has  been  left 
exposed  and  a  Georgian  bay  on  the  east  side  has  been 
rebuilt  with  oak  timbers  from  a  demolished  barn.  One 
of  the  lead  rainwater  heads  is  inscribed  'e.  w.  1757'. 

The  site  of  a  later  manor  house,  now  demolished,  is 
about  400  yds.  north-east  of  the  farm.  This  was  a 
mansion  built  in  the  first  quarter  of  the  1 8th  century  by 
Lord  Waldegrave  (d.  1741).  A  map  of  1726  by 
Thomas  Browne  shows  the  layout  of  the  garden  and 
park. '3  The  house  faced  south-east  with  a  stable-yard 
and  kitchen  gardens  on  the  north-east  and  formal 
gardens  with  ornamental  water  on  the  opposite  side. 
Behind  the  house  a  deer  park  reached  nearly  to  the 
Roding.  In  the  park  were  two  wooded  duck  decoys. 
A  double  avenue,  over  a  mile  long,  is  shown  stretching 
across  the  river  to  join  the  Abridge-Ongar  road.  The 
house  itself  was  described  later  in  the  century  as  'a 
good  regular  brick  building'. '"i  A  print  of  the  same 
date  shows  the  main  two-story  block  to  be  of  nine  bays, 
the  three  central  windows  being  surmounted  by  a  pedi- 
ment. Flanking  this  are  single-story  wings  with 
balustraded  parapets,  each  having  three  windows.  The 
principal  entrance  has  a  segmental  pediment.  Prob- 
ably the  revulsion  against  formality  which  took  place 
in  the  late  i8th  century  led  to  alterations  in  the  park. 
The  WetstafF  Brook  was  dammed  to  form  the  sheet  of 
water  known  as  the  Lady's  Pond  and  the  straight 
avenue  was  abglished.'s  In  181 1  the  house  was  taken 
down  and  the  materials  sold.'*  Later  in  the  19th 
century  Frances,  Countess  Waldegrave  often  visited 
the  site  and  built  herself  a  summer-house  there. '^ 
After  her  death  in  1879  her  fourth  husband.  Lord 
Carhngford,  erected  a  memorial  on  the  same  spot. 
This  stone  is  still  standing  and  bears  a  long  inscription, 
now  partly  illegible,  and  a  portrait  medallion  of  the 
Countess.  South-west  of  the  mansion  site  a  system  of 
trenches  with  two  small  square  islands'*  indicates  the 
remains  of  the  ornamental  pond  in  the  formal  garden. 

In  the  later  19th  century  the  owners  of  the  estate 
lived  at  Dudbrook  which  lies  in  the  north-east  corner 
of  the  parish.  A  house  was  already  in  existence  here 
before  the  demolition  of  Navestock  Hall,"  but  it 
appears  to  have  been  rebuilt  or  much  enlarged  at 
various  subsequent  dates.  The  style  is  mostly  of  the 
early  and  mid- 1 9th  century,  and  there  is  a  tower-like 
feature  in  the  centre  with  four  finials  at  the  angles. 
For  nearly  30  years  it  was  the  home  of  Mr.  Walter 
Tyser,  who  also  made  additions  to  the  building.  In 
1951  it  was  bought  by  the  East  Ham  County  Borough 
Council  for  use  as  a  home  for  old  people.' 

The  manor  of  BOIS  HALL  took  its  name  from  the 
family  of  Boys  alias  de  Bosco.  In  1 298  John  de  Bosco 
and  his  wife  Christine  held  a  small  estate  in  Nave- 
stock.2  This  John  was  dead  by  1 3 17.'  In  1393  Sir 
Richard  Sutton  conveyed  to  John  Boys  and  others, 
with  remainder  to  Boys's  heirs,  extensive  properties  in 
Essex  including  the  manor  of  Navestock  [sic].*  This 
manor  was  probably  that  which  later  became  known 


"  Cal.  Pat.  1560—3,  370-1. 

'♦  Morant,  £jscj:,  i,  182.  Inc.  1579-86 
John  Greene,  owner  of  Bois  Hali  (see 
below)  was  evidently  tenant  of  Navestock 
Hall:  see  above,  p.  142. 

S5    C142/437/173. 

•'  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  ii,  213. 

8'  Complete  Peerage  (orig.  edn,),  viii, 
37-4.0. 

M  Complete  Peerage,  iii,  279;  E.R.O., 
D/CT  248. 

*"  Complete  Peerage,  iii,  279 ;  Kelly's  Dir. 


Essex  {iSg^);  Burke's L.G.  1937,  p.  2202; 
Complete  Peerage  (orig.  edn.),  viii,  41. 

»»  Inf.  from  Mrs.  L.  F.  Pryor.  The 
estate  still  comprises  about  three-quarters 
of  the  land  in  the  parish. 

»'  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  gti  Rep.  ft.  i  App. 
38a. 

'^  Inf.  from  Miss  Parrish. 

"  E.R.O,,  D/DZn  3. 

'♦  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  48.  And  see 
plate  facing  p.  136. 

95  The  alterations  are  shown  in  a  map 


of  the  parish,  1785,  revised  1835  :  E.R.O., 
D/DXa  24. 
'^  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  419. 

97  Inscription  on  memorial  stone. 

98  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  193.  It  was 
not  a  duck  decoy  as  suggested. 

99  Shown  on  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map 
of  Essex,  lyyy,  sheet  xvii. 

*  Inf.  from  the  matron. 

^  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  88. 
3  Ibid.  171. 

*  Ibid,  iii,  219. 


144 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


NAVESTOCK 


as  Bois  HaO.  John  Boys  was  no  doubt  identical  with 
the  man  of  that  name  who  succeeded  the  Suttons  in 
the  manor  of  Langenhoe.s  He  also  had  property  in 
Tolleshunt  d'Arcy  where  he  was  buried  in  1419.* 
Before  his  death,  however,  Bois  Hall  had  passed  out  of 
his  possession.  In  1412  it  was  held  by  Edmund  Prior,7 
and  it  remained  in  his  family  for  over  a  century.  In 
1507  Andrew  Prior  died  holding  the  manor  of  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  St.  Paul's,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  John,  then  a  minor. ^  John  Prior  still  held  the 
manor  in  1527'  but  soon  after  that  date  it  passed  to 
Constance,  wife  of  Lawrence  Claydon,  with  reversion 
to  Alice,   wife   of  John  Prest.    John   Prest  died  in 

1546  leaving  a  son  William  by  a  former  marriage  and 
a  daughter  Frances,  heiress  to  her  mother  Alice.    In 

1547  Alice  married,  as  her  third  husband,  Richard 
Blackwall."'  She  died  in  1 561  and  was  succeeded  by 
her  daughter  Frances,  now  the  wife  of  William  Brad- 
borne."  In  1564  Frances  and  William  conveyed  the 
manor  to  William  Tusser  and  Charles  Belfield,  who 
sold  it  in  the  following  year  to  John  Greene. "^  Bois 
Hall  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Greenes  for  almost 
two  centuries.  John  Greene  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Thomas  and  he  by  his  son  John  Greene  II  (d.  1653), 
a  judge  of  the  sheriff's  court  in  London  and  serjeant- 
at-law.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by  John  Greene  III, 
who  became  Recorder  of  London  in  1659  and  died 
in  the  same  year.  His  son  John  Greene  IV  (d.  1725), 
serjeant-at-law,  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John  Greene 
V,  who  died  in  1752  leaving  Bois  Hall  to  his  cousin 
Dr.  Maurice  Greene,  organist  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral 
and  a  composer  of  some  eminence.'^  After  Dr.  Greene's 
death  in  1755  the  manor  was  bought  by  Earl  Walde- 
grave  (d.  1763)  and  was  merged  with  the  main  manor 
of  Navestock.'*  From  1654  the  Bois  Hall  estate 
included  Loft  Hall  (see  below).  In  1840  Bois  Hall 
farm,  then  including  Slades  (see  below),  comprised 
480  acres  and  was  occupied  by  a  tenant  farmer,  Litch- 
field Tabrum.'s  This  was  not  the  first  time  that 
the  two  places  had  been  united,  for  the  Greenes 
of  Bois  Hall  had  also  held  Slades  between  1 604  and 
1637. 

There  were  formerly  two  rainwater  heads  on  the 
front  of  Bois  Hall  house  bearing  the  date  1687  with 
the  arms  and  crest  of  Greene.'*  If  the  present  house 
is  of  this  date  considerable  alterations  must  have  taken 
place  late  in  the  i8th  or  early  in  the  19th  century.  It 
has  a  formal  brick  front  of  two  stories  with  a  moulded 
string  and  cornice.  There  are  five  sash  windows  to  the 
first  floor,  three  of  them  being  grouped  in  a  slightly 
projecting  central  bay.  The  porch  has  Doric  columns 
and  a  dentil  cornice.  The  front  is  flanked  by  screen 
walls  and  approached  by  a  straight  drive.  A  kitchen 
at  the  back  of  the  house  was  demolished  in  1948  and 
repairs  to  the  roof  in  1953  resulted  in  the  removal  of 
the  dormer  windows  and  the  two  inscribed  rainwater 
heads. '7 


Bois  Hall  is  now  (1954)  owned  by  the  Church  Com- 
missioners and  occupied  by  Mr.  T.  E.  Bere,  who  farms 
the  land  here  and  at  Beacon  Hill.'' 

The  manor  of  LOFT  HALL  probably  derived  its 
name  from  the  family  of  Isabel  atte  Lofte  who  held 
land  in  Navestock  about  1350."  The  first  reference 
that  has  been  found  to  the  manor  itself  was  the  grant 
of  a  rent  issuing  from  it  in  1483.^"  In  1507  Thomas 
Intilsham  conveyed  the  manor  to  John  Sedley,  member 
of  a  well-known  Kent  family,  who  was  auditor  to  the 
Exchequer  under  Henry  VII  and  Henry  VIII.^'  The 
manor  was  held  by  the  Sedleys  for  a  century  and  a 
half."  John  Sedley  was  succeeded  after  15 14  by  his 
son  William,  Sheriff  of  Kent  in  1547,  and  he  by  his 
son  John,  Sheriff  of  Kent  1566,  who  died  in  158 1 
leaving  William  Sedley  his  son  and  heir.^'  In  161 1 
William  Sedley  was  created  a  baronet,  and  the  manor 
descended  with  the  baronetcy  until  1654,  when  Sir 
William  Sedley,  4th  Bt.,sold  it  to  John  Greene  III  of 
Bois  Hall.^*  From  that  time  Loft  Hall  descended  along 
with  Bois  Hall  and  passed  after  the  death  of  Dr. 
Maurice  Greene  in  1755  with  Bois  Hall  into  the 
Waldegrave  estate  of  Navestock.  In  1 840  Loft  Hall 
farm  comprised  223  acres  and  was  let  to  a  tenant 
farmer,  C.  Pratt.^'  The  Pratt  family  remained  tenants 
until  1 92 1. 

The  present  farm-house  of  Loft  Hall  was  evidently 
rebuilt  in  red  brick  in  the  19th  century.  The  remains 
of  a  moat  lie  to  the  north  of  it. 

The  manor  of  SLADES  appears  to  have  belonged 
to  Sir  Humphrey  Starkey  who  was  Chief  Baron  of  the 
Exchequer  in  1483  and  died  in  i486.  His  widow 
Ehzabeth  died  in  1496  holding  it  as  life  tenant  with 
remainder  to  Sir  Humphrey's  heirs.^*  The  heirs  were 
his  four  daughters.  One  of  these,  Emma,  had  married 
Henry  Torrell  (d.  148 1),  another  landowner  in  Nave- 
stock, and  her  son  Humphrey  Torrell,  aged  17  in 
1496,  inherited  Slades  as  heir  to  his  mother's  pur- 
party.27  In  1503  Humphrey  made  a  settlement  of  the 
manor  in  connexion  with  the  marriage  of  his  son 
Henry  with  Anne,  daughter  of  William  Mordaunt. 
The  marriage  took  place  in  1 5 1 3  and  Henry  died  in 
1526.^*  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Humphrey, 
who  died  in  1 544  leaving  an  infant  daughter  Anne, 
later  wife  of  Henry  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Joscehn.^' 
Anne  died  in  1589  and  Slades  passed  to  her  son  Sir 
Thomas  Joscehn.^o  In  1604  Sir  Thomas  sold  the 
manor  to  Thomas  Greene  of  Bois  Hall  and  his  brother 
Robert. 3'  In  1637  Robert  Greene  sold  Slades  to 
Henry  Alexander  and  John  Howe.^^  It  afterwards 
belonged  to  the  Howlands  of  Stone  Hall  in  Little 
Canfield  and  was  later  purchased  by  the  Waldegraves. 
In  1768  Slades  belonged  to  Lord  Waldegrave  but 
was  no  longer  styled  a  manor.33  It  remained  part 
of  the  Waldegrave  estate  (see  above,  Manor  of  Nave- 
stock) and  in  1840  was  part  of  Bois  Hall  farm  (see 
above). 


'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  4.17. 

'  Ibid.  395-7. 

'  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  4.4.3. 

«  C142/467/173. 

'  CP40/1051  mem.  348. 
■»  C142/84/64. 
"  C142/134/141. 
■^  'Monnt,  Essex,  \,  183. 
'3  Ibid. ;  Gents.  Mag.  xxii,  44.    For  Dr. 
Greene  see  Wallcer,  Hist.  Music  in  Eng. 
(3rd  ed.  by  J.  A.  Westrup),  243  f.,  253  f. 
'*  Morant,  Essex,  i,  183. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248. 


^*  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  193. 

"  Inf.  from  Mrs.  T.  E.  Bere. 

'8  Ibid. 

>»  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  gth  Rep.  pt.  i  App. 
pp.  33*,  38a. 

"  CP25(i)/72/29i  I  Ric.  111,9. 

"  CP40/979. 

*2  Cf.  Burke's  Extinct  and  Dormant 
Baronetcies,  pp.  482—3. 

"  Ibid.;  CP25(2)/ii/53  Mich.  7  Hen. 
Villi  P.R.O.  List  of  Sheriffs,  p.  69; 
C142/199/94. 

^*  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  \,  73-74. 


"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248. 

2'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  i,  pp.  514- 
15.  For  the  origin  of  the  name  Slades  see 
P.N.  fssejcfE.P.N.S.),  71. 

"  For  Henry  Torrell  see  Cal.  Inq.  p.m. 
(Rec.  Com.),  iv,  p.  4.02. 

28  C142/44/95. 

"  C142/70/22;  Visits,  of  Essex  (Karl. 
Soc),  230 ;  y.C.H.  Sussex,  iv,  42. 

3»  C142/224/44. 

3>  CP25(2)/292  East.  2  Jas.  I. 

"  CP25(2)/4i7  Hil.  12  Chas.  I. 

35  Morant,  Essex,  i,  1 84. 


H5 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


The  medieval  manor  house  of  Slades  is  thought  to 
have  stood  at  the  head  of  a  small  valley  about  600  yds. 
west  of  Beacon  Hill  Farm.  The  site  is  marked  by  a 
group  of  earthworks,  now  much  overgrown.  On  the 
west  is  a  circular  moat  enclosing  a  mound  about  65  ft. 
in  diameter  at  the  base.  This  may  be  of  greater  age 
than  the  site  of  the  house  itself,  which  is  indicated  by 
two  arms  of  a  large  rectangular  moat.  Tudor  bricks 
have  been  found  in  this  enclosure.  Outside  the  north- 
west arm  and  separated  from  it  by  a  steep  bank  in 
which  there  was  formerly  a  sluice  are  two  rectangular 
fishponds.34  In  the  19th  century  part  of  the  site  was 
occupied  by  cottages  but  these  have  now  disappeared. 
Slades  Farm,  formerly  known  as  'Little  Slades',  stood 
about  J  mile  to  the  west.  The  buildings  were  damaged 
by  bombs  during  the  Second  World  War  and  have  now 
been  demolished.^s 

The  church,  which  dates  from  the  nth  or  12th 
century,  had  been  appropriated  by  1181 
CHURCH  to  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  which  owned  the 
manor  of  Navestock.^*  A  vicar  is  men- 
tioned in  a  document  of  about  1222-9.3'  The  rectory 
and  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage  descended  together 
along  with  the  manor  until  1555,  when  Sir  Edward 
Waldegrave  sold  the  rectory  and  advowson  to  Sir 
Thomas  Pope  to  form  part  of  the  endowment  of 
Trinity  College,  Oxford.^s  They  have  remained  in 
the  college  ever  since.  In  addition  to  their  ownership 
of  the  rectory  and  advowson  during  the  Middle  Ages 
St.  Paul's  exercised  peculiar  jurisdiction  over  the  parish 
of  Navestock.  The  cathedral  retained  this  after  part- 
ing with  the  manor,  rectory,  and  advowson  in  1 544 
and  continued  to  exercise  the  powers  of  ordinary  until 
the  reforming  legislation  of  the  19th  century.^' 

It  was  stated  in  1 181  that  the  church  of  Navestock 
paid  60/.  to  St.  Paul's  per  manum  firmar'ti  and  that 
there  were  46  acres  of  arable  glebe  and  40  acres  wood. 
The  church  had  the  tithes  tocius  ville  and  the  third 
sheaf  from  the  demesne.^"  In  1535  the  vicarage  was 
valued  at  ^13  y.  Si/.^'  The  grant  of  the  rectory  to 
Trinity  College  ostensibly  included  lands  but  in  spite 
of  its  wording  the  college  does  not  appear  to  have 
acquired  any  glebe.  Probably,  as  Stubbs  suggested, 
the  86  acres  mentioned  in  1 1 8 1  had  become  lost 
among  the  lands  of  the  manor  as  a  result  of  the  practice 
of  farming  out  the  manor  and  rectory  together.'*^  In 
the  1 8th  century  the  vicarage  'was  amply  endowed  by 
the  college  on  these  conditions:  the  vicar  for  the  time 
being  is  lessee  for  the  great  tithes,  paying  to  the  college 
a  small  quit  rent,  and  a  fine  certain  oi £60  per  annum\*'^ 
At  the  tithe  commutation  in  1840  the  college  (as 
rector)  and  the  vicar  were  each  allotted  a  tithe  rent 
charge  of  ^^574.  There  were  then  21  acres  of  vicarial 
glebe.+«  Part  of  this  glebe  was  probably  derived  from 
a  gift  about  1365  by  John  Barnet,  Bishop  of  Bath  and 
Wells  (formerly  a  canon  of  St.  Paul's)  of  9  acres  of 
arable,  2  acres  i  rood  of  meadow,  and  1 2J.  in  Nave- 
stock.*' 

The  former  vicarage  stands  at  the  north-east  corner  of 
Navestock  Heath.  A  19th-century  pen-and-ink  sketch 


shows  the  house  which  previously  occupied  the  site.** 
It  was  evidently  a  timber-framed  structure  dating  from 
before  the  middle  of  the  17th  century.  A  central  block 
was  flanked  by  two  gabled  wings  and  there  were  two 
old  brick  chimneys.  The  sash  windows  and  pedimented 
doorcase  were  18th-century  insertions.  The  present 
house,  which  stands  back  from  the  road  in  a  large 
garden,  was  built  about  1 867."  It  is  a  red-brick  build- 
ing with  decorative  stripes  of  yellow  and  black.  At 
the  front  is  a  tall  gable  and  a  porch  of  carved  stone.  It 
has  been  empty  for  some  years  and  has  recently  been 
sold. 

The  church  of  ST.  THOMAS  THE  APOSTLE 
consists  of  nave,  chancel,  south  aisle,  and  western 
belfry  with  spire.  The  belfry  is  one  of  the  notable 
timber  towers  of  Essex.  The  rest  of  the  church  is  of  flint 
rubble  and  pebbles  plastered  externally,  with  dressings 
of  limestone  and  clunch.  The  roofs  are  tiled  and  the 
spire  shingled.  The  church  dates  from  the  i  ith  or  1 2th 
century  but  was  largely  rebuilt  in  the  13th  and  14th 
centuries.  In  1 940  it  was  badly  damaged  by  a  German 
land  mine  and  by  1954  repairs  had  not  been  com- 
pleted. 

The  north  wall  of  the  nave  is  part  of  the  1 1  th-century 
church.  The  north  doorway  has  a  plain  tympanum 
under  a  semicircular  arch.  Below  this  a  segmental 
arch  is  ornamented  with  rounded  billets.  The  door 
itself  may  also  be  of  i  ith-  or  12th-century  date. 

The  church  was  considerably  enlarged  in  the  13th 
century.  A  pointed  arch  in  the  north  wall  of  the  nave, 
now  blocked,  may  have  led  to  a  chapel  of  this  period. 
One  of  the  jambs  has  an  attached  shaft  with  'stiff-leaf 
foliage  to  the  capital.  The  south  aisle  and  the  chapel  at 
its  east  end  are  also  of  the  mid-l3th  century.  The 
arcade  has  four  bays  but  the  easternmost  arch  is  of  wood 
and  is  probably  of  much  later  date.  The  original  arches 
are  of  two  chamfered  orders  and  are  supported  on  cir- 
cular columns  with  moulded  capitals.  There  is  one 
lancet  window  in  the  south  aisle  and  there  are  traces  of 
two  more.  The  mid- 1 3  th-century  doorway  has  been 
much  restored  and  the  door  itself,  which  may  have  been 
equally  ancient,  has  been  replaced.  The  east  window  in 
the  south  chapel  was  probably  of  the  1 3th  century  but  it 
has  suffered  later  alterations  and  damage.  Beside  it  is  a 
13th-century  piscina  with  a  trefoiled  head.  It  is 
possible  that  this  was  already  in  existence  by  125 1 
and  served  one  of  the  two  altars  mentioned  in  a  visita- 
tion of  that  year.**  A  new  chapel,  to  which  there  is  a 
reference  in  1297,  may  have  been  this  chapel  or  one 
which  has  now  disappeared  on  the  north  side  of  the 
nave.*' 

In  the  same  visitation  of  1297  it  was  ordered  that 
the  chancel  'should  be  better  united'  to  the  nave. so  It 
was  no  doubt  as  a  result  of  this  order  that  the  chancel 
was  rebuilt  during  the  first  half  of  the  14th  century. 
The  three-light  east  window  has  net  tracery  and  there 
are  other  early-i4th-century  windows  in  the  chancel. 
There  is  also  one  of  this  date  in  the  north  wall  of  the 
nave. 

In  the  15th  century  the  south  porch  and  the  belfry 


'*  Details  from  Hist.  Men.  Com.  Etsex, 
ii,  192-3. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  T.  E.  Bere. 

»*  Dom.  of  St.  PauVi  (Camd.  Soc.  1858), 
150. 

"  Early  Charts,  of  St.  Paul's  (Camd. 
Soc.  1939),  p.  190. 

'»  Cal.  Pat.  1555-7,  210;  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  184. 


39  Morant,  Essex,  i,  184;  Fal  Eccl. 
(Rec.  Com.),  i,  460. 

«»  Dom.  of  St.  Paul's  (Camd.  Soc.  1858), 
150. 

*•  fal.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

<»  W.  Stubbs,  Hist.  Introd.  to  Rolls  Ser. 

7'- 
*'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  1 84. 
•M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248. 


45  ^oTa^ni,  Essex,  \,  184. 

*'  E.R.O.  Prints,  Navestock. 

4'  E.R.  xxvi,  221. 

*8  CamJen  Misc.  ix  (Camd.  Soc.  1895), 
22. 

*9  f^isits.  of  Si.  Paul's  Cks.  1297,  Ice. 
(Camd.  Soc.  1895),  1-2. 

50  Ibid. 


146 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


NAVESTOCK 


were  added.  The  belfry  is  timber- framed.  The  walls 
were  formerly  weather-boarded  but  have  now  been 
plastered.  Round  the  base  is  a  semi-octagonal  aisle 
which  once  contained  vestries.  The  central  framework 
consists  of  four  heavy  oak  posts  with  attached  octagonal 
columns  at  their  internal  angles.  The  bell  chamber 
has  a  louvred  opening  in  each  face  and  is  surmounted 
by  a  shingled  spire. 

The  timber  south  porch  was  destroyed  in  1940. 
The  four-centred  outer  archway  had  sunk  spandrels, 
each  with  a  shield,  the  eastern  a  fesse  between  two 
chevrons,  the  western  said  to  have  been  Waldegrave. 
In  the  gable  was  an  1 8th-century  clock-face.  The  sides 
were  modern  except  for  the  posts  and  moulded  wall 
plates.5' 

During  the  15  th  century  also  new  windows  were 
added  in  the  south  wall  of  the  aisle  and  the  north  wall 
of  the  nave,  and  a  'low  side'  window  in  the  north  wall 
of  the  chancel  is  of  the  same  period.  A  window  of 
15th-century  date  in  the  south  wall  of  the  chapel, 
which  was  reported  as  badly  decayed  in  191952  has 
now  been  renewed. 

In  post-medieval  times,  probably  in  the  early  19th 
century,  alterations  were  made  inside  the  church  and 
the  oak  pier  and  arches  put  in  the  south  arcade.  This 
pier  is  roughly  cut  to  a  polygonal  shape  and  has  a 
moulded  cap  and  a  brick  base.  The  wooden  arches 
springing  from  it  are  rough  and  plain  and  the  whole 
has  been  covered  with  plaster  to  resemble  the  rest  of 
the  arcade.  There  are  similar  wooden  arches  across  the 
nave  and  aisle  at  this  point  springing  from  semi- 
circular responds,  also  of  plastered  wood  with  moulded 
plaster  caps. 

Late  in  the  19th  century  the  church  was  restored, 
the  tower  and  spire  being  repaired  in  1897  at  the  cost 
of  David  Sellar.s^  The  west  wall  of  the  nave,  which 
is  of  brick,  was  probably  put  in  at  this  time.  The  roofs 
of  nave  and  chancel  also  appear  to  have  been  renewed 
in  the  19th  century.s* 

The  18th-century  three-manual  organ  now  in  the 
south  chapel  was  brought  from  Southwood  Court, 
Highgate  (Mdx.),  and  installed  in  1930.55  In  193 1 
the  south  porch  and  the  windows  were  restored. 5*  On 
21  September  1940  a  landmine  fell  in  the  churchyard 
near  the  south-west  corner  of  the  church.  The  south 
porch  was  destroyed,  the  belfry  badly  damaged,  and 
much  of  the  roof  stripped  of  tiles.  There  was  also  con- 
siderable damage  to  the  interior.  A  complete  restora- 
tion of  the  church  started  in  1954.  The  site  of  the 
bomb  crater  is  now  occupied  by  a  garden  of  remem- 
brance.57 

There  are  five  bells,  the  first  being  of  1 862  but  the 
others  older.  The  third  is  by  John  Walgrave  and  prob- 
ably dates  from  about  1420-50.  It  has  the  inscription 
'Sancta  Katerina  Ora  Pro  Nobis'.  The  fourth  is  by 
John  Hardyng  and  of  about  1560  and  the  second  and 
fifth  by  Miles  Graye,  1637.58 

The  plate  consists  of  a  cup  and  paten  of  1625,  a  pair 
of  silver  flagons  of  1626  and  1630  given  by  Christian 
Greene  in  1638  and  1639,  a  brass  almsdish,  and  a 
small  silver  cup  and  paten  given  in  1 847  by  the  Revd. 


James  Ford,  then  vicar.  There  is  also  a  pair  of  electro- 
plated patens,  undated. 5' 

In  the  south  aisle  there  are  two  14th-century  cofBn 
lids  which  were  at  one  time  used  as  door  steps.  The 
font,  also  in  the  aisle,  is  modern,  but  beside  it  is  the 
base  of  the  13th  century  one.  The  octagonal  oak  pulpit 
is  of  the  1 8th  century  but  the  pews  are  modern. 

There  are  several  brasses  on  the  walls  of  the  chancel, 
the  oldest  being  to  Richard  Makyn  (1603)  and  his 
wife  Agnes  (Colford)  (1589),  and  to  James  Makyn 
(1616).  On  one  of  the  window-jambs  is  a  brass  to 
John,  son  of  Edward  Moore  (1624),  a  cursitor  of  the 
Chancery.  Also  in  the  chancel  is  a  monument  to  John 
Greene,  serjeant-at-law  and  Judge  of  the  Sheriffs' 
Court  (1653)  and  his  wife  (1641).  Other  monu- 
ments are  to  the  wife  and  child  of  Charles  Snelling 
(1625)  with  effigies  and  shield  of  arms,  and  to  Rebecca 
(Greene)  wife  of  Thomas  Thorold  (1625). 

There  are  a  number  of  other  monuments,  including 
some  floor  slabs  of  the  17th  century.  The  most  impres- 
sive are  those  to  members  of  the  Waldegrave  family. 
They  include  the  ist  Earl,  1741:  a  marble  tablet  on 
the  north  wall  of  the  chancel;  Hon.  Edward  Walde- 
grave, drowned  off  Falmouth  on  his  return  from 
Corunna,  1809:  a  symbolic  relief  carved  by  John 
Bacon  the  younger;  the  7th  Earl  Waldegrave,  1846, 
with  portrait  bust  by  Behnes;*"  Viscount  Chewton, 
son  of  the  8th  Earl,  died  of  wounds  at  Scutari,  1854; 
and  Frances,  Countess  Waldegrave,  1879.  There  is 
also  a  monument  to  the  Revd.  James  Ford,  vicar, 
1850. 

Sir  Gilbert  de  Breaute,  in  right  of  his  wife  Joan,  had 
licence  from  the  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,  about  1223-7, 
with  the  consent  of  the  vicar,  to  found  a  private  chapel 
at  his  court  in  Navestock.  The  founders  and  their  kin 
were  to  maintain  a  chaplain  at  their  own  cost,  pay  all 
profits  tothe  vicar,  exclude  the  parishioners,  swear  to 
preserve  the  rights  of  the  mother  church,  and  give 
yearly  to  it  two  wax  candles.  The  chaplain  was  to 
administer  mass  only  with  bread  and  holy  water, 
saving  that  at  Easter  the  founders  and  their  kin, 
their  free  household  and  their  guests  but  not  their 
servants  were  to  be  admitted  to  the  sacraments  at  the 
altar.*' 

A  chapel  is  mentioned  in  1335  as  belonging  to  the 
manor  house  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  St.  Paurs.*^ 

The  Navestock  Mission  Room  at  Horseman  Side, 
originally  a  nonconformist  chapel,  is  now  (1954)  used 
for  services  in  connexion  with  the  parish  church. 

Sir  Edward  Waldegrave  (d.  1 561),  the  first  of  his 
line  to  own  the  manor  of 
ROMAN  CATHOLICISM  Navestock,  suffered  im- 
prisonment under  Eliza- 
beth I  for  his  recusancy.*^  The  Waldegraves  appear 
to  have  remained  Roman  Catholics  until  early  in  the 
1 8th  century.  In  17 17  Henrietta,  dowager  Lady 
Waldegrave  and  her  son  James  Lord  Waldegrave,  both 
appeared  in  the  county  register  of  papists'  estates.*"* 
Soon  after  this  James  turned  Protestant:  in  1722  he 
took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Lords.*5  There  are 
records  of  a  few  other  Roman  Catholics  in  the  parish 


"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  il,  192. 
"  Ibid.  191. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {1^06). 
s*  E.R.  iv,  221. 

"  N.  Pevsner,  Buildings  of  Essex,  276; 
Vestry  Mins. 
5«  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 
"  For  a  drawing  of  the  church  made  in 


1895,  showing  the  south  porch  and 
weather-boarded  belfry,  see  E.R.  iv,  200. 
The  church  was  described  in  an  article  of 
the  same  year  which  contains  a  measured 
plan  and  other  drawings :  E.R.  iv,  215—34. 
58  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  3+5  ;  Hist.  Mon.  Com. 
Essex,  192. 


5»  CA.  Plate  Essex,  67. 

'°  N.  Pevsner,  BJgs.  of  Essex,  277. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  434.. 

**^  See  above.  Manor. 

^^  See  above.  Manors,  nad  D.N.S. 

0*  E.R.O.,  Q/RRp  I/, 7,  1/51. 

's  Burke's  Peerage  (1913  edn.),  p.  1939. 


147 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


in  the  17th  and  early  i8th  centuries,**  and  Roman 
Catholic  worshippers  at  Kelvedon  Hall*''  and  at 
Wealdside**  in  the  l8th  and  19th  centuries  may  have 
included  some  from  Navestock.  For  some  time  up  to 
about  1939  Roman  Catholic  services  were  held  in  a 
small  weather-boarded  building  immediately  to  the  west 
of  the  'King  William  IV'  at  Horseman  Side.  This 
building  stands  in  the  garden  of  a  double-fronted 
weather-boarded  cottage,  formerly  a  school,*'  dating 
from  the  late  i8th  or  early  19th  century. 

In  1705  the  house  of  William  Brock  at  Navestock 
was    licensed    for    noncon- 
PROTEST^NT  formist  worship.'o 

NONCONFORMITT  In  1 8 1 6  a  house  at  Nave- 

stock occupied  by  Charles 
Goodwin  was  similarly  licensed."  In  1829  this  con- 
gregation, numbering  30,  was  still  meeting  in  a  licensed 
room,  under  the  leadership  of  William  Temple, 
minister  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Stanford 
Rivers  (q.v.).^^  No  later  trace  has  been  found  of  this 
society.  It  seems  probable,  however,  that  there  was  a 
nonconformist  chapel  later  in  the  19th  century,  and 
that  this  was  the  building  at  Horseman  Side  now  known 
as  the  Navestock  Mission  Room.  This  is  a  small 
rectangular  building  of  gault  brick  with  an  entrance 
and  porch,  and  is  dated  1897.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
built  as  a  nonconformist  chapel  but  the  services  lapsed. 
The  building  is  now  in  private  ownership  and  is  used 
as  a  Sunday  school  and  chapel  of  ease  to  the  parish 
church.73 

Vestry  minute-books  for  Navestock  survive  for  the 
period  1806  to  1870.''* 
PARISH  GOVERNMENT  Meetings  of  the  public 
AND  POOR  RELIEF  vestry  were  held  at  ir- 

regular intervals,  aver- 
aging about  8  a  year  until  1 8 10  and  subsequently  about 
5  a  year.  The  number  of  persons  attending  the  meet- 
ings, in  addition  to  the  churchwardens  and  overseers, 
varied  between  i  and  7.  Until  1838  the  chairman  was 
never  named  as  such  in  the  minutes  but  the  vicar,  or 
in  his  absence  one  of  the  churchwardens,  always  signed 
first.  From  1806  until  18 16  the  vicar,  J.  Filkes, 
attended  the  vestry  regularly,  but  after  18 16  rarely, 
and  between  March  18 r8  and  1830  he  attended  only 
once.  Ford,  when  vicar,  always  attended  regularly  and 
usually  signed  the  minutes  as  chairman. 

In  1824  the  parish  adopted  the  second  Sturges 
Bourne  Act  (59  Geo.  Ill  c.  12)  and  set  up  a  select 
vestry,  which  held  its  first  meeting  on  29  July  of  that 
year.'s  In  1826  the  select  vestry  included  twelve 
members  in  addition  to  the  vicar,  churchwardens,  and 
overseers.'*  It  apparently  ceased  to  function  after  12 
April  1832." 

The  work  of  the  open  vestry  consisted  mainly  in 
nominating  parish  officers,  granting  rates,  and  auditing 
the  overseer's  accounts.  The  overseer  presented 
interim  accounts  at  nearly  every  meeting  of  the  vestry 
and  a  final  account  at  the  end  of  his  year  in  office.  In 
1806  a  IS.  rate  yielded  ^^173  and  between  then  and 
1834  there  was  no  great  variation. 


There  was  probably  a  poorhouse  in  Navestock  from 
1 74 1.  In  that  year  the  churchwardens  and  overseers 
were  negotiating  with  Elizabeth  Merrick  of  Cavers- 
ham  (Berks.)  for  the  lease  of  her  house,  called  the 
White  House,  and  two  fields  belonging  to  it,  contain- 
ing 10  acres,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  poorhouse. 
It  was  proposed  that  the  premises  should  be  leased  for 
21  years  at  a  rent  of  ^14  a  year.  It  is  not  certain  that 
these  negotiations  were  completed,  although  they 
reached  an  advanced  stage.'*  It  is  certain  that  by  1770 
the  workhouse  was  on  a  site  which  it  continued  to 
occupy  until  1836.  This  was  just  south  of  the  vicarage 
and  was  some  way  from  a  house  owned  in  1770  by 
Elizabeth  Merrick."  In  1826  the  workhouse  was 
repaired  at  a  cost  of  ;^6o.  In  1834  a  cottage  belonging 
to  Green's  Charity  was  also  being  used  by  the  overseers 
to  accommodate  paupers.*" 

In  1776  ;^272  was  spent  on  poor  relief  in  Nave- 
stock.*' In  the  three  years  1783-5  the  average  poor 
rate  amounted  to  ;^444,  and  the  average  cost  of  poor 
relief  to  ^400. *2  In  the  year  1 800-1  the  cost  of  relief 
was  £1,70^.  It  was  ,£1,624  ^^  the  following  year. 
From  then  until  1816-17  it  varied  between  ^1,020 
and  £l,6jt\.,  being  highest  in  1812-13  and  lowest  in 
i8i5-i6.*3  In  1816-21  the  poor  rates  varied  between 
£1,012  (1815-16)  and  £1,433  (i8i7-i8).*4  The 
total  sum  collected  in  1828-9  was  only  £511.  The 
income  from  work  done  by  the  paupers  in  the  work- 
house was  about  £40  a  year  from  1806  to  1810— 11. 
The  rates  were  very  high  in  1809-10  and  1810-11 
and  it  is  probable  that  a  special  effort  was  made  to 
increase  paupers'  earnings,  which  rose  to  £57  in 
181 1-12  and  £111  in  18 12-13.  That  high  level  was 
not  maintained  but  for  some  years  the  earnings  ranged 
between  £52  and  £92.  From  1821  onwards  they 
were  much  lower,  reaching  a  minimum  of  £23  in 
1823-4. 

For  some  years  before  1834  James  Lash  was  governor 
of  the  workhouse;  it  may  have  been  to  this  post  that 
he  was  appointed  in  1813  at  a  salary  of  £17.  In  1832 
it  was  agreed  that  he  should  farm  the  poor  at  3/.  a  head 
for  all  above  one  year  of  age.  At  that  time  there  were 
30  persons  in  the  workhouse,  of  whom  7  were  named 
Noaks,  5  Burns,  and  3  Eldred.  In  1834  Samuel 
Randal  was  appointed  to  succeed  Lash.  It  was  agreed 
that  he  should  receive  a  minimum  of  2S.  td.  a  head  for 
17  paupers  and  2J.  dd.  a  head  for  all  above  that 
number. 

In  December  1830  the  salary  of  the  parish  surgeon 
was  reduced  from  40  to  35  guineas.*'  In  July  1831 
the  vestry  ordered  that  the  overseer  should  pay  the 
surgeon  the  amount  of  his  extra  charges,  £8  iis.,  and 
request  him  to  call  at  the  poorhouse  each  week. 

In  1836  Navestock  became  part  of  the  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union.  In  the  same  year  the  workhouse  at  Nave- 
stock was  sold  by  the  union  to  David  Pinchon,  at  a  net 
profit  of  £164.**  In  1840  the  building  consisted  of 
several  tenements.*'  About  30  years  ago  it  was 
demolished.**  The  gardens  are  immediately  south  of 
the  Tlough'. 


M  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  5;  ibid.  Q/RRp  1/21, 

2/6.  3/3- 

"  See  Kelvedon  Hatch. 

»'  R.C.  Parish  of  Brentwood,  MS. 
Book:  letter  from  J.  F.  Wright  to  Fr. 
Tavarez,  1854. 

69  See  Schools,  below. 

'»  E.R.O.,  Q/SBb  40. 

'■  E.R.O.,  Q/RRw  I. 

'>  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2. 


'3  Local  inf. 

'«  E.R.O.,  D/P  148/8/1-3.  Unless 
otherwise  stated  all  the  following  informa- 
tion is  based  upon  these  books. 

's  E.R.O.,  D/P  148/8/+. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/P  148/8/6. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  148/8/4. 

'8  E.R.O.,  D/DHh  Oi. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  iB;  D/DXa  24; 
G/On  Mi,  p.  166. 


8°  See  below,  Charities. 

81  E.R.O.,  g/CR  i/i. 

82  Ibid. 

83  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  1/9. 
8*  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/12. 

85  E.R.O.,  D/P  148/18. 

86  E.R.O.,  G/On  Mi,  p.  145,  166,261. 

87  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248. 

88  Inf.  from  local  carpenter. 


148 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


NAVESTOCK 


In  1770  there  seems  to  have  been  a  school  at  Nave- 
stock  Side,89  but  by  1818  this  had 
SCHOOLS  evidently  ceased  to  exist.'"  In  the  early 
19th  century  Lady  Waldegrave  and  the 
vicar  had  jointly  supported  a  school,  probably  a  dame 
school  on  Navestock  Heath,  but  about  18 17  this  was 
closed  on  the  death  of  the  mistress.  Earl  Waldegrave 
then  built  a  schoolroom  on  the  north  side  of  Navestock 
Heath  in  which  in  181 8  a  master  was  teaching  some 
40  children  on  the  monitorial  system."  Under  the 
patronage  of  the  Waldegraves  and  the  superintendence 
of  the  vicar  the  school  increased  its  attendance  to  50 
in  1828  and  60  in  1833.'^  In  1837  the  Waldegraves 
built  a  new  school,  or  rebuilt  the  old  one  on  the  same 
site,  and  added  a  teacher's  house. '^  By  1839  the  school 
was  being  used  to  full  capacity  by  some  70  children, 
each  of  whom  paid  a  penny  a  week.  The  total  income 
for  the  previous  year  had  been  £46,  of  which  ;^3i  had 
been  obtained  (with  some  difficulty)  from  subscribers. 
The  school  was  supervised  by  the  vicar  and  Litchfield 
Tabrum  of  Bois  Hall.  At  that  time  there  was  also  a 
dame  school  in  the  parish  with  about  50  pupils, 
but  there  were  still  some  children  not  going  to 
school.'^ 

School  attendance  continued  to  increase  as  the  popula- 
tion rose.  In  1846—7  there  were  75  children,  taught 
by  a  master  and  mistress. 's  In  1 8  59  an  inspector  found 
the  schoolroom  overcrowded  with  95  pupils.  'The 
children  seem  nice',  he  reported.'*  In  1862-3  the 
school  was  receiving  an  annual  government  grant.'^ 
Its  supporters  realized  the  need  for  more  accommoda- 
tion and  this  had  been  provided  by  about  1867.  Local 
subscribers  gave  £617  towards  the  rebuilding  and  the 
government  contributed  ^145.'^  By  a  deed  of  1867 
the  vicar  and  churchwardens  were  made  trustees  and 
the  management  was  entrusted  to  the  vicar  and  six 
representatives  of  the  subscribers.  An  inspector 
reported  in  1871  that  the  new  school  had  146  places 
but  that  14  more  places  were  needed  to  ensure  uni- 
versal elementary  education  in  the  parish. 9" 

Attendance  at  the  Navestock  Heath  school  was  loi 
in  1871.'  It  fell  with  the  declining  population  of  the 
parish  to  88  in  1902.^  The  government  grant,  how- 
ever, increased  from  ^45  in  1873  to  £i^g  in  1893  and 
£101  in  1902.3  By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the 
school  passed  under  the  administration  of  the  Essex 
Education  Committee,  Ongar  District,  as  a  non- 
provided  church  school.  In  1904  there  was  an  average 
attendance  of  89  and  there  were  four  teachers.*  The 
attendance  fell  to  an  average  of  71  in  191 1  and  46  in 
1938.5  In  1948  the  school  was  reorganized  for  mixed 
juniors  and  infants  and  in  July  1949  it  was  closed 
owing  to  the  small  attendance.*  The  building  is  owned 
by  the  Diocesan  Board  and  is  used  for  village  activities.' 
It  is  a  rectangular  one-story  building  of  yellow  brick 
with  a  slate  roof  with  the  former  teacher's  house 
attached,  and  it  stands  next  to  the  Plough  Inn. 


In  about  1871  there  was  a  school  at  Horseman  Side, 
in  the  cottage  which  now  adjoins  the  'King  William 
IV'.*  This  may  have  been  a  private  school  mentioned 
by  an  inspector  in  1871  as  being  at  Navestock  Side." 

John  Green,  grocer  of  London,  by  will  proved  1626, 
devised  to  the  poor  of  Navestock, 
CHARITIES^"  where  he  was  born,  all  his  property 
in  the  parish.  He  also  left  the  parish 
£^0  and  the  residue  of  his  estate,  which  were  used  to 
buy  more  land.  In  1834  the  endowment  consisted  of 
freehold  and  copyhold  land  in  Brentwood  and  Nave- 
stock, including  an  almshouse  of  two  rooms  occupied 
by  paupers  placed  there  by  the  parish  officers.  This 
stood  at  Navestock  Heath  opposite  the  road  junction 
nearly  J  mile  south  of  the  village  school."  It  was  burnt 
down  in  1892.  Parts  of  the  property,  including  that  in 
Brentwood,  were  sold  between  1919  and  1942.  In 
1834  the  charity's  rental  was  j^48  jjs.  gd.  In  195 1  it 
held  over  a  thousand  pounds  in  stock  and  its  income 
from  this  and  rents  was  ,^92  17/.  jd. 

In  1834  the  income,  after  deductions  for  repairs, 
&c.,  was  used  to  buy  shoes,  jackets,  and  faggots  for  poor 
people,  including  some  receiving  parish  relief.  The 
sum  of  ;^i  5  a  year  was  given  to  the  parish  school  from 
1850  to  1872.  The  rest  of  the  income  was  being  spent 
on  clothes  and  coal.  In  1952  ^^65  was  given  to  the 
vicar  to  distribute  at  his  discretion. 

In  1669  Lewis  Betts  gave  £1  a  year  for  four  of  the 
oldest  decayed  labouring  men  of  the  parish  and  £2 
towards  binding  poor  apprentices.  Both  sums  were 
charged  on  property  at  Romford,  and  were  regularly 
paid  in  1834.  The  first  was  distributed,  but  no  ap- 
prentice had  been  bound  for  20  years.  The  money 
for  apprenticing  appears  to  have  been  used  for  that 
purpose  for  the  last  time  in  1922.  In  195 1  £2  was  dis- 
tributed to  four  old  people. 

An  unknown  donor  before  1786  gave  the  poor  a 
rent  charge  of  £1  issuing  from  Dycotts  in  Navestock. 
In  1834  it  was  spent  along  with  Green's  Charity  and 
in  195 1  with  Bett's  Charity. 

Elizabeth  Prince,  by  will  dated  1796,  left  ^150  in 
trust  for  a  distribution  every  February  to  eight  poor 
families  or  persons  not  in  receipt  of  parish  relief.  In 
1834  it  was  reported  that  the  vicar  was  careful  to 
choose  people  of  good  character  and  that  all  the  poor 
of  the  parish  received  the  charity  in  turn.  In  1950  the 
income  was  £6  19/.  and  ^^lo  was  distributed  among  20 
people. 

The  Revd.  Frederick  Vane,  by  will  proved  1865, 
left  ^^50  in  trust  for  distribution  to  the  poor  of  the 
parish  on  St.  Thomas's  day.  The  money  was  invested. 
In  1929  it  was  said  that  many  years  before  the  income 
had  been  distributed  in  fourpenny  pieces.  In  195 1 
the  income  had  apparently  not  been  spent  for  some 
years. 

The  charities  of  James  Wallenger  and  Lady  Tipper 
were  reported  as  already  lost  in  1786.  The  unknown 


<">  E.R.O.,  e/RDc  I  (Map). 

«»  Retm.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  263 
(1819),  ix(i).  91  Ibid. 

"  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1828,  p.  70;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Abstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  284  (1835), 
xli. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19.  For  the  site 
see  E.R.O.,  D/DXa  24  (Map  1835)  and 
later  maps. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

95  Nat.  Soc.  Enrjuiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  14-15. 

9'  Educ.  Cttee.  Repi.  on  Schs.  in  Norfolk, 
Suffolk  and  Essex,  1858-9,  p.  22  (in  Min. 


of  Educ.  Libr.)., 

"  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1863 
[3349].  P-  401.  H.C.  {1864),  xlv. 

98  Sch.  Bdg.  Grants  [Cd.  1336],  p.  39, 
H.C.  (1902),  lixviii. 

99  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/274. 

"  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
1 12-13  (1871),  Iv. 

^  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.  1902  [Cd. 
1490],  p.  73,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 

3  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1873 
[C.  1019-1],  p.  324,  H.C.  (1874),  xviii; 
Retn.  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  715, 
H.C.    {1894),    Ixv;    Schs.    under   Bd.    of 


Educ.  1902,  p.  73. 

■•  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handbk.  1 904. 

5  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/274. 

'  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

'  Inf.  from  -  Chelmsford  Diocesan 
Council. 

*  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  lix. 
For  the  cottage  see  also  Roman  Catholi- 
cism, above. 

9  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/274. 
■o  This  section  is  based  on  Rep.   Com, 
Char.    [Essex],    H.C.    216,    pp.    234-7 
(1835),  xxi  (1)  and  Char.  Com.  Files. 
"  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  lix. 


149 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


donor's  charity  above  has  now  the  alternative  title  of 
Wallenger's  but  it  is  not  clear  that  there  is  any  evidence 
for  this  identification.  Sir  William  Sedley,  by  his  will 
of   1 617,   directed   that   his   executors   should    buy 


annuities  for  the  poor  of  Aylesford  and  Heme  (Kent) 
and  Navestock.'^  Deeds  were  executed  giving  rent 
charges  to  the  other  parishes  but  there  is  no  record  of 
any  for  Navestock. 


NORTON  MANDEVILLE 


The  modern  parish  of  Norton  Mandeville  lies  to  the 
north  of  High  Ongar  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Willingale.'  Its  present  area  is  1,318  acres.  Until  late 
in  the  1 2th  century  Norton  was  apparently  included  in 
the  parish  of  High  Ongar.^  During  the  later  Middle 
Ages  the  parish  of  Norton  may  have  included  Forest 
Hall  and  Newarks  Norton,  but  in  and  after  the  i6th 
century  those  places  became  together  a  detached  part 
of  the  parish  of  High  Ongar  (q.v.).  At  the  Tithe 
Commutation  (1847)  Norton  Mandeville  contained 
757  acres.3  The  County  of  Essex  (Review  of  Rural 
Districts  and  Parishes)  Order,  1939,  provided  that 
Forest  Hall  and  Newarks  Norton  should  be  merged  in 
Norton  Mandeville.  This  was  confirmed  by  the 
Minister  of  Health  in  1946.* 

Norton  Mandeville  has  always  been  a  small  rural 
parish  with  few  inhabitants. '  In  1801  the  population 
was  93.*  In  1951,  after  the  enlargement  of  the  parish, 
it  was  only  202.7  The  soil  is  Boulder  Clay  with  a  patch 
of  glacial  loam  at  Norton  Heath. 

The  River  Roding  forms  the  western  boundary  of 
the  parish.  A  tributary  of  the  Roding  which  rises  near 
Dodd's  Farm  in  the  east  of  the  parish  flows  west  and 
south  and  forms  the  southern  boundary  for  part  of  its 
course.  From  the  river  and  the  stream  the  land  slopes 
gently  upwards  to  the  east  and  north.  Forest  Hall  (see 
under  High  Ongar)  is  in  the  west  of  the  present  parish 
of  Norton  Mandeville,  lying  in  a  wooded  park  of  about 
200  acres.  About  200  yds.  north  of  it  is  the  site  of  the 
original  manor  house  of  Forest  (formerly  Foliots)  Hall. 
Little  Forest  Hall,  J  mile  north-west  of  the  present 
Forest  Hall,  probably  dates  from  the  17th  century. 
The  north  end  is  timber-framed  and  plastered  and  is 
of  that  period.  Haifa  mile  north-east  of  Forest  Hall  is 
the  site  of  Newarks  Hall  (see  High  Ongar)  which  was 
demolished  during  the  Second  World  War  to  make 
room  for  the  large  airfield  which  extended  into  this 
parish  from  Willingale.*  Offin's  Cottages,  a  mile  south- 
east of  Newarks,  are  a  pair  of  timber-framed  and 
plastered  cottages  of  i6th-  or  early- 17th-century  origin 
with  an  oversailing  gable-end  to  the  east  supported  by 
curved  brackets.  Near  these  cottages  to  the  east  is 
Spriggs,  where  two  sides  of  a  moat  still  exist.  The 
present  19th-century  farm-house  incorporates  old 
timbers  which  may  have  come  from  an  earlier  house. 

Norton  Heath  is  in  the  extreme  east  of  the  parish. 
It  consists  of  about  12  acres  of  unfenced  woodland  with 
a  number  of  small  ponds  and  a  road  running  diagonally 
through  the  centre.  It  has  always  been  common  land, 
and  the  hamlet  around  it  has  for  long  been  the  main 


centre  of  population,  although  it  is  2  miles  from 
Norton  Hall  and  the  parish  church.  The  road  that 
links  the  heath  with  the  hall  and  the  church  to  the 
west,  formerly  known  as  the  Causeway,  was  mentioned 
in  a  charter  of  about  1260,  and  gave  its  name  to  Great 
Causeway  field  and  Little  Causeway  field  which  in 
1740  lay  to  the  south  of  the  road  about  J  mile  from  the 
church.' 

The  building  now  known  as  Norton  Manor  House 
stands  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  heath.'"  It  is  a 
mid- 17th-century  timber-framed  house  and  is  built  on 
a  half  H  -shaped  plan  with  two  projecting  wings  at  the 
back.  Adjacent  to  the  northern  wing  is  a  small  stair- 
case wing  containing  an  original  staircase  with  moulded 
finials  to  the  newels  and  heavy  turned  balusters.  There 
are  three  brick  chimneys,  each  with  three  octagonal 
shafts  joined  at  the  heads  with  moulded  brick  capitals. 
Two  tablets  on  the  south  chimney  have  the  date  1650 
and  the  initials  e.  ?  a."  Considerable  extensions  took 
place  early  in  the  i8th  century,  and  much  original 
work  has  been  obliterated  by  a  very  thorough  restora- 
tion of  about  1900.'^ 

The  main  road  from  Chipping  Ongar  to  Chelmsford 
passes  through  Norton  Heath  and  for  a  short  distance 
forms  the  parish  boundary.  Ladyland  is  a  timber- 
framed  and  plastered  farm-house  on  the  north  of  this 
road.  It  probably  dates  from  the  early  17th  century 
with  additions  in  the  i8th  century  and  later.  Read- 
ings, near  Ladyland  to  the  west,  was  probably  the 
White  Horse  Farm  of  i740.'3  It  is  of  red  brick,  the 
back  dating  from  about  1780  and  the  front  having 
been  added  by  John  Caton'*  in  the  mid-i9th  century. 
The  White  Horse  Inn  itself  stands  on  the  south  of  the 
road  and  is  therefore  in  High  Ongar  parish.  It  is  of 
colour-washed  brickwork  and  is  of  mid-l8th  century 
date  with  early- 19th-century  additions.  Between 
Readings  and  Ladyland  is  a  single-story  roughcast 
cottage  formerly  a  toll  house  dating  from  about  1 830.'5 
A  small  red-brick  forge  on  the  west  of  the  heath,  prob- 
ably built  early  in  the  19th  century,  was  closed  in 
1944.'*  Several  of  the  cottages  round  the  heath  are  of 
18th-century  origin.  Also  at  the  heath  are  the  church 
hall  and  the  Congregational  church.  Near  the  heath, 
on  the  road  to  the  parish  church,  are  nine  pairs  of 
council  houses  of  various  dates.  Dodd's  Farm  is  near 
these  houses  to  the  west.  Parsonage  Farm  is  J  mile 
east  of  the  church. 

In  1086  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  manor  of 
Norton  was  woodland."  By  about  1250,  however, 
forest  clearance  must  have  given  the  parish  something 


"  Ref.  Com.  Char.  {Kent),  H.C.  681, 
p.  200  (1833),  xix,  and  [C.  loi],  p.  310, 
H.C.  (1837),  xxiii. 

'  O.S.  2i  in.  Map,  sheets  52/50,  52/60. 

*  See  below.  Church. 

3  Tithe  Redemp.  Com.  Recs.  Norton 
Mandeville  Tithe  Award  and  Map. 

*  County  of  Essex  (Rural  Parishes) 
Confirmation  Order,  1946. 

*  Some  early  taxation  statistics,  given 
below,  pp.300  f.,must  be  used  with  caution 
in  view  of  the  possibility  that  the  parish 
included  Forest  Hall  and  Newarks  Norton 


in  the  Middle  Ages. 

'  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

'  Census,  1951. 

'  Inf.  from  Mr.  K.  McCorquodale. 

«  For  the  charter  off.  1 260  and  the  map 
of  1740  see  below.  Manor. 

'"  The  name  is  recent.  This  was  not  an 
ancient  manor  house.  In  1740  it  was 
called  Readings:  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  Pi. 

"  In  1662  Edward  Sandford  was  taxed 
on  a  house  at  Norton  Mandeville  having 
8  hearths:  E.R.O.,  Q/RTh  i  mem.  24. 
No  other  house  in  the  parish  had  as  many 


hearths. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  E.  H.  S.  Walde,  the 
present  occupier. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  Pi  :  Map  of  Norton 
Mandeville  1740. 

'*  Inf.  from  Mrs.  McKinlay,  present 
occupier. 

*5  For  details  of  its  sale,  1870,  see 
E.R.O.,  D/TE  13. 

'*  Inf.  from  daughter  of  former  black- 
smith. 

"  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  375,  503a. 


150 


ONGAR  HUNDRED      Norton  mandeville 


like  its  modern  appearance.  Most  of  the  fields  mentioned 
in  the  charter  of  about  1 260  can  be  identified  on  the 
parish  map  of  1740  (see  below,  Manor).  By  the  time 
of  the  tithe  award  (1847)  there  were  rather  more,  and 
smaller,  fields  than  in  1740,  but  there  have  been  no 
important  changes  since  then.  In  1740  there  were  four 
farms  in  the  parish  of  over  50  acres  but  only  one  of 
these,  Norton  Hall  farm  (264  acres),  was  over  100 
acres."  8  The  size  of  the  farms  has  tended  to  increase 
since  then.  From  about  1864  to  1919  all  the  western 
part  of  the  parish  belonged  to  the  Forest  Hall  estate, 
and  life  at  this  end  of  the  parish  must  have  centred  on 
Forest  Hall,  a  great  house  with  a  private  saw-mill  and 
its  own  gas-works."  As  late  as  1939  Forest  Hall  con- 
tinued to  offer  opportunities  of  employment,  though  no 
longer  the  centre  of  a  large  estate,  but  since  1943  it  has 
been  empty. 

The  parish  is  supplied  via  Ongar  with  water  pur- 
chased from  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.^" 
Electricity  was  first  supplied  in  February  1943.^'  There 
is  no  gas  supply.  Letters  were  formerly  received  from 
Ongar,  and  more  recently  from  Ongar  and  Ingate- 
stone.^^  The  parish  has  always  depended  mainly  on 
road  transport.  The  nearest  railway  station  for 
London  is  at  Chipping  Ongar,  about  3J  miles  from 
Norton  Heath,  and  for  north  Essex  and  E.  Anglia  at 
Ingatestone,  about  5  miles  away. 

Two  manors  of  NORTON  were  entered  in  Domes- 
day Book.  One  of  them  had  been  held  in 
MANOR  1066  by  a  woman  named  'Godid',  as  i 
hide.  After  the  Conquest  she  had  given  it 
to  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  St.  Paul's  but  the  gift  was 
irregular;  at  least  the  canons  'could  not  produce  the 
king's  writ  or  permission'  for  its  alienation  to  the 
Domesday  Commissioners.^^  There  is  little  doubt  that 
this  was  the  manor  which  later  became  known  as 
Foliots  Hall  a/ias  Forest  Hall  in  High  Ongar  (q-v.). 

The  other  manor  of  Norton  was  held  in  1086  by 
Wimund  as  tenant  of  Hamon  t/apifer.^*  It  had  been 
held  in  1066  by  'Gotil'  as  a  manor  and  as  i^  hide  and 
1 5  acres.  It  is  probable  that  Gotil  and  the  above  Godid 
were  identical  and  thus  that  in  1066  both  manors  of 
Norton  were  held  by  the  same  person. 

Hamon  dapifer  was  succeeded  (probably  before 
1 1 00)  by  his  eldest  son  Hamon,  also  dapifer,  and 
Sheriff  of  Kent.  The  younger  Hamon  was  alive  in 
1 129,  but  dead  by  Michaelmas  1 1 30.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother  Robert  Fitz  Hamon,  whose 
daughter  and  heir  married  Robert,  Earl  of  Gloucester, 
bastard  son  of  Henry  I.^'  The  overlordship  of  Norton 
followed  the  same  descent  and  ultimately  passed  with 
the  earldom  of  Gloucester  to  the  Clares.  Gilbert  de 
Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester  (d.  1 3 14),  was  lord  in  1311.^* 
The  overlordship  subsequently  escheated  to  the  Crown 
as  part  of  the  honor  of  Gloucester.  In  1524  it  was 
stated  that  Norton  Mandeville  was  held  of  the  king  as 
of  the  honor  of  Mandeville.^'  No  doubt  the  similarity 

'8  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  Pi  :  Map  of  Norton 
Mandeville  1740.  There  were  84  acres 
in  the  parish  belonging  to  Forest  Hall, 
High  Ongar.  The  fields  at  Norton  Heath 
were  smaller  than  those  farther  west,  and 
included  some  of  strip  shape,  suggesting 
previous  open  field  cultivation  in  this  part 
of  the  parish. 

'»  See  High  Ongar. 

'0  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Water- 
works Co. 

"  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elec.  Bd. 

"  Kclly'i  Dir.  Essex  (1845  f.). 

"  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  442A. 


"  Ibid.  5030. 

2*  For  Hamon  dapifer  and  his  heirs  sec 
Domesday  Monachorum  of  Christ  Church, 
Canterbury  (ed.  D.  C.  Douglas),  pp.  55— 
58. 

2'  Merton  College  Deed  3209. 

"  DL30/73/899. 

28  Sir  C.  Hattons  Bk.  of  Seals  (ed.  L.  C. 
Loyd  and  D.  M.  Stenton),  p.  230. 

"  Ibid. 

30  V.C.H.  Bucks,  i,  370.  Another  branch 
of  the  Dammartins  held  several  manors  in 
Surrey  of  the  honor  of  Clare:  V.C.H. 
Surrey,  iii,  :5i,  191,  305,  316,  321,  &c.; 


of  name  had  caused  the  manor  to  be  treated  as  part  of 
that  honor.  In  fact,  as  shown  below,  the  manor  and 
parish  took  their  name  from  a  family  of  tenants  hold- 
ing of  the  honor  of  Gloucester. 

By  the  end  of  the  12th  century  the  tenancy  of  the 
manor  had  passed  to  the  Dammartins.  In  1 1 8 1  Odo 
de  Dammartin  was  acting  as  farmer  of  the  manor  of 
Forest  Hall  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.).  William  de  Dam- 
martin  (d.  1 195)  was  a  tenant  in  Norton.^'  He  had 
succeeded  his  brother  Bartholomew,  who  died  before 
1 190;  they  were  sons  of  Manasser  de  Dammartin.^'  A 
Manasser  de  Dammartin  was  benefactor  to  the  abbey 
of  Missenden  (Bucks.)  with  which  the  Clares  had  con- 
nexions.^o 

The  heir  of  William  de  Dammartin  was  his  daughter 
Galiena.  After  William's  death  the  king  gave  the  ward- 
ship of  Galiena  to  William  Brewer,  who  married  her  to 
his  brother  John  (d.  i2io).3i  After  John  Brewer's 
death  Galiena  married  Robert  de  Burgate.  Robert  died 
some  time  after  Easter  1220,  and  by  1228  Galiena  had 
married  a  third  husband,  Ernald  de  Mandeville, 
'whose  name  suggests  that  he  was  a  descendant  of 
Ernald  de  Mandeville,  the  disinherited  son  of  the  ist 
Earl  of  Essex'.32  By  her  second  marriage  Galiena  had 
a  son,  Peter  de  Burgate,  and  a  daughter  Anastasia  de 
Burgate  who  married  John  le  Merk.  By  her  third 
marriage  she  had  two  sons,  John  and  Hugh  de  Mande- 
ville. Ernald  de  Mandeville  was  still  alive  in  125 1, 
when  he  and  Galiena  conveyed  80  acres  of  land  in 
Norton  to  William  de  Frith  and  Parnel  his  wife.'^ 
Ernald  probably  died  soon  after,  for  in  1254  Galiena 
conveyed  the  manor  of  Norton  to  her  son  John  de 
Mandeville,  retaining  a  life  interest  in  it-S*  By  another 
deed  of  about  this  time  John  granted  back  the  manor  to 
Galiena,  receiving  in  return  60  acres  in  Norton. ss  In 
or  before  1258  Galiena  granted  to  John  76  acres  of 
land  and  l  acre  of  meadow  in  her  vill  of  Norton.^* 
This  last  grant  is  of  great  interest  because  of  the  detailed 
descriptions  in  it.  Forty  acres  of  the  land  granted  lay 
in  Westfield,  next  to  the  land  of  the  Rector  of  High 
Ongar  and  that  of  Waleran  de  Monceux."  There 
were  8  acres  in  a  field  called  la  Mora,  15  acres  in 
another  field  also  called  Westfield  lying  next  to  the 
land  of  St.  Paul's,  which  Richard  Foliot  then  held, 
I  acre  called  Old  Apeltun  in  the  same  field,  10  acres 
called  Kelleveland  and  3  acres  in  Westfield  lying  be- 
tween Kelleveland  and  the  land  of  Galiena  which 
extended  from  the  land  of  Richard  Foliot  to  the  king's 
highway.  The  acre  of  meadow  lay  next  to  the  meadow 
of  the  Rectoi  of  High  Ongar.  The  grant  reserved  to 
Galiena  a  path  i  perch  in  breadth  in  the  north  part 
next  to  the  fence  of  one  John  which  led  from  the  king's 
highway  called  Westrete  to  the  'bank',  for  passage  and 
cartage  to  her  field  called  Longemad.  John  was  to  have 
free  passage  from  the  church  of  Norton  by  the  road 
leading  to  Ongar,  i.e.  in  the  field  called  Chirchefeld 
near  the  long  fence  from  the  south.   The  location  of 

these  Clare  connexions  are  interesting, but 
may  not  be  significant  since  the  Clares 
did  not  become  overlords  of  Norton 
Mandeville  until  the  13th  cent. 

3'  Sir  C.  Hatton*s  Bk.  of  Seals,  p.  279. 

3»  Ibid. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  i,  187. 

3*  Ibid.  199.  The  name  of  the  manor  ia 
here  wrongly  transcribed. 

35  Merton  Coll.  Deed  3195. 

3»  Sir  C.  Nation's  Bk.  of  Seals,  p.  278. 

37  Monceux  was  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Ongar  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.). 


151 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


many  of  the  fields  named  in  this  charter  can  be  identified 
from  the  map  of  the  parish  made  in  1740.38  Upper 
and  Lower  Westfield  lay  in  the  extreme  south-west  of 
the  parish.  Upper  Westfield  being  the  more  easterly  of 
the  two.  In  1740  their  total  acreage  was  43.  La  Mora 
is  probably  Moors,  a  small  field  lying  along  the  banks 
of  the  Roding,  which  in  1740  contained  4  acres. 
Kelleveland  is  probably  the  Kellums  Field  of  1740,  on 
the  north-west  border  of  the  parish  adjoining  Forest 
Hall,  then  containing  8  acres.  Churchfield  adjoined 
the  church  to  the  east.  Longmead  was  in  the  centre  of 
the  parish  on  its  southern  boundary,  J  mile  from  the 
church. 

The  above  grant  was  probably  the  immediate  pre- 
liminary to  another,  in  1258,  by  which  John  de 
Mandeville  gave  to  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  St. 
Paul's  76  acres  of  land  and  i  acre  of  meadow  in 
Norton.39  From  this  time  onwards  this  part  of  the 
inheritance  of  Galiena  de  Dammartin  presumably 
formed  part  of  the  manor  of  Forest  Hall  in  High  Ongar. 

No  evidence  has  been  found  to  show  that  John  de 
Mandeville  had  any  further  connexion  with  the  manor. 
It  was  probably  soon  after  1258  that  Galiena  granted 
the  manor  of  Norton  to  her  daughter  Anastasia.*" 
Anastasia  subsequently  granted  all  her  land  in  West- 
field  in  Norton,  with  a  way  for  carrying,  &c.,  from 
Norton  Heath  by  the  causeway  and  with  a  windmill 
and  rents  outside  the  parish,  to  her  daughter  Galiena 
on  the  marriage  of  the  latter  to  Gilbert  de  Theydon.*' 
Anastasia  was  still  living,  in  widowhood,  in  1285,  when 
she  granted  land  in  Norton  to  John  son  of  Henry .+2 
John  son  of  John  le  Merk  (the  son  or  step-son  of 
Anastasia)  was  a  party  to  this  transaction. 

The  next  step  in  the  descent  of  the  manor  is  not 
quite  clear.  In  1296  John  le  Rous  of  Felsted  granted 
the  manor  to  John  le  Rous  his  father  and  Agnes,  wife 
of  the  latter.''^  In  1 297  Gilbert  de  Theydon,  formerly 
husband  of  Galiena  le  Merk,  granted  to  John  le  Rous 
and  Agnes  his  wife  for  life  a  windmill  and  18  acres  of 
land  in  Norton  Mandeville  with  5^.  rent  from  the  lands 
that  Emma  la  Brune  had  previously  held  of  Anastasia 
le  Merk,  called  'Craneslond'  in  Stanford  Rivers.** 
This  property,  which  Gilbert  was  holding  by  the 
courtesy  of  England,  was  no  doubt  Galiena's  marriage 
portion  mentioned  above.  In  1 300  Peter  son  of  Robert 
de  Burgate  quitclaimed  to  John  the  elder  son  of  John 
le  Rous  a  messuage,  i  carucate  of  land  and  j^4  1 31.  \d. 
rent  in  Norton  Mandevillcts  This  Peter  may  have 
been  the  son  of  Galiena  de  Dammartin,  but  if  so  he 
must  have  been  a  very  old  man.  In  any  case  the  mean- 
ing of  this  transaction  is  probably  that  John  le  Rous  was 
securing  himself  against  a  possible  claimant  to  the  manor. 
If  Galiena  de  Dammartin  had  not  granted  Norton  to 
her  daughter  Anastasia  the  manor  would  in  the  normal 
course  of  succession  have  passed  to  her  son  Peter  de 
Burgate  and  his  heirs. 

John  le  Rous  the  father  was  dead  before  2  May  1 3 1 1 . 
Map  of  Norton 


38  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  P 
Mandeville,  1740. 

3»  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  225.  Cf.  Hist. 
MSS.  Com.  gtA  Rep.  pt.  i,  38a,  31^5 
Merton  Coll.  Deed  3216. 

*°  Merton  Coll.  Deeds  977,  3194. 

*'  Ibid.  321 1. 

♦^  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  45. 

«  Merton  Coll.  Deed  3216. 

*•  Ibid.  3213. 

*5  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  89;  Merton  Coll. 
Deed  3205. 

*'  Merton  Coll.  Deed  3209. 

♦'  Ibid.  3240,  3232. 


3228 


*'  Ibid.  3210,  3232. 
*'>  Ibid.  3242,  3250,  3218,  325 
5»  Ibid.  3234. 

"  Ibid.  3222,  3237;  Cal.  Close,  1374-7, 
107. 

52  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  443.  He  had  probably 
held  it  in  1400:  Merton  Coll.  Deed  3276. 
For  the  change  of  name  see  Cawnes  in 
North  Weald. 

53  Merton  Coll.  Deed  3267. 
5<  Ibid.  55  Ibid.  3256,  3288,  3268. 
5*  See  also  Cawnes  in  North  Weald. 
5'  Merton  Coll.  Deed  3281. 
58  Ibid.  3261,  3283,  3259. 


His  elder  son  John  had  died  before  him  and  his  heir 
was  another  son,  also  named  John.  In  1 3 11  the  ward- 
ship of  John  the  last  born  (^post  natiis)  son  and  heir  of 
John  le  Rous  was  granted  by  the  Earl  of  Gloucester  to 
Simon  le  Wylde  and  Joan  his  wife.**  John  le  Rous  was 
alive  in  1328  but  dead  by  4  April  1332  when  a  release 
of  land  was  executed  by  his  widow  Maud.*'  He  left 
sons  Robert,  John,  and  Nicholas.**  Maud  le  Rous 
retained  some  interest  in  Norton  Mandeville  and  was 
still  alive  in  1345.*'  By  1350  the  manor  had  passed  to 
John  le  Rous,  probably  her  second  son. so  This  John 
le  Rous  was  still  alive  in  1366  and  probably  also  in 

1374.51  His  son  and  heir  was  probably  Thomas  le 
Rous  alias  Caune,  who  held  Norton  Mandeville  in 

1412.52  Thomas  was  dead  by  18  November  1422 
when  his  widow  Elizabeth  had  seisin  of  the  manor  for 
life.  He  left  sons  John,  Thomas,  and  Richard. '^  It 
was  provided  that  the  eldest  son  John  Caune  should 
have  the  reversion  of  the  manor  on  condition  that  he 
paid  ^20  to  each  of  his  brothers  and  of  his  three  sisters. 
If  he  failed  to  do  so  the  second  son  Thomas  was  to  have 
Norton. 5* 

In  1440  the  manor  was  held  by  Thomas  Rous.55 
He  was  probably  the  second  son  mentioned  above,  and 
had  assumed  the  original  family  name  again. 5*  He  was 
apparently  dead  by  7  May  145 1,  leaving  a  widow 
Elizabeth  and  a  son  Thomas. 57  In  1473  Thomas  Rous 
conveyed  Norton  Mandeville  to  his  son  Richard.' 8  In 
1 490  Richard  Rous  sold  Norton  and  Cawnes  in  North 
Weald  (q.v.)  to  Merton  College,  Oxford,  for  ;^493.s» 

The  college  retained  the  property  until  1864.  From 
1800  to  1832  Norton  Hall  farm,  consisting  of  264 
acres  was  leased  by  the  college  to  Capel  Cure  of  Blake 
Hall,  Bobbingworth  (q-v.),  who  sub-let  it  to  a  tenant 
farmer,  Robert  Hadsley.*"  The  farm  contained  207 
acres  of  arable  and  57  acres  of  pasture. 

In  1847  the  college  owned  265  acres  in  Norton 
Mandeville,  most  of  which  lay  around  Norton  Hall  in 
the  centre  and  west  of  the  parish.  Norton  Hall  farm 
now  contained  only  164  acres,  the  rest  of  the  property 
being  separately  leased.*'  In  1864  the  whole  property 
was  sold  by  the  college  and  became  part  of  the  Forest 
Hall  estate.  High  Ongar,  which  was  then  in  the  process 
of  being  bought  from  J.  B.  Stane  by  J.  L.  Newall. 
Stane  and  his  father  had  previously  leased  Norton  Hall 
farm.*2  By  19 19  the  farm  had  increased  to  421 
acres.*3 

There  appears  to  be  no  trace  of  an  ancient  manor 
house.  The  present  Norton  Hall  farm-house  dates  from 
about  1870 — the  time  when  J.  L.  Newall  was  building 
up  and  improving  the  Forest  Hall  estate.  It  is  of  red 
brick. 

In  1 1 8 1  Norton  was  included  for  ecclesiastical  pur- 
poses in  the  parish  of  High  Ongar.  The 
CHURCH  church  of  High  Ongar  received  all  tithes 
from  the  manor  of  Norton  belonging  to 
St.  Paul's  (see  Forest  Hall,  High  Ongar)  but  propter 

5«  Reg.  Ann.  Coll.  Men.  1483-1521 
(Oxf.  Hist.  Soc.  Ixxxvi,  ed.  H.  E.  Salter). 
Most  of  the  money  was  left  to  the  college 
by  Tho.  Kemp,  Bp.  of  London  (d.  1489). 
For  the  conveyances  preceding  the  sale 
see  Merton  Coll.  Deeds  3280,  3297,  3277, 
3275,  3285,  3264,  3284,  3272,  3253. 

<">  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6  (Blake  Hall  estate 
notebk.). 

*'  Tithe  Redemp.  Com.  Norton  Mande- 
ville Tithe  Award  and  Map,  1847. 

''2  Merton  Coll.  Liber  Rationarius 
1840-72. 

*3  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  225. 


152 


ONGAR  HUNDRED      norton  mandeville 


vicinitatem  chriuianitatis  rendered  to  the  church  of 
Fyfield  i  sack  of  corn  and  i  sack  of  oats.*<  Norton 
must,  however,  have  had  its  own  church  within  nine 
years  of  that  date,  for  Bartholomew  de  Dammartin 
(d.  before  1 1 90)  and  Galiena  his  mother  granted  the 
church  to  the  priory  of  St.  Leonard,  Stratford-atte- 
Bow.*s  The  rectory  was  appropriated  by  the  nuns  of 
Stratford,  who  retained  it  until  the  Dissolution.  No 
vicarage  was  ordained,  probably  because  the  living  was 
so  small.  In  about  1254  the  value  was  only  6  marks.** 
The  parish  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Taxatio  of  1291. 
In  1428  the  taxable  value  was  said  to  be  8  marks  de 
novofi'' 

In  1 539  the  rectory  and  advowson  were  granted  by 
the  king  to  William  Rolte,  one  of  his  serjeants-at- 
arms.**  The  benefice  remained  a  donative.  The 
impropriator  took  all  tithes  and  the  incumbent  was 
usually  styled  a  curate,  not  a  vicar.  In  1541  rectory 
and  advowson  were  granted  by  the  king  to  Sir  Ralph 
Sadler,  one  of  his  chief  secretaries.*'  In  1 543  Sadler 
conveyed  them  to  William  Pawne  (d.  1570)  lord  of 
Chivers  Hall  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.).'"  They  descended 
with  Chivers  Hall  until  1578,  when  Bridget  and 
William  Chatterton  conveyed  them  to  Edward  Elliott 
in  accordance  with  the  will  of  William  Pawne."  Elliott 
died  in  1595  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  Thomas,  later 
knighted.'^  In  1627  Sir  Thomas  conveyed  rectory 
and  advowson  to  Edward  Ditchfield  senior,  Thomas 
Ditchfield,  and  Edward  Ditchfield  junior.'^  In  1656 
they  were  conveyed  by  John  Ditchfield  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife  to  Anthony  Nicholas.'^ 

Anthony  Nicholas  was  impropriator  in  i683.'5  In 
1685  he  settled  the  rectory  and  advowson  upon  his  son 
John  (d.  1714).'*  John  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Anthony,  who  died  in  1727,  leaving  his  property  to  his 
brother  William  Nicholas.  In  the  following  year 
William  sold  the  rectory  and  advowson  to  William 
Binkes  of  North  Weald  for  ^  i  ,7 1 2 .  Binkes  immediately 
mortgaged  them  to  Nicholas  for  £1,000.  In  1736  the 
mortgage  was  purchased  from  Nicholas  by  Elizabeth 
Bay  ley,  widow.  In  1739  rectory  and  advowson  were 
bought  by  William  Elderton,  apothecary  of  London, 
who  paid  £1,625  ^'^  Binkes  and  ^^1,291  to  Mrs. 
Bayley."  A  map  of  the  parish  drawn  for  Elderton  in 
1740  by  Thomas  Skinner  still  survives.^*  Elderton 
died  in  1755,  leaving  WiUiam  his  son  and  heir.  In 
1 76 1  William  Elderton  mortgaged  the  property  for 
j(^6oo,  and  in  1763  he  sold  it  to  John  Searle,  who  paid 
;^2,6oo  for  the  freehold  and  £600  to  redeem  the 
mortgage.  Searle  or  his  father  had  been  tenant  of  the 
glebe  in  I740.''9  He  made  his  will  in  1764,  on  the  eve 
of  his  departure  to  China  as  a  supercargo  in  the  service 
of  the  East  India  Co.*"  He  died  after  1772,  leaving  an 
only  daughter  and  heir  Mary  Anne,  wife  of  James 
Flint  of  Ospring,  Kent.  In  1800  Mrs.  Flint  sold  the 
rectory  and  advowson  to  Capel  Cure  of  Blake  Hall  in 
Bobbingworth  (q.v.).*'  They  remained  in  the  Capel 
Cure  family  and  had  the  same  descent  as  Blake  Hall 


until  1923,  when  the  titular  vicarage  of  Norton 
Mandeville  was  merged  with  the  vicarage  of  Black- 
more.*^  The  patronage  of  the  joint  vicarage  has  sub- 
sequently been  vested  in  the  Bishop  of  Chelmsford.*^ 

Owing  to  impropriation  the  curate's  income  from 
the  benefice  continued  to  be  very  small  after  the  Dis- 
solution. In  1769  the  curate  received  only  £6  a  year, 
and  held  services  once  a  month  for  a  congregation  of  6 
or  7  whose  lives  were  said  to  be  endangered  by  the 
damp  of  the  church.**  By  18 10  the  income  was  ^£58, 
of  which  £6  came  from  the  impropriator,  £ii  from  a 
cottage  and  9  acres  of  land  at  Radley  Green  (in 
Roxwell),  £10  from  a  house  and  27  acres  of  land  near 
Rochford  and  £\  interest  from  a  £200  endowment 
from  Queen  Anne's  Bounty.  In  1 8 10  the  curate  raised 
the  rent  of  the  cottage  to  £24  and  that  of  the  house  to 
£60,  thus  bringing  the  total  income  to  £()i\:^^  In 
1847  the  tithes  of  the  parish  were  commuted  for  £l<)^, 
of  which  ;^lo  were  payable  to  John  Caton,  and  £1  to 
John  Mullocks.  The  remaining  £i9i^  was  payable  to 
Capel  Cure,  who  also  owned  the  23  acres  of 
glebe.** 

In  16 10  there  was  a  parsonage  house  at  Norton 
Mandeville,  with  barn,  stable  'and  other  necessary 
houses  pertaining  thereto'.  The  house  was  probably 
on  the  site  of  the  later  Parsonage  Farm,  \  mile  east  of 
the  church.  By  1740,  if  not  earlier,  this  had  ceased  to 
be  occupied  by  the  curate  and  in  1848  there  was  said 
to  be  no  parsonage  house.*'  The  non-residence  of  the 
curates  was  no  doubt  caused  in  the  first  place  by  the 
poverty  of  the  living,  which  made  it  necessary  for  them 
to  hold  another  benefice  in  addition  to  that  of  Norton 
Mandeville.  In  the  19th  century  the  curate  sometimes 
held  this  living  alone  and  in  this  case  evidently  had  to 
find  his  own  accommodation.** 

The  parish  church  oi  ALL  SAINTS  is  a  very  small 
building  consisting  of  nave,  chancel,  and  south  porch 
with  a  small  bell-cote  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave.  The 
walls  are  of  flint  rubble  dating  mostly  from  the  first 
half  of  the  14th  century,  but  mixed  with  this  are  blocks 
of  freestone  from  a  12th-century  church.  Buttresses 
have  been  built  externally  at  various  dates.  The  south 
porch  dates  from  1903. 

As  noted  above  there  is  reason  to  suppose  that  the 
original  parish  church  of  Norton  Mandeville  was  built 
between  1 1 8 1  and  1 1 90.  It  is  probable  that  this  stood 
on  the  same  site  as  the  present  church.  The  worked 
stone,  visible  in  the  external  walls  of  the  church,  has 
late- 12th-century  detail,  including  nail-head  orna- 
ment. The  font  bowl,  set  on  a  later  base,  is  of  Barnack 
stone,  square,  with  angle  shafts,  and  is  of  the  12th 
century.  Part  of  a  pillar  piscina  in  the  nave  with  spiral 
fluting  to  the  shaft  is  of  the  same  period.  The  pointed 
inner  arch  of  the  south  door  may  be  of  the  1 3th  century, 
later  reset.  The  north  doorway  has  a  semicircular 
arch  but  it  has  been  much  restored  and  the  date  is 
obscure. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  14th  century  the  church 


«■•  Dom.  of  St.  Paul's  (Camden  Soc. 
1858),  150. 

"  Cal.  Chart.  1341-1417,  194. 

6'  Lunt,  fa},  of  Norviich,  336;  cf. 
E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19. 

"  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 

««  L.  &  P.  Hen.  yni,  xiv  (i),  p.  161. 

«»  Ibid,  xvi,  p.  383. 

'»  Ibid,  xviii  (l),  p.  199. 

"  CP25(2)/i20  Mich.  20-21  Eliz.; 
ibid.  Hil.  21  Eliz.;  C142/181/55. 

"  C142/246/105.  Sir  Thos.  Elliott  was 


for  a  short  time  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.). 

7J  CP25(2)/526  East.  3  Chas.  I. 

'«  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T48. 

'5  E.A.T.  N.s.  xix,  268. 

^<>  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T48.  Much  of  what 
follows  is  from  this  source. 

"  Ibid. 

78  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  Pi  :  Map  of  Norton 
Mandeville  1740. 

"  Ibid. 

8"  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T48. 

^S2 


81  Ibid. 

8^  Chel.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1923,  1924. 

83  Ibid. 

8<  Description  of  Eng.  and  fVales  ( 1 769), 
p.  26. 

85  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6. 

8*  Tithe  Redemp.  Comm.  Recs.  Norton 
Mandeville  Tithe  Award  and  Map. 

8'  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  Pi:  Map  of  Nort. 
Mand.  1740;  ffhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

88  Thus  in  1 874  the  Revd.  F.  A.  S.  Fane 
was  living  at  Priors,  Kelvedon  Hatch. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


was  entirely  rebuilt.  There  are  two  two-light  windows 
of  this  period  in  both  north  and  south  walls  of  the  nave, 
the  tracery  design  being  a  little  different  on  the  two 
sides.  On  the  south  side  the  original  stonework  is  much 
decayed.  There  is  a  double  locker  in  the  north  wall 
and  an  original  piscina  with  a  trefoil  head  but  without 
a  drain  on  the  south  side.  The  roof  of  the  nave  has 
three  trusses  with  14th-century  king-posts  with  moulded 
caps  and  bases  and  two-way  struts.  On  the  western- 
most truss  two  braced  posts  support  the  bell-cote  which 
may  be  of  this  century  or  the  next.  Fourteenth-century 
slip-ware  tiles,  recovered  during  the  restoration  of 
1903,  have  been  set  round  the  font.*'  In  the  chancel 
the  single-light  window  in  the  north  wall  is  original, 
that  in  the  south  wall  a  copy,  probably  retaining  its 
original  splay.  Farther  west  is  a  'low  side'  window, 
probably  also  of  the  14th  century.  The  east  window 
has  an  original  chamfered  rear  arch  and  splay:  the 
tracery  is  a  copy  of  14th-century  work.  The  piscina 
is  modern  but  similar  in  design  to  that  in  the  nave,  the 
scalloped  drain  being  original. 

The  chancel  roof  truss  has  a  chamfered  king-post 
with  two-way  struts  and  is  probably  of  the  15  th 
century.  Some  restoration  of  the  church  may  have 
taken  place  in  the  19th  century.  The  wooden  frame 
to  the  west  window  appears  to  be  of  this  date. 

In  1903  the  church  was  restored  largely  by  means 
of  a  donation  of  ^^900  from  the  Revd.  W.  M.  Oliver, 
former  Rector  of  Bobbingworth,  given  anonymously.'" 
The  timber  porch  was  built  or  rebuilt  at  this  time,  and 
among  other  items  several  windows  were  renewed. 
In  1944  the  church  was  damaged  by  blast  from  a  rocket 
bomb. 

The  chancel  screen,  probably  dating  from  1903, 
incorporates  tracery  carving  of  the  15th  century.  Six 
16th-century  benches  in  the  nave  have  roughly  carved 
finials.  An  hour-glass  stand  of  wrought-iron,  probably 
of  the  17th  century,  was  formerly  fixed  to  the  splay 
of  one  of  the  nave  windows."  It  has  recently  been 
taken  down  but  is  stiU  in  the  possession  of  the  church. 
The  communion  table  is  of  carved  oak  of  the  1 7th 
century.  Carved  and  painted  figures  of  the  lion  and 
unicorn  from  a  royal  arms  of  the  early  i8th  century 
are  set  on  brackets  at  the  base  of  the  westernmost  roof- 
truss  of  the  nave.  The  turned  balusters  of  the  com- 
munion rails  are  of  mid- 18th-century  date.  The 
altered  pulpit  has  enriched  18th-century  mouldings. 
In  the  'low-side'  window  is  stained  glass  given  in 
memory  of  John  Caton  (d.  1892).  The  glass  in  the  east 
window  was  erected  in  memory  of  the  anonymous 
benefactor  of  1903.  There  are  inscribed  floor  slabs  in 
the  nave  to  Mary  and  Robert  Hadsley,  1 824  and  1 840. 

There  is  one  bell,  dated  1872,  by  John  Warner  & 
Sons,  London.  It  replaced  a  bell  of  the  same  size  dated 
1782,  and  'obviously  by  Chapman  &  Meats'. '^  The 
plate  consists  of  a  cup  of  1724,  a  paten  of  1703,  given 


by  John  Searle,  and  an  almsdish,  undated,  also  given  by 
him.«3 

The  church  hall  at  Norton  Heath  was  built  in 
191 3.'*   It  is  a  rectangular  wooden  building. 

In  1875  land  at  Norton  Heath  was  acquired  for 
^10  from  a  Mr.  Caton,  and 
NONCONFORMITY  vested  in  trustees  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  Congregational 
church.  Among  the  trustees  was  George  A.  H.  Woods, 
missionary  of  Cooks  Mill  Green,  Writtle."  The 
church  subsequently  erected  is  now  associated  with 
those  at  Writtle  and  Cooks  Mill  Green.'*  It  is  a 
small  wooden  building  south  of  the  main  road  to 
Chelmsford  and  is  just  inside  High  Ongar  parish. '^ 

No  parish  records  are  known  to  survive  except  the 
registers.  Details  of  poor  relief, 
POOR  RELIEF  1776-1821, whicharegivenbelow, 
come  from  returns  made  to  Parlia- 
ment and  may  not  always  be  very  accurate.'*  In  1776 
a  total  of  £jo  was  said  to  have  been  spent  on  poor 
relief."  The  average  for  1783-5  was  jC36-'  The 
cost  of  relief  was  given  as  j[,i\o  for  1 800-1,  and  for 
1816—17.^  Between  those  years  it  fluctuated,  averaging 
slightly  over  ^100  a  year.  Only  once,  in  1815— l6,was 
it  higher  (;^i5o)  than  in  1 800-1.  In  1 817-18  it  was 
given  as  ;^i3o,  in  1819-20  as  ^^116  and  in  1820— i  as 
^100.3 

There  was  a  cottage  in  three  tenements  in  Norton 
Mandeville  which  was  used  as  a  poor  house.*  It  was 
sold  by  the  Ongar  Union  in  1837.5 

There  was  no  school  in  the  parish  in  1818.  The 
perpetual  curate  reported  that  the  poor 
SCHOOLS  would  use  any  educational  facilities  made 
available,  but  that  financial  difficulties 
prevented  the  establishment  of  a  school.*  In  1833 
there  was  still  no  church  school,  not  even  a  Sunday 
school,  but  1 1  children  were  attending  a  private 
school,  established  in  1831.'  In  1836  a  dame  school 
was  established  at  Norton  Heath  under  church 
guidance.  In  1839  it  had  14  pupils  and  received  about 
£3  a  year  in  voluntary  subscriptions.*  In  1846—7  it 
was  attended  by  14  boys  and  16  girls  and  was  adminis- 
tered in  connexion  with  a  Sunday  school.  The 
mistress  was  paid  £1 5  a  year;  a  proper  schoolroom  was 
'very  much  wanted'.'  This  school  seems  to  have 
existed  in  various  forms  for  nearly  50  years.'"  In  1 870- 
71  it  was  still  'a  well-conducted  dame  school  in  a 
cottage'"  attended  by  some  22  children.'^ 

In  1874  a  school  was  built  with  25  places. '3  It  was 
at  Norton  Heath  and  belonged  to  J.  L.  Newall  of 
Forest  Hall,  who  granted  its  use,  rent  free.'*  Atten- 
dance rose  to  46  in  1886,  when  there  was  said  to  be 
accommodation  for  43 ;  an  annual  grant  of  ;^49  was 
then  received. '5  The  school  was  closed  about  1893, 
the  children  being  sent  to  High  Ongar  and  Paslow 
Wood  Common  schools.'* 


8»  £.v4.r.  N.s.  xiv,  122. 

'"  E.R.  xiv,  186.  Inscription  on  east 
window. 

9'  Hht.  Mon.  Com,  Essex,  ii,  200. 

«=  Ck.  Bells  Essex,  348. 

«  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  139. 

»*  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

«s  Essex  Congr.  Union  Deeds. 

»6  Congr.  Year  Bk.  1948. 

"  E.C.U.  Deeds. 

9'  Cf.  Greenstead,  Poor  Relief. 

«»  E.R.O.,  e/CR  i/i.  This  seems  a 
high  figure  for  the  time,  if  correct,  for  the 
population  can  hardly  have  been  more  than 


about  80.  ■  Ibid. 

^  Ibid.  1/9.  5  Ibid.  1/12. 

*  The  parish  had  a  poorhouse  by  1776, 
at  latest:  Rep.  Sel.  Cttee.  on  Overseers 
Retns.  1777,  H.C.  ser.  i,  vol.  ix,  p.  350. 

5  E.R.O.,  G/On  Ml.  It  was  probably 
at  Norton  Heath,  where  a  'Poor  House 
Field'  was  shown  on  the  Tithe  Map, 
1 847.  Norton  Mandeville  became  part  of 
Ongar  Poor  Law  Union  in  1836. 

'  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  263 

(.8'9).ix(')- 

'  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  284 
(183s),  xli. 


8  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

«  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  14-15. 

i»  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848,  1863); 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1855-82). 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  i/i/i. 

■2  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
1 12-13  (1871),  Iv. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1882). 

'*  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/199. 

'5  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  18S6 
[C.  5123-1],  p.  520,  H.C.  (1887),  xxviii. 

'^  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/199;  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (1894). 


154 


ONGAR  HUNDRED      norton  mandeville 


John  Cooch  Caton,  by  will  proved  1896,  left  ;^5o 
in  trust  for  the  maintenance  of  his 
CHARITIES     grave.  Any  balance  was  to  be  dis- 
tributed in  bread  to  the  deserving  poor 


at  Christmas  each  year.  The  first  bequest  was  void 
under  the  rule  against  perpetuities.  In  1933-4  the 
dividend  of  19^.  41/.  was  distributed  in  bread  to  28 
people." 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


Chipping  Ongar  is  a  parish  and  small  town  1 1  miles 
west  of  Chelmsford  and  2 1  miles  north-east  of  London.' 
It  has  been  known  in  the  past  as  Castle  Ongar.^  The 
modern  form  of  the  name  dates  from  the  14th  century 
and  relates  to  the  ancient  market  of  the  town.^  Ongar 
has  been  important  for  more  than  r,ooo  years  as  the 
principal  place  in  the  hundred  and  later  as  the  head  of  a 
poor  law  union,  petty  sessional  district  and  rural 
district.  The  population  has  always  been  small  and  the 
main  street  is  still  only  a  few  minutes  walk  from  the 
open  country,  but  the  town  houses,  the  concentration  of 
shops,  and  the  little  gasometer  by  the  bridge  all  pro- 
claim the  place  to  be  more  than  a  village. 

Chipping  Ongar  is  situated  on  one  of  the  few  patches 
of  glacial  sand  in  this  clay  area.  The  parish  is  bounded 
on  the  east  by  the  River  Roding  and  on  the  south  and 
west  by  Cripsey  Brook.  The  land  rises  sharply  from 
1 50  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the  south,  east,  and  west  to 
more  than  200  ft.  in  the  centre  and  north.  The  main 
road  from  Chelmsford  to  Epping  enters  the  parish  in 
the  north-east  by  High  Ongar  Bridge  and  leaves  it  in 
the  north-west  by  Ackingford  Bridge.  At  Wants  cross- 
roads this  road  is  joined  by  that  which  runs  north  to 
Shelley,  Fyfield,  and  the  Rodings,  and  by  the  main 
road  from  Chipping  Ongar  to  Stratford  and  London. 
The  town  lies  mainly  along  this  last  road,  which  runs 
south  down  the  hill  and  leaves  the  parish  in  the  south- 
west by  Ongar  Bridge.  Beyond  the  bridge  the  road 
runs  up  Marden  Ash  Hill.  Marden  Ash  is  in  High 
Ongar  parish  (q.v.)  but  is  in  fact  a  suburb  of  Chipping 
Ongar.  The  road  from  Ongar  to  Brentwood  and 
Tilbury  branches  south-east  from  Marden  Ash.  To 
the  west  of  Cripsey  Brook,  in  the  parish  of  Greenstead 
(q.v.),  there  is  a  new  housing  estate  which  is  also  part 
of  the  town.  Ongar  railway  station,  in  the  north  of  the 
parish,  is  the  terminus  of  the  line  from  Epping  and 
London. 

Soil  and  situation  were  favourable  for  early  settle- 
ment. The  name  Ongar  ('grass  land')  indicates  that 
this  place  and  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  were  less  thickly 
wooded  than  the  surrounding  district.  The  possible 
use  of  Roman  bricks  in  the  castle  gateway  and  the 
church  (see  below)  and  the  importance  of  Chipping 
Ongar  in  and  after  the  nth  century  suggest  that  this 
was  one  of  the  oldest  settlements  in  the  hundred.  The 
huge  mound  which  formed  the  centre  of  the  castle 
(see  below.  Manor),  together  with  the  other  earth- 
works, probably  dates  from  the  nth  or  the  12th  cen- 
tury .■♦  The  castle  stood  on  the  spur  midway  between 
the  Roding  and  Cripsey  Brook.  To  the  west  of  it  were 
the  inner  bailey  and  the  town  enclosure.  The  defences 
of  the  enclosure  are  well  preserved  on  the  north-east  and 


consist  of  a  rampart  and  outer  ditch  branching  from  the 
north  end  of  the  inner  bailey.  The  ditch,  now  nearly 
dry,  is  5  5  ft.  wide  and  1 7  ft.  below  the  crest  of  the 
rampart.  The  profile  diminishes  westward  and  the  ram- 
part disappears  before  reaching  the  road.  The  south  arm 
of  the  enclosure  probably  followed  the  line  of  what  is 
now  Castle  Street.  The  course  of  the  enclosure  on 
the  west  appears  to  be  marked  by  an  escarpment 
running  south  through  the  gardens  of  the  houses  on 
the  west  of  High  Street.  The  entrances  were  probably 
at  the  points  where  the  main  road  passes  through  the 
enclosures 

In  the  r2th  century  there  were  no  doubt  several 
buildings  within  the  enclosure;  for  Ongar  was  then  an 
important  place,  and  its  castle  the  home  of  Richard  de 
Lucy,  the  Justiciar.  Apart  from  the  church  (see  below) 
there  is  no  surviving  building  earher  than  the  i6th 
century,  although  it  is  possible  that  some  traces  of 
medieval  building  are  obscured  by  later  work.*  The 
White  House  and  the  Castle  House  (for  both  of  which 
see  below.  Manor)  are  the  largest  houses  in  the  town 
which  date  from  the  i6th  century.  The  other  build- 
ings of  that  century  are  actually  outside  the  town 
enclosure.  A  house,  now  shops,  which  stands  on  the 
west  side  of  High  Street  to  the  south  of  Castle  Street 
retains  an  original  central  chimney-stack  with  grouped 
diagonal  shafts.'  South  of  it  is  another  building  of  the 
same  or  slightly  later  date  which  has  a  half  H-shaped 
plan  with  wings  extending  towards  the  west.  An  upper 
story  formerly  projected  on  the  east  front  of  the  north 
wing.*  Near  these  buildings,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  road,  is  The  Old  House,  which  may  date  from 
about  the  same  period. «  Apart  from  the  Castle  House 
and  the  White  House  the  oldest  secular  buildings 
inside  the  town  enclosure  are  the  market  house  (see 
below.  Occupations)  and  the  house  next  to  it  (now 
shops).'"  On  the  opposite  side  of  High  Street,  on  the 
corner  of  the  street  leading  to  the  church,  is  a  two- 
story  shop  with  basement  and  attics,  which  bears  on  its 
original  doorway  (now  blocked)  the  initial  and  date 
w.  1642."  Opposite  this  shop  is  that  of  Baugh, 
chemist,  which  with  King,  greengrocer,  forms  a  three- 
gabled  building  having  the  original  central  chimney- 
stack  with  eight  octagonal  shafts.'^  All  the  above  build- 
ings are  timber-framed  and  plastered,  but  the  King's 
Head  Hotel,  which  bears  the  initials  and  date  rs  1697, 
is  built  of  red  brick. '3  By  this  time  the  rectory  (see 
below.  Church)  had  been  built  to  the  north  of  the  town 
enclosure.'*  Other  buildings  in  the  town  probably 
include  portions  dating  from  the  17th  century,  but 
these  are  obscured  by  later  facades.  In  1671  th'ere 
were  94  houses  in  the  parish,  including  the  building 


"  Char.  Com.  files. 
'  O.S.  2j  in.  Map,  sheet  52/50. 

2  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  72. 

3  See  below,  Occupations. 
*  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  296-7. 

'  Hist.  Man.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  53-54  (on 
which  this  account  is  mainly  based)  sug- 
gests that  the  town  enclosure  ran  down  to 
the  Cripsey,  but  the  escarpment  that  runs 
through  the  gardens  is  quite  pronounced 


in  places  and  this  seems  the  more  likely 
course. 

6  Most  of  the  older  buildings  have  been 
greatly  altered  inside  and  out. 

'  Hisi.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  55.  Now 
(1953)  the  shops  of  G.  T.  Snelling,  iron- 
monger, and  E.  L.  Pullen,  baker. 

8  Ibid.  Now  S.  Church,  butcher,  and 
the  'Royal  Oak'. 

9  The  owner,  Mr.  Scott,  has  a  deed  of 


16 1  3  relating  to  the  house. 

'<>  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  53. 

■'  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  55and  plate,  p.  129.  E.R.O.,T/P 
96,  Ongar  W.E.A.  Survey  195 1,  directed 
by  Mr.  P.  R.  Banham.  This  Survey 
includes  many  photographs. 

'3  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  53. 

'*  Ibid.  55. 


155 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


on  the  castle  mound. 's  In  1758  there  were  93  pre- 
mises assessed  for  the  payment  of  rates.'*  It  is  therefore 
probable  that  the  buildings  shown  on  the  map  of  1777 
covered  the  same  area  as  those  that  had  existed  a 
century  earlier."  The  map  shows  that  the  built-up 
area  extended  down  High  Street  from  the  north  end 
of  the  town  enclosure  as  far  as  Ongar  Bridge.  Roden 
House  (near  the  bridge)  existed,  and  there  were  a  few 
buildings  to  the  south  of  the  bridge,  on  the  parish 
boundary.  The  main  body  of  the  rectory  had  been 
built  early  in  the  1 8th  century."'  Lauriston,  on  the 
east  side  of  High  Street,  below  Castle  Street,  is  also  of 
the  1 8th  century.  The  doorway  has  a  pediment  sup- 
ported by  Ionic  pilasters."  The  original  Independent 
Meeting  House  was  built  in  1720.^"  A  letter  dated  at 
Ongar  on  16  October  1798,  which  describes  the  illumi- 
nations by  which  the  town  celebrated  the  Battle  of  the 
Nile,  mentions  some  of  the  larger  houses  that  could  then 
be  seen  in  a  walk  through  the  town.^' 

Between  1777  and  1 84 1  some  cottages  were  built 
to  the  south-west  of  Ongar  Bridge,  probably  to  ac- 
commodate the  labourers  at  the  brickfield  and  gas 
works.^^  This  expansion  of  the  town  was  accompanied 
by  the  improvement  or  rebuilding  of  some  of  the  older 
houses.^3  Much  of  this  was  carried  out  by  the  firm  of 
Noble  of  Ongar,  founded  in  1805. 2'*  The  present 
fa?ade  of  the  White  House,  dating  from  about  1835, 
is  said  to  have  been  built  by  this  firm.^'  Holmlea,  a  short 
distance  north  of  Lauriston,  is  a  good  house  built  about 
1780,  with  a  central  round  headed  window  in  the  first 
floor  and  in  the  roof.^*  Mayfield,  a  red-brick  building 
in  Castle  Street,  is  said  to  date  from  1809."  Ongar 
House,  of  gault  brick,  and  The  Wilderness,  which  stand 
on  the  east  of  High  Street,  near  the  north  arm  of  the 
towm  rampart,  were  refronted  early  in  the  19th  cen- 
tury.^* Ongar  House  has  a  symmetrical  facade  with  five 
windows  in  each  of  the  upper  floors.  The  doorway  has 
simple  pilasters  but  no  porch.  The  windows  have  ex- 
ternal shutters.  A  third  story  was  added  to  the  house  in 
1952.^'  The  Wilderness  is  an  H-shaped  house  in  which 
there  have  been  many  alterations  at  various  times.  One 
important  building  erected  during  this  period  was  also 
demohshed  before  1840.  This  was  the  Assembly  and 
Card  Rooms,  built  in  or  soon  after  1786  on  ground  in 
High  Street,  previously  occupied  by  the  parish  pound, 
pillory,  and  cage.  The  Rooms  were  removed  about 
1 830.30 

Several  buildings  erected  after  1841  are  in  classical 
style.  The  most  striking  of  these  is  Greylands,  which 


adjoins  King  the  greengrocer  to  the  north.  It  was  built 
in  1843  by  J.  Gerry  to  the  design  of  T.  M.  Baynes." 
It  is  a  large  symmetrical  house  of  gault  brick  with  an 
imposing  porch  flanked  by  heavy  Doric  columns.'* 
The  wine  shop,  opposite  Greylands,  is  roughly  con- 
temporary and  is  also  of  gault  brick.  It  is  said  to  have 
formed  a  pair  with  a  building  which  once  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  present  London  Co-operative  grocery .'^  The 
old  grammar  school  (see  below.  Schools)  was  built  about 
1850.  The  present  facade  of  Roden  House  dates  from 
the  late  19th  century  (see  below.  Schools). 

The  police  station  (see  below.  Public  Services)  was 
the  first  large  building  in  the  town  to  depart  from  the 
classical  style.  Contemporary  with  it  is  the  original 
portion  of  the  Ongar  Primary  School  (see  below. 
Schools).  The  railway  station  came  slightly  later,  the 
Budworth  Hall,  High  Street,  was  built  in  1886  and 
the  offices  of  the  Ongar  R.D.C.  in  1896.3*  In  1896-7 
High  Street  was  made  more  accessible  to  traffic  by  the 
removal  of  the  old  Town  Hall.ss  This  had  stood 
detached  in  the  street  at  the  point  where  it  now  widens, 
to  the  north  of  the  church. 3* 

Several  of  the  smaller  buildings  erected  about  the 
middle  of  the  19th  century  were  possibly  the  work  of 
Edward  Sammes,  who  was  described  as  a  builder  in  a 
directory  of  1840.3'  In  1837  he  owned  two  houses  in 
the  town. 38  By  1848  he  owned  some  20  houses  and 
cottages. 3'  Sammes  Cottages,  near  the  gasworks,  were 
named  after  him.  He  was  a  grocer  and  general  broker 
as  well  as  a  builder.*" 

Apart  from  those  named  above  few  buildings  in 
Ongar  were  erected  between  1875  and  1914.  There 
are  some  houses  in  Castle  Street  dating  from  this  period, 
a  small  terrace  to  the  south  of  the  railway  station,  and 
also  a  few  houses  at  the  south  end  of  the  High  Street, 
and  in  Bushy  Lees.*'  The  building  at  the  north  end  of 
High  Street,  which  is  now  Great  Stoney  Boai  .ing 
Secondary  School,  was  erected  in  1903.**  It  was 
originally  a  children's  home  of  the  Hackney  poor  law 
union.  In  193 1  there  were  206  dwelling  houses  in  the 
parish.*' 

Medieval  taxation  assessments,  printed  below  (pp. 
300  f.)  suggest  that  Chipping  Ongar  was  then  much 
more  densely  populated  than  any  other  place  in  the 
hundred,  although  its  total  population  was  not  the 
greatest.  Some  idea  of  the  population  can  be  gathered 
from  the  fact  that  there  were  108  poll  taxpayers  in 
1377.  In  1801  the  population  was  595,  and  by  1841 
had  risen  to  870.**  After  some  fluctuations  it  was  967 


■5  E.R.O.,  e/RTh  5. 

"  Vestry  Bk.  1743-75,  at  the  rectory. 

"  J.  Chapman  and  P.  Andre,  Map  of 
Essex,  ijyj.,  sheet  xvii.  For  a  drawing  of 
the  town  from  the  west,  dated  July  1766, 
«ee  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Chipping  Ongar. 

'8  See  below.  Church. 

'«  E.R.O.,  T/P  96,  Ongar  W.E.A. 
Survey,  1951. 

***  See  below,  Protestant  Nonconformity. 

"  R.  I.  Porter,  A  Few  Notes  on  the 
To-wn  and  Parish  of  Chipping  Ongar 
(Ongar,  1877),  24..  The  letter  was  written 
from  what  is  now  Shelley  House,  but 
which  was  then  called  Bowes  House.  The 
present  Bowes  House  took  over  the  name 
early  in  the  19th  cent.  Shelley  House  is 
in  the  parish  of  Shelley,  q.v. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  262.  For  a  print  of 
Ongar  looking  north  across  Ongar  Bridge 
in  1832  see  T.Wright,  Hist.  Essex, \\,  328. 

*3  For  the  increase  in  rateable  values  see 
below.    Parish    Government    and    Poor 


Relief. 

2*  E.R.O.,  T/P  96.  Some  of  the  build- 
ing was  carried  out  in  local  brick — perhaps 
from  the  brickworks  on  the  Greenstead 
Road.  "  Ibid. 

26  N.  Lloyd,  History  of  the  English 
House,  pp.  286,  303,  gives  illustrations  of 
Holmlea,  which  he  refers  to  as  the  White 
House. 

"  E.R.O.,  T/P  96.  28  Ibid. 

29  Personal  observation. 

3»  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
23.  For  the  site  see  below.  Parish  Govern- 
ment and  Poor  Relief. 

"  E.R.O.,  T/P  96. 

"  In  1897  Diamond  Jubilee  celebra- 
tions were  held  outside  Greylands ;  see 
photographs,  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Chipping 
Ongar.  s'  E.R.O.,  T/P  96. 

M  Ibid.  The  Budworth  Hall  was  built 
by  FothergiU  Watson  of  Nottingham :  inf. 
from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

3'  Essex   Almanack,    1906,    225.     The 


deeds  of  the  Town  Hall  were  bought  for 
^250  in  Dec.  1896  by  Thomas  Cowee, 
who  undertook  to  pull  the  building  down 
by  25  Mar.  1897.  There  is  some  iron- 
work from  the  Town  Hall  at  the  back  of 
Snelling's  ironmonger's  shop  in  Chipping 
Ongar:  inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

36  E.R.O.,  D/CT  262.  And  see  below. 
Occupations.  For  a  good  print  of  the 
Town  Hall,  18 18,  by  I.  Hassall,  see 
E.R.O.,  Prints,  Chipping  Ongar.  It  was 
a  two  story  building,  the  ground  floor 
being  open  at  the  end.  For  a  photograph  of 
it  taken  shortly  before  its  demolition  see 
plate  facing  p.  156. 

3'  See  below,  Occupations. 

38  E.R.O.,  D/P  124/23/1. 

39  E.R.O.,  D/P  124/23/2. 

♦»  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

♦'  Inf.  from  County  Planning  Dept. 

♦2  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchingf. 

*3  Census,  193 1. 

♦♦  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 


156 


Former  Steam  Mill,  Navestock 


Town  Hall,  Chipping  Ongar 
Demolished  1896-7;  photograph  of  c.  1890 


Castle  House  and  the  Moat  of  Onoar  Castle  in  1832 


Greenstead  Hall  in  the  late  i8th  century 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


I 


in  1901.  An  increase  to  1,362  in  191 1  was  largely 
accounted  for  by  the  arrival  of  the  children  at  the 
Hackney  home.  Population  has  decreased  steadily 
since  191 1.  One  cause  of  this  was  the  decline  and 
closing  of  the  grammar  school.  In  195 1  the  population 
of  the  parish  was  925.*'  In  the  suburbs  of  Ongar,  just 
beyond  the  parish  boundaries,  there  has,  however,  been 
a  considerable  growth  of  population  through  the  recent 
building  on  the  Greenstead  and  Shelley  estates  and  at 
Marden  Ash.  An  attendance  of  over  300  pupils  at  the 
Ongar  primary  school  in  1952  gives  an  indication  of  the 
population  of  the  town  and  its  suburbs  (see  below, 
Schools). 

The  roads  leading  out  of  Chipping  Ongar  to  the 
south,  east,  and  west  all  pass  over  bridges  on  or  near 
the  parish  boundary.  Ongar  Bridge  is  entirely  in  the 
parish.  Ackingford  Bridge  is  common  to  Chipping 
Ongar  and  Bobbingworth  and  is  treated  here.  High 
Ongar  Bridge,  although  it  spans  the  boundary  between 
the  two  Ongars,  has  usually  been  considered  as  falling 
wholly  in  the  parish  from  which  it  takes  its  name,  and 
is  treated  under  High  Ongar  (q.v.). 

Ongar  Bridge,  on  the  most  direct  road  to  London, 
must  have  been  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  town. 
Sir  Peter  Siggiswyk,  whose  will  was  proved  in  1503, 
left  10/.  to  be  spent  on  the  upkeep  of  the  bridge.**  In 
1574  it  was  stated  at  Quarter  Sessions  that  the  bridge 
was  in  decay  and  that  responsibility  for  it  was  un- 
known.*'  This  presentment  was  later  repeated.**  In 
1 58 1  Quarter  Sessions  ordered  that  the  county  should 
assume  responsibility.*'  This  decision  had  apparently 
been  forgotten  by  1626  when  the  bridge  was  once 
more  in  need  of  repair.so  It  still  needed  repair  in  1628, 
and  the  sessions  ordered  a  county  rate  to  be  levied  for 
this  purpose."  Soon  after  this  the  hundred  jury  com- 
plained that  although  the  rate  had  been  collected  the 
repairs  had  still  not  been  carried  out.'^  The  bridge  was 
again  presented  for  disrepair  in  1 641,  and  by  order  of 
the  sessions  a  'lean-to  or  rail'  was  set  up  on  it. 53  Repairs 
were  again  ordered  in  1657.5*  The  next  reference  to 
the  bridge  in  the  sessions  rolls  is  in  1660,  when  it  was 
stated  that  the  wharf  was  decayed  and  should  be 
repaired  by  the  county. 5s  In  1677  the  bridge  was  in 
a  dangerous  condition. 5*  The  sessions  ordered  Richard 
Luther  and  Thomas  Alexander  to  employ  workmen  to 
repair  it  without  prejudice  to  the  county  if  it  should 
later  be  found  that  the  parish  was  responsible.57  After 
this  time  Ongar  Bridge  seems  to  have  been  accepted 
without  dispute  as  a  county  bridge.  The  county  paid 
;^85  for  its  repair  in  1697  and  ;^i66  in  1715.58  In 
1857  the  county  surveyor  described  the  bridge  as 
having  three  unequal  arches  finished  with  a  brick 
parapet,  the  walls  being  coped  with  stone.5'  It  has 
not  been  radically  altered  since.*" 


Ackingford  Bridge  was  in  need  of  repair  in  1573, 
and  responsibility  for  it  uncertain.*'  The  hundred 
jury  stated  in  1604  that  it  should  be  repaired  by  the 
county*^  but  in  161 5  they  said  that  Bobbingworth 
ought  to  mend  their  side  of  it*^  and  in  1620  Bobbing- 
worth and  Chipping  Ongar  were  held  jointly  respon- 
sible.** In  1 62 1  the  county  was  said  to  be  responsible*' 
and  from  this  time  the  bridge  always  seems  to  have  been 
regarded  as  a  county  bridge.  By  the  end  of  the  1 8th 
century  the  road  which  crossed  it  had  been  turnpiked 
and  was  probably  carrying  much  traffic.  This  was  no 
doubt  the  reason  for  the  building  of  a  new  bridge  in 
1 806.  The  plan  of  this  bridge,  drawn  by  the  architect, 
John  Johnson,  still  exists.**  The  bridge  was  completed 
by  January  1807.*^ 

The  county  surveyor,  who  visited  Ackingford 
Bridge  in  September  1857,  described  it  as  being  built 
of  oak  resting  on  piles  with  brick  abutments.  It  was 
precisely  similar  to  Leaden  Wash  Bridge  (in  Leaden 
Roding).**  It  was  then  in  good  repair,  but  by  1862  the 
ends  of  the  main  girders  had  begun  to  decay.*"  Be- 
tween 1867  and  1875  many  big  repairs  were  carried 
out.'"  The  bridge  was  rebuilt  in  191 3,  in  con- 
crete.'" 

In  1659  the  inhabitants  of  Chipping  Ongar  were 
presented  at  Quarter  Sessions  for  their  failure  to  repair 
the  foot-bridge  called  Bantons,  which  spanned  Cripsey 
Brook  on  the  way  to  Greenstead.'^ 

In  1637  a  carrier  from  Chipping  Ongar  made  a 
weekly  journey  to  London,  stopping  on  Wednesday  at 
the  'Crown'  without  Aldgate.73  In  1686  Ongar  was 
evidently  a  fairly  important  staging  place  for  travellers: 
according  to  a  survey  of  that  year  there  was  accommoda- 
tion in  the  town  for  71  lodgers  and  104  horses.'*  These 
figures  were  larger  in  both  cases  than  those  for  Braintree, 
Harwich,  Maldon,  Witham,  and  Coggeshall;  for 
lodgers  Ongar  had  more  accommodation  than  Billericay, 
Dunmow,  Kelvedon,  and  Saffron  Walden,  and  for 
horses  there  was  more  stabling  than  at  Rayleigh. 

In  1 79 1  a  coach  left  the  'Three  Nuns',  Whitechapel, 
for  Ongar  every  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Saturday,'' 
and  a  carrier's  wagon  left  from  the  same  place  every 
Tuesday  and  Friday.  Another  wagon  for  Ongar 
started  from  the  'Saracen's  Head',  Aldgate,  on  Tuesday 
and  Friday.'*  In  18 17  coaches  plied  daily  to  Ongar 
from  the  'Three  Nuns'  and  from  the  'Bull',  Aldgate." 
There  were  wagons  from  the  'Three  Nuns'  on  Tuesday 
and  Friday  and  from  the  'Swan',  Whitechapel,  on- 
Wednesday  and  Saturday.'* 

In  1826-7  ^  coach  left  the  Crown  Inn,  Ongar, 
every  weekday  and  returned  from  the  'Bull',  Aldgate, 
the  same  day."  There  were  two  carriers  to  London, 
Stephen  Clements  who  left  on  Tuesday  and  Friday,  and 
Thomas  Nichols  who  left  on  Monday  and  Thursday. 


**  Census^  195'- 

««  E.A.T.K.s.xx\,  256. 

«'  E.R.O.,  e/SR  49/37-2. 

*8  Ibid.   5+/28,   57/77,   58/50,  74/37, 

75/33-  •">  Ibid.  78W6.  7- 

'»  Ibid.  253/56. 

"  Ibid.  261/31,  263/18. 

"  Ibid.  263/18,  266/33. 

"  E.R.O.,2/CP3,p.  128,130. 

»*  Ibid.  p.  188. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  385/27. 

5«  Ibid.  435/3,. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/CP  3,  p.  352. 

*'  Ibid.  pp.  577,  649. 

S9  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

**  The  condition  of  the  bridge,  1857-90, 
can   be  traced   in   the  surveyor's   annual 


reports :  ibid. 

<"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  44/34.  Ackingford  is 
an  Old  English  name  of  early  origin.  The 
first  written  reference  to  it  is  in  1 248 : 
P.N.  Essex,  53. 

62  Ibid.  166/143.  "  Ibid.  209/55. 

*♦  Ibid.  231/25.  '5  Ibid.  232/27. 

"  E.R.O.,  2/ABb  4.  For  the  career  of 
John  Johnson  (1732-18 14)  see  Jack 
Simmons,  'Notes  on  a  Leicester  Archi- 
tect :  John  Johnson',  Trans.  Leics.  Arch. 
Soc.  XXV,  144.  Johnson  became  Essex 
County  Surveyor  in  1782.  The  article 
refers  to  Ackingford  Bridge  (p.  148, 
n.  24). 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SO  19,  p.  602. 

"  E.R.O.,  C/ABz  3. 


'9  Ibid.  70  Ibid. 

"  Personal  observation.  The  bridge 
bears  the  date  of  rebuilding. 

'2  E.R.O.,  <2/SR  378/21;  i.e.  Bansons 
bridge.  '3  E.R.  vii,  30.' 

'♦  Ibid,  liii,  II.  The  survey  is  among  the 
War  Office  Records  in  the  Public  Record 
Office. 

'5  Universal  Brit,  Dir.  1791,  vol.  i, 
pp.  508,  540.  The  details  are  somewhat 
doubtful  because  the  directory  is  in- 
consistent. '6  Ibid. 

"  yohnslone's  London  Commercial  Dir. 
1 8 17,  pt.  iv,  p.  29 

'8  Ibid. 

"  Pigot't  Commercial  Dir.  (1826-7), 
526. 


157 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Their  terminus  was  the  'Three  Nuns',  and  they 
returned  on  the  following  days.*"  In  1833  the  coaches 
belonging  to  A.  Nelson  &  Co.,  left  the  'Bull'  twice  a 
day  for  Ongar,  with  accommodation  for  6  passengers 
inside  and  12  outside. *■  Carriers'  wagons  also  ran 
daily  from  the  'Bull'.*^  In  1848  there  was  a  daily 
coach  to  London  from  the  'Lion'  at  Ongar.  ^3  There 
were  also  coaches  to  Brentwood  railway  station,  leaving 
the  house  of  John  West,  coach  proprietor,  twice  daily.^ 
Stephen  Clements's  wagons  still  left  for  London  on 
Tuesday  and  Friday.  *'  The  wagons  of  Samuel  Drake 
and  Henry  Wood  left  for  Chelmsford  on  Monday, 
Wednesday,  and  Friday.**  In  1863,  shortly  before 
the  railway  reached  Ongar,  there  were  still  one  daily 
coach  to  London  and  two  to  Brentwood  station. *7 
There  was  also  a  mail  cart  to  Romford.**  Clements 
operated  the  same  wagon  service  to  London,  and 
Samuel  Drake  to  Chelmsford.*'  John  White's  wagon 
went  daily  to  Brentwood.'" 

The  railway  service  between  Ongar  and  London 
was  opened  in  1865."  Bus  services  have  been  operated 
since  the  igao's.  In  1922  there  were  daily  services  to 
Bishop's  Stortford  and  Brentwood.'^  Now  (1953) 
there  are  good  services  to  Epping,  Brentwood,  Rom- 
ford and  Chelmsford  and  others  to  the  Rodings  and  to 
Harlow. 

The  earliest  reference  in  the  post-ofEce  records  to  a 
postal  service  in  Chipping  Ongar  is  in  1717.  In  that 
year  the  name  of  Joseph  King  of  Ongar  occurs  in  a 
general  list  of  sub-postmasters;  he  had  a  yearly  salary 
of  j^2  5.'3  His  successor  in  1727  was  Lionel  King,  who 
was  still  serving  in  1756,  with  the  same  salary.'"*  He 
was  followed  by  Mrs.  Eliza  Bancilhon,  at  first  with  a 
salary  of  j{^2  5,''  later  of  ^^i  I ,  with  riding  work  reckoned 
at  j(^2l.'*  This  last  payment  was  made  by  the  deputy- 
postmaster  to  the  district  surveyor,  and  it  indicates  that 
Ongar  was  already  the  centre  for  some  postal  service 
to  the  surrounding  villages.  There  are  similar  details 
for  the  Epping  post-office  and  it  is  clear  that  a  by-post 
served  Epping  and  Ongar  at  least  from  the  early  i8th 
century. 

A  directory  of  1791  includes  this  service,  the  post 
leaving  Epping  every  day  save  Monday,  with  a  return 
service  from  Ongar  every  day  except  Saturday;  Mrs. 
Bancilhon  was  still  postmistress,  with  Thomas  Hendry, 
victualler,  of  the  'White  Hart',  as  'Post  Office  Keeper'.'^ 
Ongar  is  also  included  in  a  list  of  the  chief  post  and 
sub-post  towns  given  in  Cary's  Atlas  of  1793,  with  a 
note  that  letters  leaving  London  at  3  p.m.  reached 
Ongar  at  10  a.m.  the  next  day,  the  cost  of  a  letter  being 
4^.'*  The  rate  was  raised  to  kd.  in  1 8 1 5 ." 

This  by-post  between  Epping  and  Ongar  is  traced 
as  a  daily  horse-ride  in  a  post-office  map  of  1 8 1 3.'  The 


ride  from  Epping  loops  south  as  far  as  Abridge  and  goes 
on  through  Stanford  Rivers. 

In  1 8 10  James  Merrington  resigned  and  James 
Scruby  was  made  deputy-postmaster  at  Ongar.^  Miss 
Maria  Scruby  was  appointed  six  years  later'  and  still 
held  the  office  in  1 845,  when  it  was  described  as  a  post- 
office  issuing  money  orders.*  William  Scruby  was  sub- 
postmaster  at  least  between  185 1  and  i886.5  Later 
holders  of  the  office  can  be  traced  in  the  county 
directories. 

In  the  mid- 1 9th  century  there  were  some  changes. 
In  1847  application  was  made  to  the  Postmaster 
General  both  by  Epping  and  Ongar  for  a  daily  mail, 
which  was  set  up  later  in  the  year;*  and  in  1852  Ongar 
was  made  a  post  town.'  Moreover  in  addition  to  the 
old-established  by-post  between  Epping  and  Ongar, 
there  was  a  postal  service  between  Romford  and  Ongar, 
described  as  a  'ride'  in  1 849,*  and  as  a  mail-cart  service 
in  1857.'  In  iSf;  a  contract  was  also  made  for  an 
Ongar-Brentwood  day  mail  service.'"  After  this  time 
the  Ongar  post-office  developed  normally  in  line  with 
the  national  service.  The  present  post-office  is  in  the 
centre  of  the  town  on  the  west  side  of  the  High  Street. 
The  telegraph  was  in  use  at  Ongar  after  1872"  and  the 
telephone  from  1913.'^ 

In  1890  Ongar's  water  supply  was  being  obtained 
from  wells  20-30  ft.  deep. '3 
PUBLIC  SERVICES  Local  waterworks  were 
AND  SOCIAL  LIFE  established  in  1897.'*  In 
1879  the  Herts,  and  Essex 
Waterworks  Co.  had  been  empowered  to  supply 
Ongar  and  neighbouring  parishes  from  the  pipes  be- 
tween Epping  and  Sawbridgeworth"  and  in  1907  the 
Herts,  and  Essex  Co.  took  over  the  local  company.'* 
Some  form  of  main  drainage  was  already  in  existence 
at  Ongar  in  1827."  The  Ongar  Gas  Co.  began  to 
supply  the  town  in  1836.'*  In  191X  it  was  absorbed 
by  the  Bishop's  Stortford  Gas  Co.  and  in  1934  the 
Ongar  works  were  closed,  gas  being  supplied  by  a 
trunk  main  from  Epping."  The  gasworks  were 
situated  to  the  south  of  Ongar  Bridge,  and  were  at 
first  run  in  conjunction  with  the  neighbouring  brick- 
field.^" There  is  still  a  gasometer.  Ongar  was  included 
in  the  area  covered  by  the  County  of  London  Electricity 
Act,  1927,  and  electricity  was  first  supplied  in  1932.^' 

The  Royal  Exchange  Insurance  Co.  had  a  fire- 
engine  at  Ongar  in  1853.  It  was  kept  in  the  former 
parish  cage  at  the  south  entrance  to  the  town.  In  that 
year  the  parish  vestry  resolved  to  demolish  the  cage 
and  order  the  removal  of  the  engine.^^  In  1886  there 
was  a  town  fire-brigade  consisting  of  a  captain  and 
eight  men.23  The  former  engine  house  south  of  Ongar 
Bridge  was  demolished  in  1951.^ 


">  Pigot's  CommercialDir.  (1826-7),  5^6. 
^'  Rohon  5  London  Dir.  i833,pt.  i,  p.  14. 

82  Ibid.  pt.  iv,  p.  23. 

83  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

»*  Ibid.  85  Ibid.  86  Ibid. 

87  IVhile's  Dir.  Essex  (1863). 

88  Ibid.  89  Ibid.  «o  Ibid. 
"  A  time-table  of  services  from  Ongar 

to  Fenchurch  Street  in  Apr.  1865  was 
still  preserved  at  Ongar  in  1952:  inf.  from 
Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

«^  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1922). 

"  G.P.O.  General  Accounts,  vol.  iii, 
1711-20,  f.  322. 

'*  Ibid.  vols,  iv-vii,  1721—60,  passim; 
and  P.O.  Establishment  Books. 

»5  G.P.O.  Establishment  Books,  1760, 
1763,  lydg,  passim  (not  paged). 


»'  Ibid.  1782. 

"  Universal  Brit.  Dir.    1791,  vol.  iv, 
pp.  175-6. 

«8  J.    Gary,   Neiv   and  correct   English 
Atlas  .  .  .  1793. 

9«  P.M.G.    Minutes,    1815,    vol.    29, 
p.  II. 

■  G.P.O.  Map  entitled  'Mr.  Western's 
district',  Dec.  181 3.  A  copy  of  the  map 
is  at  the  E.R.O. 

2  P.M.G.    Minutes,    1810,    vol. 
pp.  256,  272,  351. 

3  Ibid.  1816,  vol.  29,  p.  175. 
*  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1845),  102. 
5  Ibid.  1851-86, />aJ«'w. 
'  P.M.G.    Minutes,    1847,    vol. 

pp.  232,  525. 

'  Ibid.  1852,  vol.  127,  p.  137. 


25. 


98, 


8  Ibid.  1849,  vol.  113,  p.  559. 

9  Ibid.  1857,  vol.  179,  p.  412. 
■"  Ibid.  1855,  vol.  160,  p.  107. 
"  Ibid.  1871,  vol.  92,  min.  272. 

'^  P.M.G.  Mins.  191 3,  min.  24879. 

'3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {i%c)d). 

'*  Essex  Almanac,  1906,  p.  226, 

'5  E.R.O.,  Q/RUm  2/258. 

'<*  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Water- 
works Co. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  124/8/3. 

'8  Inf.  from  Eastern  Gas  Bd. 

■9  Ibid.  ^»  See  Occupations. 

2'  Inf.  from  Eastern  Elec.  Bd. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  128/8/3. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 

«  For  a  photo,  of  it  see  E.R.O.,  T/P  96, 
W.E.A.  Survey,  Ongar,  1951. 


158 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


The  Ongar  Cottage  Hospital,  consisting  of  two  con- 
verted bungalows,  was  opened  in  1928.  It  had  30 
beds.^'  The  Ongar  and  District  War  Memorial 
Hospital  (in  the  parish  of  Shelley)  was  opened  in 
1932.^*  The  burial  grounds  attached  to  the  parish 
church  and  the  Congregational  church  were  closed  by 
government  order  in  1864"  and  in  1866  a  new 
cemetery  was  opened  in  the  north  of  the  town.^^ 

In  1843  the  committee  of  the  newly  formed  Essex 
Constabulary  rejected  an  application  for  a  lock-up  in 
Ongar.^'  Negotiations  were  reopened  in  1 847,  when 
Mr.  Budworth  offered  land  for  a  police-station.s"  By 
1854  building  was  proceeding  and  in  1855  there  was 
a  police  superintendent  at  Ongar,  Joseph  Catchpole.3' 

Before  the  i8th  century  the  social  life  of  Ongar  was 
probably  limited  to  the  parish  church,  the  court  house, 
the  shop,  and  the  inn.  From  about  1720  the  Congrega- 
tional church  was  drawing  nonconformists  from  the 
villages  as  well  as  the  town,  and  at  the  end  of  the  1 8th 
century  the  building  of  the  Assembly  Rooms  provided 
another  social  centre.  During  the  ministry  of  Isaac 
Taylor  at  the  Congregational  church  (181 1-29)  there 
is  said  to  have  been  an  improvement  in  the  relations 
between  dissenters  and  the  other  inhabitants  of  Ongar 
(see  Protestant  Nonconformity).  It  is  probable  that 
this  was  largely  due  to  the  personalities  of  Isaac  Taylor 
and  his  family  (see  also  Worthies). 

In  the  second  half  of  the  19th  century  the  local 
gentry  gave  a  strong  lead  in  the  social  life  of  the  town. 
Prominent  among  them  was  Capt.  P.  J.  Budworth  of 
Greenstead  Hall.  He  was  probably  responsible  for 
reviving  the  fair  and  was  active  in  most  local  affairs. 
The  Clerk  of  the  Peace  for  Essex,  Henry  Gibson, 
lived  at  the  White  House  and  in  1870  he  built  a 
lecture  hall  for  the  town.^^  In  1873  a  drill  hall  was 
built  by  subscription  for  the  ist  Volunteer  Battahon, 
Essex  Regiment;  it  was  also  used  for  meetings  and 
concerts.33  The  Budworth  Hall  was  built  in  1886  as 
a  memorial  to  Captain  Budworth.  It  contained  a  large 
assembly  room,  reading-rooms,  and  coffee  rooms.  A 
clock  tower  was  added  in  1887  and  a  museum  in 
1898.3't  By  this  time  also  the  Roman  Catholic  church 
had  been  built  and  the  grammar  school  had  greatly 
increased  in  size.  A  cricket  club  had  been  formed  in 
1845.35  A  Mechanics'  Institute  is  said  to  have  been 
founded  in  1848,  but  it  is  not  known  how  long  this 
lasted.36  In  1906  there  was  an  Ongar  Agricultural 
Association,  a  Constitutional  Association,  a  Horti- 
cultural   Society,    and    a    Reading    and    Recreation 


Society.37  A  branch  of  the  county  library  was  opened 
in  1930.38  Activities  at  the  Budworth  Hall  have 
declined,  but  Ongar  is  now  (1952)  well  provided  with 
societies,  including  the  Ongar  Social  and  Sports  Club 
with  its  own  ground.^'  There  is  no  cinema.  The 
coming  of  the  motor  bus  in  the  1920's  has  diminished 
the  importance  of  Ongar  as  a  local  shopping  centre, 
but  the  town  still  supplies  some  of  the  surrounding 
villages  with  certain  commodities,  particularly  food- 
stuffs.'*'^ Expansion  of  the  present  town  centre  would 
be  difficult  owing  to  lack  of  suitable  space.<' 

Thomas  Velley  (1748-1806),  botanist,  was  born  at 

Chipping     Ongar.*^       Isaac     Taylor 

fVORTHIES    (1759-1829)   is   mentioned   below.« 

His  son  Isaac  Taylor  (1787-1865), 

artist,  author,  and  inventor,  lived  with  his  father  at 

Ongar  before  moving  to  Stanford  Rivers.  Jane  Taylor 

(1783-1824)  and  her  sister  Ann,  later  Mrs.  Gilbert 

( 1 7  8  2— 1 866),  were  also  children  of  Isaac  Taylor.  They 

collaborated  in  several  books  for  children,  including 

Original  Poems  for  Infant  Minds  (1804)  and  Rhymes 

for  the  nursery  (1806).    Jane  also  wrote  'Twinkle, 

twinkle  little  star'.''*   John  Spriggs  Churchill  (1801— 

75),  medical  publisher,  was  born  at  Ongar."*'    David 

Livingstone  (1813—73)  is  mentioned  below.'** 

In  early  references  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish CHIPPING  ONGAR  from  High 
MANOR  Ongar  (q.v.).  By  the  will  of  Thurstan,  son 
of  Wine  (or  Lustwine),  1043-5,  'the  wood 
at  Ongar,  except  the  deer  enclosure  and  the  stud  which 
I  have  there',  were  left  to  the  servants  of  the  testator, 
and  to  Thurstan's  servant  Thurgot  was  left  J  hide 
'which  .^Ifstan  occupies  at  Ongar'.''^  Thurstan's  wife 
was  mentioned  in  the  will  as  .lEthelgyth;  she  appears 
in  Domesday  Book  as  'Ailid',  and  was  said  to  have  held 
Ongar  before  the  conquest  as  i  hide  and  as  i  manor .'** 
From  her  the  manor  seems  to  have  passed  to  Ingelric 
'the  priest';  for  in  1068  William  the  Conqueror  con- 
firmed the  gift  of  Ongar  by  Ingelric  to  the  house  of  St. 
Martin-le-Grand,  London.'*'  In  spite  of  the  gift,  how- 
ever, Ongar  was  held  in  1086  by  Ingelric's  successor 
Eustace,  Count  of  Boulogne. 5"  It  was  the  only  one  of 
.iEthelgyth's  Essex  estates  that  did  not  pass  to  Ralf 
Bainard.5'  Ralf  Bainard,  however,  held  J  hide  at 
Ongar  in  1086  which  had  previously  belonged  to  a 
freeman. 52   Possibly  this  freeman  had  been  Thurgot. 

It  was  suggested  by  J.  H.  Round  that  Ongar  castle, 
upon  its  mound,  was  thrown  up  by  Count  Eustace 
and  was  the  caput  of  the  count's  Essex  fief.53    From 


"  Inf.  from  Mr.  C.  H.  Hackney. 

"  Inf.  from  Councillor  Miss  Hadler. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  128/8/3. 

»8  Kelly's  Dir.  Eaex  (1886). 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/ACm  15,  p.  77.  For  the 
old  parish  cage  see  above,  p.  156,  and 
Parish  Government,  below. 

30  Ibid.  p.  123. 

'■  E.R.O.,  Q/ACm  16,  p.  8;  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (1855). 

32  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890). 

33  Ibid. 

3<  Ibid.  ri9o6). 

35  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings.  The 
original  printed  rules  still  exist. 

3'  Inf.  from  Mr.  Hutchings. 

37  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1906). 

3'  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

39  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

«>  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings  of  Ongar 
Secondary  School  recently  carried  out  an 
inquiry  among  200  children  at  the  school, 
drawn  from  35  places,  mainly  in  Ongar 


Rural  District,  concerning  the  use  made 
by  their  families  of  goods  and  services  pro- 
vided by  Chipping  Ongar.  The  answers 
to  his  questions  suggest  that  Chipping 
Ongar  provides  some  goods  and  services 
for  most  of  the  places  within  4  miles  of  it 
but  that  it  is  an  important  centre  only  for 
people  living  in  1 1  villages :  Bobbingworth, 
Fyfield,  Greenstead,  Kelvedon  Hatch, 
Moreton,  High  Ongar,  Norton  Heath, 
Shelley,  Stanford  Rivers,  Stapleford 
Tawney,  and  Toot  Hill.  Most  of  these 
places  are  within  2  miles  of  Chipping 
Ongar,  and  they  lie  mainly  to  the  north 
and  west  of  the  town.  For  villages  to  the 
south  and  east  Brentwood  is  no  doubt  the 
main  centre. 

*'  In  The  Greater  London  Plan  (1944), 
Professor  Patrick  Abercrombie  proposed 
that  Chipping  Ongar  should  be  the 
nucleus  of  a  new  town  of  60,000  inhabi- 
tants (see  pp.  169—71).  The  suggestion 
has  not  been  adopted.    It  involved  a  large 


area  surrounding  the  present  town  but 
did  not  provide  for  an  important  alteration 
of  the  old  town  centre. 

42  D.N.B. 

*3  See  Protestant  Nonconformity. 

44  For  the  Taylors  see  D.N.B.  also 
D.  M.  Armitage,  Tie  Taylors  of  Ongar, 
and  Isaac  Taylor,  Tit  Family  Pen. 

45  D.N.B. 

4^  See  Protestant  Nonconformity.  ' 

47  D.  Whitelock,  Anglo-Saxon  fVills,  82, 
84. 

48  f^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467a. 

49  E.H.R.  xi,  740. . 

5»  f^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467a. 

5'  For  other  lands  of  ^thelgyth  see 
f^.C.Il.  Essex,  i,  347;  D.  Whitelock, 
Anglo-Saxon  fVills,  190,  195. 

52  y^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  467.2. 

53  J.  H.  Round, 'The  Honour  of  Ongar', 
E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  142-52.  At  this  time 
Chipping  Ongar  was  apparently  a  'mem- 
ber' of  Stanford  (Rivers)  q.v. 


159 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Eustace  Chipping  Ongar  passed  as  part  of  the  honor  of 
Boulogne  to  his  daughter  Maud  and  her  husband  King 
Stephen. 5*  Between  December  1153  and  October 
1 1 54  the  manor  was  granted  by  William,  son  of  Maud 
and  Stephen,  to  Richard  de  Lucy,  later  the  justiciar 
of  Henry  II.  Ongar  castle  became  the  caput  of 
Richard's  honor  of  Ongar.  Henry  II  visited  the  castle 
in  the  spring  of  11 57  and  was  sought  out  there  by 
Richard's  brother  Walter  de  Lucy,  Abbot  of  Battle. ss 
In  1 1 58  Richard  de  Anesti  went  to  Ongar  castle  to 
deliver  a  writ  to  Richard  de  Lucy.s^  Between  1 1 5  5 
and  1 1 59  the  king  granted  de  Lucy  100  acres  of  assarts 
'in  the  forest  from  Stanford,  and  Greenstead  and 
Ongar'.57 

Richard  de  Lucy  retired  to  the  cloister  in  1 179,  and 
died  in  the  same  year.  His  son  and  heir  Geoffrey  had 
predeceased  him  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Geoffrey's 
elder  son  Richard. ss  Richard  the  younger  was  dead 
before  Michaelmas  1 182,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother  Herbert. s"  In  1 1 85  it  was  stated  that  Herbert 
and  his  lands  were  in  the  custody  of  his  uncle  Godfrey 
de  Lucy  (the  future  Bishop  of  Winchester). *°  Godfrey 
was  then  said  to  have  had  custody  for  four  years." 
Herbert  de  Lucy  was  dead  by  1 1 89,  when  Godfrey 
was  holding  the  ^^5  that  had  previously  been  his  in  the 
hundred  of  Ongar.*^ 

The  heirs  of  Herbert  de  Lucy  were  his  sisters.  The 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  however,  continued  to  hold  the 
honor  of  Ongar  until  1194,  when  it  was  given  to 
Geoffrey  de  Lascelles,  the  husband  of  Maud,  daughter 
of  Herbert  de  Lucy's  sister  Maud.*^  In  the  same  year 
Rose  of  Dover,  another  sister,  promised  the  king  ^700 
for  permission  to  marry  and  for  half  of  the  inheritance 
of  her  brother  and  grandfather.^  Geoffrey  de  Lascelles 
seems  to  have  retained  Ongar  until  1 204,  when  it  was 
granted  to  Geoffrey  FitzPeter,  the  justiciar.^s  FitzPeter 
farmed  Ongar  at  £9it,  a  year  until  Christmas  1209, 
when  Robert  Peverel  became  keeper.**  In  January 
1 2 14  he  was  credited  with  the  amount  he  had  spent 
on  wine  for  use  at  the  king's  household  at  Ongar  on 
the  Thursday  after  Christmas.*' 

In  1 2 14  Maud  de  Lucy,  widow  of  Geoffrey  de 
Lascelles,  was  married  to  Richard  de  Rivers,  a  veteran 
servant  of  the  king.**  In  121 5  Richard  was  granted 
permission  to  make  two  deer  leaps  in  his  great  park  of 
Ongar  'as  he  had  right  and  custom  to  do'.*'  In  1217- 
18  Richard  was  holding  Ongar  with  Maud  de  Lucy 
of  the  honor  of  Boulogne.'"  This  was  a  correct  state- 
ment of  the  overlordship.  The  honor  of  Ongar  built 
up  by  Richard  de  Lucy  comprised  fees  held  of  the 


honors  of  Boulogne,  Gloucester,  and  Mortain.  Some 
of  the  Gloucester  fees  lay  in  Essex,  and  one  of  them, 
Greenstead  (q.v.)  was  near  Ongar."  This  was  probably 
the  reason  for  later  incorrect  statements  that  the  manor 
of  Chipping  Ongar  was  held  of  the  honor  of 
Gloucester.'^ 

Richard  de  Rivers  died  in  122 1-2.  In  March  1222 
Richard  his  son  and  heir  by  Maud  de  Lucy  was 
granted  permission  to  hold  a  fair  at  Ongar  until  he 
came  of  age.'s  Maud  de  Lucy  herself  survived  until 
about  1243.  Her  heir  was  her  grandson  John,  son  of 
Richard,  who  was  aged  4  in  September  1243  {p^ 
1244).'*  Custody  of  Maud's  lands  was  granted  to 
Philip  Basset.'s 

John  de  Rivers  died  in  1294  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  younger  son  John.'*  The  younger  John  was  sum- 
moned to  Parliament  as  a  peer  and  is  thus  held  to  have 
become  Lord  Rivers  (of  Ongar)."  As  John  de  Rivers, 
lord  of  Ongar,  he  was  one  of  the  barons  who  sent  a 
letter  to  the  pope  in  February  1 301,  but  his  seal  is  not 
appended  to  the  letter.'*  In  1302  he  had  licence  to 
let  the  manor  of  Chipping  Ongar  to  farm  for  five  years 
to  John  de  Sandale,  a  royal  clerk,  the  castle  and  knights' 
fees  being  excluded."  In  1321  or  1322  John  de 
Rivers  claimed  the  reversion  of  the  manor  and  castle  of 
Ongar  which  he  had  leased  for  their  lives  to  Gilbert  de 
Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  and  Maud  his  wife.*"  The 
date  of  this  conveyance  is  not  known.  Presumably  it 
was  between  1302  and  the  death  of  the  Earl  of 
Gloucester  in  1314.  Ongar  was  one  of  the  places  in 
which  the  earl  had  fees  in  that  year,  and  which  were 
being  held  in  dower  by  his  widow,  who  died  in  1 320.*' 

John  de  Rivers  appears  to  have  been  in  the  rebellion 
of  1322.  He  probably  died  in  that  year,  but  whether 
he  held  Ongar  at  his  death  is  not  clear.  *2  Nor  is  it 
clear  whether  he  was  the  host  when  Edward  II  visited 
Ongar  castle  in  November  I32i.*3  Hugh  de  Audley, 
Earl  of  Gloucester  (d.  1347)  died  in  possession  of  the 
manor  of  Chipping  Ongar,  of  the  inheritance  of 
Margaret  of  Clare  his  wife.**  Margaret  had  died  in 
1342.*^  Their  daughter  and  heir  Margaret  was  the 
wife  of  Ralph  Stafford,  Baron  Stafford,  and  later  Earl 
of  Stafford.**  In  1348  the  king  granted  a  licence  for 
the  manor  of  Ongar  to  be  entailed  upon  Ralph  and 
Margaret  and  their  heirs.*'  This  settlement  was 
carried  out  in  1 35 1.**  Ralph  died  in  1372  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Hugh.*'  Hugh  died  in  1386, 
leaving  Chipping  Ongar  to  his  son  Thomas.'" 

From  this  time  Chipping  Ongar  descended  with  the 
other  possessions  of  the  earls  of  Stafford,  who  later  be- 


5<  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  142-52. 

*5  Ibid.  144.  The  grant  was  confirmed 
by  Henry  II  in  1155-9:  ibid.  145-6. 

5*  Ibid.  147.  This  was  in  connexion 
with  the  Anesti  lawsuit. 

57  'Notes  on  the  pedigree  of  Lucy  of 
Ongar',  E./i.T.  n.s.  xx,   102-6. 

5*  Ibid.;  Pipe  R.  1180  (Pipe  R.  Soc. 
xxix),  2. 

s»  Pipe  R.ii%z  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  xxxi),  98. 

*"  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  151.  Herbert  was  14 
years  old  in  1185.  "  Ibid. 

«»  Pipe  R.  1 1 89  (Rec.  Com.),  20. 

"  Pipe  R.  1 195  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  n.s.  vi), 
217;  E.A.T.  N.s.  XX,  102-6. 

'■•  Pipe  R.  1 194  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  v), 
250.  It  is  doubtful  whether  she  got  pos- 
session of  any  of  the  lands  at  this  time. 
See  S.  Painter,  The  Reign  of  King  John, yc,. 

'5  Pipe  R.  1204  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s. 
xviii),  24.  Geoffrey  de  Lascelles  had  been 
overieai  in  the  king's  service  in   1203: 


Complete  Peerage.,  xi,  1 2.  He  was  possibly 
killed  in  the  war. 

"  Pipe  R.  1 2 10  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  n.s.  xxvi), 
206. 

6'  Rot.  Litt.  Claus.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  1 59. 
This  was  clearly  for  the  entertainment  of 
the  king  himself,  for  John  was  at  Ongar 
on  30  and  31  Dec.  121 3. 

'8  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  12.  Richard 
gave  j^500  for  the  marriage. 

'»  Rot.  Lilt.  Claus.  i,  221A. 

">  Bk.  of  Fees,  241,  1433.  The  honor  of 
Boulogne  was  now  a  royal  escheat. 

"  E.A.T.  U.S.  vii,  148-9. 

"  See  e.g.  Cal.  In^.  p.m.  i,  p.  6;  ibid,  iv, 
p.  345.  About  1300  the  manorof  Chipping 
Ongar  was  granted  by  John  de  Rivers  to 
the  Earl  of  Gloucester  (see  below),  but  this 
did  not  affect  the  overlordship. 

"  Rot.  Litt.  Claus.  i,  490*. 

'<  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  12-13. 

'S  Ibid. 

160 


"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iii,  p.  109;  Ci 33/67  j 
Complete  Peerage,  xi,  13-14. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  14. 

"  The  Ancestor,  vii,  256. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1301-7,76. 

8°  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  14. 

8'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  v,  p.  349. 

8*  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  14;  Cal.  Fine  R. 

1 3 '9-^7.  54>  H3-4- 

83  Chrons.  Edw.  I  and  II  (Rolls  Ser.),  i, 
300.  John  de  Rivers  had  a  son  and  name- 
sake who  was  apparently  killed  at  Bannock- 
burn  :  ibid.  231.  There  was  some  con- 
fusion in  the  period  1300-22  between  the 
lands  of  father  and  son. 

8*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ix,  p.  56. 

85  Complete  Peerage,  v,  719. 

86  Complete  Peerage  (orig.  edn.),  vii,  209. 
8'  Cal.  Pat.  1348-50,  19. 

88  CP25(i)/287/44,  Trin.  25  Edw.  IIL 

8'  Complete  Peerage  (orig.  edn.),  vii,  210; 

Ci35/File230.  »»  Ci36/File  47. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


came  dukes  of  Buckingham."  Henry  Stafford,  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  suffered  execution  and  forfeiture  in 
1483.  Ongar  was  named  among  his  possessions  and 
was  granted  by  the  king  in  1484  to  Sir  Thomas 
Montgomery  for  life.'^  Edward  Stafford,  son  of  Henry, 
was  restored  to  the  dukedom  in  1485.  He  was 
executed  for  treason  in  I  521  and  his  possessions,  includ- 
ing Ongar,  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  king.'J 

In  1524  Chipping  Ongar  was  leased  for  21  years  to 
Thomas  Maple,  yeoman. '■•  In  1537  William  Morris, 
a  gentleman  usher  of  the  king's  chamber,  was  granted 
an  80  years'  lease  of  the  manor,  to  run  from  the 
expiration  of  Maple's  lease  in  1545."  In  1542,  how- 
ever, the  king  granted  the  manor  absolutely  to  George 
Harper,  who  a  month  later  transferred  his  interest  to 
Morris.'*  Morris  mortgaged  the  manor  in  the  same 
year  to  Eustace  Sulyard  for  ^400."  William  Morris 
died  in  1554,  leaving  James  Morris  as  his  son  and 
heir."  By  his  will  he  devised  to  his  wife  Anne  a  hfe 
interest  in  two-thirds  of  the  manor  of  Chipping 
Ongar."  James  Morris  is  said  to  have  erected  a 
pleasure  house  on  the  top  of  the  castle  mount."  A  visit 
to  the  'house  of  pleasure'  may  well  have  been  a  feature 
of  the  visit  of  Elizabeth  I  to  Anne  Morris  at  Chipping 
Ongar.^  In  1561  James  Morris  received  the  queen's 
licence  to  alienate  the  manor  to  Andrew  Hemerford 
and  Christopher  Crowe. s  This  was  evidently  for  the 
purpose  of  a  marriage  settlement,  for  in  1563  Hemer- 
ford and  Crowe  were  licensed  to  convey  Ongar  to 
James  Morris  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  and  the  heirs  of 
James's  body,  with  remainder  to  his  right  heirs.* 

James  Morris  died  in  1597.  Four  years  before 
Chipping  Ongar  had  been  settled  on  his  son  and  heir 
John  on  his  marriage  with  Katherine,  daughter  of  Sir 
Gabriel  Poyntz  of  North  Ockendon.s  Sir  Gabriel  had 
settled  the  manor  of  North  Ockendon  (q.v.)  and  other 
property  on  his  daughter  and  son-in-law  and  their  joint 
issue  and  this  explains  why  John  Morris  later  changed 
his  name  to  Poyntz.  John  Morris  alias  Poyntz  was 
knighted  and  died  in  161 8.*  His  son  and  heir  Sir 
James  Poyntz  died  in  1623.^  Sir  James  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Richard,  who  died  in  France  in  August 
1643.*  Sir  James's  brother  Poyntz  Poyntz  evidently 
succeeded  Richard,  but  died  in  December  of  the  same 
year.  According  to  the  inquisition  on  Poyntz  Poyntz 
the  next  heir  to  Chipping  Ongar  was  John  Morris,  son 
of  Edward  Morris  brother  of  Sir  John  Morris  alias 
Poyntz.' 

The  next  step  in  the  manorial  descent  is  not  entirely 


clear.  In  1647  John  Morris  son  of  Edward  was 
arraigned  before  the  House  of  Lords  on  charges  of 
forging  various  evidences,  including  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment, to  secure  his  title  to  Chipping  Ongar,  North 
Ockendon,  and  other  manors.  The  petitioners  against 
him  were  Sir  Adam  Littleton,  Bt.,  and  Audrey  Littleton 
his  wife,  Maurice  Barrow,  and  Sir  Fulke  Greville.'" 
Audrey  was  daughter  of  Thomas  Poyntz,  son  of  Sir 
Gabriel."  There  seems  little  doubt  that  she  was  the 
heir  to  North  Ockendon  under  the  settlements  made 
by  Gabriel.  She  had  no  claim  to  Chipping  Ongar  but 
here  John  Morris's  title  was  apparently  disputed  by 
Barrow  and  Greville.  Barrow  is  said  to  have  married 
Sir  James  Poyntz's  widow  and  Sir  Fulke  Greville  to 
have  married  Anne,  sister  and  coheir  of  Richard 
Poyntz.'^  Elizabeth,  the  other  sister  and  coheir  was 
apparently  the  wife  of  William  Duncombe.'^  Ap- 
parently Elizabeth  and  Anne  made  good  their  claim  to 
Ongar,  for  in  1650  and  165 1  a  series  of  conveyances 
was  made  by  which  they  secured  the  manor  upon  Sir 
Thomas  Whitmore,  Bt.'*  Thomas  (d.  1653)  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  William,  the  2nd  baronet  (d.  i699).'5 
In  1663  William's  estate  at  Chipping  Ongar  was 
bringing  in  ^^426  10/.  a  year.'*  The  largest  tenant  was 
'Mr.  Goldsborough',  who  paid  a  rent  of  ;^ioi.'7 

It  must  have  been  in  1663  or  1664  that  Thomas 
Goldsborough,  no  doubt  the  tenant  mentioned  above, 
bought  the  manor  from  Sir  William  Whitmore.' * 
Goldsborough  was  dead  by  9  September  1664." 
Another  Thomas  Goldsborough  was  holding  the 
manor  of  Chipping  Ongar  in  17 1820  and  it  appears  to 
have  been  about  this  time  that  he  sold  it  to  Edward 
Alexander,  second  son  of  Nicholas  Alexander  of 
Marden  Ash  in  High  Ongar.^'  Edward  Alexander  in 
1 744  demolished  the  house  built  by  James  Morris  and 
built  in  its  place  'a  large  and  handsome  summer  house'.^^ 
He  died  in  1 7  5 1  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson 
Richard  Henry  Alexander  Bennet.^3 

Richard  H.  A.  Bennet  made  a  settlement  of  Chipping 
Ongar  in  1766  before  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Amelia,  daughter  of  Peter  Burrell  of  Beckenham 
(Kent).^  He  died  in  18 14  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  also  named  Richard  Henry  Alexander  Bennet.^s 
The  son  died  in  1 8  r  8,  and  Elizabeth  Amelia  his  mother 
in  1837.2*  Under  the  will  of  R.  H.  A.  Bennet  the 
father  (181 1),  remainder  was  to  his  daughters  Emilia 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Sir  John  Swinburne,  Bt.,  and 
Isabella  Julia,  wife  of  Sir  James  Willoughby  Gordon,. 
Bt.2'  By  means  of  a  private  Act  of  Parliament  (1838) 


»■  Complete    Peerage    (orig.    edn.),    vii, 
211-12;  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  388  f. 
«2  C145/330;  Cal.  Pat.  1476-85,  430. 
«  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  390;  Ei5o/File 
306,  no.  6. 

"  L.  &f  P.  Hen.  Vlll,  xii  (2),  p.  281. 
Maple  had  been  farmer  under  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham  as  early  as  1510— 1 1  :  E.R.O., 
D/DP  Ms88. 
»5  Ibid. 

««  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xvii,  p.  161. 
«'  CP40/iii4m.  8. 
«8  0142/100/32. 
«»  Ibid. 
'  Norden^t    Descrip.    of  Eiiex    (Camd. 
See.  1840),  23. 
»  E.R.  xxvi,  183. 
'  Cal.  Pat.  1560-3,  136. 
■*  Ibid.  552;  CP40/1211. 
5  0142/258/74;  CP25(2)/i36/i73i. 
'  C142/369/.48. 
'  C142/398/133. 
•  P.C.C.  Tear  Bks.  of  Probates,  1640-4, 

ES.  IV 


249 ;  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  Little- 
ton (cr.  1642). 

«  C142/622/4  &  10,  744/39,  745/65- 

■o  L.y.  Index  Vol.  to  i-x,  p.  386;  cf. 
C.  T.  Catty,  Mary  Davie!  and  the  Manor 
of  Ebury,  i,  89-96. 

"  L.y.  ix,  29  312-29  5<j.  For  a  17th 
cent.  MS.  pedigree  of  the  Poyntz  and 
Morris  families  see  E.R.O.,  D/DRu  F7. 

"  Morant,  £ssirjr,  i,  129. 

'3  Ibid.  It  is  suggested  by  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  450,  that  Anne  and  Elizabeth 
were  the  sisters  of  Sir  James  Poyntz.  For 
the  Poyntz  and  Duncombe  families  see 
also  Magdalen  Laver. 

'••  CP25(2)/55oi,  Hil.  1650,  Mich. 
1650,  Trin.  1651. 

>5  Complete  Baronetage,  Whitmore  (cr. 
1641). 

■<■  E.R.O.,  D/DAc  238. 

>7  There  were  1 3  other  tenants. 

>8  Morant,  Essex,  i,  129. 

"  Parish  Regs,  of  Ongar,  ed.  F.  A.  Crisp, 

161 


107. 

"  CP25(2)/ioi2  Hil.  4  Geo.  I.  He 
was  probably  the  grandson  of  the  Thomas 
Goldsborough  who  died  in  1664,  and 
another  Thomas  Goldsborough,  who  died 
at  Ongar  in  1703,  was  probably  his  father: 
Parish  Regs,  of  Ongar,  119. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  129. 

"  Ibid.  The  summer  house  is  well 
thown  in  a  drawing  of  Ongar  from  the 
west,  1766:  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Chipping 
Ongar.  Remains  of  the  summer  house 
appear  in  a  drawing  of  1821:  D.  M. 
Armitage,  Taylors  of  Ongar,  57. 

"  Edward  Alexander's  son  Bennet 
Alexander  had  taken  the  additional  sur- 
name of  Bennet  on  succeeding  to  the  pro- 
perty of  an  aunt:  Morant,  Essex,  i,  129. 

2t  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/736;  Burie's 
Peerage,  Gwydyr. 

25  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


and  subsequent  conveyances  between  the  interested 
parties  Chipping  Ongar  was  settled  upon  Charles 
Henry  Swinburne,  Captain  R.N.,  later  Admiral.^^  By 
this  time  most  of  the  manorial  rights  had  lapsed.  The 
manor  court  is  said  to  have  been  held  for  the  last  time 
in  1732.29  In  1835  one  who  had  been  resident  at 
Ongar  for  23  years  stated  that  he  had  never  heard  of 
any  quit  or  chief  rents  having  been  paid  to  the  lord  of 
the  manor  and  that  the  only  manorial  rights  exercised 
had  been  the  lease  of  the  fair  and  market  tolls  and  the 
appointment  of  the  gamekeeper  of  the  manor.^"  The 
fair  and  market  tolls  were  sold  in  1841  and  from  that 
date  if  not  before  the  manor  may  be  said  to  have  be- 
come extinct.3' 

Admiral  Swinburne  died  in  1877.32  His  widow 
Lady  Jane  Swinburne  continued  to  hold  the  estate  at 
Ongar  until  her  death  in  1896.33  After  her  death  it 
was  held  for  some  years  by  her  trustees.  None  of 
Admiral  Swinburne's  children  left  issue.  The  last  of 
them  to  survive  was  A.  C.  Swinburne  the  poet  (d. 
1909).  Ongar  castle  and  some  of  the  adjoining  land 
was  sold  by  the  Swinburne  trustees  in  191 8  to  Joseph 
Bennett.34  In  1934  Mr.  D.  A.  J.  Buxton  bought  the 
castle  from  the  executors  of  Mr.  Bennett.35 

No  part  of  the  castle  now  survives  except  the  earth- 
works. The  plan  consists  of  a  flat-topped  mount  with 
encircling  moat,  an  inner  bailey,  a  weaker  enclosure 
to  the  north  and  east,  and  the  town  enclosure  to  the 
west.3* 

The  mount  is  ;o  ft.  high  and  is  about  230  ft.  in 
diameter  at  the  base  and  70  ft.  at  the  top.  It  is  now 
occupied  by  fragments  of  flint  rubble  and  brick.  The 
mount  is  surrounded  by  a  symmetrical  moat  50  ft. 
wide  across  the  water.  There  is  no  trace  of  a  bridge  or 
causeway  across  the  moat.37  The  bean-shaped  inner 
bailey  is  defended  by  a  strong  inner  rampart  and  moat 
and  covers  about  2  acres.  The  moat  was  formerly 
linked  at  both  ends  with  that  of  the  mound,  and  is 
about  80  ft.  wide  from  crest  to  crest  and  26  ft.  deep 
from  the  top  of  the  rampart.  Parts  of  it  have  been 
destroyed  during  the  past  20  years. 3^  The  entrance 
from  the  town  enclosure  was  in  the  centre  of  the  west 
side  through  a  gap  in  the  rampart,  on  each  side  of  which 
is  a  fragment  of  flint  rubble  containing  what  may  be 
Roman  bricks.  The  masonry  does  not  appear  to  have 
extended  along  the  rampart,  which  was  probably  sur- 
mounted by  a  wooden  palisade.  The  outer  enclosure 
on  the  north  and  east  was  less  strongly  fortified  and  is 
indicated  by  two  ponds  and  a  ditch  of  slight  profile. 3' 

Two  existing  houses  appear  to  have  been,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  the  capital  mansion  of  the  estate.  The 
White  House  was  certainly  the  residence  of  Alexander 
Bennet  in  I738,*''  and  may  have  remained  so  after  he 
succeeded  to  the  manor.  In  the  late  19th  century 
Henry  Gibson,  Clerk  of  the  Peace  for  Essex,  lived 
there.'*'   The  house  is  a  timber-framed  structure  built 


originally  on  a  half-H  plan.  A  small  staircase  projection 
in  the  angle  between  the  central  block  and  the  north- 
east wing  has  been  enclosed  by  later  brick  additions 
and  the  plan  is  now  roughly  rectangular.  In  one  of  the 
attics  is  a  plastered  Tudor  fireplace  and  near  it  there 
was  formerly  a  beam  dated  i'^<)()A^  This  probably 
represents  the  date  at  which  the  house  was  built.  A 
first-floor  room  at  the  north-west  end  has  panelling  of 
about  1700.  During  the  first  half  of  the  i8th  century 
a  new  staircase  was  inserted,  most  of  the  principal 
rooms  were  panelled  and  the  roof  was  probably  rebuilt. 
The  present  front  wall  of  gault  brick  was  added  about 
1835  and  at  the  same  time  a  partition  wall  and  chimney 
were  built  across  the  former  central  hall.''3  There  are 
also  extensive  alterations  at  the  back  of  the  house. 

The  Castle  House  was  described  in  about  1835  as 
the  mansion  house  of  the  estate.'**  About  20  years 
earlier  it  had  been  the  residence  of  Isaac  Taylor, 
minister  of  the  Congregational  church.''^  The  present 
house  appears  to  be  the  central  part  of  a  considerably 
larger  structure  dating  in  the  main  from  the  1 6th 
century.  It  is  partly  timber-framed  and  partly  of  brick 
and  has  three  stories.  Prints  of  about  1830*'  show  the 
existing  three-gabled  block  flanked  on  either  side  by 
two-story  wings.  Behind  and  to  the  south-west  is  a 
larger  wing.  The  principal  windows  are  shown  with 
mullions  and  transoms.  At  this  period  the  lane  passed 
directly  in  front  of  the  building.  The  reconstruction 
of  the  house  took  place  about  1 840  and  most  of  the 
plaster  detail  in  the  Tudor  style  was  apphed  at  the 
same  time.  The  attics  retain  16th-century  cambered 
tie-beams  and  several  of  the  rooms  have  panelling  of 
this  date  or  a  little  later. 

As  is  shown  below  there  has  been  a  church  at 
Chipping  Ongar  since  about  iioo  if  not 
CHURCH  earlier.  In  about  1254  the  advowson 
belonged  to  the  lord  of  the  manor.*'  The 
institutions  of  rectors  have  been  recorded  from  1363 
and  show  that  the  advowson  continued  to  be  appurte- 
nant to  the  manor.**  William  Bourchier  presented  pro 
hac  vice  in  1409,  the  bishop  by  lapse  in  1441,  1487, 
and  1557  and  the  Crown  on  several  occasions  during  a 
minority.  When  the  parish  was  temporarily  united 
with  that  of  Greenstead  in  1 548  (see  below)  the 
advowson  of  the  new  combined  parish  was  vested  in 
Richard,  ist  Baron  Rich,  but  after  the  revocation  of 
the  Act  of  union  in  1554  the  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Chipping  Ongar  again  became  patron  of  the^living. 

In  1635  Maurice  Barrow  and  his  wife  presented  to 
the  living.*'  Barrow  presented  in  1658  and  1664.50 
Elizabeth  Goldsborough  presented  in  1670,  1673,  and 
1680. 5'  After  this  the  advowson  descended  with  the 
manor  estate  until  the  death  of  Lady  Swinburne.  In 
1905  the  Guild  of  All  Souls  acquired  the  advowson. s^ 

In  the  account  of  Robert  Peverel  for  the  farm  of 
Ongar  in  1 2 10  lox.  was  allowed  'to  the  mother  church 


.  »«  I  &  2  Vict.  C.23;  E.R.O.,  D/DC 
27/736. 

»»  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
9  n.  According  to  this  statement  the  rolls 
had  been  burnt  before  1805. 

30  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

3*  Burke'i  Peerage,  Swinburne. 

33  Ibid.;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895, 
1899). 

3*  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  A.  J.  Buxton. 

35  Ibid. 

3*  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  53-54.  The 
description  which  follows  is  based  on  this 
account. 


^'  In  c.  1820  'the  only  access  across  the 
moat  was  in  an  old  beer  cooler,  suffered  to 
float  there' :  D.  M.  Armitage,  Taylors  of 
Ongar,  57. 

3»  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  A.  J.  Buxton. 

3'  For  a  description  of  the  town  enclosure 
see  above,  p.  155. 

*»  E.R.  XXX,  184. 

♦'  See  above,  Public  Services  and  Social 
Life. 

♦*  The  position  of  this  has  been  marked 
by  a  former  owner  of  the  house. 

♦3  The  work  is  said  to  have  been  done  by 
Noble  of  Ongar. 

**  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  332.    See 

162 


plate  facing  p.  157. 

*5  D.  M.  Armitage,  Taylors  of  Ongar, 
57,  shows  a  drawing  of  the  house  in 
1821. 

*<>  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Chipping  Ongar. 

*'  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19. 

48  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  449—51. 

*'  Ibid.  451.  For  Barrow  see  above. 
Manor. 

so  Ibid.i^.^.T.  N.s.  vii,  57. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  451.  She  was 
probably  the  widow  of  Thomas  Golds- 
borough  (d.  1664). 

52  Inf.  from  the  Guild  of  All  Souls. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


of  Ongar  in  annual  rent  for  the  cemetery'. 53  In  1254 
the  rectory  was  valued  at  4  marks. S'*  Chipping  Ongar 
was  not  included  in  the  list  of  churches  of  Ongar 
deanery  in  the  Taxatio  of  129 1,  presumably  because 
the  rectory  was  worth  less  than  6  marks. 55  It  was  not 
even  included  in  the  list  of  smaller  livings  of  the  arch- 
deaconries of  Essex  and  Colchester. 5*  John  de  Welde 
of  Ongar,  by  his  will  proved  in  1337,  directed  that  his 
body  should  be  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Martin, 
Ongar.  He  bequeathed  ^5  to  cover  the  expenses  of 
his  funeral,  at  which  a  brown  'turthel'  cow  with  its 
calf  was  to  be  led  before  the  body  as  a  mortuary,  and 
he  also  left  a  cow  and  3  lb.  of  wax  to  maintain  a  candle 
burning  daily  at  Mass  in  the  church  before  the  altar  of 
St.  Mary  and  St.  Margaret. 5'  In  1340  the  taxable 
value  of  the  living  was  stated  to  be  £\o,  but  this  can 
hardly  have  been  correct. 58  In  1428  it  was  reported 
that  the  church  was  assessed  for  subsidy  on  a  tax  de 
novo  of  48^.59  The  taxable  value  was  thus  rather  less 
than  it  had  been  in  1254. 

In  1535  the  rectory  was  valued  at  C^.'"'  In  1548 
it  was  united  by  Act  of  Parliament  with  that  of  Green- 
stead  (q.v.)  but  the  union  was  ended  in  1554  by 
another  Act  which  asserted  that  the  Statute  of  1 548 
had  been  brought  about  by  the  'sinister  labour  and  pro- 
curement of  William  Morris'.*'  According  to  the  Act 
of  Union  the  church  of  Ongar  was  'dissolved'  and  that 
of  Greenstead  became  the  parish  church  of  the  joint 
parish.  The  site  of  the  church  and  the  churchyard  of 
Ongar  became  the  property  of  William  Morris,  pre- 
viously the  patron  of  Ongar.*^  This  last  provision  was 
no  doubt  responsible  for  the  charge  against  Morris. 
It  is  indeed  difficult  to  believe  that  any  worthy  motives 
lay  behind  the  Act  of  1 548 :  had  it  not  been  revoked  the 
inhabitants  of  Ongar  would  have  been  deprived  of 
their  own  church  and  compelled  to  journey  a  mile  or 
more  to  the  tiny  church  at  Greenstead.  The  Act  of 
1 5  54  was  opposed  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Ongar, 
evidently  those  with  a  vested  interest  in  the  site  of  the 
church  and  churchyard.  In  that  year  the  Privy  Council 
ordered  Sir  Henry  Tirell,  Anthony  Browne,  and 
William  Barneys  'to  call  before  them  the  inhabitants 
of  Ongar  and  the  widow  of  William  Morris  and 
examining  the  parties  that  without  authority  of  their 
own  heads  attempted  lately  to  pluck  down  the  church 
walls  there,  to  set  such  order  among  them  for  their 
good  quiet  and  stay  of  their  friends  doing  therein'.'^ 

During  the  Protectorate  the  minister  of  Chipping 
Ongar  received  an  augmentation  of  income  from  the 
Trustees  for  the  Maintenance  of  Ministers.**  The 
church  formed  part  of  the  Sixth  Presbyterian  Classis, 
called  the  Ongar  Classis,  formed  in  1648.^5  In  1661 
the  rectory  was  valued  at  ^^40.  Previous  estimates  in 
the  17th  century  had  been  ^18  in  1604  and  £50  in 
1650.** 

In  1723  the  living  was  augmented  by  the  addition 
of  the  present  rectory  house,  with  about  5  acres  of 
glebe  adjoining.  This  was  bought  for  ^£409,  of  which 

"  Pipe  R.  1210  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  n.s.  xxvi), 
206.  s«  Lunt,  yal.  of  Nortvich,  336. 

"  Cf.  Rose  Graham,  Eccl.  Studies,  298. 

"  Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  23. 

5'  Cat.  And.  D.  i,  A.  4.66. 

5»  Inq.  Non.  (Rec.  Com.),  316. 

5'  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 

<"'  Valor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

*"  I  Mary  c.  10  was  the  repealing  Act. 
The  Act  of  1 548  has  no  number.  Cf.  E.R, 
iv,  241  ;Z,.y.  i,  336*,  455a,  456A. 

"  Newcourt,  ;?f;>er/.  ii,  288. 

"  Acts  cfP.C.  1554-6,  34. 


'■t  E.R.  XXX,  173-Si  H.  Smith,  Eccl. 
Hist.  Essex,  202,  213. 

<"  Davids,  E-vang.  Nonconf.  in  Essex,  277. 

"  f'.y^.T.  N.s.  xxi,  78,  83. 

"  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
12. 

'8  Ibid. 

'»  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  55. 

'»  Ibid. 

"  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
12. 

'2  Ibid.  13.  "  Ibid.  14. 

"  E.R.O.,   D/CT   262;   R.   I.    Porter, 


j^i09  was  contributed  by  the  Revd.  Jacob  Houblon, 
Rector  of  Bobbingworth,  £100  by  Edward  Colston, 
and  ;{^200  by  Queen  Anne's  Bounty .*'  Before  its  pur- 
chase the  rectory  house  had  been  the  home  of  William 
Atwood  and  had  been  named  'Lovings'.*'  The  north 
wing  (now  the  kitchen,  scullery,  and  pantry)  had  been 
built  in  the  1 7th  century.*'  The  main  wing  was  added 
early  in  the  1 8th  century.'"  It  is  a  lath  and  plaster  build- 
ing of  two  stories  with  attics.  The  facade  is  symmetri- 
cal. The  front  door  has  pilasters  and  a  pediment  and 
there  are  two  windows  each  side  of  it.  The  former 
rectory  house  had  stood  near  the  church  on  the  north 
side."  In  1784,  by  a  faculty  dated  2  August,  the 
rector  was  empowered  to  take  down  the  old  house, 
with  the  stable  adjoining  it,  which  had  for  many  years 
been  let  as  two  'poor  ruinous  cottages'  at  50/.  a  year." 
A  terrier  of  18 10  describes  the  land  upon  which  the 
house  had  stood.  It  was  105  ft.  long  and  measured 
35  ft.  across  at  the  western  end,  25  ft.  at  the  eastern 
end  and  1 2  ft.  in  the  centre.  There  was  another  piece 
of  glebe  at  the  east  side  of  the  church,  running  down 
to  the  pond."  By  1841  both  these  pieces  of  land  had 
become  part  of  the  estate  of  Brook  Hurlock,  owner  of 
the  White  House.'*  The  Revd.  R.  I.  Porter,  who 
wrote  his  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar  in  1877,  could  find 
no  record  of  a  quid  pro  juo.''^  The  tithes  of  the  parish 
were  commuted  in  1841  for  ^^146.'* 

Richard  Vaughan  (1550  .'-1607)  successively  Bishop 
of  Bangor,  Chester,  and  London,  was  Rector  of  Chip- 
ping Ongar  1578-80."  John  Lorkin,  appointed 
minister  of  Chipping  Ongar  in  1659  or  1660,  was 
ejected  in  1662.'*  George  Alsop,  rector  from  1670  to 
1673,  seems  to  have  been  vigorously  orthodox,  for  in 
1670  he  was  appointed  by  the  bishop  to  read  divine 
service  at  the  Quaker  meeting  house  in  Gracechurch 
Street,  London." 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  MARTIN  consists  of  a 
nave,  chancel,  south  aisle,  north  vestry,  and  west  porch, 
with  a  western  bell-turret  surmounted  by  a  shingled 
spire,  and  a  gallery  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave. 8°  The 
chancel  and  nave  were  built  at  the  end  of  the  nth 
century.  The  walls  are  of  coursed  flint-rubble  with 
the  quoins  and  jambs  of  the  north  doorway  of  bricks, 
possibly  Roman,  and  some  courses  of  tiles  in  the  walls. 
In  the  chancel  there  are  two  original  round-headed 
windows,  .one  at  the  east  end  of  the  north  wall,  the 
other  opposite  to  it  on  the  south  wall.  Between  the 
windows  on  the  north  wall  is  a  round-headed  recess 
pierced  by  a  small  opening  or  hatch  with  external 
hinges  and  bolt-socket,  perhaps  originally  an  anchorite's 
cell.  Flanking  the  present  window  in  the  east  wall  of 
the  chancel  are  traces  of  four  single  light  lancet  windows 
showing  that  there  was  an  original  arrangement  of  six 
windows  in  two  tiers  under  a  higher  gable.  The  original 
doorway  on  the  south  of  the  chancel  is  now  blocked. 
On  the  north  wall  of  the  nave  there  is  one  original 
round-headed  window;  another,  to  the  west  of  the 
present  west  window  of  this  wall  is  now  blocked;  there 

op.  cit.  14. 

'5  Op.  cit.  14.  It  is  possible  that  thi» 
part  of  the  glebe  was  that  which  the  parish 
vestry  agreed  in  1795  to  accept  in  exchange 
for  another  piece  previously  occupied  by 
the  poorhouse  (see  Parish  Government 
and  Poor  Relief). 

"  E.R.O.,D/CT262iPorter,op.cit.  14. 

"  D.N.B. 

'8  E.A.T.-N.s.  xxi,  78,  83. 

'9  CaL.S.P.  Dom.  1670,  314.  He  was 
violently  opposed  and  had  to  escape. 

'"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  52. 


163 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


are  traces  of  a  third  original  window  near  the  east  end 
of  the  wall.  Between  the  third  and  fourth  windows 
(counting  from  the  east)  is  the  original  north  doorway, 
now  blocked.  On  the  west  wall  of  the  nave  there  is 
another  original  round-headed  window,  and  there  are 
traces  of  two  more.  The  western  window  on  the  south 
wall  of  the  chancel  dates  from  the  13th  century:  it  has 
three  grouped  and  graduated  lancet  lights.  About  the 
middle  of  the  14th  century  the  chancel  arch  was  re- 
built. The  splays  of  the  east  window  also  date  from  this 
century,  which  suggests  that  the  original  arrangement 
of  six  small  windows  was  then  first  replaced  by  a  large 
window.  The  roof  of  the  nave  probably  dates  from 
the  14th  century;  it  is  of  four  bays  with  king-post 
trusses.  In  the  i  5th  century  the  weather-boarded  bell- 
turret  and  spire  were  added.  Early  in  the  i6th  century 
the  present  western  window  was  built  in  the  north  wall 
of  the  chancel.  It  is  of  three  lights  of  brick  with  four- 
centred  heads.  It  may  have  replaced  an  earlier  window 
which  matched  the  opposite  window  on  the  south  wall 
of  the  chancel.  It  is  not  possible  to  trace  any  of  the 
effects  of  the  supposed  attempt  in  1554  to  pull  dowTi 
the  church  walls  (see  above).  It  does  not  seem  likely 
that  much  damage  was  then  done.  The  roof  of  the 
chancel  is  mainly  Jacobean.*'  In  1752-3  two  dormers 
were  added  on  each  side  of  the  nave  roof  in  order  to 
give  light  to  the  gallery.*^  An  engraving  published 
in  1796  shows  the  north  side  of  the  church.*^  There 
was  a  north  porch,  apparently  of  brick.  A  path  leading 
to  a  north  door  in  the  chancel  shows  that  the  door 
was  then  in  use.  At  the  east  end  of  the  north  wall 
of  the  nave  there  is  depicted  a  two-light  window 
approximately  in  the  position  of  the  present  east 
window.  Another  window  is  shown,  partly  obscured 
by  the  roof  of  the  porch.  This  was  apparently  in 
the  position  now  occupied  by  the  second  window 
from  the  east.  Although  little  can  be  seen  of  it  the 
window  appears  to  be  large  and  pointed.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  both  these  nave  windows  were  con- 
temporary with  the  13th-century  window  in  the 
chancel.  It  was  probably  soon  after  this  that  the  main 
entrance  was  moved  from  the  north  to  the  west  end  of 
the  nave,  for  in  May  18 14  the  parish  vestry,  which 
had  for  some  time  been  considering  plans  to  provide 
additional  seating  accommodation,  resolved  that  the 
north  door  should  be  closed  and  a  pew  placed  across 
the  entrance,  and  a  new  west  door  be  opened.**  In 
i860  the  church  was  restored  and  refitted  at  a  cost  of 
£'Joo,  defrayed  by  voluntary  contributions.*'  At  the 
same  time  a  stained-glass  window  by  Chater  &  Son, 
St.  Dunstan's  Hill,  London,  was  placed  on  the  north 
side  of  the  nave  in  memory  of  Richard  Noble,  at 
the  expense  of  his  family.**  In  the  following  year  the 
vestry  was  built.*'  In  1876  the  pavement  of  the 
chancel  in  front  of  the  altar  rails  was  relaid  with 
encaustic  tiles,  interspersed  with  white  marble,  at  the 
expense  of  the  Revd.T.  M.  R.  Barnard,  a  parishioner.** 
In  the  same  year  memorial  glass  was  inserted  in  the 
western  window  on  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  by 


Edward  Sammes  in  memory  of  his  wife.*'  In  1884 
the  south  aisle  was  built.  It  is  divided  from  the  nave 
by  an  arcade  of  four  arches.'"  The  Society  for  the 
Protection  of  Ancient  Buildings  opposed  the  altera- 
tions. Their  objections  were  answered  in  a  vigorous 
letter  by  the  architect,  C.  Rolfe."  This  correspondence 
shows  that  the  old  south  wall  of  the  church  contained 
two  'ancient'  windows  and  a  doorway  of  original 
Norman  work,  an  injured  14th-century  window  and  a 
piscina  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  nave. 

In  1908  a  stained  glass  window  was  placed  in  the 
west  end  of  the  aisle  in  memory  of  Lilla  Tanner.'* 
Miss  L.  W.  Tanner  (d.  1920)  left  her  residuary  estate 
in  trust,  the  income  to  be  paid  to  her  aunt  for  life,  and 
thereafter  towards  the  beautifying  of  the  parish  church. 
In  1935  the  capital  amounted  to  £■^,2^0  and  in  1950 
the  income  was  ;^i  I3.'3  In  1929  the  glass  in  the  east 
window  was  installed  in  Miss  Tanner's  memory.'* 

A  new  organ  was  installed  in  1896,  replacing  one 
that  had  been  in  use  since  1835.95  The  present  vestry 
was  built  in  1917.'* 

In  1284-5  John  the  clerk  of  Ongar  was  killed  by  the 
clapper  of  the  church  bell,  which  fell  upon  him  while 
he  was  ringing.  The  value  of  the  bell  and  clapper  as 
a  deodand  was  returned  as  8/.  2</."  The  church  now 
has  two  bells.  The  first  was  cast  in  1672  by  Anthony 
Bartlet,  the  second  in  1737  by  Richard  Phelps.'* 

There  is  a  paten  dated  1705,  and  a  cup  and  a  paten 
dated  1728.  All  these  are  of  silver  gilt  and  were  given 
by  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Richard  Turner  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  Goldsborough.  There  is  also  a  silver-gilt 
flagon,  dated  1729,  and  a  brass  almsdish  which  was  the 
gift  of  Miss  Groves."  The  parish  registers  survive 
from  1559.'  In  the  chancel  there  is  a  monument  to 
Nicolas  Alexander  (17 14)  and  floor  slabs  (i)  to  Robert 
Hill  (1648)  and  Anne  (King)  his  second  wife  (1668) 
and  Anne  Greatherd  his  daughter  (1683);  (2)  to  Jane, 
wife  of  Tobias  Pallavicine  and  daughter  of  (Sir)  Oliver 
Cromwell  of  Hinchingbrook,  Hunts.  (1637);  (3)  to 
Horatio  Pallavicine  (1648).  In  the  nave  are  floor  slabs 
to  (4)  John  King  (1657)  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  (1661) 
and  Joseph  King,  his  son  (1679).  The  later  monu- 
ments include  one  of  1776  by  Nollekens.  Among  the 
graves  in  the  churchyard  are  those  of  many  members  of 
the  Boodle  family,  including  that  of  Edward  Boodle 
(1722-72)  founder  of  Boodle's  the  club  in  St.  James's 
Street,  London.* 

Ralph  Jackson,  a  'serving  man'  of  Chipping  Ongar, 
was  burnt  at    the   stake    at 
PROTESTANT  Stratford  in  June  1556.^ 

NONCONFORMITY  John  Larkin,  or  Lorkin, 
who  became  minister  of 
Chipping  Ongar  in  1659  or  1660,  was  ejected  for  re- 
fusal to  conform  in  1662.*  No  nonconformist  con- 
venticle was  registered  under  the  second  Declaration  of 
Indulgence  (1672)  as  being  held  in  this  parish,  but  in 
1690—2  there  was  a  congregation  at  Chipping  Ongar 
that  was  said  to  consist  of  200  hearers,  'but  poor'.' 
Their  minister  was  a  Mr.  Tyro,  'a  worthy  man,  but 


"  The  date  1647  is  carved  on  one  of  the 
principals :  E.R.O.,  T/P96 :  Ongar  W.E.A. 
Survey  1951. 

82  Vestry  Bk.  1743-75,  at  the  rectory. 

"  Gems.  Mag.  Feb.  1796,  p.  113. 

8*  E.R.O.,  D/P  124/8/2.  Cf.  ff kite's 
Dir.  Essex  (1848),  431 :  'at  the  west  end 
a  new  porch  has  recently  been  erected'. 

"  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
10.  8«  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  «8  Ibid.  S"  Ibid. 


»»  E.A.T.  N.s.  xiv,  115. 

"  Letters  at  the  rectory,  Chipping 
Ongar. 

02  E.R.  xviii,  165. 

»3  Char.  Com.  Recs. 

»■•  E.R.  xxxviii,  151.  The  glass  was 
designed  by  Mr.  Leonard  Walker :  E.R.O., 
T/P  96:  Ongar  W.E.A.  Survey,  1951. 

95  E.R.  V,  67. 

96  E.R.O.,T/P  96:  Ongar  W.E.A.  Sur- 
vey, 1951. 

164 


97  E.A.T.  v.s.m,  188-9. 

98  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  IS°- 

99  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  139. 

'  Essex  Par.  Recs.  166.  Those  for 
1 559-1 750  have  been  published  by  F.  A. 
Crisp,  ParisA  Regs,  of  Ongar  (1886). 

^  N.  &  Q.  29  Apr.  1939,  301. 

3  T.  W.  Davids,  Evang.  Nonconf.  in 
Essex,  44-46. 

*  A.  L.  Gordon,  Freedom  After  Ejection^ 
322.  9  Ibid.  39. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


poor',  who  was  supported  by  subscriptions  of  £20  a 
year. 

In  1706  application  was  made  to  Quarter  Sessions 
to  license  the  house  of  Walter  Buchanan  in  Chipping 
Ongar  for  worship  by  Presbyterians.*  In  1707  a 
similar  application  was  made  in  respect  of  the  house  of 
Samuel  Clarke.'  The  minister  at  that  time  was 
Nathaniel  Lacy.*  In  17 16  the  congregation  was  said 
to  number  200  persons,  of  whom  8  had  votes  for  the 
county  and  4  were  described  as  'gentlemen'.'  Before 
17 1 8  John  Nettleton,  brother-in-law  of  Philip  Dodd- 
ridge, had  moved  from  Epping  to  Ongar  as  minister.'" 

The  first  Independent  church  was  built  about  1720 
on  the  site  behind  High  Street  where  the  present  church 
stands."  The  first  trust  deed  dates  from  1722,  when 
Simeon  Weaver  was  pastor. '^  The  property  was  held 
of  the  manor  of  Chipping  Ongar  by  copy  of  court 
roll.'3  In  addition  to  the  church  it  included  several 
cottages  fronting  on  the  High  Street.  Access  to  the 
church  was  provided  by  removing  the  ground  floor 
of  one  of  the  houses,  thus  forming  an  archway. 

In  1784  the  ch,urch  needed  considerable  repairs  and 
the  cottages  south  of  the  gateway  were  sold  to  a  Mr. 
Bingham  to  raise  money  for  this  purpose.'''  They  were 
subsequently  repurchased.''  In  1841  the  church 
trustees  held  three  cottages  and  a  garden  in  addition  to 
the  church  itself'* 

In  1811  Isaac  Taylor  (1759-1829)  came  to  Ongar 
from  Colchester  as  minister.  He  remained  there  until 
his  death.  From  Ongar  he  and  other  members  of  his 
family  issued  many  books  for  the  young.  For  this 
reason,  and  in  order  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
contemporary  literary  family,  the  Taylors  of  Norwich, 
Isaac  Taylor's  family  became  known  as  the  Taylors  of 
Ongar.'7  According  to  Burls  'during  the  last  years  of 
his  ministry  at  Ongar  Mr.  Taylor  saw,  not  merely  a 
gradual  increase  of  his  congregation  but  a  manifest 
decline  of  that  strong  immemorial  prejudice  in  the 
tovra  which  had  seemed  quite  to  preclude  the  hope  of 
winning  souls  to  the  gospel'.' *  John  Fordham  (1774- 
1835)  was  a  zealous  deacon  at  the  church  during  the 
later  years  of  Taylor's  ministry." 

In  1833  the  original  meeting-house  was  demolished 
and  the  present  church  built  in  its  place.^"  A  drawing 
of  the  meeting-house  was  executed  very  shortly  before 
its  demolition. 2'  It  shows  a  small  building  with  a 
classical  facade  of  three  bays,  having  attached  pilasters 
and  a  pediment.  The  foundation  stone  of  the  new 
church  was  laid  on  24  April  1833,  and  the  church  was 
opened  on  24  September.^^  The  total  cost  was  about 
^900.^3  Before  24  April  ^{^500  had  been  raised  and  a 
further  ;^73  was  contributed  in  the  collections  on  the 
opening  day.^'*  The  church  is  in  classical  style  with 
pilastered  windows  and  a  string-course  at  eaves  level 

"  D.N.B. 


'  E.R.O.,  Q/SBb35. 

'  Ibid.  38. 

•  T.  W.  Davids,  Evang.  Nonconf.  in 
Essex,  435.  This  Lacy  cannot,  however, 
have  been  a  former  Rector  of  Greenstead. 
The  rector  of  that  name  died  in  occupa- 
tion of  the  living  in  1700:  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  289. 

'  Davids,  op.  cit.  435. 

'0  Ibid. ;  D.N.B.  under  Doddridge. 

"  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
19- 

"  Ibid.;  T.  W.  Davids,  E-vang.  Nonconf. 
in  Essex,  4.35. 

"  Porter,  ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

■5  Ibid. 

■'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  262. 


*8  R,    Burls,   Essex   Congr.    Union,   94, 


For  an  amusing  description  of  an  old  man 
who  used  to  sit  at  the  top  of  the  pulpit 
steps  during  services  in  Isaac  Taylor's 
time  see  D.  M.  Armitage,  Tie  Taylors  of 
Ongar,  16. 

">  Burls,  op.  cit.  150-3. 

"  E.R.O.,  T/P  96. 

"  D.  M.  Armitage,  Tie  Taylors  of 
Ongar,  161.  From  the  inclusion  of  Isaac 
Taylor's  and  his  wife's  tombstone  the 
drawing  would  appear  to  have  been  made 
in  or  after  1830. 

"  E.R.O.,  T/P96. 

»  Ibid.  24  Ibid. 

25  R.  1.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
20. 


which  accentuates  the  effect  of  the  pediment.  It  is 
much  bigger  than  its  predecessor,  and  the  graves  of 
Isaac  Taylor  and  his  wife  and  their  daughter  Jane, 
previously  in  the  churchyard,  are  now  inside  the  church. 
The  minister  at  the  time  of  the  rebuilding  was  Isaac 
Tozer.^5  John  Fordham  was  active  in  helping  to  raise 
money  for  the  new  church.^* 

Richard  Cecil  was  pastor  from  about  1838  to  1847. 
While  at  Ongar  he  directed  a  small  training  school  for 
intending  missionaries.  Among  his  students,  in  1 8  3  8-9, 
was  David  Livingstone  (1813-73),  the  missionary  and 
explorer.^' 

In  1865  the  Sunday  school  was  built  behind  the 
church  by  Noble  of  Ongar  to  the  design  of  J.  C.  Gilbert 
of  Nottingham.^'  The  building  was  of  grey  brick  with 
red  brick  bands  and  dressings.  There  was  a  belfry  on 
the  entrance  porch  on  the  south  side.  The  Sunday 
school  was  damaged  by  fire  during  the  First  World  War 
and  partially  rebuilt  in  1920.^' 

During  the  19th  century  the  church  at  Ongar  had 
sent  out  two  offshoots:  to  Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.)  in 
1 8 19  and  Moreton  (q.v.)  in  1862.  In  1906  the  total 
membership  of  the  three  churches  was  112,  and  there 
were  also  1 3  9  Sunday  school  pupils  and  4  lay  preachers.'" 
In  1926  there  were  135  members,  155  Sunday  school 
pupils,  5  lay  preachers,  and  an  evangelist  who  assisted 
the  minister.31  In  195 1  the  church  at  Ongar  alone  had 
99  members  and  105  Sunday  school  pupils,  and  the 
pastor  was  the  Revd.  W.  H.  Walker.'^ 

The  oldest  church  book  starts  in  1796.  The  church 
book  for  181 1-67  contains  some  materials  for  the  early 
history  of  the  church.33 

In  October  1859  the  Revd.  Father  Kyne,  the  priest 
at  Brentwood,  wrote  to 
ROMJN  CATHOLICISM  the  Cardinal  at  West- 
minster: 'I  have  made  a 
beginning  at  Chipping  Ongar.  I  have  taken  in  the 
heart  of  the  town  a  house  and  premises  for  a  year.  Lord 
Petre  and  Miss  Tasker  undertaking  to  pay  the  rent  be- 
tween them,  and  even  to  purchase  the  property  for 
^^550  if  within  the  year  there  is  a  reasonable  prospect 
of  success.  .  .  .  There  are  not  many  Catholics  yet,  but 
the  Protestants  are  pretty  well  disposed.'^*  This  first 
venture  must  have  failed,  for  in  March  1861  Father 
Kyne  wrote  again  to  the  Cardinal:  'I  wish  there  could 
be  some  beginning  made  at  Chipping  Ongar.  Though 
it  contains  only  two  Catholic  families  at  present  still 
I  have  no  doubt  if  a  mission  were  once  started  it  would 
grow  into  something.  I  am  on  the  look  out  for  a  suitable 
house  there.  .  .  .''5 

It  was  apparently  not  until  1865  that  anything  per- 
manent was  achieved.  In  that  year  there  was  a  Mass- 
centre  at  Ongar  which  was  served  by  the  Revd.  Henry 
E.  Fox;  the  parish  was  placed  under  the  patronage  of 

2'  R.  Burls,  Essex  Congr.  Union,  153. 

"  D.N.B.  Livingstone. 

"  E.R.O.,  T/P  96.  J.  C.  Gilbert  was 
probably  a  relative  of  Ann  Gilbert, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Taylor.  The  architect 
made  no  charge  for  his  services. 

"  Ibid. 

5"  Congr.  Tear  Bk.  1906.  The  pastor 
then  was  the  Revd.  A.  Goodall. 

3"  Ibid.  1926.      - 

52  Ibid.  1951. 

33  Inf.  from  Revd.  W.  H.  Walker.  A 
full  list  of  records  has  been  prepared  for  the 
National  Register  of  Archives. 

3*  Westminster  Archives,  Letters  and 
Papers  of  Cardinal  Wiseman,  Box  for 
1859. 

35  Ibid.  Box  for  1861. 


165 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Our  Lady  and  St.  Joseph.'*  The  priest  was  evidently 
not  resident,  for  in  1 867  Ongar  was  being  served  from 
Barnet.3' 

In  1 869  there  was  Mass  only  on  alternate  Sundays, 
but  plans  for  a  church  were  already  far  advanced. s*  It 
was  opened  on  21  April  iSyo.^'  It  is  a  small  red-brick 
building  with  a  western  bell-turret,  and  it  stands  in  the 
garden  of  a  house  on  the  west  side  of  High  Street,  below 
Castle  Street.  The  house  is  occupied  by  the  priest. 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  resident  priest  in 
1870.*°  By  1874  the  priest  of  Ongar  was  also  serving 
a  new  Mass-centre  at  Dunmow.  He  was  living  at  this 
time  at  Bentley  Lodge,  near  Brentwood.*'  In  1888 
the  Ongar  priest  served  centres  at  Saffron  Walden, 
Epping,  and  Dunmow.  Ongar  itself  had  a  weekly 
Mass.'*^  There  was  no  resident  priest  between  1892 
and  1901.^3  The  Revd.  Thomas  Byles,  priest  from 
J905  to  1912,  was  drowned  in  the  Titanic.**  The 
Revd.  John  Ryland  became  priest  about  1916.'"  In 
1904-5  there  was  a  Roman  Catholic  orphanage  at 
Chipping  Ongar  known  as  St.  Joseph's  Home.**  It 
was  founded  by  a  Father  Schaefer  as  a  branch  of  the 
St.  Joseph's  Home  at  Bow,  London,  but  apparently 
did  not  last  for  long. 

In  the  nth  century  much  of  Chipping  Ongar  was 
woodland.  The  'wood  of  Ongar' 
AGRICULTURE  mentioned  in  1044  in  the  will  of 
Thurstan  has  been  mentioned 
above.*'  In  1086  the  manor  of  Ongar  contained  wood- 
land for  1,000  swine.**  There  were  then  36  pigs  on 
the  manor.  This  was  not  a  large  number,  but  it  is 
likely  that  pig  keeping  in  this  area  was  of  some  im- 
portance in  the  12th  century  and  later,  for  in  1 21 3 
Robert  Peverel,  farmer  of  Ongar,  was  ordered  to  supply 
the  king  with  138  sides  of  bacon  from  his  bailiwick.*' 
Peverel's  account  for  1209—10  shows  that  he  was  then 
keeper  of  Stanford  Rivers  as  well  as  Ongar. 5°  The  rents 
of  assize  of  the  manors  then  amounted  to  ^16  is.  dd. 
During  the  year  he  had  stocked  the  manors  with  20 
oxen  and  32  horses  at  a  cost  of  ^^24  \oi.  6d.  He  had 
also  bought  for  sowing  162  quarters  of  oats,  costing 
;^9  16/.  id.,  \\  quarters  of  barley  for  2S.  id.,  and  beans 
costing  2/.  6d. 

In  about  1 243  the  manor  of  Ongar  was  said  to  con- 
tain 374i  acres  of  (arable)  land,  of  which  200  acres 
were  worth  a  total  of  ^^5  a  year,  and  1 74^  acres  were 
worth  in  all  £2  \%s.  2</.  There  were  7  acres  of  pasture 
worth  IS.  and  28  acres  of  meadow,  of  which  18  were 
worth  30/.  a  year  and  10  were  worth  i  \s.  8i2'.5'  There 
were  rents  of  freemen  and  villeins  worth  ^^3  I  is.  ^d.^^ 
and  the  villeins  owed  a  total  of  1400 J  labour  services  a 
year,  worth  68/.  6d.^^  There  were  2  mills,  one  of  them 
driven  by  water,  worth  40;.  and  a  dovehouse  worth 
2/.5*  This  inquisition  had  been  made  on  the  death  of 


Maud  de  Lucy.  About  this  time,  in  1243,  the  king 
ordered  the  sheriff  to  buy  oxen  for  4  ploughs  to  till  the 
demesne  lands  formerly  held  by  Maud  in  Stanford  and 
Ongar.55 

In  1294  the  manor  contained  200  acres  of  arable, 
worth  £'^  a  year,  1 2  acres  meadow  worth  24/.,  a  park 
worth  20i.,  2  mills,  one  driven  by  wind  and  the  other 
by  water,  worth  ;^5,  and  pasture  worth  3^.5* 

In  1372  there  were  in  the  manor  140  acres  of  arable 
worth  23/.  \d.,  20  acres  of  meadow  worth  20s.,  30 
acres  of  poor  pasture  worth  loj^.,  and  'a  certain  pasture 
called  le  Park  containing  40  acres'  worth  I  mark. 
There  was  also  a  broken-down  windmill. s' 

In  1386  there  were  160  acres  of  arable  worth 
40/.  id.  a  year,  1 2  acres  of  meadow  worth  24J.,  and 
42  acres  of  pasture  worth  21/.  The  rents  of  assize  were 
worth  27/.  and  the  rents  of  3  capons  at  Christmas  were 
worth  6d.  in  all.s*  The  same  figures  were  given  in 
returns  made  in  1392  and  1395.59 

At  the  death  of  James  Morris  in  1597  the  manor 
included  a  water-mill,  a  parcel  of  land  called  Betts,  a 
tenement  of  about  30  acres  called  Tufftsfield,  situated 
in  'boro  field',  a  meadow  called  Rye  meade,  4  parcels 
of  meadow,  pasture,  and  moor  called  Le  Mores  in 
High  Ongar,  occupied  by  Henry  Barnard,  and  a  croft 
called  Parsons  acre.*"  A  mill  was  mentioned  in  161 8 
as  appurtenant  to  the  manor.*' 

In  the  17th  and  i8th  centuries  hop-growing  was 
carried  on  in  Ongar.  In  1639  there  was  a  dispute, 
heard  at  Quarter  Sessions,  concerning  a  crop  of  hops 
that  had  been  grown  on  3J  acres  of  'hoppground'  in 
the  parish.*^  Defoe,  writing  in  1722  described  Ongar 
as  part  of  an  area  'famed  for  husbandry  and  good  malt, 
but  of  no  other  note'.*' 

In  1838  the  area  of  the  parish  was  estimated  at  480 
acres,  of  which  193  acres  were  arable  and  273  acres 
meadow  and  pasture.**  The  Castle  Farm,  owned  by 
Sir  John  Swinburne  and  occupied  by  William  Coe, 
contained  168  acres.  There  were  two  smaller  farms,  of 
97  and  62  acres,  the  Bowes  House,  with  its  gardens  and 
pleasure  grounds,  covered  99  acres.  Apart  from  these 
there  was  no  tenement  of  more  than  5  acres. 

There  is  hardly  any  evidence  as  to  how  and  when 
inclosure  was  carried  out  in  this  parish.  A  very  small 
inclosure  of  waste  ground  in  about  1800  is  mentioned 
below.*' 

The  occupations  followed  in  Chipping  Ongar  have 

mainly   been   those  normal  in  a 

OCCUPATIONS  small  market-town.   The  relative 

importance  of  the  place  was  no 

doubt  greater  during  the  Middle  Ages  before  the  decay 

of  the  castle. 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  a  market  was  held  as  early  as 
the  1 2  th  century.**  The  first  explicit  reference  to  one 


"  Catholic  Dir.  1865. 

5'  Ibid.  1867.  Mass  was  being  said  at 
11.30  a.m.  and  Benediction  given  at 
6.30  p.m.  on  Sundays. 

'8  Ibid.  1869. 

3«  The  Tablet,  25  Apr.  1870.  It  is 
dedicated  to  St.  Helen,  which  suggests  the 
benefaction  of  Miss  Helen  (later  Countess) 
Tasker.  A  small  red-brick  building,  now 
in  ruins,  standing  at  the  back  of  the  *  King's 
Head'  is  said  to  have  been  used  as  a  Roman 
Catholic  Church;  inf.  from  Mr.  J.  G. 
O'Leary.  Cf.  E.R.O.,  T/P  96:  Ongar 
W.E.A.  Survey. 

*»  Catholic  Dir.  1 870. 

«>  Ibid.  1874. 

*2  Ibid.  1888. 


*3  Ibid.  1892-1901. 

**  Ibid.  1905-12.  <5  Ibid.  1916. 

*6  Char.  Com.  Recs. 

*'  See  above,  Manor. 

*8  V.C.U.  Essex,  i,  467a;  see  also  375. 

*9  Rot.  Lit.  Claus.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  145. 
The  bacon  was  evidently  intended  for 
shipment  to  France,  no  doubt  to  feed  the 
king's  troops. 

">  Pipe  R.  1 2 10  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  xxvi), 
206.  5"  Ci32/File  I. 

52  These  figures  are  not  entirely  clear. 

53  Ci32/File  I.  5*  Ibid. 

55  Cal.  Lib.  R.  1240-5,  188.  In  1086 
there  had  been  2  ploughs  in  demesne  at 
Ongar,  and  5  at  Stanford  Rivers. 

!'  Ci33/File  67.    The  park  was  prob- 

166 


ably  Ongar  Park  in  High  Ongar. 
5'  Ci35/File  230. 

58  Ci36/File47. 

59  Ibid.  File  76,  File  107. 

«»  C142/258/74.  At  least  part  of  Le 
Mores  (Moors)  was  in  Norton  Mande- 
ville  (q.v.).  «'  CP43/143  rot.  38. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  308/22. 

63  y.C.H.  Essex,  W,  445.  Hops  are  still 
found  growing  wild  in  the  neighbourhood : 
inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings  of  Ongar. 
For  the  I9th-cent.  brewery  at  Marden 
Ash  see  High  Ongar. 

6*  E.R.O.,  D/CT  262. 

'5  See  Parish  Government  and  Poor 
Relief,  below. 

6*  No  market  charter  has  survived. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


is  in  1287,  when  John  de  Olmestede,  steward  of  Sir 
John  de  Rivers  gave  a  bond  to  Hugh  de  Gloucester, 
tailor  of  London,  in  8  quarters  'of  the  best,  purest  and 
cleanest  dry  corn,  of  the  country  and  measure  of 
Essex  ...  as  could  be  sold  in  the  market  of  Angre 
within  the  quinzaine  of  Michaelmas  last  for  3^.'*^ 

In  1372  the  market  was  appurtenant  to  the  manor 
and  was  being  held  on  Tuesdays.**  It  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  lord  of  the  manor  until  1841,  when 
the  market  tolls  were  sold  by  Sir  John  Swinburne  to 
P.  Chaplin  of  Harlow.*'  The  'Old  Market  House' 
was  in  about  1841  situated  next  to  'The  King's  Head' 
on  the  south  side.'"  Later  in  the  19th  century  the 
market  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall  on  Saturdays."  It 
probably  came  to  an  end  at  the  same  time  as  the  fair 
(see  below)."  In  1927— 30  a  brief  unsuccessful  attempt 
was  made  to  revive  the  market:  poultry  were  sold  at 
'The  King's  Head'."  The  poultry  boxes  in  'The  King's 
Head'  yard  are  now  (1952)  being  casually  dismantled.'* 

The  Old  Market  House  had  been  converted  into 
shops  by  1 877.75  Two  market  crosses,  which  still  sur- 
vived in  1842,'*  had  been  removed  by  1877.''  The 
house  still  survives.'*  It  dates  from  the  17th  century 
and  consists  of  two  stories  with  attics  and  basements, 
timber  framed  and  plastered.  The  upper  story  projects 
on  the  east  front.  The  lower  part  of  the  building  was 
formerly  open." 

In  1222  Richard  de  Rivers,  whose  father  had 
recently  died,  received  the  royal  grant  of  an  annual 
fair  of  three  days'  duration  until  he  came  of  age.*"  The 
fair  was  to  be  held  on  g-i  i  November.  The  implication 
in  the  grant  seems  to  be  that  the  fair  was  already  being 
held  and  that  Richard  needed  sanction  for  holding  it 
because  of  his  minority.  A  hiring  fair,  on  1 1  October, 
was  being  held  in  1763.*'  In  1780  a  fair  was  held  on 
30  September.*^  A  list  of  1792  stated  that  a  fair  was 
held  on  Easter  Tuesday,  and  another  for  hiring  on  1 1 
October.*'  In  about  1845  the  fair  was  held  on  12 
October  and  there  was  'much  business  in  barley  for 
malting'.*''  The  fair  apparently  lapsed  for  a  time  in  the 
middle  of  the  19th  century.  It  was  revived  in  1872  and 
held  in  the  Town  Hall.  A  handbill  advertising  the 
loth  fair  since  the  revival,  to  be  held  on  12  October 
1 88 1,  bears  the  name  of  Captain  Budworth  of  Green- 
stead  Hall  as  the  chairman  of  the  fair  committee. *5 
The  author  of  the  bill  claimed  that  the  fair  was  a 
valuable  aid  to  the  mutual  understanding  of  different 
classes  of  society.  The  fair  was  mainly  for  entertain- 
ment. It  was  not  universally  popular  and  in  1892  the 


tolls  were  bought  by  Henry  Gibson,  Clerk  to  the 
County  Council,  and  a  local  resident,  with  a  view  to  its 
abolition.**  A  letter  to  Gibson  from  a  certain  H. 
Brown  in  that  year  states  that  'those  who  have  had  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  the  fair,  being  obliged  to  live  in  the 
midst  of  it  will  readily  welcome  . . .  its  abandonment'.*' 

In  the  17th  century  there  is  slight  evidence  from 
trade-tokens  of  cloth-making  at  Chipping  Ongar.** 
Philip  Trayherne,  a  dyer,  occurs  in  1677.*'  In  the 
same  century  are  references  to  inter  alia  a  tailor  ( 1 60  5),  '* 
a  locksmith  (1655),"  a  basketmaker  (1667),'^  and  a 
haberdasher  alias  hatter  (1667). '^  In  1626  Edward 
Peacock,  tallow  chandler,  and  Robert  King,  apothecary, 
were  presented  at  Quarter  Sessions  for  using  and 
maintaining  a  house  'for  to  melt  their  tallow  and 
"gravee"  near  unto  the  common  market-place,  which 
is  a  common  annoyance  to  the  inhabitants  dwelling 
near'.'* 

Pigot's  Directory  of  Essex  for  1840  listed  the  trades- 
people in  Chipping  Ongar.  There  were  eight  public 
houses.  The  general  pattern  of  employment  has 
changed  little  since  that  time.  The  town  is,  however, 
sufficiently  near  to  London  to  have  reacted  fairly 
quickly  to  new  fashions.  There  was  a  photographer 
there  in  1874,  when  there  were  only  33  in  the  whole 
of  Essex.'s 

The  date  at  which  the  brickmaking  industry  began 
at  Chipping  Ongar  has  not  been  found,  but  it  seems 
likely  that  this  was  about  1800.'*  For  many  years  the 
brickfield  on  the  Greenstead  Road  was  owned  and 
operated  by  the  proprietor  of  the  adjoining  gas  works." 
The  brickfield  was  closed  in  19 17,  soon  after  the  new 
brickfield  at  Hallsford  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  was 
opened.'* 

There  was  a  printer  in  the  town  in  1845."  A  later 
printer,  Slocombe,  was  in  business  about  1870-90.' 

Vestry  books  for  Chipping  Ongar  survive  for  the 

periods    1743-75    and 

PARISH  GOVERNMENT    1786-1863.^  The  busi- 

JND   POOR  RELIEF  nessof  the  parish  seems 

on  the  whole  to  have 
been  conducted  efficiently  and  honestly.  From  1743 
to  1759  nieetings  took  place  at  Easter,  for  the  approval 
of  the  accounts  of  the  overseers,  churchwardens,  and 
constables,  at  Christmas  for  the  approval  of  the  sur- 
veyors' accounts  and  occasionally  for  other  purposes. 
New  officials  were  nominated  when  the  accounts  were 
passed.  From  1759  monthly  meetings  were  the  rule,- 
mainly  for  matters  relating  to  poor  relief.  Attendance 


"  Cal.  And.  D.  v,  A.  1 1885. 

«8  Ci35/File  230. 

<>»  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
I.  But  see  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/736. 
Chaplin  still  owned  the  tolls  in  1856: 
D/P  124/23/2. 

'0  E.R.O.,  D/CT  262.  The  Old  Market 
House  is  sometimes  referred  to  locally  as 
the  Butter  Market :  inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W. 
Hutchings  of  Ongar. 

'■  Kelly'!  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f.). 

"  For  the  demolition  of  the  Town  Hall 
see  above,  p.  156.  The  Town  Hall  has 
sometimes  been  called  the  Market  House. 
Its  position  and  design  suggest  that  this 
was  for  long  one  of  its  main  functions. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

'*  Ibid. ;  personal  observation. 

'5  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  dipping  Ongar, 
I. 

'«  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/736. 

"  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  dipping  Ongar, 
I. 


'8  It  is  now  the  Clifton  Ctfi. 

'9  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  53.  The 
Market  House  is  shown  in  the  print  of 
Ongar  by  I.  Hassell,  1818  :  E.R.O.,  Prints 
Collection,  Chipping  Ongar.  The  building 
had  three  open  arches  on  the  east  side. 

*"  Rot.  Lit.  Claus.  (Rec.  Com.},  i,  490A. 

81  E.R.O.,  Q/SBb  268. 

8*  Essex,  Herts.  &  Cambs.  Almanack, 
1780. 

83  Rep.  Com.  Mkt.  Rights  [C.  5550], 
p.  161,  H.C.  (1888),  liii.  The  hiring  fair 
is  said  to  have  been  held  at  one  time  in  the 
*Lion'  yard :  inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutch- 
ings. 84  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  ( 1 845). 

85  Handbill  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Avery,  Shelley  House,  Ongar. 

86  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

87  Ibid.  This  letter  is  now  (1955)  in  the 
Essex  Record  Office. 

88  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  398;  f.  Anglian,  iii, 
127;  E.A.T.  N.s.  xvii,  248. 

89  E.R.O.,e/SR  437/42. 

167 


«»  Ibid.  173/131. 
9'  Ibid.  365/22,  23. 

92  Ibid.  411/70. 

93  Ibid.  411/42,  71. 

94  Ibid.  252/52. 

95  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874),  367. 
9'  See  above,  p.  156. 

97  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848,  1863); 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f.).  For  the  G»s 
Works  see  above.  Public  Services. 

98  E.R.O.,  T/P  96 :  Ongar  W.E.A.  Sur- 
vey, 195 1. 

99  He  printed  the  rules  of  the  Ongar 
Cricket  Club :  see  above,  Social  Life. 

'  He  printed  R;  I.  Porter's  Notes  on 
Chipping  Ongar  (1877)  and  P.  J.  Bud- 
worth's  Memorials  of  Greensted-Budzuorth 
(.876). 

2  The  book  for  1743-75  '*  *'  the 
rectory;  the  others  are  E.R.O.,  D/P 
1 24/8/ 1-4.  Unless  otherwise  stated  all 
the  following  information  is  derived  from 
these  minute-books. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


at  the  Easter  meetings  was  sometimes  1 5-20  but  was 
usually  about  12.  At  the  other  meetings  it  was  rarely 
more  than  8.  Thomas  Velley,  rector  1733-50,  usually 
attended  meetings  and  signed  the  minutes  first.  After 
his  death  the  clergy  rarely  attended  until  1792,  when 
W.  Herringham  became  curate.  He  soon  took  his 
place  as  chairman  of  the  vestry  and  when  he  left  the 
town  in  1806  he  was  given  a  silver  cup  worth  25 
guineas.  From  1806  to  1828  the  clergy  again  played 
little  apparent  part  in  the  vestry.  For  some  years  after 
1828  Joseph  Stanfield,  the  curate,  acted  as  chairman. 
In  the  absence  of  the  clergy  the  churchwardens  pre- 
sided. 

The  vestry  clerk,  who  also  acted  as  caretaker  and 
cleaner  of  the  church,  was  voted  an  annual  stipend  of 
40J.  in  1770.  This  was  increased  in  1805  to  5  guineas. 
In  1 8 19  the  office  of  clerk  was  amalgamated  with  that 
of  permanent  overseer,  at  a  salary  of  j^i  5  for  both 
duties. 

In  1823  the  public  vestry  set  up  a  select  vestry  under 
the  second  Sturges  Bourne  Act  (59  Geo.  Ill,  c.  12). 
The  select  vestry  contained  the  minister,  church- 
wardens and  overseers  and  fifteen  other  members.  It 
functioned  only  for  about  three  years.  In  1836  the 
public  vestry  adopted  the  Lighting  and  Watching  Act, 
1833  (3  &  4  William  IV,  c.  90). 

All  types  of  parish  business  were  transacted  at  the 
same  meetings  of  the  public  vestry.  A  distinction  was 
usually  maintained  between  rates  for  different  pur- 
poses, but  there  were  frequent  adjustments  between 
the  accounts  of  different  officers.  In  1743  a  rate  of 
IS.  bd.  in  the  pound  produced  about  [fio.  By  1783  a 
similar  rate  produced  ^^83.  A  new  rating  assessment 
was  made  in  1832,  when  it  was  recommended  that 
the  rateable  value  of  the  parish  should  be  fixed  at 
^^1,460  10^.3  This  was  not  the  final  assessment  at  this 
time,  for  in  1837  the  rateable  value  was  fixed  at  over 
^2,960.  A  rate  oi\d.  then  produced  ^^39  \s.  2d.''  The 
rateable  value  rose  steadily  to  £,l,o\i  in  1842'  and  in 
1849  was  j^3, 8 56.*  It  then  remained  steady  until  1858, 
when  evidence  from  the  ratebooks  ceases.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  that  these  increases  in  rateable  value  had 
as  their  main  cause  the  growth  of  the  built-up  area  of 
the  parish.7 

The  general  policy  of  the  parish  vestry  was  to  ensure 
that  burdens  were  fairly  shared.  Thus  in  May  1800 
it  was  resolved  that  'every  householder  of  sufficient 
abihty  shall  in  his  turn  either  take  an  apprentice  or 
yearly  servant  a  boy  or  girl  from  the  parish  or  shall 
provide  a  reputable  master  for  such  child'.  In  the 
following  June  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  ballot  to  decide 
the  first  allotment  of  pauper  apprentices.  In  1803  the 
vestry  introduced  an  insurance  scheme  to  assist  those 
who  had  been  selected  in  the  ballot  for  the  Army  of 
Reserve. 

All  the  normal  parish  officers  were  appointed  until 
1 8 19,  when,  as  noticed  above,  a  salaried  overseer  was 
appointed.  This  arrangement,  however,  only  lasted 
for  about  six  years.  The  offices  of  parish  constable  and 
beadle  were  sometimes  held  by  the  same  individual, 
but  in  April  1805  William  Ainsworth  was  dismissed 


from  the  two  posts  and  it  was  resolved  that  George 
Archer  be  appointed  constable  and  John  Burrell  beadle. 
Burrell  was  to  receive  an  annual  salary  of  2  guineas  and 
he  was  to  be  allowed  a  laced  blue  coat  and  hat  once 
every  four  years.  In  18 13  the  parish  constable  was 
allowed  5  guineas.  In  1842  it  was  decided  that  a  paid 
constable  was  no  longer  necessary. ^  An  entry  of  1756 
shows  that  the  'hamlet'  of  Greenstead  was  being 
assessed  along  with  Chipping  Ongar  to  the  constables' 
rate.  If  this  refers  to  Greenstead  parish  (q.v.)  it  means 
that  the  Ongar  constables  were  also  acting  at  Green- 
stead; but  it  may  refer  to  the  houses  south  of  Chipping 
Ongar  Bridge,  on  the  Greenstead  boundary.  In  the 
vestry  minutes  for  1792  there  is  a  reference  to  the  town 
crier. 

The  ancient  pound,  pillory,  and  cage  apparently 
stood  on  the  east  side  of  High  Street,  opposite  the  post- 
office.'  They  were  removed  in  1786,  when  the  As- 
sembly Rooms  were  built,  to  a  piece  of  waste  ground 
100  yds.  north-west  of  the  bridge.'"  The  cottage  be- 
hind this  piece  of  ground  was  subsequently  bought  by 
Edward  Rayner,  who  persuaded  the  vestry  to  move 
pound,  pillory,  and  cage  to  a  place  farther  down  the 
road,  near  the  south-east  end  of  the  bridge." 

There  was  a  poorhouse  in  Chipping  Ongar  in  1748, 
if  not  earlier.  It  then  adjoined  the  rectory.  In  1752-4 
and  perhaps  later  the  duty  of  looking  after  the  poor 
(i.e.  presumably  those  in  the  poorhouse)  was  farmed 
out  for  ^^4  a  year.  It  was  provided  in  1752  that  three 
men  should  take  turns  at  this  work,  each  doing  it  for 
a  year.  A  parish  doctor  was  appointed  in  176 1  at  an 
annual  salary  of  5  guineas.  This  was  reduced  in  1770 
to  ^4.  Before  1761  medical  treatment  appears  to  have 
been  paid  for  as  each  case  arose.  In  1795  it  was 
resolved  that  the  parish  poorhouses  should  be  demolished 
and  that  one  large  building  should  be  erected  instead. 
In  the  same  year  it  was  decided  'that  the  site  of  the  old 
building  being  inconvenient  to  the  rector,  the  parish- 
ioners do  agree  to  exchange  the  present  site  for  a 
portion  of  the  glebe  of  equal  extent  now  offered  by  the 
rector';  the  rector  was  to  enclose  and  fence  the  new 
site.  It  is  possible  that  the  new  poorhouse  was  built  on 
the  glebe  immediately  to  the  north  of  the  church." 
But  this  is  difficult  to  reconcile  with  the  glebe  terrier 
of  i8io.'3  It  was  estimated  that  the  new  poorhouse 
would  cost  ^(^153  and  the  vestry  agreed  that  j^ioo  of 
this  should  be  borrowed  on  a  ten-year  term.  The  build- 
ing was  apparently  carried  out  in  1797.  John  Crabb 
of  Shelley  Hall  lent  £100  but  in  the  same  year  required 
repayment.  The  vestry  decided  to  meet  half  the  debt 
immediately  out  of  the  rates  and  to  borrow  ^50  from 
someone  else.  By  this  time  poor  relief  was  becoming  an 
urgent  problem.  The  poor  rates  had  risen  from  ;{^ii9 
in  1744  to  j^l75  in  1778  and  about  Zl'^o  in  1798. ■■♦ 
In  1800  they  were  j^454.i5  In  July  of  that  year  the 
vestry  resolved  to  enlarge  the  workhouse.  Whether 
this  was  done  is  not  clear,  but  before  April  1802  there 
was  a  fire  at  the  workhouse  and  rebuilding  was  neces- 
sitated on  that  account.  The  house  had  been  insured. 
In  May  1807  the  vestry  approved  an  estimate  of 
j^4  I  5/.  for  finishing  'the  back  chamber  at  the  work- 


'  The  entry  in  the  Vestry  Minutes 
gives  the  name  of  every  ratepayer  and  his 
assessment.  There  are  several  similar 
lists  for  1758-60. 

*  Lighting  and  Watching  Surveyors 
RateBk.  1837-43, E.R.O.,D/P  124/33/1. 

s  Ibid. 

'  Ibid.    1848-58,   E.R.O.,   D/P    124/ 


33M. 

'  The  population  increased  from  595 
in  1801  to  870  in  1841  :  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii, 

35°- 

8  The  County  Constabulary  had  been 
set  up  in  1840. 

»  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
23.  ""  Ibid. 

168 


"  Ibid.  24.  Perhaps  the  removal  is 
referred  to  in  the  vestry  minute-book  entry 
of  1808 — see  below. 

**  See  above,  Church. 

■3  Ibid. 

■•<  Overseers  Rate  Bk.,  E.R.O.,  D/P 
124/11/1. 

'5  Ibid. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


house'.  A  year  later  it  also  approved  an  estimate  for  a 
new  parish  cage.'*  In  April  i8og  a  Mr.  Peake  was 
appointed  parish  surgeon  at  a  stipend  of  £j  ijs.  6J. 
for  medicine  with  additional  fees  of  los.  6d.  for  mid- 
wifery and  1$.  for  inoculation.  It  was  laid  down  that 
in  future  the  office  of  parish  surgeon  should  be  held  in 
rotation  by  Peake  and  two  other  doctors. 

Meanwhile  the  poor  rates  were  still  rising:  in  1806 
they  were  ,^674."  In  1815a  committee  was  appointed 
to  investigate  recent  extravagance  in  the  conduct  of  the 
workhouse.  Its  report  revealed  that  in  18 1 3  and  18 14 
the  average  cost  of  maintaining  one  person  in  the  work- 
house was  IS.  zd.  a  week.  In  all  £^\o']  had  been  spent, 
of  which  ^£63  was  reckoned  as  the  cost  of  maintaining 
the  'governess'  and  her  two  children.  The  vestry 
thereupon  advertised  for  a  governor  who  should  con- 
tract to  look  after  the  poor  in  the  workhouse  at  a  fixed 
sum.  A  Mr.  Jessup  of  Epping  was  given  the  contract 
in  June  1 8 1 5 .  John  Heard,  who  was  granted  the  con- 
tract in  July  1 8 19,  was  apparently  Jessup's  successor. 
He  was  paid  4/.  3d',  per  person  per  week.  Farming  out 
of  the  poor  was  discontinued  in  June  1820. 

In  1 82 1  the  vestry  adopted  a  long  and  detailed  code 
of  regulations  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  with  special 
reference  to  the  keeping  of  the  overseers'  accounts.  An 
audit  of  the  overseers'  accounts  revealed  a  debt  of  ;^I96. 
It  is  probable  that  there  was  no  separate  master  of  the 
workhouse  for  some  years  at  this  period,  but  in  1828 
it  was  resolved  that  one  should  be  appointed,  and  a 
month  later  the  vestry  drew  up  a  code  of  regulations 
for  the  conduct  of  the  workhouse,  and  appointed 
William  Wood  senior  as  master  at  a  salary  of  ;^io  a 
year  for  himself  and  his  wife.  Improvements  were 
made  in  the  workhouse  during  the  same  year. 

In  June  1832  the  vestry  formally  adopted  the  rules 
laid  down  in  Gilbert's  Act  (22  Geo.  Ill,  c.  83)  for  the 
conduct  of  the  workhouse.  In  May  1835  it  was  further 
resolved  to  join  with  the  neighbouring  parishes  in  a 
poor  law  union.  The  first  meeting  of  poor  law  guardians 
for  the  Ongar  Union  took  place  in  April  1836.  In 
June  1837  the  Chipping  Ongar  vestry  resolved  to  selj 
the  'timber  built  messuage  used  as  a  workhouse'.'' 

A  school  teacher  at  Chipping  Ongar  was  mentioned 
in  1655."    A  school  also  existed  in  the 
SCHOOLS    town  in  1671.20 

By  will  dated  1678  Joseph  King  (d. 
1679)  ^^f^  fi^^  cottages  on  the  west  side  of  the  High 
Street,  producing  £■}  5  3/.  a  year,  in  trust  for  educational 
purposes.^'  From  the  income  ;^io  a  year  was  to  be  paid 
to  a  schoolmaster  for  teaching  6  poor  boys;  ^^5  as  a 
premium  for  an  apprentice  to  be  chosen  annually  from 
among  these  boys,  or  ^5  a  year  for  four  years  to  the 
parents  of  a  boy  'who  should  prove  to  be  of  rare  and 
extraordinary  parts  and  like  to  make  a  good  minister'; 


£2  to  a  mistress  for  teaching  4  poor  girls;  ^^i  for  pro- 
viding bibles  for  poor  families;  10/.  for  a  trustees'  audit 
and  dinner  and  4/.  for  the  sexton  to  keep  clean  a  tablet 
in  the  church  recording  the  bequest.  Any  surplus  was 
to  provide  teaching  for  more  poor  children. 

In  1714  £10  was  being  used  to  maintain  a  boys' 
school  with  26  pupils  and  £2  for  a  girls'  school  with 
12  pupils.  Both  schools  were  further  supported  by 
voluntary  contributions.^^  The  boys'  school  evidently 
flourished  in  subsequent  years,  in  1755  having  some 
100  pupils.  The  master  was  then  offering  a  secondary 
schooling  to  fee-paying  pupils  as  well  as  teaching  the  6 
free  pupils.^^  In  1779  the  'Free  School'  was  ap- 
parently situated  in  the  High  Street.^* 

Early  in  the  19th  century  boys  and  girls  were  being 
taught  by  a  master  and  a  mistress  in  a  single  establish- 
ment, probably  in  one  of  the  trust  cottages,  which  the 
master  rented  for  ^14  in  1835  and  was  still  occupying 
in  1841.25  The  free  pupils  seem  to  have  varied  in 
number  according  to  the  amount  of  surplus  income 
from  the  trust:  there  were  15  in  1807,26  ig  in  1818,27 
and  16  in  1833.28  In  1835  the  income  from  the 
charity  was  ^^74  js.  a  year.  The  schoolmaster  received 
;^i6  13/.  4.J.  for  teaching  10  free  boys,  with  an  addi- 
tional allowance  of  7/.  a  boy  for  books  and  stationery. 2' 
He  also  took  paying  pupils:  in  1833  there  had  been  20 
of  these.30  Only  one  boy  had  recently  been  apprenticed : 
a  premium  of  £21  had  been  paid  for  him  to  a  shoe- 
maker.3'  In  1835  £2  was  also  being  paid  to  a  mistress 
to  teach  4  girls. 32  The  trustees  had  a  balance  in  hand 
of  ^204  1 1/.33  The  children  entered  the  school  at  6 
or  7  years  of  age  on  the  nomination  of  trustees,  and  left 
at  about  14.M  The  school  seems  to  Have  been  under 
Anglican  control,  as  it  was  in  1871.35 

In  1846  a  new  school  was  built  behind  the  trust 
cottages.36  It  had  accommodation  for  63  pupils  but  no 
teacher's  residence.37  By  1870  it  had  not  received  a 
parliamentary  grant  and  its  growth  had  been  slow 
owing  to  the  success  of  the  local  private  schools  ;3  8  only 
66  attended  it  in  1871.39 

An  inspector  reported  in  1871  that  the  school  was 
adequate  to  the  needs  of  Chipping  Ongar,  but  would 
require  enlargement  to  accommodate  30  children  from 
Shelley,  which  had  no  school  of  its  own  and  which  he 
suggested  should  be  united  with  Chipping  Ongar  in  a 
single  School  District.*"  In  1873,  therefore,  the  school 
was  enlarged  at  a  cost  of  ;{J320'*'  and  began  to  receive 
an  annual  parliamentary  grant.'*2  By  1877  there  were 
over  100  pupils,  including  the  6  free  boys.'^s  Children 
also  attended  from  Greenstead  when  the  school  there 
was  closed.'**  In  1893,  when  there  was  accommodation 
for  172  children,  the  average  attendance  had  reached 
I27.''5  In  1904  there  were  162  pupils,  4  teachers,  of 
whom  one  was  certificated,  and  a  needlework  super- 


I 


'*  The  cage  was  dismantled  by  the 
resolution  of  the  vestry  in  1853.  It  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  present  fire-station. 

■'  Ibid. 

*8  In  1846  some  of  the  local  paupers 
were  housed  in  the  lower  story  of  the 
Town  Hall:  E.R.O.,  G/On  M3. 

■9  E.R.O.,  Q/SO  I,  p.  2ioa. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/RTh  5. 

"  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  237-8  (1835),  xxi  (i);  r.C.H.  Essex, 
ii,  560.   For  King  see  above,  Church. 

"  S.P.C.K.  ylcct.  of  Ciariiy  Scis.  17 14, 
p.  27. 

2'  Ifs-wich  Jnl.  24  May,  21  June  1755. 

2*  E.R.O.,  D/DQk  I. 

2«  Rep.    Cam.    Char.    (Essex),    p.    238; 


E.R.O.,  D/CT  262. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

"  Retns.  on  Educ.  of  Poor,  H.C.  224, 
p.  264  (1819),  ix  (i). 

2«  Educ.  Enquiry  Abstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  284 
(1835),  xli. 

2»  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  238. 

'»  Educ.  Enquiry  Abstr.  (1835),  p.  284. 

"  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  238. 

"  Ibid.  33  Ibid.  34  Ibid. 

35  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
112-13  (1871),  Iv. 

36  E.R.O.,  D/CT  262;  Ifhite's  Dir. 
Essex  (1863);  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.), 
sheet  li  (surveyed  1873-4);  E.R.O.,  T/P 
96  :  Ongar  W.E.A.  Survey.  A  stone  bear- 
ing the  date  of  foundation  lay  in  195 1  in 

169 


the  cul-de-sac  between  Ongar  Grammar 
School  and  Little  Bansons. 

3'  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  (1871),  pp.  112- 
13;  V.C.H.  Essex,  W,  561. 

38  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  i/i/i;  Min.  of" 
Educ.  File  1-}I66. 

39  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  (1871),  pp.  112- 

•3- 

«  Min.  of  Educ.  Fik  13/66. 

*■  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899),  284. 

<2  Essex  Standard,  28  Oct.  1874. 

*3  R.  I.  Porter,  Notes  on  Chipping  Ongar, 
21. 

♦♦  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899),  284. 

<s  Retn.  ofSchs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  713, 
H.C.  (1894),  Uv. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


intendent.^*  The  trust  income  had  risen  from  [j^  in 
1863  to  ;^82  in  iSgS*'  and  the  annual  grant  from  ^^27 
in  1873  to  (j.0%  in  1893  and  ^131  in  i902.*8  After 
the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed  under  the 
administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Ongar  District,  as  a  non-provided  mixed  school.  Its 
pupils  continued  to  increase;  in  19 13  the  accommoda- 
tion and  average  attendance  were  each  estimated  at 
I72.''''  Meanwhile,  in  1905,  King's  Charity  had  been 
divided  into  'King's  Educational  Foundation'  and 
'King's  Charity  for  Bibles  and  Sexton'  (see  below. 
Charities). 

In  1909  the  Board  of  Education  had  urged  that  the 
school  should  be  enlarged. 5°  The  trustees  hesitated  to 
spend  the  ^^1,500  estimated  as  the  cost  of  the  required 
rebuilding''  and  when  in  191 1  the  Essex  Education 
Committee  published  its  intention  of  providing  a  new 
school  in  the  town,'^  they  decided  to  offer  the  existing 
school  to  the  Education  Committee  for  use  as  a  County 
school.53  The  Education  Committee  accepted  transfer 
in  191 3  and,  after  extensive  rebuilding,  opened  the  new 
school  in  June  191 5  with  accommodation  for  278 
pupils.54  By  1929  average  attendance  had  risen  to  188. 
In  1936,  when  a  senior  school  was  opened  in  the  town, 
the  primary  school  was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors 
and  infants,  the  average  attendance  falling  to  143  in 
1938.55  In  May  1952  there  were  315  pupils  and  9 
teachers.'* 

The  school  lies  behind  the  Budworth  Hall  and  the 
trust  cottages.  It  is  single-storied,  mainly  of  yellow 
brick  and  with  a  partly  tiled,  partly  slated  roof  The 
greater  part  of  the  1 846  building  is  incorporated  in  it. 
An  adjacent  building,  of  green  corrugated  iron,  was 
erected  in  191 3  to  accommodate  the  children  while  the 
rebuilding  took  place. ''  King's  Trust  is  administered 
by  12  trustees,  with  the  rector  as  chairman.  In  195 1 
its  income  was  £,2%j,  of  which  £i()'i  was  paid  in 
educational  grants.'* 

Ongar  County  Secondary  School  was  built  by  the 
Essex  Education  Committee  at  the  north  end  of  the 
town  on  the  road  to  Dunmow  and  was  opened  as  a 
senior  school  for  the  district  in  1936.  It  had  accom- 
modation for  520  children."  Attendance  subsequently 
increased  and  in  1948  temporary  accommodation  was 
provided  for  90  pupils.*"  In  May  1952  there  were  25 
teachers  and  550  children.*'  Pupils  are  drawn  from 
18  primary  schools.  The  buildings  are  of  red  brick. 
The  garden  is  about  i  acre  in  size  and  the  playing- 
fields  about  1 2  acres.*^ 

In  the  early  19th  century  local  churchmen  seem  to 
have  devoted  their  attention  more  towards  the  main- 
tenance of  their  Sunday  school  than  to  the  expansion  of 
King's  Trust  School,  possibly  because  the  latter 
enjoyed  an  assured  income.  The  Sunday  school  existed 


as  early  as  1807*3  and  in  181 5,  when  115  children 
attended  it  from  Chipping  Ongar,  Greenstead,  Shelley, 
and  Stanford  Rivers,  it  received  £7,1  in  annual  sub- 
scriptions.*'*  An  infants'  school  was  also  set  up,  ap- 
parently under  Anglican  direction,  in  which  in  1 846-7 
a  mistress  taught  45  children;*'  it  was  possibly  the 
same  infants'  school  which  in  1873-4  was  situated  at 
the  north-east  of  Ongar  Bridge.**  The  Independents 
also  maintained  a  Sunday  school,  which  was  attended 
in  1833  by  50  children.*'  The  rector  reported  in 
1846-7  'the  educational  wants  are  well  supplied'.** 

Throughout  the  19th  century  private  schools 
flourished  in  the  town.  In  1807  the  curate  reported 
that  there  were  two  girls'  schools  and  a  boys'  school, 
the  latter  attended  by  60  pupils.*'  In  1818  there  were 
said  to  be  4  schools  with  60  pupils  altogether.'"  A 
more  detailed  survey  in  1833  notes  the  existence  of  6 
day  schools  with  82  pupils,  a  boarding-school  with  13 
boys,  and  a  dissenting  boarding  school  with  7  girls." 
In  1845  there  were  said  to  be  11  schools  in  the  town, 
including  the  King's  Trust  school,  with  140  daily  and 
95  Sunday  pupils.'^  In  1855  a  'seminary'  was  being 
conducted  by  the  Misses  Noble.'s  It  is  possible  that 
this  was  the  'school  for  ladies'  which  in  1 866  was  run 
by  Mrs.  Julia  Webster.'*  In  1872  a  'school  for  ladies' 
was  being  held  at  Roden  House,  and  offered  'every 
branch  of  English  .  .  .  together  with  the  accomplish- 
ments'." In  1874  this  school  was  being  conducted  by 
Emily  Willets,  and  in  1 890  by  Amy  and  Edith  Bishop.'* 
About  1910  it  moved  up  the  road  to  Holralea,  still 
under  the  control  of  the  Bishops,  but  it  seems  to  have 
come  to  an  end  soon  after." 

The  most  important  private  school  in  the  town  was 
Ongar  Grammar  School,  said  to  have  been  founded  in 
181 1  by  William  Stokes,  M.A.'*  This  was  probably 
the  boarding-school  which  had  13  boys  in  1833  (see 
above).  In  1 845  it  was  known  as  Ongar  Academy,  and 
the  proprietor  was  Richard  Stokes."  Among  the 
pupils  in  1846-7  were  Nathaniel  and  Walter  Barlow, 
sons  of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Barlow  of  Blackmore.  In 
September  1847  Walter  wrote  to  an  elder  brother 
Alfred:  'Tomorrow  and  the  following  day  we  are  going 
to  have  two  lectures  on  Electricity  and  Galvanism  by 
Mr.  Thornthwaite,  a  lecturer  from  London.  We  have 
41  young  gentlemen,  3  of  which  are  day  boarders  and 
I  weekly  boarder.  ...'*" 

A  school  magazine  was  started  in  September  1869. 
The  three  (weekly)  numbers  which  have  survived  show 
that  there  were  then  three  assistant  masters  in  addition 
to  the  head.  Dr.  Clark.*'  There  were  athletic  clubs, 
libraries,  a  fencing-club,  and  an  elocution  society. 
Advertisements  include  the  request  for  a  'chain  for  a 
sparrow-hawk'.  In  1878  William  Clark  was  head- 
master. There  were  then  130  boarders.*^  In  1899  the 


<'  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handhk.  1904. 

"  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863),  738; 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899),  284. 

■»«  Essex  Standard,  28  Oct.  1874;  Retn. 
of  Schs.  i8g3,  713;  Schs.  under  Bd.  of 
Educ,  igo2  [Cd.  1490],  p.  68,  H.C. 
(1903),  U. 

«  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/66. 

50  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

*'  Essex  County  Chron.  i  Dec.  191 1. 

5^  Ibid.  20  Oct.  191 1. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  1 3/66. 

5«  Inf.  from  Mr.  F.  H.  Barker,  Head- 
master of  Chipping  Ongar  Primary 
School. 

55  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/66. 

>'  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 


5'  Inf.  from  Mr.  F.  H.  Barker. 

58  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

s»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/66. 

">  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/66. 

<"  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

'2  Inf.  from  Mr.  J.  W.  Butler,  Head- 
master of  Ongar  Secondary  School. 

«3  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  i/i/i. 

'♦  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1 8 1  j,  p.  40. 

'5  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
J«46-7,  pp.  14-15. 

"  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  li. 

"  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  (1835),  p.  284. 

'8  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  1846-7,  14-15. 

'9  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  i/i/i. 

'0  Retns.  on  Educ.  of  Poor  (18 19),  p.  264. 

"  Educ.  Enq.  Ahstr.  (1835),  p.  284. 


'2  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1845). 

"  Ibid.  (1855). 

'*  Ibid.  (1866). 

'5  Chelmsford  Chron.  5  Jan.  1872. 

■">  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874,  1890). 

"  Ibid.  (1910,  1912,  1914). 

'8  Ibid.  (1937)  i  E.R.O., Prints,  Chipping 
Ongar :  p.c.  view  of  Ongar  Sch.  Stokes 
docs  not  appear  to  have  been  a  graduate 
of  any  British  university. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i  845). 

«»  E.R.O.,  Typescript,  L.  A.  Barlovf, 
'The  Barlows  in  Essex  1730-1924', 
49-50. 

8'  E.R.O.,  Landon  Collection. 

8»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i%7%). 


170 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


CHIPPING  ONGAR 


headmaster  was  Oswald  Clark,  M.A.'^  At  the  191 1 
census  there  were  164  children  at  the  school.^  In  the 
following  year  the  principals  were  O.  W.  Clark,  M.A., 
and  Benjamin  Brucesmith,  LL.D.'s  In  1926  the 
principal  was  Percival  H.  Bingley  and  the  'Director  of 
Studies'  was  William  Attlee,  M.A.  There  were  7 
assistant  masters;  the  rector  acted  as  chaplain. '6  By 
1937  P.  H.  Bingley  and  Thomas  A.  Owen,  B.A., 
M.R.S.T.,  were  joint  principals.  There  was  pro- 
vision for  140  boarders  and  there  were  two  university 
leaving  scholarships  of  ;{^30  a  year,  tenable  for  2  years. ^7 
The  school  closed  about  1940.88 

The  Grammar  School  was  situated  on  the  west  side 
of  the  High  Street  at  the  north  end  of  the  town.  The 
tithe  map  {c.  1 841)  shows  a  number  of  buildings  on  this 
site.  They  were  all  owned  by  Richard  Stokes,  who  also 
owned  the  adjoining  Little  Bansons.*'  Between  that 
time  and  1874  a  large  new  building  was  erected.'"  In 
1937  the  school  was  said  to  include  music  and  recrea- 
tion rooms,  gymnasium,  swimming-bath  (added  in 
1885),  carpentry  shop  and  rifle-range  with  playing- 
fields  and  grounds  of  over  100  acres.  The  boarders 
were  accommodated  in  3  houses."  The  main  Gram- 
mar School  building  fronts  upon  High  Street  and  has 
an  imposing  symmetrical  facade. '^ 


The  origin  and  terms  of  King's  Charity  (founded 
1679)  have  been  described  above,  in 
CHARITIES  connexion  with  the  King's  Trust 
School.  By  a  scheme  made  in  1905 
^48  of  capital  was  set  aside  for  the  provision,  which 
had  been  customary,  of  ^i  a  year  for  bibles  and  4/.  for 
the  sexton. «3 

Mrs.  Septame  Mitchell,  by  will  proved  1804,  left 
;^50  in  trust  for  a  yearly  distribution  to  the  poor  on  i 
■  January.  In  1834  a  quartern  loaf  was  given  to  each 
poor  adult  and  a  half  quartern  to  each  child.''*  In 
1950  the  income  of  ^i  zs.  SJ.  was  applied  to  the  relief 
of  the  poor.  95 

Edward  Sammes  of  Chipping  Ongar,  by  will  proved 
1882,  left  ;{^loo  in  trust  for  the  purchase  of  tea  and 
sugar  to  be  given  annually  to  30  poor  families  of 
Chipping  Ongar.  The  income  was  ^^2  8/.  8</.  in  1950.'* 

In  1786  it  was  stated  that  William  Green,  by  will 
dated  1554,  devised  a  rent  charge  of  j^2  to  12  of  the 
poorest  inhabitants  of  Stanford  Rivers  and  of  ^i  to 
six  poor  of  Chipping  Ongar,  but  that  this  had  not  been 
paid  since  1739.  Nothing  was  known  of  this  charity 
in  1835  except  that  a  suit — the  result  of  which  was 
unknown — had  been  instituted  'many  years  ago'  to 
recover  these  bequests.'^ 


HIGH  ONGAR 


The  parish  of  High  Ongar  adjoins  Chipping  Ongar 
to  the  east  and  south,  being  divided  from  it  by  the 
River  Roding  and  Cripsey  Brook.  Until  1946  it 
included  two  detached  parts,  the  most  important  of 
which  was  some  3  miles  west  of  the  main  body  of  the 
parish.  The  main  body  itself  contains  two  distinct 
areas.  Marden  Ash,  to  the  south  of  Chipping  Ongar, 
is  a  residential  suburb  of  the  town.  The  soil  there  is 
glacial  loam  and  Boulder  Clay.  The  area  to  the  east 
of  the  Roding  is  entirely  rural.  It  includes  two  villages. 
High  Ongar  in  the  north-west  and  Paslow  Wood 
Common  in  the  south-east,  and  numerous  farms.  The 
soil  is  Boulder  Clay  with  a  small  patch  of  glacial  loam. 
The  detached  parts  raised  special  administrative  prob- 
lems, which  were  made  more  serious  by  the  poor  road 
system  in  the  main  body  of  the  parish. 

Uncertainty  as  to  the  area  of  the  parish  during  the 
Middle  Ages  makes  it  difficult  to  use  the  taxation 
returns  for  that  period  as  a  guide  to  population  density 
and  relative  wealth,  but  if  the  area  of  High  Ongar  in 
and  after  the  14th  century  was  about  the  same  as  it  was 
in  1945  it  is  probable  that  the  parish  was  sparsely 
populated  in  the  Middle  Ages.'  In  1 67 1  High  Ongar 
had  only  57  houses  compared  with  the  81  of  Stanford 
Rivers,  a  neighbouring  parish  of  similar  area.^  The 
development  of  Marden  Ash  and  High  Ongar  village 
during  the  i8th  century  increased  the  relative  as  well 
as  the  total  population  of  the  parish,  and  in  1801  High 
Ongar  had  741  inhabitants — one  more  than  Stanford 
Rivers.  The  population  rose  to  1,126  in  1821  and 
remained  at  about  that  figure  for  the  next  century.  It 
then  increased  to  1,419  in  1931,  and  to  1,675  ™  I95i-' 


Recent  growth  is  mainly  due  to  the  building  of  council 
houses. 

The  ancient  parish  of  High  Ongar  consisted  of 
4,519  acres  of  which  1,505  acres  were  in  the  two 
detached  portions.  The  main  body  of  the  parish, 
3,014  acres  in  extent,  was  situated  to  the  east  and  south 
of  Chipping  Ongar.*  Detached  Part  No.  i,  of  962 
acres,  lay  between  North  Weald  and  Bobbingworth. 
Its  western  boundary  was  that  which  is  now  common 
to  those  two  parishes.  Its  eastern  boundary  ran  from 
Bobbingworth  Lodge  in  the  north  to  the  southern 
boundary  of  Bobbingworth  near  Blake  Hall  railway 
station.5  Detached  Part  No.  2,  of  543  acres,  lay  to  the 
north  of  Norton  Mandeville.  Its  northern  boundary 
was  part  of  that  which  now  divides  Norton  Mandeville 
from  the  parishes  of  Fyfield  and  Willingale.  Its 
southern  boundary  ran  from  the  Roding  at  a  point 
about  J  mile  north  of  High  Ongar  Bridge  east  to  the 
present  Norton  Mandeville-Willingale  boundary 
near  Bassett's  Farm  in  Willingale.  These  detached 
parts  belonged  to  High  Ongar  until  1946,  when 
Detached  Part  No.  i  was  merged  in  Bobbingworth 
and  No.  2  in  Norton  Mandeville.* 

Reasons  are  given  below  (see  Church)  for  supposing 
that  in  about  1280  a  substantial  part  of  the  then  parish 
of  High  Ongar  was  transferred  to  Stanford  Rivers 
(q.v.).  It  is  suggested  that  High  Ongar  had  previously 
extended  continuously  from  Marden  Ash,  south  of 
Greenstead  and  round  to  Ongar  Park  Hall  and 
Ashlyns,  and  that  the  southern  boundary  of  this  part,  of 
High  Ongar  may  have  been  the  stream  which  joins  the 
Roding  at  Wash  Bridge.    It  is  further  suggested  that 


«3  Ibid.  (1899). 

«*  Ibid.  (1912). 

»5  Ibid. 

»«  Ibid.  (1926). 

»'  Ibid.  (1937). 

«»  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

«»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  262. 

w  Cf.  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  li. 

»'  Ktlly't  Dir.  Ettex  (1937). 


92  E.R.O.,  T/P  96,  Ongar  W.E.A. 
Survey.  The  building  has  now  (1955) 
been  converted  into  business  premises. 

93  Char.  Com.  files. 

9<  Ref>.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  238-9  (183s),  xxi  (i);  E.R.O.,  D/P 
124/8/1  (entry  Apr.  1806). 

95  Char.  Com.  files. 

9'  Ibid. 


9'  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  243. 
*  For  statistics  see  below,  pp.  300  f. 

2  E.R.O.,  e/RTh  5. 

3  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350;  Census  Rep. 
1921,1931,  1951. 

<  O.S.  2}  in.  Map,  sheet  52/50. 
5  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  1. 
'  Co.  of  Essex  (Rural  Parishes)  Conf, 
Order,  1946,  p.  5. 


171 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  part  of  High  Ongar  which  may  have  been  trans- 
ferred to  Stanford  Rivers  about  1280  was  this  belt 
between  Marden  Ash  and  Ongar  Park  Hall.  This 
transfer  would  have  had  the  effect  of  making  the 
Ashlyns— Ongar  Park  section  of  High  Ongar  a  detached 
part  of  the  parish.  This  detached  part  was  known  as 
Bobbingworth  hamlet  or  as  Westwood  hamlet. 
Throughout  most  of  its  history  Detached  Part  No.  i 
has  consisted  of  two  estates:  Ashlyns  in  the  north,  and 
Ongar  Park  in  the  south.'  Ongar  Park  was  originally 
part  of  the  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.). 

Detached  Part  No.  2  was  separated  from  the  main 
body  of  the  parish  by  Norton  Mandeville  (q.v.).  In 
1 1 8 1  there  was  no  church  at  Norton.  The  tithes  from 
the  manor  of  Norton  (Foliot)  which  belonged  to  St. 
Paul's  and  which  was  later  known  as  Forest  Hall  (see 
below)  were  then  payable  to  the  church  of  High 
Ongar. 

The  church  of  Norton  Mandeville  was  built  after 
1 1 8 1  and  before  1 1 90  on  the  manor  of  Norton 
(Mandeville).  It  drew  tithes  from  that  manor  but 
there  is  no  evidence  that  it  ever  received  the  tithes  of 
Forest  Hall  or  those  of  the  manor  of  Newarks  Norton 
(see  below).  This  would  seem  to  be  the  origin  of  the 
second  detached  part  of  High  Ongar,  which  included 
the  manors  of  Forest  Hall  and  Newarks  Norton.  It  is 
possible  that  this  detached  part  became  for  a  time  part 
of  the  parish  of  Norton  Mandeville  and  was  restored 
to  High  Ongar  after  the  Dissolution,  when  the  ist 
Baron  Rich  was  trading  in  tithes  and  monastic  lands 
in  these  parishes.  * 

The  main  body  of  the  ancient  parish  of  High  Ongar 
now  stands  alone,  without  detached  parts.  It  consists 
of  two  sections,  linked  by  a  narrow  neck  of  land.  The 
section  to  the  south  of  Chipping  Ongar  is  small,  but  it 
includes  Marden  Ash.  The  name  Marden  goes  back 
at  least  to  the  nth  century  and  means  'boundary 
valley':  it  suggests  that  this  was  the  boundary  between 
Chipping  Ongar  and  High  Ongar  even  at  that  time.' 
Cripsey  Brook  is  the  present  northern  boundary  of  this 
part  of  High  Ongar.  The  brook  here  joins  the  River 
Roding  which  flows  south-east  across  the  neck  of  High 
Ongar  and  forms  the  boundary  of  Marden  Ash  on  the 
east  and  south.  The  road  from  Chipping  Ongar  south- 
west to  London  rises  steeply  up  Marden  Ash  Hill  to  a 
height  of  200  ft.  above  sea-level.  Near  the  top  of  the 
hill  it  joins  the  road  to  Brentwood  and  Tilbury,  which 
runs  south-east  and  leaves  the  parish  via  Langford 
Bridge  (see  Kelvedon  Hatch).  Most  of  the  houses  at 
Marden  Ash  are  built  along  these  two  main  roads  and 
in  the  streets  branching  from  them.  In  general  the 
character  of  Marden  Ash  is  purely  residential.  The 
sophisticated  quality  in  some  of  the  1 8th-  and  early 
19th-century  houses  is  of  special  interest.  It  suggests 
that  the  residents  were  not  dependent  on  local  re- 
sources. 

Marden  Ash  House,  described  in  1768  as  a  'seat', 
was  probably  built  by  Nicholas  Alexander  late  in  the 
17th  century.'"  It  retains  a  fine  staircase  of  this  period. 
Externally  the  appearance  of  the  house  was  entirely 
altered  in  the  middle  of  the  i8th  century,  when  it  was 
cased  in  red  brick  and  a  new  front  was  added.  The  front 
is  of  two  stories  with  nine  windows  to  the  first  floor.  It 


has  a  central  doorway  with  half-round  Ionic  pilasters 
and  a  pediment.  There  is  a  modillion  cornice  and  a 
parapet,  with  pedimented  dormers  above.  Internally 
there  is  some  good  mid-i8th-century  detail  and  a  later 
'Adam'  ceiling.  The  oak  overmantel  in  the  Jacobean 
style  was  carved  in  the  19th  century."  The  18th- 
century  brick  stable  block  has  a  clock  turret  and  cupola. 
North  of  the  house  is  a  consciously  picturesque 
gardener's  cottage,  probably  dating  from  the  late  1 8th 
century.  It  is  of  one  story  with  a  deep  thatched  roof, 
the  eaves  supported  on  rustic  veranda  posts.  The 
windows  are  pointed,  with  gothic  glazing  bars  and 
leaded  lights. 

Opposite  Marden  Ash  House  is  Dyers,  a  much 
smaller  house  which  was  also  brought  up  to  date  in 
the  1 8th  century.  Similarity  of  detail  suggests  a  con- 
nexion between  the  two  houses  at  this  time.  Dyers 
may  have  a  i6th-  or  17th-century  origin;  there  is  a 
mid-  or  late- 17th-century  window  head  on  the  north 
side.  The  mid-i8th-century  front  of  plastered  brick- 
work is  not  symmetrical,  which  suggests  the  adaptation 
of  an  earlier  building.  Internally  the  house  is  extremely 
rich  in  mid-l8th-century  decorative  features,  including 
door-heads  and  overmantels.  The  fine  staircase  has 
enriched  strings  and  there  is  a  Roman  Doric  order  on 
the  half  landing. 

Houses  which  probably  date  from  the  second  half 
of  the  1 8th  century  are  the  White  House,  near  the 
north  end  of  the  Brentwood  road,  the  Two  Brewers 
Inn  and  houses  near  it  on  the  Greenstead  road,  and  a 
red-brick  house  with  a  wall  sundial  on  the  main  road 
south  of  Ongar  Bridge. 

Grey  End,  formerly  The  Nook,  appears  to  have 
been  a  weather-boarded  18th-century  house,  part,  of 
which  was  refronted  in  brick  and  stucco  early  in  the 
19th  century.  The  altered  part  of  the  south  front  has 
somewhat  elaborate  detail  of  the  period. 

Brewery  Cottages,  on  the  Brentwood  road,  were 
probably  built  in  connexion  with  the  former  brewery 
at  Dyers  (see  below).  They  are  of  whitewashed  brick 
and  probably  date  from  about  1830.  Orchard  Cottage, 
built  by  Noble  of  Ongar  in  1837,  is  a  typical  small 
middle-class  house  of  the  period  with  a  trellis  porch 
and  sash  windows.  There  are  several  fairly  large  late- 
I9th-century  houses,  the  most  important  of  which  is 
The  Gables,  built  in  1887  with  additions  of  1891  and 
1 894."  For  some  years  before  the  Second  World  War 
it  was  the  Mary  Macarthur  Holiday  Home  for  Work- 
ing Women. '3  Most  of  the  houses  along  the  London 
road  were  built  during  the  second  half  of  the  19th 
century.  Three  cul-de-sac  roads  have  houses  of  a  later 
date  including  seven  pairs  of  red-brick  council  houses 
in  St.  James's  Avenue  and  three  pairs  in  Landview 
Gardens.  Also  in  St.  James's  Avenue  is  the  site  of  the 
former  St.  James's  Church. ■••  There  is  a  Gospel  Hall 
on  the  west  side  of  Marden  Ash  Hill. 

A  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  Marden  Ash  the  Brent- 
wood road  is  joined  by  the  road  running  west  from 
Hallsford  Bridge.  Newhouse  Farm,  on  this  latter  road, 
is  a  timber-framed  and  plastered  house  dating  from 
about  1600.  The  original  structure  is  L-shaped  with  a 
small  staircase  wing  in  the  angle.  There  may  have  been 
a  second  cross-wing  at  the  east  end,  giving  the  more 


'  For  these  manors  see  below. 

'  Cf.  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  452.  The 
topography  of  the  former  detached  parts 
is  described  under  the  parishes  of  Bobbing- 
worth and  Norton  Mandeville. 

»  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  73. 


">  Morant,  fjwr,  i,  132.  Inigigitwas 
reported  that  there  was  a  sundial  in  the 
garden,  dated  1697:  Hist.  Mon.  Com. 
Recs. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  S.  H.  Jones,  the  present 
owner. 


"  E.R.O.,    T/P    96    (Ongar    W.E.A. 
Survey  1951). 
■3  Kflly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933  f.). 
^*  See  below,  Church. 


172 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


usual  half-H  plan.  There  are  two  rather  closely  set 
gables  at  the  front,  decorated  during  the  past  30  years 
with  imitation  half-timbering.' 5  The  central  chimney 
has  six  octagonal  shafts  with  moulded  bases.  There 
are  two  original  ground  floor  rooms,  that  to  the  west 
having  a  very  wide  fireplace  opening  surrounded  by 
old  carving  reset.  The  east  room  is  completely  panelled 
with  a  carved  frieze  and  fine  carved  overmantel,  all  of 
about  1600.  If  these  fittings  are  in  situ  they  suggest  a 
house  of  considerable  status  which  is  likely  to  have  been 
more  extensive  at  the  time  it  was  built.  Alterations 
took  place  in  the  1 8th  century  when  a  low  two-story 
wing  was  added  at  the  back  and  most  of  the  small 
muUioned  windows  were  replaced  by  larger  case- 
ments. The  two  doorways  are  Georgian,  one  retaining 
an  earlier  nail-studded  door.  Single-story  additions  at 
the  back  of  the  house  are  of  a  still  later  date. 

At  Hallsford  Bridge  there  is  a  brickworks.  To  the 
east  of  the  bridge  the  Stondon  Massey  road  runs  south- 
east, and  Mill  Lane,  leading  to  High  Ongar  village  and 
the  east  part  of  the  parish,  runs  north.  This  section  of 
the  parish  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Roding,  from 
which  the  land  rises  gradually  to  the  east,  reaching  a 
height  of  300  ft.  at  Paslow  Wood  Common.  The  main 
road  from  Epping  to  Chelmsford  enters  the  parish  in 
the  north-west  by  High  Ongar  Bridge  across  the 
Roding.  Near  the  bridge  to  the  south  of  this  road  is 
the  rectory  (see  below.  Church).  High  Ongar  village 
is  J  mile  east  of  the  bridge,  lying  along  the  road.  Here 
are  the  parish  church,  the  village  school,  the  village 
hall,  the  post-office,  and  a  small  sawmill.  There  has 
been  a  village  in  this  place  since  the  beginning  of  the 
17th  century  and  no  doubt  earlier,  although  in  the 
Middle  Ages  it  may  have  been  no  more  than  a  tiny 
hamlet.  In  1637  there  were  nine  tenements  in  'High 
Ongar  Street'  belonging  to  the  rectory  manor  (see 
below.  Church)  and  there  may  have  been  other  houses 
in  the  village  not  included  in  that  manor. 

The  oldest  surviving  house  in  the  village  is  the 
timber-framed  and  weather-boarded  building  im- 
mediately east  of  the  church;  this  dates  from  the  late 
i6th  or  early  17th  century  and  may  have  been  built 
as  the  rectory.  It  has  a  half  H -shaped  plan,  the  wings 
projecting  to  the  north.  The  front  has  two  flanking 
gables  and  the  upper  floor  oversails  across  its  entire 
length.  East  of  the  centre  is  a  brick  chimney  with  four 
octagonal  shafts  with  moulded  bases  and  joined  caps. 
The  weather-boarding  was  probably  added  in  the  1 8th 
century  and  at  some  time  the  west  wing  was  extended 
northwards  and  further  chimneys  added.  A  small 
lean-to  shop,  now  the  post-office,  was  added  to  the 
front  of  the  east  wing,  probably  early  in  the  19th 
century.  There  is  also  a  single-story  addition  at  the 
back  between  the  two  wings.  Before  these  extensions 
were  made  the  house  probably  had  fourteen  rooms. 
The  house  is  now  divided  into  four  tenements.  Part 
of  it  was  at  one  time  used  as  a  lock-up,  and  the  post- 
masters' tenement  contains  a  small  room  that  may  have 
been  one  of  the  cells.'* 

Opposite  the  church  is  a  row  of  timber-framed  houses 
known  as  'The  Street'.  They  are  fairly  uniform  in 
character  and  probably  date  from  the  early  or  mid- 
i8th  century.  The  fronts,  some  altered,  are  mostly 
roughcast  but  one   pair   is  weather-boarded  and  the 


Three  Horseshoes  Inn  has  timber  framing  recently 
exposed.  Several  houses  near  The  Street  appear  to  be 
of  the  same  period,  faced  later  with  brick.  The  Tabor 
almshouses  (see  Charities,  below)  were  situated  near 
the  post-office  to  the  east. 

Mill  Lane,  running  south  from  the  village,  took  its 
name  from  the  windmill  which  formerly  stood  to  the 
west  of  the  lane  ^  mile  from  High  Ongar."  The  Old 
Cottage  also  on  the  west  of  the  lane  has  diagonal  shafts 
to  the  chimney  and  is  of  the  17th  century.  Nash  Hall 
cottages  are  an  attractive  row  with  a  mansard  roof  and 
gabled  dormers.  There  are  9  pairs  of  council  houses 
on  the  west  side  of  the  lane  immediately  south  of  the 
village.  Farther  south  on  the  same  side  are  7  pairs. 
Behind  these  is  Millfield,  a  council  housing  estate  con- 
sisting of  some  20  pairs  of  houses  and  4  pairs  of  old 
people's  bungalows.  It  was  built  about  1948.  Also  in 
Mill  Lane  is  a  small  chapel  (see  Nonconformity,  below). 
Clatterford  Bridge,  in  Mill  Lane,  spans  a  stream  which 
flows  west  to  join  the  Roding. 

South  of  the  main  Chelmsford  road  J  mile  east  of 
the  village  is  Nash  Hall  (see  below).  Chivers  Hall  (see 
below)  is  north  of  the  road  i  mile  east  of  the  village. 
At  Cozens  Farm,  on  the  road  ij  mile  east  of  the  village, 
there  is  an  incomplete  moat.  The  house  itself  is  not 
older  than  the  17th  century.  It  is  timber-framed  and 
plastered  and  has  an  original  chimney.  Spurriers,  J 
mile  east  of  Cozens  Farm,  is  a  brick  farm-house  of  the 
late  1 8th  or  early  19th  century.  Half  a  mile  east  of 
Spurriers  is  Norton  Heath,  a  hamlet  partly  in  High 
Ongar  and  partly  in  Norton  Mandeville.'^ 

At  Spurriers  the  main  road  is  joined  by  the  road 
running  south-west  through  Nine  Ashes  and  Paslow 
Wood  Common  to  Stondon  Massey.  Bluegates,  which 
is  \  mile  south  of  Spurriers  on  this  latter  road,  has  a 
late-i8th-century  front.  Withers  Pawne  (see  below), 
now  called  The  Rookery,  is  ^  mile  south-east  of 
Spurriers.  Rookery  House,  formerly  called  The 
Rookery,  is  J  mile  west  of  Withers  Pawne.  It  is  a  sub- 
stantial brick  house  built  about  1870.  Nine  Ashes 
Farm,  now  divided  into  tenements  for  the  employees 
of  Paslow  Hall  farm,  is  probably  of  the  early  1 8th 
century.  North  of  Nine  Ashes  the  road  is  joined  by 
King  Street,  which  runs  north-west  to  the  main  road. 
In  King  Street  are  Paslow  Hall  (see  below)  and  Old 
Thrifts  (see  Frith  Hall).  Old  Withers,  a  timber- 
framed  and  plastered  farm-house,  on  the  north  side  of 
King  Street,  appears  to  be  of  the  late  17  th  or  early 
18th-century.  This  is  an  ancient  moated  site,  which 
derives  its  name  from  the  family  of  Richard  Wyther 
(fl.  1340)."  The  three-sided  moat  is  now  (1953) 
being  filled  in.  There  are  eight  pairs  of  council  houses 
in  King  Street. 

The  village  of  Paslow  Wood  Common  takes  its 
name  from  the  common  which  formerly  adjoined  the 
road  here  (see  below).  It  has  a  primary  school  and  a 
mission  church.  There  is  fairly  continuous  building  on 
both  sides  of  the  road ;  most  of  this  dates  from  the  1 9th 
and  20th  centuries  and  there  is  a  large  proportion  of 
small  modern  bungalows.  Larkins  Farm  is  a  timber- 
framed  house,  probably  of  the  17th  century  but  encased 
in  red  brick  early  in  the  i8th  century.  In  the  King 
Street-Paslow  Wood  Common  area  there  are  several 
1 8th-century  cottages.  In  1777  there  were  eight  houses 


'5  The  timbering  is  not  shown  either  in 
a  sketch  of  1903;  E.R.O.,  Prints,  High 
Ongar,  or  in  a  photo,  of  1919  :  Hist.  Men. 
Com.  Recs. 


"  In  a  Map  of  Essex  by  C.  and  J.  Green- 
wood {1825)  a  'Dungeon'  is  shown  in  the 
east  of  High  Ongar  Street,  on  the  north 
side.    This  was  no  doubt  the  lock-up  in 


question.  *'  See  below. 

"  AH.  buildings   at  Norton   Heath  are 
described  under  Norton  Mandevillc. 

'9  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  74. 


173 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


around  the  common  itself,  but  most  of  these  have  now 
disappeared.^" 

There  are  several  references  in  the  Quarter  Sessions 
records  of  the  late  i6th  and  early  17th  centuries  to  the 
bad  condition  of  the  roads  in  the  parish.  It  is  significant 
that  most  of  the  references  concern  the  remote  detached 
part  of  the  parish  to  the  west  of  Bobbingworth.  More 
than  one  complaint  was  made  of  the  lane  between 
Bobbingworth  Green  and  Reynkyns  Brook  (apparently 
the  present  main  road,  A.  122).^'  Both  that  detached 
part  and  the  main  body  of  the  parish  were  served  by 
the  Epping-Chelmsford  road  which  was  turnpiked 
late  in  the  1 8th  century.  A  toll-gate  was  erected  across 
the  road  opposite  High  Ongar  Church.  The  toll  house 
was  sold  in  1870.^^  It  stood  against  the  south  wall  of 
the  churchyard.^3  King  Street  probably  owes  its  name 
to  the  family  of  Richard  le  Kyng  (fl.  1341).^''  The 
most  serious  defect  in  the  road  system  of  the  parish  has 
always  been  the  absence  of  a  direct  road  from  Marden 
Ash  to  Paslow  Wood  Common.  The  road  from  High 
Ongar  village  to  Paslow  Wood  Common  is  also  some- 
what roundabout.  There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that 
these  defects  ever  had  serious  social  results,  as  did  the 
bad  road  system  of  Lambourne  (q.v.).  Marden  Ash 
could  supply  its  social  needs  in  Chipping  Ongar.  Until 
the  1 8th  century  there  were  probably  few  residents  at 
Paslow  Wood  Common,  and  they  were  not  far  from 
Blackmore. 

High  Ongar  Bridge,  which  carries  the  main  Chelms- 
ford road  across  the  Roding,  has  been  important  from 
the  l6th  century  and  no  doubt  earlier.  It  was  often 
presented  at  Quarter  Sessions  as  needing  repair.  In 
1563  it  was  not  known  who  should  repair  it.^s  In 
1574-5  it  was  said  to  be  the  responsibility  of  the 
county.^*  Complaints  continued  to  be  made  about  its 
condition,  and  the  county  indicted  for  failure  to  repair 
it.^7  In  the  late  17th  century,  however,  considerable 
sums  were  spent  on  its  repair,  and  the  county  continued 
to  maintain  the  bridge.^*  In  1858  the  county  surveyor 
made  a  detailed  report  on  it;  it  was  then  a  brick 
bridge.^'  In  191 3  it  was  rebuilt  in  concrete.^" 

A  foot-bridge  between  Chipping  Ongar  and  High 
Ongar  was  also  presented  at  Quarter  Sessions  at  various 
times  in  the  1 7th  century.  It  apparently  adjoined  High 
Ongar  Bridge.3>  In  1677  the  inhabitants  of  High 
Ongar  were  indicted  for  not  repairing  the  foot-bridge 
leading  to  Brentwood — presumably  a  bridge  at 
Marden  Ash.  Hallsford  Bridge  is  dealt  with  under 
Stondon  Massey. 

For  transport  High  Ongar  has  depended  mainly 
upon  Chipping  Ongar,  and  upon  services  along  the 
main  Epping-Chelmsford  road.  High  Ongar  village 
is  now  (1953)  well  served  by  buses  between  Epping 
and  Chelmsford,  and  also  by  those  between  Chipping 
Ongar  and  Brentwood  via  Blackmore  and  Nine  Ashes. 
Marden  Ash  has  buses  to  Romford  and  Brentwood 
passing  through  and  the  terminus  for  the  services  to 


Epping  and  to  Brentwood  via  High  Ongar  is  at  the 
foot  of  Marden  Ash  Hill. 

A  post-office  at  High  Ongar  is  listed  in  1856.3^ 
Edward  Knights  was  receiver  between  1862  and 
1890.33  In  1895-1902  there  was  a  sub-postmaster.3* 
The  post-office  was  closed  for  a  short  time  about  1905- 
6,  but  was  reopened  after  a  petition  from  the  parish 
council.35 

Water  was  supplied  to  High  Ongar  village  in  19 14 
by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co. 3*  Between 
1894  and  1908  there  were  many  complaints  of  foul 
and  open  drainage  ditches  in  the  parish,  but  in  spite  of 
this  a  proposal  by  Chipping  Ongar  for  a  joint  sewage 
scheme  was  rejected  in  1901.37  The  main  drainage  of 
High  Ongar  village  had  been  completed  by  191 5, 
although  the  school  was  not  connected  to  the  main 
sewer  until  1925.38  There  is  main  drainage  on  the 
Millfield  estate  and  at  Marden  Ash.  The  Ongar  Gas 
Co.  supplied  gas  to  Marden  Ash,  no  doubt  from  its 
early  days.  Marden  Ash  also  received  electricity  when 
Chipping  Ongar  was  supplied  in  1932.  Gas  was 
supplied  to  High  Ongar  village  in  1 9 1  o,39  and  electricity 
mains  were  extended  there  in  I935.'*''  Paslow  Wood 
Common  has  electricity  but  no  gas  or  main  drainage.'*' 

In  1895  the  parish  council  considered  that  a  police- 
man was  needed  in  High  Ongar  village,*^  and  one  was 
stationed  there  by  i898.'*3  The  constable  was  retained 
until  1914'M  but  appears  to  have  been  withdrawn 
during  the  First  World  War.  In  192 1  the  parish 
council  examined  complaints  that  the  village  youths 
were  disorderly  and  decided  to  apply  for  a  resident 
policeman.'ts  The  application  was  not  immediately 
successful,  but  there  is  now  (1953)  a  policeman  in  the 
village.''* 

A  village  hall  was  opened  in  High  Ongar  in  1925. 
It  had  an  original  endowment  of  Mill  Lane  allotment 
field,  the  income  from  which  was  to  be  used  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  hall.  The  trustees  were  to  be  a 
committee  of  twelve  elected  residents.  In  1928—34 
the  allotment  field  was  sold  in  several  lots  for  jCi87. 
The  money  was  invested  and  in  1949  brought  in 
^4  19/.  104".  This  was  supplemented  by  j^i  19  18/.  \d. 
raised  by  letting  the  hall  for  social  and  recreational  pur- 
poses, including  film  shows.""  A  branch  of  the  county 
library  was  opened  in  1928.^8  There  was  a  club  room 
at  Marden  Ash  in  19 14,  possibly  in  connexion  with 
St.  James's  Church."*' 

The  Fane  Memorial  Nursing  Home  was  set  up  by 
a  deed  of  1901.50  A  public  subscription  in  memory  of 
the  Revd.  F.  A.  S.  Fane  (d.  1894),  for  many  years 
Curate  of  Norton  Mandeville,  and  chairman  of  the 
Ongar  Board  of  Guardians,  had  been  used  to  buy 
property  fronting  on  the  main  road  at  Marden  Ash  and 
this  deed  put  the  house  in  trust  to  be  used  as  a  home  for 
a  nurse  employed  by  the  residents  of  Ongar  Union.'' 
Before  1948  the  house  was  for  many  years  used  by  the 
district  nurse  provided  by  the  Ongar  and  District 


">  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xvii. 

"  E.R.O.,Q/SR95/39, 108/21, 144/26. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/TE  13. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

M  P.N.  Essex,  73. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  12/5. 

«  E.R.O.,e/CP  I,  p.  21. 

"e.g.  in  1620  and  1677:  E.R.O., 
Q/CP  3,  pp.  54,  ss,  34.2. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/SR  412/89,  Q/CP  3, 
p.  555,  e/SBb  17. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 


3°  Inf.  from  Essex  Co.  Surveyor. 
3-  E.R.O.,    e/SR    388/32;    Q/CP    3, 
p.  129,  203,  282,  458. 

32  Bril.  Post.  Guide,  1856. 

33  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1862  f.,  1890). 
3t  Ibid.  (1895,  1902). 

35  Parish      Council      Mins.      1906-8: 
extracts  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

36  Inf.    from    Herts.    &    Essex    Water- 
works Co. 

3'  Par.  Council  Mins.  1894- 1908. 

3'  Ibid.  1915,  1925. 

39  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Gas  Bd. 


■to  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elec.  Bd. 

*'  Inf.  from  the  rector,  Revd.  B.  Hartley. 

♦^  Par.  Council  Mins.  1895. 

'•3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1898). 

«  Ibid.  (1914). 

*5  Par.  Council  Mins.  1921. 

*'  Inf.  from  Chief  Constable  of  Essex. 

♦'  Char.  Com.  files. 

**  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

*9  Par.  Council  Mins.  1914. 

50  Char.  Com.  files. 

5'  For  Fane's  career  see  E.R.  iv,  4. 


174 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


Nursing  Association.  In  1949  the  property  was 
transferred  to  the  county  council. 

For  much  of  its  history  High  Ongar  has  been  oc- 
cupied mainly  by  tenant  farmers.  During  the  Middle 
Ages  the  Waldens  and  Batailles  of  Ongar  Park  were 
probably  resident  lords,  from  the  1 5th  century  to  1578 
the  Pawnes  probably  lived  at  Chivers  Pawne,  and  from 
the  1 6th  century  onwards  the  Stanes  of  Forest  Hall 
lived  on  their  manor,  but  with  these  exceptions  it  is 
doubtful  whether  any  of  the  lords  lived  in  the  parish 
until  the  i8th  century.  About  1730  the  leading  vestry- 
men were  William  Stane  and  William  Baker  (of 
Withers  Pawne).^^  By  this  time  the  Stanes  owned  the 
manors  of  Newarks  and  Chivers  Hall  as  well  as  Forest 
Hall.  A  hundred  years  later  their  new  mansion  of 
Forest  Hall  was  the  centre  of  an  expanding  estate  of 
more  than  1,000  acres. S3  Meanwhile,  in  the  detached 
part  of  the  parish  adjoining  Bobbingworth,  the  manor 
of  Ongar  Park  had  been  acquired  by  the  Capel  Cures, 
of  Blake  Hall  in  Bobbingworth.  Both  the  Stanes  and 
the  Capel  Cures  let  most  of  their  land  to  tenant  farmers, 
but  being  themselves  resident  were  in  a  position  to 
exercise  fairly  close  supervision  over  the  tenants.^^  In 
1 849  the  parish  contained  some  20  farms  of  more  than 
30  acres.ss  Of  these  the  largest  (Paslow  Hall)  con- 
tained 705  acres.  There  were  five  others  of  more  than 
200  acres,  six  of  100—200  acres,  four  of  50-100  acres, 
and  four  of  30—50  acres.  In  the  previous  year  it  had 
been  estimated  that  2,500  acres  of  the  parish  were 
arable  and  1,500  acres  were  meadow  and  pasture.^* 
As  these  figures  indicate,  mixed  farming  was  then,  as 
now,  being  carried  on  in  High  Ongar.  In  general  this 
applied  to  individual  farms:  in  about  1820-30  Ongar 
Park  Hall  farm  (in  High  Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers) 
consisted  of  42 1  acres,  of  which  I  ig  acres  were  pasture 
and  302  acres  arable.^'  In  1827-9  wheat,  barley, 
clover,  and  oats  were  the  main  crops. '^  Warden's 
Farm  in  the  same  parishes  contained  93  acres  of  pasture 
and  176  acres  of  arable.''  Newhouse  Farm,  on  the 
other  hand,  was  entirely  pasture  (106  acres).*" 

The  Capel  Cures  still  live  at  Blake  Hall  (1953)  but 
the  Newalls  were  not  resident  at  Forest  Hall  after 
about  1900  and  their  estate  was  broken  up  in  1919-20. 
The  largest  farm  of  the  estate,  Paslow  Hall,  was 
acquired  as  a  dairy  farm  by  the  Stratford  (now  the 
London)  Co-operative  Society.  A  previous  tenant  of 
Paslow,  Hugh  Craig,  attained  distinction  as  a  maker  of 
cheese.  During  the  summer  of  1904  he  made  several 
Cheddar  cheeses,  using  as  much  as  160  gallons  of 
milk.*' 

There  is  httle  information  about  inclosure  in  the 
parish.  Richard  I  granted  Waltham  Abbey  60  acres 
assarts  in  the  manor  of  Paslow.*^  Paslow  Wood  Com- 
mon, which  contained  83  acres,  was  inclosed  in  1859.^3 


There  was  a  windmill  in  Mill  Lane  in  1777.**  The 
mill  was  still  working  in  1 874,  but  fell  out  of  use  soon 
after.*5  A  bakery  was  run  in  conjunction  with  it, 
which  continued  after  the  mill  itself  had  closed.**  The 
base  of  the  old  windmill,  now  an  outhouse,  stands  in 
the  garden  of  Mill  Cottage.  It  is  of  unusual  octagonal 
shape  and  has  thick  battered  walls  of  red  brick.  The 
cross-trees  are  still  in  position.  The  mill  may  date  from 
the  17th  century.  Mill  Cottage,  which  included  the 
bakery,  is  probably  of  the  same  period.  It  has  been 
considerably  extended  by  the  present  owners. 

In  1833-4  and  1848  malting  was  being  carried  on 
at  Marden  Ash  by  Henry  Johnston.*'  In  1848  there 
was  also  a  brewer,  Henry  Saltmarsh,  in  the  parish.*' 
In  1874  J.  and  J.  Palmer  were  brewers  at  Marden 
Ash,  and  their  business  was  still  being  carried  on  in  1 906 
by  E.  J.  Palmer.*'  The  brewery  was  behind  Dyers'" 
and  must  have  been  a  flourishing  concern  if  Brewery 
Cottages  (see  above)  were  built  to  house  its  workers. 

In  1823  a  lacemaking  school  was  established  in  or 
near  Marden  Ash  by  Charles  Walker,  who  took  pauper 
apprentices  from  local  parishes." 

The  brickworks  at  Hallsford  Bridge  were  opened 
about  1914.'^  Other  occupations  that  have  been  noted 
were  mainly  of  the  types  common  in  rural  areas,  but  a 
marine  store  dealer  and  a  fishmonger  occur  in  1886.'^ 
There  is  now  (1953)  a  sawmill  opposite  the  church  in 
High  Ongar  village. 

About  1220  there  were  two  separate  grants  of  a 
fair  in  High  Ongar,  one  to  William  de  Monceux,  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Ongar  (later  Nash  Hall),  and  the  other 
to  the  Rector  of  High  Ongar.'*  In  1657  Quarter 
Sessions  suppressed  a  fair  in  the  parish  that  was  said  to 
have  been  held  illegally.'s 

The  manor  of  ONGAR  alias  LITTLE  ONGAR, 
later  known  as  ASHHALL  alias  NASH 
MANORS  HALL  was  held  in  1066  by  Leuric  as  a 
manor  and  3  virgates.  In  1086  it  was  held 
by  Roger  of  John  son  of  Waleran.'*  There  is  no  direct 
reference  to  the  manor  in  the  1 2th  century,  but  in  1 2 1 2 
it  was  held  by  William  de  Monceux  of  the  king  in  chief 
'de  Mareschaucie',  and  it  was  added  that  it  had  been 
'de  baronia  Gileberti  de  Tani'."  This  marshalship 
consisted  of  looking  after  the  prostitutes  at  the  king's 
court,  dismembering  condemned  malefactors,  and 
measuring  the  king's  'gallons'  and  'bushels'. '^  In  1 166 
this  strange  office  had  been  held  by  William  Fitz 
Audelin,  who  had  received  it  in  marriage  with  Juliane, 
daughter  of  Robert  Doisnel."  This  Robert  may  have 
been  a  descendant  of  the  Domesday  tenant  Roger.'" 
Gilbert  de  Tany,  of  whose  barony  the  manor  had  been 
held,  was  the  successor  of  the  Domesday  overlord 
John  son  of  Waleran.''  The  tenure  of  the  manor  of 
Ongar  was  probably  converted  from  knight  service  to 


'^  See  below.  Parish  Government. 

5'  See  below.  Forest  Hall. 

5«  The  notebook  of  Capel  Cure  (1797— 
1878)  for  c.  1820—30  records  such  super- 
vision: cf.  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6. 

55  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263.  These  figures 
relate  to  farms  being  worked  as  single 
units.  In  some  cases  two  or  more  farms 
were  at  this  time  merged  in  one. 

5<'  Ibid. 

5'  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6. 

58  Ibid.  59  Ibid.  «o  Ibid. 

«•  r.C.H.Essex,\\,27i. 

"  Cal.  Chart.  1226-57,  306. 

'J  E.R.O.,  e/RDc  50. 

'*  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
iyy7,  sheet  xvii. 


«5  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f.). 

'<■  Ibid.  (1874,  1886). 

"  E.R.O.,  g/RPr  i/i;  Pfhite's  Dir. 
^■jKa:  (1848),  434. 

'8  ffhite's  Dir.  Essex  (i  848),  434. 

'9  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874,  1906). 

'**  Inf.  from  Miss  Jones  of  Dyers i  O.S. 
6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  li. 

'■  F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  485-6. 

72  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1914).  And  cf. 
Chipping  Ongar,  Occupations. 

"  Ibid.  (1886). 

'*  See  below  Nash  Hall  and  Church. 

'5  E.R.O.,  Transcripts,  No.  90  {1657). 
The  fair  had  been  held  in  the  village  street 
about  the  beginning  of  September.  The 
Earl  of  Warwick,  'the  lord  of  that  place'. 


had  stated  that  there  was  no  legal  warrant 
for  the  fair.  But  the  earl  was  lord  of 
Paslow  Hall,  not  of  High  Ongar  (Nash 
Hall),  and  cannot  be  regarded  as  an 
authority  on  the  matter. 

'<■  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  545*. 

"  Bk.  of  Fees,  122.  Cf.  Red  Bk.  of 
Exck.  507. 

'8  J.  H.  Round,  King's  Serjeants  and 
Officers  of  State,  92-98. 

"  Ibid.  92. 

80  R.  Doisnel  occurs  in  1 096—9 : 
H.  W.  C.  Davis,  Regesta  Ang.-Norm., 
No.  440. 

8*  Gilbert  also  succeeded  John  son  of 
Waleran  at  Fyfield  (q.v.).  For  Gilbert  de 
Tany  see  Dugdale,  Baronage,  i,  508. 


175 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


grand  serjeanty  early  in  the  1 2th  century.  This  would 
have  had  the  effect  of  dissolving  the  mesne  lordship. 

Juliane  wife  of  William  Fitz  Audelin  died  in  or 
before  1199,  without  sons.  Her  heirs  were  William 
de  Warblington  and  Enguerrand  de  Monceux,  possibly 
the  sons  of  two  of  her  daughters. 82  In  1204  William 
de  Warblington  paid  a  fine  to  the  king  for  having 
Ongar,  but  in  the  following  year  there  was  a  partition 
of  Juliane's  land  as  the  result  of  which  Ongar  came  to 
Waleran  de  Monceux,  who  was  probably  brother  and 
successor  of  Enguerrand. *3  Waleran  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  William  de  Monceux,  the  tenant  of  1 2 1 2.  The 
marshalship  ultimately  passed  to  William  de  Warbling- 
ton and  his  heirs  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  there  was 
confusion  over  the  tenure  by  which  Ongar  was  held. 
In  1375  the  manor  was  said  to  be  held  of  the  Earl  of 
Stafford  in  socage  and  by  suit  at  the  hundred  court.** 

In  1220  William  de  Monceux  owed  a  palfrey  for 
having  an  annual  fair  at  his  town  of  'Old  Ongar'. 85 
He  died  in  1243.**  There  is  a  curious  absence  of 
references  to  this  manor  for  the  rest  of  the  1 3th  century, 
and  when  it  reappears  again  it  is  under  the  new  name 
of  Ashhall.  In  1332  John  de  Fiennes  and  his  wife 
Maud  made  a  conveyance  of  Ashhall.  *7  Maud  was 
sister  and  heir  of  John  de  Monceux,  great-great- 
grandson  of  William  de  Monceux. **  From  this  it  is 
clear  that  the  descent  of  the  manor  was  the  same  as 
that  of  Herstmonceux  (Sussex)  and  Compton  Monceux 
(in  King's  Sombourne,  Hants). *«  Nash  Hall  con- 
tinued to  descend  with  Herstmonceux  until  1600, 
when  it  was  conveyed  to  Thomas  Mildmay  by  Samson 
Leonard  and  Margaret  Lady  Dacre  his  wife. «"  Thomas, 
who  was  also  lord  of  the  manor  of  Barnes  in  Spring- 
field, was  later  knighted  and  died  in  1612."  He  was 
succeeded  at  Nash  Hall  by  one  of  his  younger  sons, 
Walter  Mildmay.'^ 

Walter  Mildmay  held  courts  as  lord  of  the  manor 
from  161 3  to  1 6 54. '3  By  1661  he  had  been  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son  Ambrose  who  held  court  in  that  year 
and  later  up  to  1 681.9*  Ambrose  probably  died  with- 
out children  soon  after  168 1,  for  in  1696  and  1698  the 
manor  was  the  subject  of  conveyances  by  Walter 
Wallinger,  Anthony  Wallinger,  and  Judith  Wallinger, 
spinster.'s  Walter  and  Judith  were  the  children  of 
Benjamin  Wallinger,  who  had  married  Judith, 
daughter  of  Walter  Mildmay.'*  Anthony  was  possibly 
their  brother;  they  were  probably  making  a  division  of 
the  manors  as  heirs  of  their  uncle  Ambrose. 

Anthony  Wallinger  was  lord  of  the  manor  in  1 714," 
but  by  1728  it  had  passed  to  Peter  Champion.'*  Peter 
or  a  namesake  was  lord  in  1757  and  about  1770."  By 
1780  Anthony  Champion  was  lord.'  He  continued  to 
hold  it  until  about  1 800-1  ?  Henry  Partridge  was  lord 
in  1803.3  About  181 3-14  Nash  Hall  was  acquired  by 


the  Revd.  J.  Bramston  Stane,  and  thus  became  part  of 
the  Forest  Hall  estate  (see  below).*  In  1849  the  Nash 
Hall  section  of  the  estate  consisted  of  204  acres  oc- 
cupied by  James  Palmer.s  In  1862  Nash  Hall  farm 
contained  195  acres  and  was  occupied  by  Mrs.  Palmer 
on  an  eight-year  lease  at  an  annual  rental  of  ;£30o.*  In 
1919  the  farm  was  268  acres.' 

The  present  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and 
plastered.  It  shows  no  obvious  signs  of  antiquity,  and 
if  it  formed  part  of  the  medieval  manor  house  it  was 
probably  largely  reconstructed  in  the  1 8th  century. 

The  manor  of  ONGAR  PARK  alias  BATELLS 
was  originally  part  of  that  of  Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.), 
and  was  known  late  in  the  1 3th  century  as  the  manor  of 
Stanford  Park.  In  the  14th  century  and  later  it  lay  on 
the  boundary  of  the  parishes  of  High  Ongar  and 
Stanford  Rivers.  Before  this,  although  part  of  the 
manor  of  Stanford  Rivers,  it  may  have  been  wholly  in 
the  parish  of  High  Ongar  (see  below.  Church,  c.  1280). 

Humphrey  de  Walden,  to  whom  the  manor  was 
granted  in  1300,  died  in  1331,  seised  of 'the  park  of 
Stanford,  held  of  the  king  as  parcel  of  the  manor  of 
Stanford  Rivers'.  The  manor  was  then  said  to  consist 
of  270  acres  of  arable,  worth  '^d.  an  acre,  land  at  farm 
worth  2/.  ( ?)  %d.,  and  pasture  worth  iios.  beyond  the 
fees  of  Thomas  Tracy,  Thomas  de  Caune,  and  John  de 
Rychyng  (  .').*  John  de  Cantebrigg  was  granted  custody 
of  Humphrey's  heir  Andrew,  son  of  Roger  de  Walden.' 
In  1336  a  royal  licence  was  granted  to  Andrew  de 
Walden  to  enfeoff  trustees  with  a  messuage,  a  carucate 
of  land,  and  800  acres  of  wood  in  Stanford  Rivers, 
Ongar,  and  (North)  Weald,  held  of  the  king  in  chief.'" 
The  purpose  of  this  conveyance  was  to  settle  the  pro- 
perty on  Andrew,  with  remainder  to  Humphrey  and 
Thomas  de  Walden  his  brothers. 

Andrew  de  Walden  died  in  1352  and  his  estate  was 
then  held  in  dower  by  his  widow  Joan."  She  died  in 
1 361. '2  Thomas  de  Walden,  son  and  heir  of  Andrew, 
was  still  a  minor,  and  in  1 362  the  king  granted  custody 
of  Ongar  Park  to  John  de  Bampton  in  return  for  an 
annual  payment  of  10  marks. '3 

Thomas  de  Walden  made  proof  of  age  in  1367.'* 
In  1367  and  1368  he  settled  Ongar  Park  upon  him- 
self and  his  wife  Margaret. '5  In  1404  Thomas  and 
Margaret  settled  the  reversion  of  the  manor  after  their 
deaths  upon  Thomas  Bataille,  son  of  Thomas  de 
Walden's  sister  Alice,  and  Eleanor  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Oudeby.'*  In  141 2  Thomas  de  Walden's 
manor  of  'Park  Hall'  was  valued  for  taxation  purposes 
at  ;^I2  a  year."  He  died  in  1420.  The  manor  was 
then  said  to  contain  200  acres  of  land  worth  \d.  an 
acre  and  800  acres  of  wood  worth  3^/.  an  acre,  held  of 
the  king  in  chief.  It  was  held  after  Thomas's  death 
by  his  widow  Margaret.'*  In  1422  it  was  settled  upon 


'*  J.  H.  Round,  King's  Serjeants,  93. 

M  Ibid.;  y.C.H.  Sussex,  W,  133;  Sussex 
Arch.  Coll.  iv,  134.  84  Ci36/File  5. 

8s  E372/64  m.  jd.  The  fair  was  on  7—8 
Sept.  and  was  later  granted  to  the  Rector 
of  High  Ongar :  see  Church,  below. 

8'  F.C.H.  Sussex,  \x,  133. 

8'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  27. 

88  f^.C.H.  Sussex,  ix,  133;  F.C.If. 
Hants,  iv,  475.  89  Ibid. 

«»  CP25(2)/i 39/1758;  E.R.O.,  D/DM 
T62. 

9"  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  i,  453; 
Morant,  Essex,  i,  131. 

«i  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  M242. 

"  Ibid.    M242,  246. 

»♦  Ibid.  M243-6;  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl. 


Soc),  i,  453. 

95  CP25(2)/829    Mich.    8    Wm.    Ill, 
Trin.  10  Wm.  III. 

9'  Visits,  of  Essex,  \,  516. 

97  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  M244. 

98  CP25(2)/ii20    Mich.    2    Geo.    II; 
E.R.O.,  D/DGe  M245. 

99  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  277 ;  Hist.  Essex  by 
Gent,  iii,  326. 

'  E.R.O.,  G/RPl  685. 

2  Ibid.  705,  706. 

3  E.R.O.,  Q/RSg  4. 

*  E.R.O.,  Q/RPI718,  7I9- 

5  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

'  Forest  Hall  Sale  Cat.  1862. 

'  Forest  Hall  Sale  Cat.  19 19. 

8  Ci  35/File  26.  For  Tracy  see  Traceys 


in  Stanford  Rivers;  for  Caune  see  Canes 
in  North  Weald. 

9  Cal.  Fine  R.  1327-37,  256. 

■0  Cal.  Pat.  1334-8,  236. 

■'  Cal.  Inq.p.m.  x,  p.  5  ;  Cal.  Pat.  1354- 
8,216. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  xi,  p.  184. 

"  Cal.  Fine  R.  1356-68,  206. 

^*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  xii,  p.    164.    He  was 
said  to  have  been  born  at  Magdalen  Laver. 

■5  Cal.   Close,    1364-8,  405;   Cal.   Pat. 
1367-70,99. 

"  Cal.   Pat.    1 40 1-5,   354;   Feet  of  F. 
Essex,  iii,  241. 

"  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  443. 

'8  Ci3i/File  50    Ca.   Close,   1419-22, 
78. 


176 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


Thomas  Dryffeld,  goldsmith  of  London  and  Margaret 
his  wife."  Probably  Margaret  de  Walden  had 
married  Thomas  Dryffeld. 

By  1434  the  manor  had  come  to  Thomas  Bataille, 
by  virtue  of  the  settlement  of  1404.20  It  was  from  his 
family  that  the  manor  derived  its  alternative  name  of 
Batells  or  Batailles.  Thomas  was  succeeded  on  his 
death  in  1439  ^7  ^'*  5°"  John.^'  A  third  part  of  the 
manor  was  retained  in  dower  by  Isabel,  wife  of  Thomas 
Bataille.  She  was  alive  in  1447  and  was  then  the  wife 
of  Robert  Thornhill.^^  In  1454  John  Bataille  tempor- 
arily forfeited  two-thirds  of  the  manor.  He  had  pledged 
the  property  as  surety  for  the  good  behaviour  of 
Robert  Poynings,  who  had  been  'carver  and  sword- 
bearer'  to  Jack  Cade  and  had  subsequently  been  bound 
over  to  keep  the  peace,  but  had  failed  to  do  so.^^  Now 
the  king  seized  Bataille's  part  of  the  manor  and  delivered 
it  to  John  Leventhorpe  and  Richard  de  la  Felde  to  be 
kept  for  fifteen  years  'if  the  premises  shall  remain  so 
long  in  the  king's  hand'  at  an  annual  farm  of  20  marks.^* 
In  1473  Bataille  received  the  royal  licence  once  more 
freely  to  hold  the  manor.^s  Presumably  he  had  by  this 
time  become  seised  of  the  third  of  it  formerly  held  in 
dower  by  Isabel.  He  died  in  1474,  leaving  John 
Bataille  his  son  and  heir.^* 

Richard  Bataille,  perhaps  son  of  the  last  named 
John  Bataille,  died  in  1 540.27  Under  a  settlement 
made  in  1 5 1 8  the  manor  passed  to  Richard's  niece 
Joan  (Feme)  and  her  husband  William  Shelton.^' 

William  Shelton  was  dead  by  1553,  when  a  con- 
veyance of  the  manor  was  made  by  his  widow  and  their 
son  Humfrey  Shelton.^'  In  or  about  1590  Ongar 
Park  was  being  leased  by  Humfrey  Shelton  to  Edmond 
Felton.30  Humfrey  died  in  1605  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  William  Shelton.3'  In  161 5  William  Shelton 
conveyed  the  manor  to  William  Copley,^^  but  after 
Shelton's  death  in  1 620-1  there  was  a  dispute  over  this 
transaction,  between  Copley  and  Robert  Napper, 
Shelton's  executor.33  An  agreement  was  eventually 
reached  providing  for  the  payment  by  Copley  to 
Napper  of  ,{^4,300,  for  which  Copley  gave  as  security 
a  bond  for  ;^6,ooo  and  a  lease  of  Ongar  Park  for  99 
years. 

William  Copley  died  in  1623.3*  Shortly  before  his 
death  he  had  settled  the  manor  on  trustees  for  the 
repayment  of  his  debts.  It  was  probably  these  trustees 
who  sold  Ongar  Park  to  Sir  Richard  MinshuU,  who 
held  it  in  1641  .^s  He  was  a  zealous  royalist  in  the  Civil 
War  and  after  the  fall  of  Oxford  compounded  for  his 
estates  in  Bucks.,  Essex,  and  elsewhere. 3*  He  died  in 
1667  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Richard.^'  In 
1700  the  manor  was  conveyed  to  trustees  by  Richard 
Minshull  in  order  that  it  should  be  sold  to  pay  his 
debts  and  to  provide  for  his  only  child  Mary. 3  8    In 


1705  Ongar  Park  was  sold  to  Sir  Thomas  Webster,  ist 
Bt.  (d.  175 1)  of  Copped  Hall,  Epping." 

In  1738  Webster  sold  the  manor  to  Aaron  Franks 
of  London,  who  held  it  in  trust  for  Henry  Franks,  son 
of  his  brother  Isaac  (d.  1736).'*''  Henry,  who  was  a 
lunatic,  died  childless  in  1796,  and  Ongar  Park  then 
passed  under  the  terms  of  his  father's  wiU  to  Jacob 
Henry  Franks,  son  of  Henry's  sister  Phylah  (d.  1 764) 
by  her  husband  Napthali  Franks  (d.  1796).'*'  In  1805 
Jacob  H.  Franks  sold  the  manor  to  Capel  Cure  of 
Blake  Hall  in  Bobbingworth.''^  It  subsequently 
descended  along  with  Blake  Hall  (q.v.).  An  undated 
plan  of  the  manor  'belonging  to  Mr.  Franks'  shows  all 
field  boundaries  and  farm  buildings.  The  total  extent 
of  the  estate  was  then  1,327  acres.^  It  included  six 
farms,  of  which  the  largest  was  300  acres.  Ongar  Park 
Wood  was  280  acres  and  was  the  only  substantial  part 
of  the  estate  kept  in  hand.  The  manor  extended  into 
the  parish  of  Stanford  Rivers.  In  1 849  the  part  of  it  in 
High  Ongar  alone  consisted  of  some  700  acres,  includ- 
ing Cold  Harbour,  Wardens,  and  Newhouse  farms.** 
There  was  in  addition  about  1,000  acres  in  Stanford 
Rivers  by  that  time.'ts  Ongar  Park  farm  was  put  up 
for  sale  in  1919.  It  then  comprised  637  acres  of  which 
392  acres  were  in  High  Ongar.  It  was  then  let  to 
James  and  T.  C.  Kerr  at  an  annual  rent  of  ;^6oo.** 

The  timber-framed  east  wing  of  Ongar  Park  Hall  is 
probably  of  medieval  origin.  Timbers  in  a  partition 
between  two  bedrooms  represent  part  of  a  roof  truss 
which  may  have  divided  the  open  hall  into  two  bays. 
The  ridge  purhn  is  still  in  position  at  the  level  of  the 
bedroom  ceiling,  but  the  rest  of  the  construction  has 
been  destroyed  by  the  insertion  of  a  later  chimney. 
The  south  wing,  also  timber-framed,  was  built  or  recon- 
structed in  the  i8th  century.  Later  additions  were 
made  in  the  19th  century. 

The  manor  oi  ASHLTNS  lay  partly  in  High  Ongar 
and  partly  in  Bobbingworth  and  North  Weald.*^  It 
derived  its  name  from  Richard  Ascelyn  who  made  con- 
veyances of  land  in  and  near  High  Ongar  in  1320, 
1324,  and  1327.** 

The  estate  is  first  described  as  a  manor  in  1475, 
when  it  was  among  the  possessions  left  by  Walter 
Wrytell,  at  his  death.*'  His  son  and  heir  John  Wrytell 
died  in  1485  leaving  an  infant  son,  also  named  John. 5" 
Katherine  widow  of  Walter  Wrytell  evidently  held  the 
manor  in  dower  until  her  death  in  1493.51  John  son  of 
John  Wrytell  died  in  1507.  He  was  survived  by  his  . 
wife  Audrey,  daughter  of  John  Shaa.s^  His  daughter 
and  heir  Juliane  was  dead  by  25  November  1509, 
when  the  heirs  to  Ashlyns  and  other  manors  were 
declared  to  be  the  daughters  of  Walter  Wrytell: 
Eleanor,  wife  of  James  Walsingham  and  Gresilda  wife 
of  Edward  Waldegrave.53 


"  Cal.  Pat.  1422-9,  9. 

^0  Ibid.  1429-36,  343. 

"  C. 39/98. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1446-52,  25. 

"  Cal.  Fine  R.  1452-61,  92.        "  Ibid. 

»  Cal.  Pat.  1467-77,  393. 

»'  C140/44. 

"  C142/62/31.  28  Ibid. 

29  Cal.  Pat.  1553-4,  364;  CP40/1156 
m.  22. 

3"  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1581-90,  710. 

"  C142/293/54. 

3»  CP25(2)/29S  Trin.  13  Jas.  I. 

"  C3/320/61.  For  Wm.  Shelton's 
death  see  P.C.C.  Tear  Bki.  of  Probates, 
1620—4,  p.  275. 

"  0142/405/159.       He      left      infant 


daughters  Mary  and  Anne. 

35  CP25(2)/4i8  East.  17  Chas.  I. 

3'  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  7 1 1 .  His  seat 
was  at  Bourton,  Bucks.  37  Ibid. 

38  Notes  &  Queries  (4th  ser.),  xi,  458. 
According  to  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  712, 
Ricd.  son  of  Sir  Ricd.  Minshull  died  child- 
less in  1673,  but  no  evidence  is  cited  for 
this  statement. 

39  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T27.     *o  Ibid.  T28. 
♦'  Ibid.    During  the  lifetime  of  Henry 

the  estate  was  administered  by  Napthali 
Franks:  E.R.O.,  Q/RSg  3  (1765)  and 
4(1784).  "  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T28. 

«  E.R.O.,  T/M  212. 

«*  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

*»  Ibid.  327. 


«'  E.R.O.,  Sale  Catalogue,  1919. 

♦'  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  72. 

♦'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  200,  209-10; 
iii,  3. 

*9  C140/52.  For  the  earlier  pedigree  of 
the  Wrytells  see  Fisits.  of  Essex  (Hart. 
Soc),  621-2.  In  1475  the  manor  was 
said  to  be  held  of  Anne,  Duchess  of 
Buckingham.  The  previous  descent  of  the 
manor,  in  the  r5th  century,  may  have  been 
the  same  as  that  of  Bobbingworth  manor 

(q.v.). 

5»  Cal.  Inq.p.m.  Hen.  FII,  i,  p.  63. 
"  Ibid.  384.    After  Wrytell's  death  she 
had  married  Sir  Richard  Haute. 

52  C 142/2 1/2. 

53  L.  &■  P.  Hen.  Fill,  i  (i),  p.  135. 


177 


Aa 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Ashlyns  was  allotted  to  Eleanor  and  she  and  her 
husband  made  a  conveyance  of  the  manor  in  1 5  5 1  .'■^ 
James  Walsingham  died  in  1 540.^5  There  is  no 
indication  whether  or  not  he  then  retained  an  interest 
in  the  manor.  Ashlyns  did  not  remain  long  in  the 
Walsingham  family:  in  1584  it  was  among  the  posses- 
sions of  William  AyloiFe,  who  died  in  that  year.'* 
He  was  the  grandson  of  William  AylofFe  of  Great 
Braxted  (d.  151 7)  who  had  married  Audrey,  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Shaa,  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 57  This 
Audrey  was  probably  the  widow  of  John  Wrytell 
(d.  1507)  and  it  is  likely  that  her  second  husband 
bought  Ashlyns  from  the  Walsinghams.5* 

William  Ayloffe  was  succeeded  in  1584  by  his  son 
William,  then  23.5'  In  1610  Sir  William  Ayloffe  con- 
veyed Ashlyns  to  Richard  Hale.*°  In  165 1  Robert 
Hale,  probably  son  or  grandson  of  Richard,  conveyed 
the  manor  to  Henry  Hunter.*'  Hunter  transferred  it 
in  1672  to  Baldwin  Harney,  F.R.C.P.,  who  settled  it 
in  the  same  year  on  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians.*^ 
Hamey  provided  that  the  revenues  from  the  manor 
should  be  used  to  pay  stipends  of  £40  to  a  physician  of 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  £30  to  a  physician  of  St. 
Thomas's  Hospital,  and  ^10  to  a  physician  of  Christ 
Church  Hospital  for  poor  children,  and  also  for  the 
provision  of  certain  amenities  within  the  college  itself. 
The  pensioners  were  to  be  chosen  in  each  case  by  the 
governors  of  the  hospitals  from  two  candidates  nomi- 
nated by  the  college'^  For  250  years  Ashlyns  remained 
the  property  of  the  college.  In  1 849  it  consisted  of 
325  acres  in  High  Ongar.**  In  1922  the  college  sold 
it  to  Matthew  Torrance.^s 

A  moated  site  north-east  of  the  present  farm-house 
indicates  the  position  of  the  original  manor  house  of 
Ashlyns.  The  present  house,  described  by  Morant  as 
a  'mean  farm-house  or  cottage',**  appears  to  date  from 
the  late  17th  or  early  1 8th  century  with  later  additions. 
Some  of  the  timbers  in  the  farm  buildings  appear  to  be 
older  than  the  house. 

The  manor  of  CHIFERS  HALL  alias  PASS- 
FIELD  CHIFERS  was  held  in  1338  by  Ralph  son 
of  William  de  Pebmersh  and  Cecily  his  wife.*'  In 
1475  it  was  held  by  Sir  Robert  Chamberlain  and 
Ehzabeth  his  wife.**  Elizabeth  was  the  descendant 
and  heir  of  Ralph  de  Pebmersh.*'  In  1482  she  and 
Sir  Robert  conveyed  Chivers  Hall  to  Sir  Thomas 
Stalbroke,  Kt.,  who  died  holding  it  in  1484.70  In  1498 
the  manor  was  conveyed  to  William  Pawne  owner  of 
Withers  Pawne  by  William  Luke  and  Alice  his  wife, 
widow  of  Sir  Thomas  Stalbroke.7'  The  precise  signi- 
ficance of  this  conveyance  is  not  clear,  but  it  is  likely 


that  it  was  a  family  arrangement:  the  Pawne  and 
Stalbroke  families  were  related  by  marriage.'^ 

A  William  Pawne  was  lord  of  the  manor  in  1 565.73 
He  died  in  1 570  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  of  the 
same  name.'''  This  last  William  Pawne  died  in 
1578.75  His  heir  was  Bridget,  wife  of  William 
Chatterton  and  daughter  of  Roger  Basing  by  his  wife 
Anne,  sister  of  the  William  Pawne  who  had  died  in 
1570.  Bridget  and  William  Chatterton  immediately 
sold  the  manor  to  John  Penruddock.7*  The  property 
was  said  to  consist  of  40  messuages,  6  cottages,  10  tofts, 
2  dovehouses,  40  gardens,  40  orchards,  400  acres  of 
land,  1 20  acres  of  meadow,  300  acres  of  pasture,  60 
acres  of  wood,  100  acres  of  furze,  and  60/.  rent  in 
High  Ongar,  Blackmore,  and  Writtle.77  These 
figures  probably  included  Withers  Pawne  (see  below). 

John  Penruddock  was  still  alive  in  1595,  when  he 
sold  Withers  Pawne.  In  1 608  a  conveyance  of  Pass- 
field  Chivers  was  made  by  Joyce  Clarke,  widow,  and 
William  Bingham  and  his  wife  Elizabeth.78  In  1617 
the  manor  was  settled  for  life  upon  Joyce  Clarke  by 
William  Austin  who  in  January  1627  married  Anne 
Bingham  'of  the  parish  of  St.  Saviour's,  Surrey, 
widow'. 7'  From  this  it  seems  likely  that  Joyce  Clarke 
was  the  mother  of  Elizabeth  or  William  Bingham  and 
that  she  was  holding  the  manor  in  dower.*"  In 
November  1627  the  manor  was  settled  in  tail  upon 
William  son  of  the  above  William  Austin.*'  William 
Austin  the  father  died  in  1634. '^  In  1650  William 
Austin  the  son  sold  Passfield  Chivers  to  Sir  John 
Thorowgood.*3  The  manor  was  then  described  as  2 
messuages,  2  barns,  a  dovehouse,  2  gardens,  2  orchards, 
100  acres  of  land,  20  acres  of  meadow,  60  acres  of 
pasture,  and  12  acres  of  wood  in  High  Ongar  and 
Norton  Mandeville.*''  Thorowgood  sold  the  manor  in 
1675  to  Dr.  William  Stane  of  London,  and  in  1688  a 
conveyance  of  the  manor  was  made  by  William  Stane 
and  his  father  Richard. *5  From  that  time  its  descent 
was  the  same  as  that  of  the  manor  of  Forest  Hall  (see 
below).  In  1849  Chivers  Hall  farm  comprised  173 
acres  and  was  occupied  by  Thomas  Stokes.**  In  1862 
it  contained  170  acres  and  was  occupied  by  Mrs. 
Stokes  on  a  fourteen-year  lease  at  an  annual  rent  of 
;^25o.*7  By  1919  it  had  increased  to  189  acres.**  At 
the  break-up  of  the  Forest  Hall  estate  in  that  year  the 
farm  was  bought  by  the  tenant,  W.  Montgomerie,  who 
later  sold  it  to  Mr.  H.  L.  Bird  the  present  (1953) 
owner.  The  tenant  of  Chivers  Hall  is  now  Mr.  J. 
Clarke.  The  farm  comprises  180  acres.*' 

The  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and  is  a  lofty 
rectangular  structure  with  a  narrow  two-story  porch 


M  E.R.O.,D/DBT96/69i  CP25{2)/i:/ 

SI- 

55  Conyers  Read,  Sir  Francis  fVaUing- 
ham^  i,  7.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  Sir 
Francis  Walsingham,  Secretary  of  State 
to  Elizabeth  I. 

56  C142/206/2. 

5'  Morant,  Essex,  ii,  138. 

5*  The  Ayloffes  were  also  connected 
with  the  Walsinghams  through  the  mar- 
riage of  Thomas,  2nd  son  of  Wm.  AylofFe 
the  grandfather,  to  the  daughter  of  a 
Walsingham:  Fisits.  of  Essex,  141. 

5»  C142/206/2. 

«o  CP25(2)/293  Mich.  8  Jas.  I;  ibid. 
Hil.  8  Jas.  I.  Ayloffe  became  ist  Bt.  in 
Nov.  161 1  :  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage, 

'.93- 

'"  CP25(2)/550B  East.  1651.  For  the 
Hale  pedigree  see  Visits,  of  Essex,  209. 

«^  CP25(2)/654  Hil.  23  &  24  Chas.  II; 


CP43/356  m.  3i  E.R.O.,  D/DU  149/4 

and  5. 

<>■>  E.R.O.,  D/DU  149/4  and  5. 

«4  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

'5  Inf.  from  the  Assistant  Librarian, 
Royal  College  of  Physicians.  The  college 
retains  a  number  of  deeds  concerning 
Ashlyns. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  130. 

"  Cat.  Chart.  R.  1327-41,  455.  Cf. 
Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  150.  No  evidence  has 
been  found  to  support  the  statement  by 
Morant,  i,  1 3 1  that  a  Sir  Wm.  de  Chevers 
held  this  manor  temp.  Edw.  III. 

«8  Cal.  Pat.  n(>7-Tj,  515. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  ii,  261. 

70  CP2S(i)/72/290;  C142/23/63. 

"  CP25(i)/72/294Mich.  i4Hen.VII. 

7^  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  i,  24. 

73  E.R.O.,  D/DC  26/3. 

'■•  €142/153/45. 

178 


75   0,42/181/55. 

■">   CP25(2)/l  30/1670. 

77  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  260. 

78  CP25(2)/293  Hil.  5  Jas.  I. 

79  Ibid.  294  Trin.  15  Jas.  I;  C142/ 
481/30. 

^^  A  Laurence  Bingham  had  been 
tenant  of  the  manor  in  1578:  C142/ 
181/55. 

8'    C142/481/30. 

82  Ibid. 

83  CP25(2)/550B  Mich.  1650. 

84  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  262-3.  The  decrease 
in  extent  since  1570  is  considerable.  The 
earlier  figures  probably  included  Withers 
Pawne  (see  below)  and  other  property. 

85  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  266-7. 

80  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

87  Forest  Hall  Sale  Cat.  1862. 

88  Forest  Hall  Sale  Cat.  19 19. 

89  Inf.  from  Mr.  J.  Clarke. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


wing  in  the  centre  of  the  south-west  front.  In  general 
it  appears  to  be  of  late  17th  or  early  1 8th  century  date, 
but  an  oak  mullioned  window  of  about  1600  on  the 
upper  floor  suggests  that  parts  may  be  more  ancient. 
The  house  was  altered  and  restored  about  fifteen  years 
ago  when  the  present  staircase  was  inserted.  There  is 
a  kitchen  wing  of  red  brick  at  the  north-east  corner  of 
the  house. 

The  manor  of  WITHERS  PAWNE  alias 
WETHERSPANE  alias  CHIFERS  PAWNE  alias 
CHIFERS  HALL  appears  to  have  been  the  original 
estate  of  the  Pawne  family,  which  later  acquired  the 
neighbouring  manor  of  Chivers  Hall  (see  above).  The 
manor  house  is  now  known  as  The  Rookery.  A  William 
Pawne  held  the  manor  in  1494'°  and  it  descended  to 
his  namesake  who  died  in  1578.9'  By  his  will  dated 
April  1578  William  Pawne  left  Chivers  Pawne  to 
WiUiam  Chatterton,  who  had  married  his  sister's 
daughter  Bridget.'^  Withers  Pawne  evidently  passed 
with  Chivers  Hall  to  John  Penruddock  but  in  1595 
was  separated  from  the  main  manor  and  sold  to  Gregory 
Yonge,  grocer  of  London. '3  Yonge  held  a  manor  court 
in  1596.'''  He  died  in  or  shortly  before  i6io.95  The 
manor  passed  to  the  Holman  family,  to  which  he  was 
probably  related  through  the  marriage  of  his  daughter 
Jane.'*  In  1618  a  conveyance  of  Withers  Pawne  was 
made  by  Elizabeth  Holman,  widow."  She  had  prob- 
ably been  the  wife  of  Alexander  (d.  161 7)  son  of 
George  Holman.'*  Sir  John  Holman,  ist  Bt.  (cr. 
1663),  held  Withers  Pawne  in  1679."  ^^  ^^  prob- 
ably inherited  it  from  his  father  Philip  Holman  (d. 
1669)  who  was  no  doubt  a  collateral  descendant  of 
Alexander  Holman,  who  had  died  childless.'  Sir  John 
died  shortly  before  May  1700.^  In  the  same  year 
Withers  Pawne  was  conveyed  by  Anastasia  Holman, 
widow,  to  William  Baker.'  William  Baker  held  a 
court  in  the  manor  in  17 18.''  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  Bramston  Baker. 5  In  1849  Chivers  Pawne  farm 
was  owned  and  occupied  by  William  Baker  and  com- 
prised 134  acres.*  The  farm  was  purchased  in  1926 
by  the  London  Co-operative  Society  Ltd.  It  now  com- 
prises 98^  acres  freehold,  with  an  additional  19J  acres 
rented.  Mixed  arable  and  dairy  farming  is  carried  on 
there.' 

The  Rookery  farm-house  isa  timber-framed  building 
probably  dating  from  the  i6th  century.  It  was  origi- 
nally built  on  a  half  H-shaped  plan.*  About  20  years 
ago  it  was  thoroughly  reconditioned:  part  of  the  north- 
east wing  and  also  an  18th-century  addition  between 
the  two  wings  were  demolished.  At  each  end  of  the 
house  is  an  original  red-brick  external  chimney  with 
two  diagonal  shafts. 

The  manor  of  FOREST  HALL  (formerly 
FOLIOTS  HALL)  originated  as  a  tenement  of  ^  hide 
in  Norton  held  in  1066  by  a  woman  named  'Godid'. 


After  the  Conquest  it  was  given  by  her  to  the  Dean  and 
Chapter  of  St.  Paul's.'  It  continued  to  be  known  as 
the  manor  of  Norton  until  the  13th  century.  In  1181 
it  was  farmed  for  St .  Paul's  by  Odo  de  Dammartin,  a 
member  of  the  fami  ly  which  held  the  neighbouring 
manor  of  Norton,  later  Norton  Mandeville.'"  It  was 
then  stated  that  the  manor  satisfied  the  royal  demand 
for  hidage  in  the  time  of  Henry  I  and  William  the 
Dean  by  paying  for  40  acres  and  by  giving  to  the  bailiff 
of  the  hundred  1 2<i.  and  1 2ii.  for  wardpenny.  There 
were  100  acres  of  arable  land,  5  acres  of  meadow,  and 
12  acres  of  wood.  There  was  i  plough  in  demesne  and 
the  manor  rendered  to  St.  Paul's  40J.  in  the  octave  of 
Easter  and  60s.  at  the  Exaltation  of  the  Cross." 

Another  inquisition  into  the  lands  of  St.  Paul's  was 
held  in  1222.'^  John  de  Dammartin  was  now  the 
farmer.  The  hidage  of  the  manor  was  the  same  as  in 
1 181.  The  manor  was  free  from  suit  of  county,  but 
followed  the  hundred  of  Ongar,  at  the  suit  of  which 
1 2ti.  were  paid  from  the  demesne  to  the  reeve  of  the 
hundred  and  1 2d.  from  the  tenants.  There  were  now 
102  acres  of  arable,  6  acres  of  meadow,  and  12  acres 
of  poor  {gracilis)  woodland.  The  arable  could  be 
tilled  with  one  plough  team  of  eight  beasts.  Seven 
marks  had  been  spent  on  fertilizing  the  land  with 
marl  and  the  erection  of  new  buildings.  The  names 
and  services  of  six  tenants  were  given. 

In  the  middle  of  the  13  th  century  the  manor  was 
held,  under  St.  Paul's,  by  Richard  Foliot,  Archdeacon 
of  Middlesex.  John  son  of  Ernald  de  Mandeville 
(see  Norton  Mandeville)  granted  60  acres  of  land  in  the 
parish  of  'Great  Norton'  to  Foliot  for  the  use  of  St. 
Paul's  in  free  alms. '3  In  1258  John  de  Mandeville 
granted  to  St.  Paul's  76  acres  of  land  and  i  acre  of 
meadow  in  Norton  in  pure  and  perpetual  alms.'* 
Perhaps  this  last  grant  included  all  or  some  of  that  to 
Foliot. 

The  manor  remained  in  the  possession  of  St.  Paul's 
throughout  the  Middle  Ages,  and  was  known  some- 
times as  Norton  and  sometimes  as  Norton  Foliot.  In 
1535,  under  the  name  of  Folyathall  it  was  valued  at 
£,6  13/.  4<2'.'s  In  1544  St.  Paul's  exchanged  the  manor 
for  other  lands  with  the  king,  who  in  the  same  year 
sold  Folyathall  and  a  wood  called  Folyatswood  to 
William  Rigges  for  ^1,127.'*  Rigges  immediately 
transferred  the  property  to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  ist 
Baron  Rich. '7 

In  1562  Lord  Rich  conveyed  Foliots  Hall  to 
Richard  Stane  of  Shelley,  yeoman,  and  Richard  his 
son.'*  Richard  Stane  the  elder  died  in  1601  and  was 
succeeded  by  Richard  the  younger,  then  aged  40." 
Foliots  Hall  had  been  settled  upon  the  latter  in  1589, 
on  his  marriage  to  Ann  Rabett.^"  He  died  in  16 14, 
leaving  a  son  and  heir  John.^'  A  Richard  Stane  held 
Forest  Hall  in  1687."  He  died  in  17 14  and  the  manoi 


»«  P.N.  Esssex  (E.P.N.S.),  73. 

»■  C142/181/55.  See  Chivers  Hall, 
above.  »»  Ibid. 

»3  CP25(2)/i36/.736. 

«♦  E.R.O.,  D/DC  26/6. 

«5  P.C.C.  ffills,  1609-19  (Index  Libr.), 
502. 

«'  Visits,  of  Surrey,  1530,  Sec.  (Harl. 
Soc),  96.  The  pedigree  states  that  Jane, 
daughter  of  George  Young  of  London, 
married  George  Holman,  but  there  is  no 
trace  of  a  George  Young  at  this  time. 

»'  CP25(2)/295  Hil.  15  Jas.  I. 

»«  Visits,  of  Surrey,  96;  P.C.C.  ffills, 
1609-19  (Index  Libr.),  235.  According 
to    Morant,    Essex,    i,     131     Alexander 


Holman  held  Wetherspane  in  16 14.. 
99  CP25(2)/295  Trin.  31  Chas.  II. 
'  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  ii,  277; 
Morant,  Essex,   i,    131    refers   to    Philip 
Holman  in  his  account, of  Chivers  Hall. 
'  G.E.C.  op.  cit.  277. 

3  CP25(2)/830  Trin.  12  Wm.  III. 

4  E.R.O.,  D/DC  26/7. 

5  Morant,  Essex,  i,  131. 
<•  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

'  Inf.  from  London  Co-operative  Soc. 

*  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  133. 

9  y.C.H.    Essex,    i,    442^.     And    see 
Norton  Mandeville. 

'»  Dom.  of  St.  Paul's  (Camd.  Soc.  1858), 
III.  "  Ibid.  143. 


'2  Ibid.  73. 

"  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  gth  Rep.  pt.  i, 
p.  38a.  For  the  parish  boundaries  of 
Norton  Mandeville  and  High  Ongar  see 
above,  p.  172. 

■*  Feet  off.  Essex,  i,  225. 

'5  yalor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  360*. 

"  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xix  (i),  p.  495; 
ibid.  (2),  p.  72. 

"  Ibid.  p.  86. 

'8  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  259;  CP25(2)/ii8 
Mich.  4  Eliz. 

■9  C142/266/87.  "  Ibid. 

"  Morant,    Essex,    i,    131;    C60/469,  . 
no.  34. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  265. 


179 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


y 


passed  to  his  son  William.^^  In  1725  a  settlement  of 
the  manor  was  made  by  William  Stane  and  Alice  his 
wife,  William  Stane  the  younger  and  Richard  Stane.^ 
By  1774  Forest  Hall  had  passed  to  John  Westbrook 
who  in  1770  had  married  Mary  Alice  daughter  of 
William  Stane.^s  Forest  Hall  farm,  surveyed  in  1774, 
contained  277  acres.^*  Mrs.  Westbrook  died  in  1801, 
having  devised  the  estate  to  the  Revd.  John  Bramston, 
son  of  Thomas  Berney  Bramston  of  Skreens  in  Rox- 
weD.^'  As  a  result  of  this  legacy  John  Bramston 
assumed  the  additional  surname  of  Stane.  Forest  Hall 
gave  its  name  to  an  estate  in  High  Ongar  and  neigh- 
bouring parishes  which  included  the  manors  of  Nash 
Hall,  Chivers  Hall,  Newarks  Norton,  Herons  in 
Fyfield  (q.v.),  Norton  Mandeville  (q.v.),  and  Rockells 
in  Willingale  Doe.  A  map  of  the  estate  drawn  about 
1840-50  shows  all  these  except  Rockells,  which  was 
acquired  later.  At  that  time  the  total  area  of  the  estate 
was  about  1,000  acres,  of  which  about  750  acres  were 
freehold.^ 

The  Revd.  J.  B.  Stane  died  in  1857  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  J.  Bramston  Stane  his  son.^'  In  1862  J.  B. 
Stane  bought  an  estate  at  Sherfield  upon  Loddon, 
Hants,  where  he  built  himself  a  house. so  In  the  same 
year  the  Forest  Hall  estate  was  put  up  for  sale.  It  then 
consisted  of  2,228  acres  of  which  271  acres  were  lease- 
hold. Some  750  acres  were  in  hand  and  there  were 
eight  farms  let  to  tenant  farmers  on  leases  varying  from 
8  to  1 2  years.  The  total  rent  roll  (including  estimates 
for  the  lands  in  hand)  was  £^,^21.^'  The  estate  was 
purchased  over  the  next  four  years  by  J.  L.  Newall. 
The  conveyances  included  the  purchase  of  the  free- 
hold of  Norton  Hall  farm  and  manor  (see  Norton 
Mandeville)  which  had  been  the  leasehold  part  of  the 
estate.32  During  the  next  30  years  Newall  made  sub- 
stantial additions  to  the  estate.  He  lived  at  Forest  Hall 
until  his  death  about  1900.  His  son,  J.  W.  Newall, 
leased  the  hall  from  about  1902  to  H.  M.  McCorquo- 
dale.33  In  1919  the  whole  estate  was  put  up  for  sale 
and  broken  up.  At  that  time  it  consisted  of  3,831 
acres  in  the  parishes  of  High  and  Chipping  Ongar, 
Norton  Mandeville,  Fyfield,  Shelley,  Willingale  Spain, 
and  Willingale  Doe.'''  In  addition  to  the  manors 
named  above,  it  included  Paslow  Hall  (see  below)  and 
Fyfield  Hall,  which  belonged  to  the  estate,  but  without 
the  manorial  rights  formerly  appurtenant  to  them. 
There  were  altogether  seventeen  farms  in  the  estate, 
ranging  in  size  from  Paslow  Hall  (619  acres)  to 
Welchman's  (64  acres,  in  Fyfield).  Forest  Hall  house, 
together  with  Little  Forest  Hall  and  Newarks  Hall, 
were  bought  about  1924  by  H.  M.  McCorquodale, 
who  lived  at  the  Hall  until  his  death  in  1943.35  His 
executors  sold  the  property  to  the  Air  Ministry,  which 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  131. 

M  CP25(2)/ioi+  Hil.  II  Geo.  I.  Ricd. 
Stane  was  probably  the  twin  of  Wm. 
Stane  the  elder :  Hist.  Essex  hy  Gent,  iii,  329. 

"  E.R.O.,D/DC  27/1 115;  Gen/J.M<7^. 
xl  (1770),  344;  ibid.  Ixxi,  276. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DC27/1115. 

"  Gents.  Mag.  Ixxi,  276. 

»8  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/1127.  Norton 
Mandeville  manor  was  being  leased  from 
Merton  College. 

29  Gen  s.  Mag.  cxl,  496. 

30  y.C.H.  Hants,  iv,  103,  107. 
3'  Sale  Catalogue,  1862. 

32  Sale  Cat.  1 91 9,  lent  by  London 
Co-Op.  Soc. 

33  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1902  f.).  la{. 
from  Mr.  K.  McCorquodale. 

3<  Sale  Cat.  19 19. 


35  Inf.  from  Mr.  K.  McCorquodale. 

ss  Ibid. 

3'  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  334.  No 
remains  of  the  old  house  now  survive,  but 
the  old  caretaker  of  Forest  Hall  remembers 
that  a  stable-yard  pump  existed  on  the  site 
until  the  First  World  War,  when  it  was 
removed  for  scrap. 

38  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  225A  (19 19) 
gives  photograph  and  description  of  Forest 
Hall.  For  another  photograph,  showing  the 
front  of  the  house,  see  Nat.  Bdgs.  Rec. 

39  Inf.  from  caretaker.  Forest  Hall. 
The  gasworks  stood  north-east  of  the 
house:  see  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.), 
sheet  I.  They  were  demolished  early  in 
the  20th  cent,  when  an  electric  generator 
was  installed. 

*o  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),   74,  cf.   73 


resold  the  house  and  some  80  acres  adjoining  to  the 
Essex  County  Council.^* 

An  'elegant  family  mansion  of  brick'  was  built  by 
Richard  Stane  about  1700.37  The  present  mansion, 
about  300  yds.  farther  south,  replaced  it  about  1845. 
It  was  built  by  the  Revd.  J.  B.  Stane  and  is  a  large 
square  three-story  house  of  gault  brick  with  stone  and 
stucco  dressings.  The  front  has  seven  windows  to  each 
of  the  upper  floors  and  a  central  pediment.  The 
Tuscan  portico  has  three  bays.  There  are  extensive 
service  quarters  and  out-buildings.  The  house  has 
been  empty  since  1943.38 

Forest  Hall  is  one  of  the  largest  mansions  in  this 
part  of  Essex.  In  the  late  19th  century,  during  the 
ownership  of  J.  L.  Newall,  it  employed  some  50 
indoor  and  outdoor  servants,  and  had  its  own  gasworks 
and  sawmin.3  9 

FRITH  HALL  alias  OLD  FRITH  alias  OLD 
THRIFTS  gave  its  name  to  William  del  Frit  (temp. 
Henry  III)  who  was  probably  the  tenant.  It  may 
originally  have  been  associated  with  Chivers  Hall  (see 
above)  .^0  In  14 14  a  conveyance  was  made  by  Thomas 
Roche,  vintner,  and  William  Leverpole,  goldsmith, 
both  of  London,  to  John  Cosoun,  Arundel  Herald 
and  Agnes  his  wife  of  i  messuage,  1 50  acres  of 
land  in  Norton  Mandeville  and  High  Ongar  called 
Frythall.'*" 

Henry  Parker  (d.  1541)  left  to  his  son  Roger  the 
manor  of  Frith  Hall  in  the  same  parishes.*^  Roger 
Parker  conveyed  it  in  1555  to  Richard  Sampforth.*' 
In  163 1  John  Sandford,  no  doubt  a  relative  of  Samp- 
forth,  conveyed  the  manor  to  Robert  and  John  Sorrell.+« 
In  1660  a  conveyance  of  Frith  Hall  was  made  between 
Thomas  Sorrell  of  the  one  part  and  Robert  Sorrell  and 
Anne  his  wife  of  the  other.'*'  They  were  probably 
members  of  the  Sorrell  family  of  Writtle.**  The  Sand- 
fords  may  have  remained  on  the  estate  as  tenants:  in 
1 67 1  a  Sandford  occupied  a  house  with  eight  hearths 
in  High  Ongar,  and  an  Edward  Sandford  occupied  a 
house  (probably  Readings)  in  Norton  Mandeville 
(q.v.).47 

By  1687  the  manor  was  acquired  by  Dr.  Anthony 
Walker,  Rector  of  Fyfield,  who  by  his  will  of  that  year 
left  Old  Frith  as  part  of  the  endowment  of  the  charity 
which  he  founded  for  the  education  of  the  children  of 
Fyfield  (q.v.).''^  The  charity  became  effective  on 
Walker's  death  in  1692.*'  In  1835  Old  Thrifts  Farm 
consisted  of  56  acres,  occupied  by  Thomas  Stokes  as 
tenant  of  the  charity  trustees  at  a  rent  of  ^45  a  year.'" 
Stokes  was  still  tenant  in  1849.5'  In  1926  the  farm  was 
let  by  the  trustees  for  ^60  a  year.s^  Now  (1953)  it  is 
let  by  them  to  the  London  Co-operative  Society  and 
forms  part  of  Paslow  Hall  farm.53 

'Cheversfrith'. 

<•  Feet  o/F.  Essex,  iii,  262.  Cf.  Burke't 
Landed  Gentry,  1952,  cviii. 

«  C 142/64/78.  For  the  Parkers  see 
Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  259. 

43    CP2S(2)/83/7IO. 

♦4  CP25(2)/527  Mich.  7  Chas.  I. 

45  CP25(2)/652  Trin.  12  Chas.  II. 

*'  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  490. 

4'  E.R.O.,  Q/RTh  5. 

♦'  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  225  (1835),  xii  (i).  See  Fyfield,  also 
Charities  below. 

4'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  262. 

5°  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  226. 

5"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

52  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926). 

53  Inf.  from  London  Co-Operative 
Society  Ltd. 


180 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


A  weather-boarded  barn  is  now  the  only  building 
on  the  property. 

The  manor  of  NEWARKS  NORTON  appears  to 
have  been  granted  about  1068  by  Ingelric  'the  priest' 
to  the  college  of  St.  Martin-le-Grand,  London. 5*  It 
does  not  appear  among  the  possessions  of  the  college 
as  recorded  in  Domesday  Book,  possibly  because  of  the 
confusion  that  existed  between  the  descent  of  Ingelric's 
personal  property  and  that  of  the  estates  with  which  he 
had  endowed  St.  Martin's.  When  the  prebends  of  St. 
Martin's  were  constituted  in  11 58  the  ninth  prebend 
was  endowed  with  land  in  Norton  and  Shelley  and  was 
known  as  that  of  Norton  Newarks.ss  According  to  the 
late  15th-century  statutes  of  the  college  this  prebend 
was  charged  with  the  support  of  the  vicar  sub-deacon.^* 
King  Stephen  granted  the  canons  of  St.  Martin  free 
warren  on  their  lands  of  Norton. 57  In  1257  Henry  III 
gave  them  licence  to  enclose  the  wood  in  the  prebend 
of  Norton. 58  In  1487  courts  were  being  held  in  the 
manor  of  Newarks  Norton  by  William  Stillington." 
He  was  no  doubt  a  relative  of  Robert  Stillington,  Dean 
of  St.  Martin's  1458-85. 

In  1 503  the  properties  of  St.  Martin's  were  given  to 
Westminster  Abbey.*"  In  1542,  when  the  college  was 
finally  suppressed,  the  gift  of  Newarks  was  confirmed 
to  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Westminster.*'  In  the 
following  year,  however,  the  manor  was  granted  by  the 
king  to  Sir  John  Williams  and  Anthony  Stringer,  who 
immediately  conveyed  it  to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  ist 
Baron  Rich.*^ 

In  1 562  Lord  Rich  conveyed  Newarks  Norton  to 
John  Waylett  of  Berners  Roding,  yeoman.*'  Waylett 
died  in  1 566.*''  His  heir  was  his  son  John,  but  in  1 569 
the  freedom  of  the  manor  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to 
William,  son  of  John  Waylett.*5  A  John  Waylett  was 
lord  of  the  manor  in  1591-1612.**  He  died  in  1612 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  another  John,  who  held 
courts  in  the  manor  in  1613,  1618,  and  1626.*^ 

By  1649  the  manor  had  passed  to  Richard  Stane, 
lord  of  the  manor  of  Forest  Hall  (see  above).*'  It  was 
thus  merged  in  the  Forest  Hall  estate  and  subsequently 
had  the  same  descent.  In  1849  Newarks  farm  con- 
sisted of  303  acres  and  was  occupied  by  the  owner.*' 
It  was  still  in  hand  in  1 862  but  was  then  farmed  along 
with  Forest  Hall  farm,  the  combined  farm  containing 
464  acres.'" 

During  the  Second  World  War  Newarks  became 
part  of  the  large  airfield  built  in  this  area,  and  the  farm- 
house was  demolished.  In  1 9 1 9  the  house  was  described 
as  being  of  early-i6th-century  date  with  a  cross-wing 
at  the  east  end.  A  porch  on  the  south  side  had  an 
original  moulded  door-frame.  To  judge  by  a  photo- 
graph taken  at  this  time  it  may  originally  have  been  a 
house  with  an  open  hall." 


The  manor  oiPASLOWHALL  alias  PASFIELD 
was  given  to  Waltham  Abbey  by  Earl  Harold.  The 
gift  was  confirmed  in  1062  by  Edward  the  Confessor 
in  a  charter  setting  out  the  bounds  of  Pasfield.'^  In 
1086  Pasfield  was  held  by  the  abbey  as  a  manor  and 
as  2  hides  less  30  acres  and  included  woodland  suffi- 
cient for  700  swine.'s  The  bounds  of  the  manor  as 
given  in  the  charter  of  1062  suggest  that  Pasfield 
then  included  a  considerable  area  in  the  east  and  south 
of  the  parish,  extending  as  far  as  the  Stondon  Massey 
boundary  in  the  south-east  and  as  far  as  the  Roding  in 
the  west.7* 

Pasfield  remained  in  the  possession  of  Waltham 
Abbey  until  the  Dissolution.  In  1 199-1 200  the  abbot 
received  royal  permission  to  take  into  cultivation  8 
acres  of  land  from  his  pastures  at  Pasfield.'s  Shortly 
before  this,  in  1 189,  Richard  I  had  granted  the  abbey 
60  acres  of  assarts.'*  In  1292  the  abbot  had  licence 
to  sell  wood  from  his  forest  at  Pasfield  to  the  value 

0f;^I0.77 

At  the  dissolution  of  the  abbey  in  1 540  the  abbot 
had  a  grant  for  hfe  issuing  out  of  a  number  of  manors 
formerly  belonging  to  the  abbey,  including  Paslow.78 
In  1 542  the  manor  of  Paslow  Hall  was  granted  by  the 
king  to  George  Harper,  who  immediately  conveyed 
it  to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  ist  Baron  Rich.''  The 
manor  remained  in  the  possession  of  Rich  and  his  heirs 
until  the  death  of  Charles  Rich,  4th  Earl  of  Warwick 
of  that  creation,  in  1673.  At  the  division  of  the  earPs 
estates  Paslow  Hall  fell  to  the  share  of  Robert,  Earl  of 
Manchester  (d.  1683),  the  son  of  Anne,  daughter  of 
Robert  Rich,  2nd  Earl  of  Warwick. 

In  1676  a  conveyance  of  the  manor  was  made  to  the 
Earl  of  Manchester  by  Mary,  dowager  Countess  of 
Warwick,  as  her  late  husband's  executor.'"  In  1684 
Charles,  4th  Earl  of  Manchester,  settled  Paslow  for  life 
on  his  mother  Anne,  Countess  of  Manchester."  She 
died  in  1698  but  in  1697  the  earl  sold  Paslow  with  her 
consent  to  Sir  Josiah  Child,  ist  Bt.  (d.  1699),  the 
merchant  and  financier.'^  In  the  same  year  Child 
settled  the  manor  upon  his  3rd  son  Richard. '3  Richard 
Child  succeeded  as  3rd  baronet  in  1704,''*  and  was 
created  Viscount  Castlemaine  (17 18)  and  Earl  Tylney 
of  Castlemaine  (173 1).'^  He  was  also  owner  of 
Wanstead,  and  Paslow  Hall  descended  with  Wanstead 
until  after  the  marriage  of  Catherine  Long  to  William 
Wellesley  Pole  (1812).'*  A  map  of  Pasfield  Hall  in  . 
1 74 1  shows  that  it  then  consisted  of  692  acres  in  the 
centre  of  the  parish. '7  In  1786  Sir  James  Tylney  Long, 
Bt.,  mortgaged  the  manors  of  Paslow  Hal  land  Fyfield 
for  ^5,000.  The  mortgage  was  cleared  in  1793.'' 

Unlike  Wanstead,  Paslow  Hall  was  not  sold  by 
William  Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley.  He  remained 
lord  of  the  manor  until  1850  or  later,  by  which  time 


I*  y.C.H.  London,  i,  555  f.  Cf.  V.N. 
Ettex  (E.P.N.S.),  71.  For  Ingelric  see 
Chipping  Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers. 

55  F.C.H.  London,  \,  557. 

5'  Ibid. 

5'  Ibid.  556. 

58  Cal  Chart.  R.  1226-57,  477. 

59  E.R.O.,  D/DSp  M36. 
»o  y.C.H.  London,{,  561. 

*'  L.  &  P.  Hen.  nil,  xvii,  p.  392. 
"  Ibid,  xviii  (i),  p.  130,  133.    See  also 
ibid,  xxi  (1),  p.  680. 
"  Cal.  Pat.  1560-3,  547;  CP40/1207. 
<•*  C142/147/161. 
'5  C60/385,  no.  7. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DSp  M36. 
"  Ibid.;  C142/339/146. 


*»  E.R.O.,  D/DSp  M36. 
M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 
70  E.R.O.,  Fortst  Hall  Sale  Cat.  1862. 
"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  133.    For 
the  photo,  see  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Recs. 
'^  Kemble,  Cod.  Dipl.  iv,  154. 

73  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  447a. 

74  For  an  interpretation  of  the  bounds 
see  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  73  n.  It  can- 
not be  correct,  however,  that  the  boundary 
ran  south  along  the  Roding  from  Hallsford 
Bridge.  To  return  to  its  starting-point  it 
would  have  had  to  run  north. 

'5  Pipe  R.  1200  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  xii), 

45- 
'6  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1226-57,  306. 
"  Cal.  Pat.  1281-92,  505. 

181 


78  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  170. 

79  L.  6f  P.  Hen.  yill,  xvii,  pp.  16 1-2. 
«o  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  T20. 

8>  Ibid. 

82  Ibid.  The  price  was  ,(^9,000,  which, 
however,  included  the  manor  and  advowson 
of  Fyfield  (q.v.). 

83  Ibid. 

8*  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  iv,  107. 

85  Complete  Peerage,  iii,  92. 

86  The  descent  of  Wanstead  will  be 
given  in  another  volume. 

87  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  P46. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  T20.  The  purpose 
of  the  mortgage  was  to  raise  money  to  pay 
a  legacy  by  the  last  Earl  Tylney  to  hit 
daughter  Lady  Dorothy  Child. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


hehad  becomeEarlof  Mornington.89  In  i849Paslow 
Hall  consisted  of  705  acres  and  was  occupied  by 
Andrew  Ling  and  John  Brown.'"  Lord  Mornington 
died  in  1857  but  by  1855  the  lordship  of  Paslow  Hall 
had  passed  to  his  son,  later  5th  Earl  of  Mornington." 
After  the  death  of  the  5th  earl  in  1863  the  manor  was 
held  for  some  years  by  trustees.'^  By  1899  it  had  be- 
come the  possession  of  Alfred  C.  Bristow,'^  who  in 
1 906  still  held  the  manorial  rights.  '■*  Paslow  Hall  Farm 
was  separated  from  the  manor  in  1866-7  ^"d  sold  to 
J.  L.  Newall,  thus  becoming  part  of  the  Forest  Hall 
estate  (see  above). 's  On  the  break  up  of  the  estate  in 
1919  the  farm  was  bought  by  the  Stratford  Co- 
operative Society.'*  Paslow  Hall  Farm  is  now  (1953) 
owned  by  the  London  Co-operative  Society,  in  which 
the  Stratford  society  is  merged.  Its  area  is  687  acres. 
This  includes  56  acres  rented  from  Dr.  Walker's  Trust 
(see  Frith  Hall,  above)  and  8  acres  rented  from  W.  and 
C.  French.  The  society  has  a  number  of  other  farms 
in  the  district,  which  are  managed  from  Paslow  Hall 
farm:  Rookery  Farm  (see  Withers  Pawne,  above); 
Nine  Ashes  Farm,  purchased  in  1940  and  consisting  of 
108  acres;  Stanford  Hall  farm  (in  Stanford  Rivers, 
q.v.);  Berners  Hall  farm,  including  Parsonage  Farm, 
in  Berners  Roding,  which  was  purchased  in  1936  and 
contains  860  acres;  Torrells  Hall  farm,  in  Willingale, 
including  Rowes  and  Old  Lodge  Farms,  purchased  in 
1939  and  containing  417  acres;  and  Longbarns  Farm, 
including  Frayes  (in  Beauchamp  Roding,  q.v.).  All 
these  farms  have  been  bought  by  the  society  since  1920. 
Their  total  area  is  3,186  acres  and  mixed  arable  and 
dairy  farming  is  carried  on  throughout  the  estates." 

Paslow  Hall  is  a  timber-framed  L-shaped  building, 
the  south  front  being  faced  with  red  brick.  The  east 
or  back  wing  is  of  two  stories  and  basement  and  may 
be  of  the  17th  century  or  earlier.  The  south  wing 
probably  represents  the  former  great  hall,  but  it  appears 
to  have  been  completely  reconstructed  in  the  middle  of 
the  1 8th  century  and  faced  with  brickwork.  At  about 
the  same  time  a  staircase  block  was  added  in  the  angle 
between  the  wings.'*  The  south  front  has  sash  windows 
somewhat  irregularly  spaced  and  a  pedimented  hood  to 
the  doorway. 

The  early  history  of  the  church  of  High  Ongar  is 
closely  bound  up  with  that  of  Stanford 
CHURCH  Rivers  and  Little  Laver  (q.v.).  In  1086 
Eustace,  Count  of  Boulogne,  was  lord  of 
the  manors  of  Stanford  Rivers  and  Little  Laver.  Early 
in  the  1 2th  century  he  apparently  granted  the  advowsons 
of  Stanford  Rivers,  Little  Laver,  and  High  Ongar  to 
the  priory  of  Rumilly-le-Comte,  a  Cluniac  house  in  the 
Pas-de-Calais."  That  he  had  possessed  the  advowsons 
of  the  first  two  churches  is  not  surprising.  Most  parish 
churches  in  Essex  originated  as  manorial  churches  and 
the  church  is  usually  close  to  the  site  ofan  ancient  manor 
house  whose  lord  possessed  the  advowson.  At  Stanford 
Rivers  and  Little  Laver  there  is  no  doubt  that  the 
manors  with  which  the  churches  are  associated  were 

»«  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  Mi 25,  126;  Com- 
plete Peerage,  ix,  240—1. 

»o  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263. 

»•  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  M125,  126;  Com- 
plete Peerage,  ix,  240—1. 

«2  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890,  1895). 

«'  Ibid.  (1899). 

»♦  Ibid.  (1906).  For  the  court  rolls  of  the 
manor  sec  below,  Parish  Govt. 

«'  Forest  Hall  Sale  Cat.  19 19  (in  poss. 
London  Co-op.  Soc.). 

»'  Inf.  from  the  Secy.  London  Co-op. 
Soc. 


"  Ibid. 

"  It  is  not  shown  on  an  estate  map  of 
1741 :  E.R.O.,  D/DCw  P46. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  227.  Eustace 
founded  Rumilly  in  1105:  V.C.H.  Essex, 
ii,  126. 

'  Dom.  of  St.  Paul's  (Camd.  Soc.  1857), 
1 50.  Norton  had  its  own  church  by  1 190. 

2  Cal.  Close,  1227-31,433. 

3  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1226-57,  108.  The 
fair  was  to  be  held  on  7  and  8  Sept.  No 
further  reference  to  it  has  been  found  after 
1230.    It  was  clearly  identical  with  the 


those  which  belonged  to  Count  Eustace.  But  the  manor 
with  which  one  would  naturally  associate  High  Ongar 
church  for  topographical  reasons  is  Nash  Hall  (see 
above)  and  there  is  no  evidence  that  Eustace  had  any 
rights  in  that  manor,  or  on  the  other  hand  that  the 
lords  of  Nash  Hall  ever  had  the  patronage  of  the 
church.  If  the  church  had  ever  belonged  to  Nash  Hall 
it  had  probably  passed  by  1086  to  Count  Eustace.  It 
is  possible  that  the  church  was  originally  a  chapel 
dependent  on  the  church  of  Chipping  Ongar,  which 
belonged  to  Eustace  as  lord  of  Chipping  Ongar.  In 
that  case  the  advowson  of  High  Ongar  could  have 
belonged  to  Eustace  and  his  successors  when  its  church 
acquired  full  parochial  status.  There  was  certainly  a 
parish  church  at  High  Ongar  in  1 1 8 1,  when  its  parson 
had  cure  of  souls  in  Norton  (Mandeville)  (q.v.)  and 
received  all  the  tithes  from  that  manor,  paying  to  the 
church  of  Fyfield  a  sack  of  corn  and  a  sack  of  oats  be- 
cause Norton  was  so  near  to  that  church.' 

At  some  date  between  1216  and  1227  Robert  de 
Cern',  Rector  of  High  Ongar,  obtained  licence  to  hold 
a  fair  at  his  church  each  year  until  the  king's  majority.^ 
In  1229  the  then  rector,  Sylvester  de  Everdon, 
secured  the  renewal  of  the  grant.'  In  the  following 
year  Sylvester  was  granted  oaks  from  the  king's  forest 
in  auxilium  hospitandi  se  ad  ecclesiam  de  Angre.^  He 
resigned  from  the  rectory  before  1237'  but  in  1246, 
when  he  was  Archdeacon  of  Chester,  he  was  granted 
the  advowsons  of  High  Ongar,  Stanford  Rivers,  and 
Little  Laver  for  fifteen  years  by  the  Prior  of  Rumilly.* 
An  official  return  of  about  1254  stated  that  the  patron 
of  High  Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers  was  Sir  Philip 
Basset,  by  reason  of  his  wardship  of  the  heirs  to  Chipp- 
ing Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers,  and  that  the  patronage 
of  Little  Laver  belonged  to  the  monks  of  Rumilly. 
'Charges'  issuing  from  High  Ongar  and  Little  Laver 
were  payable  to  Rumilly.  The  value  of  the  rectory  of 
High  Ongar  was  60  marks  and  that  of  Stanford  Rivers 
20  marks.' 

Rumilly  had  not  in  fact  surrendered  its  claim  to 
High  Ongar  and  Stanford  Rivers.  In  1264  the  king 
presented  to  the  rectory  of  High  Ongar  during  the 
voidance  of  the  priory*  and  in  the  following  year  it 
was  expressly  stated  that  this  should  not  prejudice  the 
future  rights  of  the  priory  to  the  advowson.'  In 
1277—80  there  were  several  conveyances  by  which 
Arnulph,  Prior  of  Rumilly,  and  John  de  Rivers,  lord  of 
Stanford  Rivers,  both  surrendered  their  rights  in  the 
churches  of  Stanford  Rivers,  High  Ongar,  and  Little 
Laver  to  Edward  I  and  Queen  Eleanor.  Pensions  from 
all  three  churches  were  reserved  to  the  priory.'"  In 
1285  it  was  stated  that  the  church  of  Stanford  Rivers 
was  in  the  gift  of  John  de  Rivers  and  was  worth  50 
marks,  that  the  church  of  High  Ongar  was  in  the  gift 
of  the  king  and  queen  and  was  worth  50  marks,  and 
that  the  church  of  Little  Laver  (worth  30  marks)  was 
also  in  the  gift  of  the  king  and  queen."  In  1291  the 
churches  of  Stanford  Rivers  and  High  Ongar  were  both 

fair  granted  in  or  before  1220  to  Wm.  de 
Monceux  :  see  above  Nash  Hall. 

*  Cal.  Close,  1227-31,  311.  This  prob- 
ably means  building  at  the  rectory  house 
rather  than  the  church  itself. 

5  Reaney,  Early  Essex  Clergy,  1 24. 

'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  152. 

'  E.A.T.  n.s.  xviW,  19. 

8  Cal.  Pat.  1258-66,382. 

»  Ibid.  504. 

'»  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  1 5,  25 ;  Cal.  Close, 
1272-9,  577-8. 
■■  E.R.  Hi,  44!  J.Li/244. 


182 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


valued  at  40  marks."  In  and  after  the  14th  century  the 
king  always  presented  to  Stanford  Rivers  as  well  as  to 
High  Ongar  and  Little  Laver." 

The  foregoing  details  are  of  great  interest  for  they 
may  explain  how  there  came  to  be  a  detached  part  of 
High  Ongar  to  the  north  of  Stanford  Rivers,  some  2 
miles  from  the  main  body  of  High  Ongar  parish.  It 
is  clear  that  there  was  a  dispute  between  Rumilly  and 
the  lords  of  Stanford  Rivers  concerning  the  advowsons 
of  Stanford  Rivers  and  High  Ongar  and  that  about 
1280  this  was  resolved  by  both  parties  surrendering 
their  claims  to  the  king  and  queen.  It  also  appears  that 
between  about  1254  and  1291  the  value  of  the  rectory 
of  High  Ongar  decreased  from  60  marks  to  40  marks 
while  that  of  Stanford  Rivers  increased  from  20  marks 
to  40  marks.  It  therefore  seems  likely  that  during  the 
dispute  or  after  its  settlement  the  parish  of  Stanford 
Rivers  was  enlarged  at  the  expense  of  High  Ongar. 
The  evidence  of  1285  shows  that  John  de  Rivers 
retained  some  interest  in  the  advowson  of  Stanford 
Rivers  after  1280,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  parish  was  the  consideration  for  which  he 
surrendered  his  claim  to  the  patronage  of  High  Ongar 
and  Little  Laver.  If  the  parish  of  High  Ongar  did  in 
fact  lose  a  substantial  part  to  Stanford  Rivers  it  seems 
most  likely  that  this  was  the  belt  of  land  which  now 
forms  the  north  of  Stanford  Rivers,  running  from 
Marden  Ash  in  the  east  to  Ongar  Park  Hall  in  the 
north-west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  stream 
which  joins  the  Roding  at  Wash  Bridge.  If  this  area 
was  previously  part  of  High  Ongar  it  was  the  link 
between  the  main  body  of  the  parish  and  the  Ashlyns- 
Ongar  Park  section.  The  area  involved  fits  in  well  with 
the  reasonable  deductions  that  can  be  made  from  the 
valuation  figures  of  about  1254  and  1291.  If  we  take 
the  figures  to  mean  that  the  total  area  of  Stanford 
Rivers  was  doubled  by  the  acquisition  from  High 
Ongar,  this  implies  (in  terms  of  the  present  acreage  of 
Stanford  Rivers)  that  some  2,200  acres  were  added 
between  1254  and  1 291.  The  belt  of  land  described 
above  is  approximately  of  that  area.  A  final  piece  of 
evidence  is  that  in  the  17th  century  the  Rector  of  High 
Ongar  enjoyed  part  of  the  tithes  from  16  acres  of  land 
near  Colliers  Hatch  in  Stanford  Rivers  (see  below). 
Colliers  Hatch  is  in  the  belt  that  may  have  been  trans- 
ferred from  High  Ongar  to  Stanford  Rivers. 

The  king  exercised  the  patronage  of  High  Ongar 
until  1 538  when  Henry  VIII  granted  it  to  Sir  Richard 
Rich,  later  ist  Baron  Rich.''*  It  descended  with  Paslow 
Hall  (see  above)  to  the  4th  Earl  of  Manchester,  who 
presented  to  the  rectory  in  lyoi.'s  John  Turvin  pre- 
sented in  1733,  no  doubt  by  grant  pro  hac  vice,  for  in 
about  1755  the  Duke  of  Manchester  was  returned  as 
patron.'*  About  this  time,  however,  the  advowson 
passed  out  of  Manchester's  hands.  In  1770  Joseph 
Henshaw  was  rector  and  patron. "^  From  this  time  the 
advowson  changed  hands  with  each  new  rector,  being 
held  either  by  the  rector  himself  or  by  a  close  relation.'* 
About  1942  it  was  acquired  by  the  Church  Association 
Trust,  who  are  the  present  patrons. '« 

In  1535  the  rectory  of  High  Ongar  was  valued  at 


j^39  10/.  \d?-'^  In  1 610  the  glebe  was  about  80  acres." 
In  1637  the  rectory  was  stated  to  be  a  manor  'consist- 
ing of  demeans  and  copyholds,  viz.  nine  tenements  in 
High  Ongar  street,  one  in  Shelley  parish,  16  acres  of 
ground  near  Colliers  Hatch'.  These  lands  paid  'tithes 
in  kind  for  corn,  after  two  ridges  to  Stanford  Rivers, 
and  one  ridge  to  High  Ongar,  which  is  taken  standing'. 
Pasture  and  hay  ground  paid  tithes  in  kind  rateably  to 
both  parishes.  Well  Field,  about  12  acres,  paid  'the 
third  tenth  sheaf  to  High  Ongar.^^  The  tithes  were 
commuted  in  1849  for  j^i,382.^3 

In  1610  the  Rectory  house  contained  fourteen 
rooms  and  had  extensive  outbuildings.^*  It  is  possible 
that  this  was  the  building  which  still  stands,  to  the  east 
ofthe  church,  and  which  is  described  above  (seep.  173), 
for  that  house  originally  contained  fourteen  rooms  and 
dates  from  the  late  i6th  or  early  17th  century.  The 
present  rectory  is  a  fine  red-brick  three-story  house 
with  five  windows  across  the  front  and  a  pedimented 
porch.  It  is  said  to  contain  22  rooms  and  was  built  in 
the  late  1 8th  century. 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  MARY  THE  FIRGIN 
consists  of  nave,  chancel,  south  tower,  and  north  vestry. 
The  nave  dates  from  the  middle  of  the  1 2th  century 
and  is  of  flint  rubble  with  dressings  of  clunch  partly 
replaced  by  limestone.  The  12th-century  south  door 
is  of  special  interest.  The  chancel  was  built  or  rebuilt 
in  the  middle  of  the  13th  century  and  is  also  of  flint 
rubble.  The  tower,  which  incorporates  a  south  porch, 
dates  from  1858  and  is  of  brown  brick  with  limestone 
dressings.  The  vestry  was  added  in  1885  and  is  of 
flint  rubble. 

The  nave  retains  three  single-light  round-headed 
windows  of  12th-century  date,  two  on  the  north  side 
and  one  on  the  south.  The  western-most  windows  in 
the  nave,  although  probably  ofthe  13th  century,  have 
semicircular  heads  internally  and  may  originally  have 
been  ofthe  12th  century.  Both  north  and  south  door- 
ways are  original,  the  north  door .  having  a  semi- 
circular head  and  moulded  imposts.  Externally  the 
south  door  is  of  two  orders,  the  outer  having  a  round 
arch  with  chevron  ornament  supported  on  attached 
shafts  with  moulded  bases  and  scalloped  capitals.  The 
inner  also  has  shafts  with  scalloped  capitals  supporting 
a  segmental  arch  with  chevron  ornament.  Between  the 
arches  is  a  tympanum  of  which  the  stones  are  enriched 
with  axe-cut  ornament.  There  is  similar  ornament  and 
a  billet  mould  to  the  label  above  the  doorway  (see 
plate  facing  p.  184). 

Externally  the  flint  coursing  ofthe  mid-l  3th-century 
chancel  is  a  little  more  pronounced  than  in  the  nave. 
An  unusual  feature  is  a  string-course  of  clunch  at  sill- 
level  in  both  north  and  south  walls.  There  is  a  shallow 
projection  at  the  junction  of  nave  and  chancel  on  the 
north  side,  possibly  in  connexion  with  a  rood-loft  stair. 
The  east  end  has  three  graduated  lancets.  Internally 
they  are  grouped  under  chamfered  rear  arches  spring- 
ing from  attached  shafts  with  moulded  bases  and 
capitals.  There  are  two  lancets  in  the  north  wall  and 
one  in  the  south.  The  piscina  is  ofthe  13th  century. 
In  the  nave  the  western-most  windows  in  both  north 


'^  r<JAr.  £c<r/.  (Rec.  Com.),  2ii. 
'3  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  452-3. 
>«  Ibid.;  L.  ©■  P.  Hen.  VIU,  xiii  (i), 

569;  W.  '5- 

■5  E.A.T.-n.%.m,  58. 

"  Morant,     Eaex,     i,     133;     E.R.O., 
D/AEM  2/3.   This  was  the  3rd  dulce. 

"  Hist.  Essex  hy  Gent,  iii,  331. 


'8  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/3;  Eccl  Reg. 
1808;  C/er,  Guide,  1817,  1829,  1836; 
Clergy  List,  1 842  f. ;  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir. 
1882  f.;  Chel.  Dice.  Year  Bk.  1915  f. 

'9  del.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1942.  The  trust 
made  its  6rst  presentation  in  1946.  Since 
1950  it  has  been  known  as  the  Church 
Society  Trust. 


183 


2»  Fahr  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

2'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  452. 

"  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  263.  The  tithes  ofthe 
glebe  (then  95  acres)  were  not  included  in 
this  figure. 

^<  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  452. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


and  south  walls  are  13th-century  lancets.  There  are 
two  lancets  at  the  west  end  which  may  date  from  the 
13th  century  but  have  probably  been  rebuilt. 

In  the  14th  century  windows  were  inserted  on  both 
north  and  south  sides  near  the  east  end  of  the  nave. 
These  have  three  lights  with  sharply  pointed  cinque- 
foiled  heads.  That  on  the  south  side  retains  a  label 
mould  externally  with  corbel  heads  roughly  restored 
in  cement. 

In  the  15  th  century  the  church  was  reroofed,  the 
chancel  roof  having  heavily  moulded  wall-plates.  The 
nave  roof  has  five  king-post  trusses,  the  posts  being 
octagonal  with  moulded  bases  and  capitals  and  having 
four-way  struts.  Probably  at  the  same  time  a  square 
timber  bell  tower  was  inserted  near  the  west  end  of  the 
nave.  This  had  a  tall  spire  and  survived  until  1858.^5 
The  timbers  of  the  western-most  truss  are  not  original 
and  this  may  have  been  inserted  when  the  tower  was 
removed.  The  eastern-most  truss  is  also  new.  The 
rafters  of  both  roofs  are  ceiled  in.  During  the  15th 
century  also  a  two-light  window  with  a  square  head 
was  inserted  in  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  at  the  east 
end,  and  another  uniform  with  it  in  the  corresponding 
position  in  the  south  wall.  A  three-light  window  of 
similar  design  in  the  west  end  of  the  south  wall  of  the 
chancel  dates  from  the  19th  century  but  may  have 
replaced  an  original  i  jth-century  window. 

The  square-headed  'low  side'  window  near  the  east 
end  of  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  is  of  the  late  i  5th  or 
early  1 6th  century,  and  so  also  is  the  ogee-headed  piscina 
below  it. 

The  brick  doorway  on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel 
is  probably  of  the  17th  century.  It  has  chamfered 
jambs  and  a  segmental  head  and  was  restored  in  1883.^* 
In  the  early  19th  century  there  still  existed  a  timber 
porch  dated  1640  outside  the  south  doorway  of  the 
nave.^' 

The  south  side  of  the  church  was  repaired  in  1 730-1 . 
It  is  unlikely  that  the  work  involved  was  extensive,  for 
it  appears  to  have  cost  not  more  than  ^20  in  addition 
to  the  normal  church  rate.^s 

About  1800  it  was  reported  that  'the  church  of 
High  Ongar  is  shored  up  and  threatens  downfall'.^' 
Repairs  to  the  west  end  and  ex;ternal  rendering  in 
Roman  cement  may  have  taken  place  about  1830, 
when  the  west  door  was  made  and  the  shallow  porch 
added.  This  has  a  segmental  arch  and  a  castellated 
parapet. 

In  1858  the  present  tower  was  added  on  the  south 
side  of  the  church,  incorporating  a  south  porch.so  The 
idea  may  have  come  from  Bobbingworth,  where  a 
somewhat  similar  tower  was  built  in  1 840.  The  tower 
is  in  a  late  13th-century  style;  it  cost  j^8oo.3'  There  is 
evidence  that  a  spire  was  planned,^^  but  this  was  never 
built.  The  timber  bell  tower  was  removed  at  this  time, 
and  presumably  also  the  17th-century  timber  porch. 
The  west  gallery  also  appears  to  have  been  built  at  this 
time. 

The  chancel  was  thoroughly  restored  in  1883,  the 
plaster  being  stripped  from  the  walls  externally  and  a 
vestry  of  uncertain  date  on  the  south  side  being  cleared 


away.  The  three-light  window  on  the  south  side  of  the 
chancel  was  inserted  or  renewed  at  the  same  time.3' 
In  1885  the  north  vestry  was  built  to  designs  by 
Frederic  Chancellor.  This  work  and  that  of  1883  was 
carried  out  by  Noble  of  Ongar. 34 

There  are  six  bells.  The  two  oldest  are  by  William 
Carter,  1610,  and  John  Waylett,  1728.3s  In  1746  the 
fourth  bell  in  the  peal  was  recast  by  Thomas  Lester: 
an  entry  in  the  vestry  book  records  his  contract  with 
the  churchwardens.3*  Other  bells  are  by  Pack  and 
Chapman  of  London,  1775,  and  T.  Mears,  1822  (a 
recasting).^'  In  1933  a  sixth  bell  was  added  and  all 
were  rehung  on  a  steel  frame,  the  cost  being  met  by 
the  Barron  Bell  Trust.3* 

The  pulpit  and  reading-desk,  mostly  of  1883, 
incorporate  enriched  panels  of  the  late  i6th  or  early 
17th  century.39  The  communion  rails  have  turned 
posts  of  the  mid-i7th  century.  The  stone  font  is  of 
mid-  or  late-igth-century  date.  On  the  north  side  of 
the  chancel  are  two  bench-ends,  with  shaped  finials, 
one  having  the  date  1680  and  the  other  the  initials 
R.s.  (probably  Richard  Stane).  West  of  this  and  below 
the  wall  monument  to  Richard  Stane  is  an  imposing 
early  18th-century  square  pew  with  foliated  carving  to 
the  mouldings  and  panels.  The  panelling  on  the  north 
side  of  the  chancel  is  of  similar  date. 

The  coloured  glass  in  the  east  windows  is  mostly  of 
the  19th  century,  but  in  each  of  the  flanking  lancets  is 
a  shield  of  arms  surmounted  by  a  crown  and  encircled 
by  a  wreath.  The  arms  are  those  of  Jane  Seymour  with 
the  initials  i.r.  and  those  of  Henry  VIII  with  the 
initials  h.i.  (Henry  and  Jane).  The  date  may  be 
assumed  to  be  about  1536. 

Ceiling  paintings  which  were  not  obliterated  until 
after  1855  may  have  been  of  17th-century  origin. 
In  1768  and  1855  the  roof  was  described  as  'lofty, 
arched  and  painted  with  clouds  and  a  sun  rising  in  a 
glorious  manner' .■♦° 

The  church  plate  consists  of  three  silver  cups  dated 
1683,  1702,  and  1891,  three  silver  patens  of,  1683, 
1702,  and  1749,  ^f^  ^  silver  flagon  of  1883  and  alms- 
dish  of  1747.  The  cup  and  paten  of  1702  were  given 
by  Mrs.  Joanna  Abdy  and  the  paten  of  1749  ^7 
William  Denn. 

On  a  floor  slab  in  the  chancel  is  the  indent  of  a  miss- 
ing 14th-century  brass.  This  appears  to  have  con- 
sisted of  a  foliated  cross  with  a  figure  in  the  head  and 
an  Agnus  Dei  at  the  foot.  A  slab  in  the  nave  has  a  brass 
showing  the  standing  figure  of  a  man  in  early-l6th- 
century  dress.  A  brass  in  the  chancel  dated  16 10  has 
initials  m.t.  and  a  text  from  1  Corinthians  xv,  36.  A 
companion  brass  with  initials  e.t.  and  a  text  is  now 
lost,  but  a  rubbing  was  taken  about  1 810.*'  Also  in 
the  chancel  is  a  floor  slab  and  brass  to  William  Tabor 
(161 1)  Rector  of  High  Ongar  and  founder  of  Tabor's 
Almshouses  (see  Charities,  below).  Floor  slabs  of  other 
former  rectors  include  William  Alchorne  (1701), 
Josiah  Tomlinson  (165 1),  John  Lavender  (1670). 
There  is  also  a  floor  slab  to  Richard  Cartar  (1659)  with 
an  inscription  indicating  that  he  was  the  victim  of  per- 
secution.  Above  the  Stane  pew  is  a  handsome  marble 


"  E.R.O.,  Prints,  High  Ongar:  draw- 
ing of  c.  1 766 ;  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii, 

335- 

*'  Builders'  Acct.  in  poss.  of  present 
rector,  Revd.  B.  Hartley. 

"  T.  Wright,  Hist,  Essex,  ii,  335. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  68/8/1:  June  1730, 
Apr.  1731. 


"  E.A.T.  N.s.  X,  143. 

30  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1866). 

3'  Ibid. 

32  Water-colour  in  poss.  of  rector,  prob- 
ably an  architect's  drawing. 
"  Builders'  Accts.  in  poss.  of  rector. 
i*  Ibid. 
35  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  351. 

184 


36  E.R.O.,  D/P  68/8/2. 
3'  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  351. 
38  Tablet  in  church. 
3»  Builders'  Accts.  1883. 
*o  Morant,  Essex,  i,  132;  cf.  T.  Wright, 
Hist.   Essex,  ii,   335;   Kelly's  Dir.   Essex 

(■855). 
♦>  E.A.T.  N.s.  X,  203. 


High  Oncar  Church:  12th-century  Tympanum 


Little  Laver  Church:  12th-century  Font  Bowl 


o 


U 
u 

< 


a 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


monument  with  Corinthian  pilasters  and  a  shield  of 
arras  to  Richard  Stane  of  Forest  Hall  (17 14).  There 
are  a  number  of  other  later  memorials. 

John  de  Welde  of  Ongar,  whose  will  was  proved  in 
1337,  bequeathed  a  cow  called  'turtel'  with  its  calf  to 
maintain  a  candle  on  every  double  festival  of  the  year 
before  the  great  altar  in  High  Ongar  church.*^  The 
will  of  Sir  Peter  Siggiswyk  (proved  1 503)  provided 
1 3/.  \(i.  for  keeping  his  obit  in  the  church  of  High 
Ongar,  and  iJ.  for  the  priest  singing  there.'»3 

ST.  JAMES'S  Church,  Marden  Ash,  was  built  in 
1884  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to  the  parish  church.  It  was 
destroyed  by  a  German  rocket  in  1945.  It  consisted 
of  a  nave  of  flint  and  stone,  and  it  had  one  bell.''^ 

Paslow  Wood  Common  Mission  Church  is  a  rect- 
angular roughcast  building  with  a  low-pitched  hipped 
slate  roof.  A  small  porch  at  the  south  end  is  dated 
1865.   Until  1895  it  was  a  church  school.'^s 

In  1672  a  room  in  Peter  Foster's  house  in  High 
Ongar  was  licensed  for  wor- 
NONCONFORMITr  ship  by  Congregationalists.ts 
In  1829  there  was  a  small 
Congregational  society  meeting  at  Paslow  Wood  Com- 
mon, under  the  ministry  of  the  Revd.  Isaac  Taylor  of 
Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.).'*'  The  attendance  then  num- 
bered about  50,  but  there  is  no  apparent  evidence  that 
it  continued  for  long. 

The  Gospel  Hall  at  Marden  Ash  was  founded 
about  1900  as  a  result  of  the  Tent  Missions  held  in 
the  neighbourhood.  It  is  a  very  small  red-brick  build- 
ing.** A  chapel  in  Mill  Lane,  founded  about  1929, 
was  in  connexion  with  the  Gospel  Hall,  but  is  now 
rented  by  the  Baptists  of  Blackmore.*'  It  is  a  small 
weather-boarded  building. 

The  medieval  court  rolls  of  the  manor  of  Paslow 
Hall  provide  a  little 
PARISH  GOVERNMENT  information  about  the 
AND  POOR  RELIEF  government  of  this  im- 

portant part  of  the 
parish.  Most  of  the  surviving  rolls  relate  to  courts  held 
at  Easter  or  in  November.  The  Easter  courts  always 
included  view  of  frank-pledge.  The  homage  usually 
consisted  of  twelve  men.  Few  of  the  entries  are  un- 
usual. In  the  first  roll  (1271)  tenants  of  the  manor  are 
presented  for  obstructing  a  water-course,  selling  bread 
against  the  assize,  and  impeding  the  aletasters.'"  Later 
rolls  (for  the  15th  century)  contain  similar  entries. 5' 
There  were  several  disputes  between  tenants  relating 
to  the  ownership  of  land.  The  roll  for  1404  records  a 
fine  for  insulting  behaviour.'^  There  were  two  ale- 
tasters  in  1404.  The  election  of  a  rent-collector  for  the 
manor  is  noted  in  the  1400  roll. 53 

The  modern  series  of  court  rolls  for  Paslow  runs 
from  1542  to  1855  with  only  one  extensive  break. 5* 
Some  of  the  early  rolls  in  the  series  may  no  longer 
exist,  but  from  i  559  the  record  is  complete  until  1609. 
There  is  then  a  break  until  1633,  after  which  the  series 
appears  to  be  complete.  Between  1559  and  1609 
courts  were  held  in  most  years,  and  sometimes  twice  a 
year.  Up  to  1575  most  of  them  were  held  at  Easter, 
for  view  of  frank-pledge  and  court  baron  business. 
Courts  baron  alone  were  sometimes  held  during  this 


period,  but  usually  later  in  the  year.  Between  1576 
and  i6og  the  courts  were  usually  held  in  the  summer, 
most  often  in  September.  View  of  frank-pledge  was 
included  on  almost  every  occasion.  Between  1633  and 
1647  courts  were  held  every  two  or  three  years,  and 
always  included  view  of  frank-pledge.  The  view  was 
held  in  165 1,  but  after  that  date,  although  courts  were 
held  at  intervals  of  from  one  to  three  years,  they  were 
usually  courts  baron  only.  View  of  frank-pledge  was 
next  held  in  1672.  It  took  place  on  only  eight  occasions 
after  that,  the  last  being  in  1 721. 

During  the  l6th  century  the  homage  usually 
numbered  at  least  1 2  and  sometimes  as  many  as  1 8  at 
courts  with  view  of  frank-pledge  but  was  much  smaller 
at  courts  baron.  After  165 1  it  consisted  at  courts  baron 
of  about  5  men,  but  occasionally  sank  to  2.  At  courts 
with  the  view  in  and  after  1672  it  was  usually  12. 

The  election  of  the  constable  of  the  manor  is  fre- 
quently recorded  in  the  rolls.  Two  constables  were 
elected  ini7ii.  Ini7i9  the  court  elected  a  man  as 
constable  'of  High  Ongar'.  In  172 1  the  constable  was 
elected  in  the  manor  court  for  the  last  time,  by  the 
curious  formula  'of  High  Ongar  within  this  manor'. 
As  will  be  shown  below  the  jurisdiction  of  the  manor 
court  was  at  this  time  overlapping  that  of  the  parish 
vestry. 

The  woodward  of  the  manor  was  frequently  ap- 
pointed up  to  1660,  but  after  that  only  in  1672.  In 
171 1  Samuel  Pond  was  elected  'beadle  ang/ice  hayward 
for  Paslow  Common'.  An  aletaster  was  chosen  at 
irregular  intervals,  the  last  occasion  being  in  1605.  In 
1 567  he  was  also  described  as  a  bread  weigher. 

Most  of  the  business  transacted  at  the  courts  con- 
cerned minor  nuisances  and  breaches  of  manorial 
custom.  Special  attention  was  paid  to  encroachments 
on  Paslow  Wood  Common,  either  by  inclosure  or  by 
the  pasturing  of  excessive  numbers  of  animals.  There 
were  occasional  fines  for  assault,  the  last  in  1601. 

In  1 542  it  was  presented  that  there  was  no  pillory 
in  the  manor,  nor  a  tumbrel,  and  the  matter  was 
referred  for  discussion  with  the  officials  of  the  king, 
who  was  then  lord.  In  1573  there  were  said  to  be  no 
stocks  in  the  manor  and  the  inhabitants  were  ordered 
to  supply  them. 

A  surviving  court  roll  of  the  manor  of  Newarks 
Norton  contains  seventeen  entries  from  1487  to  1668.55 
It  is  clear  from  some  of  these  entries  that  there  were  a 
number  of  occasions  during  this  period  when  the  court 
met,  but  of  which  no  full  record  now  exists.  View  of 
frank-pledge  was  usually  held  up  to  161 3,  when  it  took 
place  for  the  last  time.  Subsequent  courts  dealt  with 
baron  business  only.  The  homage  usually  numbered 
5  or  6.  In  161 2  it  was  presented  that  there  was  no 
pound  in  the  manor  and  the  lord  was  required  to  pro- 
vide one. 

The  rolls  for  the  manor  of  Nash  Hall,  which  run 
from  1582  to  1729,  contain  only  the  proceedings  of 
courts  baron.  The  homage  usually  numbered  2  or  3.5* 

The  existing  vestry  books  for  the  parish  of  High 
Ongar  cover  the  period  1702-76.5'  Vestry  meetings 
were  held  regularly  at  Easter  and  Christmas  and  often 
at  other  times.  In  1732  it  was  resolved  to  hold  monthly 


«  Cat.  And.  D.  i,  A.  466. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  xxi,  256. 

«  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899);  CA.  Bells 
Essex,  351 ;  inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutch- 
ings. 

♦*  Cf.  Schools,  below. 

**  G.  L.  Turner,  Orig.  Recs.  of  Early 


Nonconf.  ii,  938. 

47  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2. 

■t8  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

«  Ibid.  50  502/173/30(1271). 

51  Ibid.  31-38;  SC2/178/21.  The  dates 
of  these  rolls  are  1400,  1404,  1409,  14 14, 
1421,  1460,  and  1464. 


185 


52  Ibid.  178/21. 
"  Ibid.  173/31. 

5«  E.R.O.,  D/DGn  317,  D/DK  M125- 
7,  D/DCw  M120-5. 
55  E.R.O.,  D/DSp  M36. 
s*  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  M242-5. 
57  E.R.O.,  D/P  68/8/1,  2. 

Bb 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


meetings,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  this  decision  was 
acted  on.  Attendance  varied  from  5  to  over  20,  being 
krgest  at  Easter.  Up  to  1742  William  Stane  of  Forest 
Hall  appears  to  have  acted  as  chairman  of  the  vestry 
when  he  was  present.  When  he  was  absent  the  rector 
was  chairman,  and  after  1742  it  was  the  rector  who 
usually  presided. 58  Other  prominent  vestrymen  were 
Wilham  Baker  of  Withers  Pawne  and  his  son  Bramston 
Baker,  and  William  Wright,  who  was  tenant  of  Paslow 
Hall  early  in  the  i8th  century. 

In  1734  the  vestry  arranged  that  a  house  should  be 
built  on  waste  ground  belonging  to  the  manor  of 
Withers  Pawne  for  the  use  of  James  Paveley,  the  parish 
clerk.  Later  in  the  same  year  Paveley  was  ordered  to 
sell  off  the  beer  he  had  brewed  in  his  house  and  he  was 
forbidden  to  brew  any  more.  In  1736  he  was  granted 
a  salary  of  40J.  a  year,  to  be  paid  quarterly,  evidently 
in  place  of  a  gratuity  at  Easter.  Robert  Miller  was 
appointed  clerk  in  1775  at  an  annual  salary  oi  £z  2S. 

For  much  of  the  period  the  Easter  vestry  was  held 
in  two  sessions.  At  the  first  the  overseers'  rate  was 
granted  and  usually  also  those  of  the  churchwardens 
and  constables.  At  the  second  and  more  important 
session,  which  actually  took  place  in  Easter  week,  the 
accounts  of  the  above  officials  were  examined.  At  the 
Christmas  vestry,  on  26  or  27  December,  the  accounts 
of  the  parish  surveyors  of  highways  were  examined  and 
their  rates  granted.  Throughout  the  period  a  penny 
rate  produced  a  little  over  £"]. 

The  great  size  of  the  parish  and  its  detached  parts 
raised  unusual  administrative  problems.  During  the 
first  20  years  of  the  1 8th  century  there  was  another 
problem  also:  the  overlapping  of  the  powers  of  the 
vestry  with  those  of  the  manor  court  of  Paslow,  which 
has  been  described  above.  Constables'  accounts  are 
entered  in  the  vestry  book  from  1703  onwards,  and  in 
1707  Thomas  Bridgman  was  elected  constable  in  the 
vestry.  William  Mead  and  Samuel  Barnard,  who  were 
both  elected  constables  in  the  manor  court  in  1711, 
rendered  their  accounts  as  parish  constables  at  subse- 
quent vestries.  The  constables  appointed  for  the  manor 
in  17 19  and  1721  also  accounted  to  the  vestry.  In 
17 19  Samuel  Barnard  acknowledged  the  receipt  of 
1 2/.  id.  from  William  Wood  in  respect  of  charges  at 
the  court  at  Paslow.  Wood  was  apparently  settling 
accounts  on  succeeding  Barnard  as  a  constable,  and  the 
entry  seems  to  imply  some  financial  relationship  be- 
tween manor  court  and  vestry.  After  172 1  two 
constables  continued  to  account  to  the  vestry  and  no 
doubt  were  always  nominated  there.  During  the  later 
part  of  this  period  the  nominations  were  sometimes 
entered  in  the  vestry  book,  and  were  confirmed  in  the 
usual  way  by  the  J.P.s.  By  about  1750  there  was  only 
one  constable."  John  Bettis  held  the  office  for  many 
years  between  I750and  177  5.  The  constable's  expenses 
were  about  ^^8  a  year  at  the  beginning  of  the  period 
and  about  ^^20  at  the  end. 

Up  to  about  1720  there  were  usually  two  parish 
surveyors  of  highways.  From  1725,  if  not  earlier, 
there  were  at  least  three.  Each  surveyor  had  responsi- 
bility for  part  of  the  parish.  One  usually  looked  after 
Marden  Ash  and  'Bobbingworth  hamlet',  a  second  'the 
body  of  the  parish',  and  the  third  'Paslow  Hall  manor'. 


5*  Robt.  Salmon  was  rector  1701-33. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Jos.  Henshaw.  It 
has  been  assumed  that  the  person  signing 
the  minutes  first  was  chairman. 

59  A  single  name  was  usually  put  before 
the  J.P.'s  but  sometimes  they  made  their 


In  1737-9  an  additional  surveyor  was  appointed  with 
separate  responsibihty  for  Bobbingworth  hamlet.  In 
1740  and  later  the  parish  was  usually  divided  into 
three  areas  as  before  but  two  surveyors  were  sometimes 
appointed  for  each  area.  In  and  after  1758  there  was 
a  variation  in  the  areas.  One  surveyor  looked  after 
Marden  Ash,  the  second  Paslow  and  Bobbingworth 
hamlet,  and  the  third  the  body  of  the  parish.  Up  to 
1735  th^  surveyors'  rate  was  usually  about  iji/.  For 
the  rest  of  the  period  it  was  usually  about  3</.  In  1741 
it  was  5  Ji/.  No  reason  has  been  found  for  this  unusually 
high  rate.  In  1732  the  vestry  ordered  the  overseers 
[sic]  of  highways  to  charge  their  accounts  with  an 
allowance  of  2d.  a  day  for  the  labourers'  beer,  but  with 
no  other  charges  for  beer  provided  for  servants. 

The  parish  overseers  of  the  poor,  hke  the  surveyors, 
often  accounted  individually  to  the  vestry.  It  is  some- 
times stated  that  one  overseer  was  responsible  for 
Paslow  Hall  manor  and  the  other  for  the  body  of  the 
parish.  At  the  beginning  of  the  i8th  century  the  cost 
of  poor  relief  in  the  parish  was  about  £^0.  It  rose  to 
over  ^^130  in  17 16  but  rarely  exceeded  that  figure  up 
to  1750.  In  1760  it  was  £'i()0,  in  1774  Cii'i'  ^'^'^  'fi 
1783-5  it  averaged  ^£470.*"  By  1 801  the  total  rate  had 
risen  to  ^^1,989.*'  It  fell  between  1805  and  1812  to 
an  average  of  about  ^^1,300  but  rose  to  a  new  peak  of 
;^2,054  in  1817.^2  In  1821  it  was  ;{^!,67o.*3 

There  is  no  evidence  of  a  parish  poorhouse  before 
1775.  In  October  of  that  year  the  vestry  paid  £20 
towards  the  purchase  of  a  house  called  Scarlets  from 
William  Coe  of  Stondon  Massey.  This  was  the  first 
instalment  of  a  purchase  price  of  ,£220.  In  the  entries 
for  1776  (the  last  in  the  vestry  book)  there  are  references 
to  the  parish  house.  Scarlets  adjoined  the  Tabor  alms- 
houses to  the  west.  The  almshouses  themselves  had 
since  their  foundation  been  administered  by  the  rector, 
churchwardens,  and  overseers;  the  accounts  of  the 
almshouses  were  entered  in  the  vestry  book  and  the 
almsmen  were  partly  supported  out  of  the  poor  rates.** 
There  is  hardly  any  evidence  about  the  number  of 
persons  supported  out  of  the  poor  rates.  In  September 
1752  there  were  20  receiving  a  total  of  ;^i  9^.  31/.  a 
week.  The  highest  individual  payment  was  3/.,  and 
the  lowest  9</.  In  September  1757  the  vestry  ordered 
the  provision  of  'a  pair  of  shoes  and  hat  for  the  black 
boy'. 

In  1836  High  Ongar  became  part  of  Ongar  Poor 
Law  Union. 

William  Pawne  (d.  1578)  directed  in  his  will  that 

the  residue  of  his  estate  should  be  used  to 

SCHOOLS    establish  and  maintain  a  school  in  his 

manor   of  Chivers    Hall   (see  above)  .*s 

There  is  no  sign  that  such  a  school  was  in  fact  founded. 

By  the  terms  of  Dr.  Walker's  Charity  (founded 
1687)  a  child  from  High  Ongar  might  be  sent  to  the 
charity  school  at  Fyfield  (q.v.).  How  long  the  right 
was  exercised  is  not  clear.  It  had  been  commuted  by 
1834  for  a  small  cash  payment  and  later  lapsed  al- 
together (see  below,  Charities). 

About  1799  the  rector's  wife  and  two  other  ladies 
established  a  girls'  school  at  High  Ongar,  and  by  1 807 
some  20  girls  were  learning  to  read  and  sew.**  This 
experiment  was  probably  the  origin  of  the  National 

in  the  hundred.   In  1816,  1820,  and  1821 
it  was  second  only  to  Chigwell,  which  had 
a  larger  population. 
^*  See  below,  Charities. 

65    C142/181/55. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4.. 


choice  from  two. 

'"  For  the  last  figure  see  E.R.O.,  Q/CR 
I/.. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/9.  "  Ibid. 

(■'  Ibid.  e/CR  1/12.  In  1817,  i8i8,and 
18 19  the  High  Ongar  rate  was  the  largest 

186 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


HIGH  ONGAR 


School  which  by  1816  was  receiving  some  ^^31  in 
annual  subscriptions.*'  In  1818  there  were  about  60 
children  at  this  school,  mostly  girls,  and  74  others 
attended  the  Sunday  schools  held  in  conjunction  with 
it.68  In  1828  the  day  pupils  were  said  to  number  80 
and  in  1833,89.*'  Thesefigures,  however,  were  prob- 
ably inflated  by  the  inclusion  of  children  who  only 
attended  the  Sunday  school,  for  in  1835  there  were 
said  to  be  only  60  at  the  day  school.'"  The  rector  seems 
to  have  owned  the  school  building,  which  was  situated 
at  the  east  end  of  the  village  on  the  south  side  of  the 
road;  subscribers  helped  to  maintain  the  school."  In 
1846-7  there  were  77  pupils  under  a  mistress  who 
was  paid  ,^50  a  year.'^  About  the  same  time  the  rector 
helped  to  maintain  a  dame  school,  possibly  in  some 
other  part  of  the  parish.'^  There  were  also  private  and 
dame  schools,  unconnected  with  the  church;  in  1833 
there  were  five,  including  one  boarding-school,  and 
71  children  were  attending  them.'-* 

In  1 867  a  new  school  was  built  opposite  the  church, 
with  accommodation  for  135  and  a  teacher's  house. 
Subscribers  gave  £i,ogj  and  the  Education  Depart- 
ment a  building  grant  of  ^^aoi.'s  Since  a  school  had 
recently  been  established  at  Paslow  Wood  Common 
and  there  was  also  another  school  in  the  parish  with  1 5 
pupils,'*  the  new  church  school  was  sufficient  for  the 
needs  of  High  Ongar's  stationary  population.  The 
Education  Department  stated  in  1872  that  no  more 
accommodation  was  necessary."  Attendance  at  the 
school  rose  hardly  at  all  before  1 880,  when  it  was  only 
72,  but  by  1886  it  had  risen  to  iig.'^  The  building 
was  therefore  enlarged  in  1887  to  accommodate  160. '» 
The  annual  grant  rose  from  ^^58  in  1873  to  ^95  in 
1886.8'' 

In  1890  a  school  board  was  established  at  High 
Ongar  and  in  that  year  it  accepted  transfer  of  the  build- 
ing for  use  as  a  board  school  on  weekdays. 8'  By  the 
Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed  under  the 
administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Ongar  District.  In  1904  there  were  153  children  on 
the  books,  4  teachers,  2  of  them  certificated,  and  a 
monitress.*^  Attendance  subsequently  fell,  to  91  in 
1915  and  62  in  1938.83  In  1936  the  school  was  re- 
organized for  mixed  juniors  and  infants,  the  seniors 
being  transferred  to  the  new  school  at  Chipping 
Ongar. 8+  In  May  1952  there  were  90  children  under 
3  teachers. 85  The  building,  opposite  the  church,  is 
single-storied  and  of  red  brick,  with  teacher's  house 
attached. 

In  1865  a  wooden  building  was  erected  near  Nine 
Ashes  Farm,  Paslow  Wood  Common,  for  use  as  a 
church  school,  the  cost  being  met  by  subscription.8* 
The  attendance  was  at  first  small:  an  average  of  29  in 
1880  and  28  in  1886.8'    Jn  jg^j  ^  began  to  rise. 


additional  pupils  coming  from  Norton  Mandeville, 
where  the  school  had  recently  been  closed,  and  Black- 
more,  where  the  school  was  overcrowded. 88  By  1893 
there  were  56  children  on  the  books,  although  there 
was  adequate  accommodation  only  for  50.  The  school 
board,  which  had  accepted  transfer  of  the  building  in 
1890,  considered  its  enlargement  but  eventually 
decided  to  build  a  new  school  a  short  distance  to  the 
south-west  of  the  existing  one.89  The  new  school  was 
opened  in  1895  with  accommodation  for  88. '«  Atten- 
dance rose  to  92  in  1904;  there  were  then  3  teachers." 
The  annual  grant  increased  from  ^^28  in  1893  to  ;^67 
in  1902. M 

By  the  Act  of  1902  this  school  passed  under  the 
administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Ongar  District.  The  average  attendance  fluctuated  in 
the  following  years:  52  in  191 5  and  63  in  1929.  In 
1936  the  school  was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and 
infants  and  in  1938  the  average  attendance  was  only 
34.'3  In  May  1952  there  were  2  teachers  and  35 
pupils.**  The  school  is  a  single-story  brick  building 
with  a  slated  roof  (see  plate  facing  p.  1 26).  The  earlier 
school  near  Nine  Ashes  Farm  is  now  used  as  a  mission 
church. 

From  about  1890  to  1930  there  was  a  private 
school  for  boys  (and  later  girls)  at  Marden  Ash,  run 
by  Francis  Dawson  and  by  Mrs.  Dawson. 's 

By  a  scheme  made  in  1924  Tabor's  almshouses, 
Wyberd's,  Thomlinson's,  Peacock's, 
CHARITIES  and  Waller's  Charities  were  united 
under  the  name  of  the  Parochial 
Charities.'*  Their  income  is  expendable  in  general 
charitable  purposes.  In  1951  ^^18  16/.  7^/.  was  spent  on 
gifts  in  kind  and  on  management. 

Tabor's  almshouses  were  founded  by  William  Tabor, 
then  Rector  of  High  Ongar,  who  in  1607  gave  some 
cottages  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  village  street,  for 
the  reception  of  old  and  deserving  parishioners.  By 
his  will  dated  16 10  he  added  a  rent  charge  of  ;^io  for 
the  support  of  the  almsmen  and  the  repair  of  the 
houses.  The  land  charged  lay  in  Bradwell-juxta-Mare. 
In  1834  the  almshouses  consisted  of  six  tenements  'in 
pretty  good  repair',  occupied  by  nine  old  people  ap- 
pointed by  the  rector  and  vestry.  The  total  amount 
spent  on  the  almspeople  at  this  time  was  17/.  a  week. 
For  many  years  they  had  been  partly  supported  out  of 
the  poor  rates,  and  the  charity  income  was  carried  to 
the  poor  rate  account."  By  1900  the  almshouses  were 
in  poor  repair  and  their  maintenance  was  uneconomic. '8 
By  1929  four  of  the  houses  had  been  empty  for  six  years 
and  soon  after  this  they  were  condemned  by  the  County 
Council.  In  1937  the  houses  were  sold  for  ^^50  and 
were  demolished  soon  after."  The  income  from  the 
investment  and  the  rent  charge  are  now  used  for  the 


"  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  18 16,  p.  52. 

"  Retits.  Educ.  Poor.,  H.C.  224,  p.  264 
(i8i9),ix(i). 

<■»  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1828,  p.  72;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Aislr.  H.C.  62,  p.  285  {1835), 
xli. 

'»  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  24o(i835),xxi(i). 

'■  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,D/CT  263. 

'^  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  14-15.  '3  Ibid. 

'♦  Educ.  Enquiry  Aistr.  p.  285. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/198. 

"  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
I12-13  (1871),  Iv. 

"  Chelmsford  Chron.  2  Aug.  1872. 

"  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1880 


[C.  2948-1],  p.  577,  H.C.  (1881),  xxxii; 
ibid.  1886  [C.  5123-1],  p.  519,  H.C. 
(1887),  xxviii. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 

80  Essex  Standard,  28  Oct.  1874;  Rep. 
of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1886,  p.  519. 

8'  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/198. 

8^  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Ilandhk.  1904, 
p.  184.         83  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/198. 

8*  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

85  Ibid.     86  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/199. 

8'  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1S80, 
p.  577;  ibid.  1886,  p.  519. 

88  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/199. 

89  Ibid.;  Retn.  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529], 
p.  714,  H.C.  (1894),  Ixv. 

<">  Min.   of  Educ.    File    13/199;   Schs. 


under  Bd.  of  Educ.  ig02  [Cd.  1490],  p.  71, 
H.C.  (1903),  li. 

»■  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handbk.  1904, 
p.  186. 

92  Retn.  of  Schs.  1893,  p.  714;  Schs^. 
under  Bd.  of  Educ.  igo2,  p.  71- 

93  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/199. 

94  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

95  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890  f.). 
9'  Char.  Com.  files. 

9'  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  240  (1835),  xxi  (i).  And  see  above 
Parish  Govt,  and  Poor  Relief. 

98  Char.  Com.  files;  Parish  Council 
Mins.,  extracted  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

99  Char.-  Com.  files;  Paroch.  Char. 
Mins.,  extracted  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 


187 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


general  purposes  of  the  Parochial  Charities.  The  alms- 
houses were  a  row  of  six  single-story  cottages,  with 
leaded  casement  windows.  Each  cottage  contained  a 
lofty  room  in  the  front  with  a  lean-to  scullery  behind.' 

John  Wyberd,  citizen  and  haberdasher  of  London, 
by  will  proved  1625,  left  50^^.  a  year  for  bread  for  the 
poor,  charged  on  property  in  Kirton-in-HoUand,  Lines. 
Fourteen  years' arrears  were  paid  in  1820.  From  then 
the  charge  was  paid  regularly  until  its  redemption  in 
1910  for  ^100  stock.  In  1834  this  charity,  along  with 
Peacock's  and  Waller's,  was  given  in  bread  to  all  poor 
parishioners.^ 

William  Peacock,  at  an  unknown  date,  gave  20s.  to 
the  poor  charged  on  a  cottage  in  High  Ongar.  The 
rent-charge  was  being  regularly  received  in  1834  and 
was  distributed  in  bread.  In  1926  it  was  redeemed  for 
j^4o  stock. 5 

Humphrey  Waller,  at  an  unknown  date,  gave  10;. 
charged  on  a  copyhold  farm  called  Farrows  at  Paslow 
Wood  Common.    In  1834  the  rent-charge  was  being 


paid  regularly  and  distributed  with  Wyberd's  and 
Peacock's  Charities.  Except  for  a  few  years  before 
1907  the  rent  has  apparently  been  received  regularly .■♦ 

Mrs.  Alice  Thomlinson,  by  will  dated  1655,  left  5/. 
a  year  each  to  eight  poor  widows  of  High  Ongar 
to  help  them  buy  waistcoats. 5  With  similar  charities 
for  other  parishes,  it  was  charged  on  property  in 
Hatfield  Broad  Oak.  Up  to  1769  the  'Widow's 
Crowns'  were  paid  every  year  according  to  the  will,* 
but  in  1 834  the  money  was  distributed  every  two  years 
to  about  20  widows.'  The  money  was  still  being  paid 
in  1951.* 

High  Ongar  participated  in  Walker's  Charity  (see 
Fyfield).  No  children  were  being  sent  to  Fyfield  school 
in  1834  but  the  Rector  of  High  Ongar  received  10/. 
a  year  from  the  Walker  Charity  which  was  spent  on 
school-leaving  prizes  of  bibles  and  prayer  books  for  the 
High  Ongar  children.  This  arrangement  was  not  con- 
firmed by  the  scheme  controlling  Dr.  Walker's  Founda- 
tion made  in  1874.' 


ABBESS  RODING 


Abbess  Roding  and  Beauchamp  Roding  (q.v.)  form 
the  south-west  part  of  the  area  known  before  the 
Norman  Conquest  as  Roding  or  Rodings.  After  the 
Conquest  this  area  was  divided  into  eight  parishes,  each 
retaining  the  word  Roding  as  part  of  its  name.  Of 
these  parishes  only  Abbess  and  Beauchamp  Roding 
became  part  of  Ongar  hundred,  the  others  being  in 
that  of  Dunmow.  There  was  also  the  hamlet  of 
Morrell  Roding,  which  although  it  was  in  White 
Roding  parish  was  held  to  belong  to  Ongar  hundred. 
The  tithing  of  Berwick  Berners  in  Abbess  Roding 
seems  to  have  been  attached  for  some  purposes  to  the 
hundred  of  Dunmow,  but  the  connexion  is  less  clear 
in  this  case.' 

Geographically  Abbess  and  Beauchamp  Roding  have 
much  more  in  common  with  the  other  Roding  parishes 
than  they  have  with  most  of  those  in  Ongar  hundred. 
All  the  Rodings  are  situated  on  Boulder  Clay  in  the 
valley  of  the  River  Roding,  which  takes  its  name  from 
them.  There  are  few  trees  or  hedges  in  the  area,  which 
makes  the  landscape  seem  rather  bleak.  The  soil,  how- 
ever, is  exceptionally  fertile,  and  is  in  fact  reckoned 
among  the  best  in  Essex.  Agriculture  is  mainly  arable, 
the  most  important  crops  being  wheat,  barley,  beet,  and 
potatoes.  Sheep  are  comparatively  rare  but  pigs  and 
beef  cattle  do  well  and  provide  dung  for  the  cornland.^ 
Although  only  30  miles  from  London  the  Rodings  are 
entirely  rural  and  very  isolated;  they  have  no  railway, 
only  infrequent  bus  services,  and  some  houses  in  the 
area  are  still  without  main  services  of  any  kind.  The 
population  has  been  gradually  declining  over  the 
past  century.  Abbess  Roding  had  205  inhabitants  in 
1801,  254  in  1841,  but  only  169  in  1931.'  This 
decline  is  reflected  in  the  amalgamation  of  the  parish 
with  others  for  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical  purposes. 
For  ecclesiastical  purposes  Abbess  Roding  is  united 

'  Inf.  from  Miss  Neville  of  High  Ongar. 

2  Rep.    Com.    Char.    (^Essex)^    p.    240  j 
Char.  Com.  files. 

3  Ibid.  ♦  Ibid. 
5  E.R.O.,  D/P  68/12. 
'  E.R.O.,  D/P  68/8/1  and  2. 
'  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (^Essex),  p.  240. 
*  Char.  Com.  files. 
'  Rep.    Com.    Char.    (Essex),    p.    240; 

Char.  Com.  files. 


with  Beauchamp  Roding.''  For  civil  purposes  it  has 
since  1946  been  united  with  Beauchamp  Roding  and 
Berners  Roding. 5  The  ancient  parish  of  Abbess  Roding 
contained  1,619  acres  including  a  detached  portion  of 
41  acres.*  It  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  White 
Roding,  on  the  west  by  Matching  and  Little  Laver,  and 
on  the  east  by  the  River  Roding  and  the  parish  of 
Margaret  Roding.  Its  former  boundary  with  Beau- 
champ Roding  to  the  south  ran  from  the  river  near 
Pig's  Bridge  west  and  south-west  to  the  Little  Laver 
boundary  north  of  Envilles.  The  detached  portion  was 
situated  locally  in  Beauchamp  Roding  and  consisted  of  a 
narrow  strip  extending  from  Longbarns  to  the  Roding. 

The  height  of  the  land  in  Abbess  Roding  is  about 
225  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the  east  and  about  280  ft.  in 
the  west.  A  number  of  small  streams  flow  east  into  the 
Roding.  Brick  Kiln  Wood  and  Rookwood  Hall  Wood 
are  in  the  west.  Abbess  Roding  village,  in  the  centre 
of  the  ancient  parish,  is  6  miles  north  of  Chipping 
Ongar.  It  is  a  nucleated  village,  containing  the  ancient 
church  and  manor  house,  the  village  hall,  the  former 
parish  school,  and  a  number  of  other  buildings.'  From 
the  village  roads  run  north  to  Berwick  Berners  Hall,* 
White  Roding,  and  Dunmow,  south-west  to  Little 
Laver,  and  east  to  Beauchamp  Roding  and  the  Ongar 
road.' 

There  are  a  number  of  i6th-and  17th-century  build- 
ings in  the  parish.  Most  of  them  lie  to  the  west  of  the 
Little  Laver  road,  and  in  spite  of  their  survival  it  is  this 
part  of  Abbess  Roding  that  has  changed  most.  Until 
the  end  of  the  17th  century  this  area  was  dominated  by 
the  mansion  of  Rookwood  Hall,  f  mile  south-west  of 
the  village,  the  home  for  over  100  years  of  the  Capel 
family. ">  With  their  departure  about  1700  Rookwood 
ceased  to  be  a  gentleman's  residence  and  it  gradually 
deteriorated  until  today  it  is  almost  a  ruin.  In  1696  it 


•  See  below.  Parish  Government  and 
Poor  Relief. 

»  N.  V.  Scarfe,  Land  Util.  Survey, 
Essex,  f.  ^o;  inf.  from  Major  J.  G.  S. 
Brinson. 

3  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350;  Census  Reports, 
191 1,  1921,  1931.  There  has  been  a 
slight  increase  since  193 1  :  see  Beauchamp 
Roding. 

♦  See  below.  Church. 


5  Co.  of  Essex  {Rural  Parishes)  Conf. 
Order,  ig46,  p.  15. 

*  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  ilii. 
In  the  tithe  award  (1843)  the  parish  area 
was  calculated  at  1602  acres:  E.R.O. 
D/CT  292. 

'  See  Manors,  Church,  School. 

8  See  Manors. 

'  O.S.  2i  in.  Map,  sheets  52/50,  51. 
">  See  Manors. 


188 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


ABBESS  RODING 


stood  in  a  wooded  park,  but  this  had  disappeared  by 
1777."  The  transformation  of  the  area  was  completed 
between  1939  and  1945  when  much  of  it  was  taken 
into  Matching  Airfield.  Old  roads  were  diverted  and 
new  concrete  roads  made,  one  of  which  crosses  the 
subsidiary  moated  enclosure  south  of  old  Rookwood 
Hall.  Some  huts  and  other  service  buildings  remain, 
some  used  as  stores.  Fairlands  (formerly  Cockerells)  is 
on  an  ancient  moated  site  ^  mile  north-west  of  Rook- 
wood Hall.  The  house  is  timber-framed  and  probably 
dates  from  the  i6th  century.  It  is  L-shaped  in  plan 
with  later  additions  in  the  angle  of  the  wings.  In  the 
middle  of  the  19th  century  the  south  front  was  faced 
with  brick.  Inside  there  is  an  original  fireplace.  In 
the  room  above  there  is  said  to  be  painted  decoration, 
probably  of  the  17th  century,  on  the  plaster  panels 
between  the  exposed  studs.  North  of  the  house  a  frag- 
ment of  the  moat  remains.  A  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of 
Fairlands  is  the  site  of  the  former  Congregational 
church  of  Abbess  Roding,  which  was  built  (1729)  on 
land  given  by  the  then  owner  of  Cockerells. '^  Nothing 
remains  of  the  church  but  on  the  east  of  its  site  is 
Anchor  House,  originally  given  to  the  church  by  the 
owner  of  Cockerells  and  later  converted  into  a  public 
house  for  the  refreshment  of  the  congregation. 'J  The 
road  which  runs  north  from  Anchor  House  to  join  the 
White  Roding-Matching  Green  road  is  modern. '■♦ 
Falkiners,  at  one  time  called  Offins,  is  J  mile  south-east 
of  old  Rookwood  Hall.  It  is  a  two-story  cottage  row 
standing  at  right  angles  to  the  road  and  containing  two 
dwellings.  It  is  partly  weather-boarded  and  partly 
plastered  and  has  a  tiled  roof.  The  main  timber-framed 
structure  is  of  the  17th  century.  Over  a  fireplace  in 
one  of  the  houses  is  a  carved  door-head  brought  here 
from  old  Rookwood  Hall.  These  houses  are  charged 
with  an  ancient  rent  for  the  benefit  of  the  parish  clerk.'s 
Near  Falkiners  to  the  east  is  Sparrows,  a  timber-framed 
house  with  a  thatched  roof,  recently  modernized.  It 
probably  dates  from  the  17th  century.  Leader's  Farm 
(formerly  Gilberts)'*  is  |  mile  south  of  Rookwood 
Hall.  It  probably  dates  from  the  late  1 7th  century  and 
has  a  central  chimney  with  attached  pilasters. 

There  are  three  old  houses  in  the  north-east  of  the 
parish,  Berwick  Berners  Hall  and  Hales  and  Nether 
Farms.  Hales  Farm,  near  the  parish  boundary  on  the 
Ongar-Dunmow  road,  is  a  timber-framed  building 
probably  dating  from  the  late  17th  century.  Nether 
Farm  (formerly  Nether  Street),  on  the  same  road  J 
mile  south  of  Hales,  was  probably  built  about  1700. 
It  is  timber-framed  and  roughcast  and  has  a  hipped 
tile  roof.  Parts  of  a  moat  remain.  Two  17th-century 
cottages  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  south  of  Nether 
Farm,  which  were  recorded  in  1 9 14,  have  now  dis- 
appeared." 

Among  the  modern  buildings  of  the  parish  are  two 
pairs  of  council  houses  on  the  road  between  the  village 
and  Longbarns  and  seven  pairs  of  'Airey'  type  houses 
on  the  south-east  side  of  the  Little  Laver  road. 

Communications  have  never  been  good  in  the 
Rodings.  Defoe,  visiting  the  area  in  1724,  described  it 

"  Oliver,  Map  of  Essex,  i6g6 ;  Chapman 
and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex,  1777,  sheet  xii. 

"  See  below,  Nonconformity. 

"  Ibid. 

■«  Cf.  O.S.  6  m.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet 
xlii. 

"  See  below.  Parish  Govt,  and  Poor 
Relief. 

"  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xii. 


as  'famous  for  good  land,  good  malt  and  dirty  roads; 
the  latter  indeed  in  the  winter  are  scarce  passable  for 
horse  or  man'.'^  There  is  earlier  evidence  of  this,  in 
relation  to  Abbess  Roding.  In  1583  the  road  between 
Longbarns  and  Nether  Street  was  said  to  be  in  ruins 
and  the  inhabitants  of  Abbess  and  Beauchamp  Roding 
were  ordered  to  repair  it."  In  1620  the  same  road  was 
again  in  decay  'being  very  deep  and  unfit  for  carts'.^" 
In  1652  the  inhabitants  of  Abbess  Roding  were  pre- 
sented at  Quarter  Sessions  for  not  repairing  the  way 
from  Leaden  Roding  parsonage  to  Beauchamp  Rod- 
ing.2'  This  was  the  same  road,  with  an  additional 
portion  to  the  north.  Recent  alterations  to  the  roads 
have  already  been  mentioned. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  19th  century,  and  prob- 
ably for  much  of  the  1 8th,  Abbess  Roding  was  on  the 
coach  route  from  Dunmow  to  Ongar  and  London,^^ 
but  in  the  1850's  this  route  was  abandoned  in  favour 
of  a  link  with  the  railway  at  Bishop's  Stortford,  and 
ten  years  later  the  railway  was  brought  to  Dunmow 
itself  and  also  to  Ongar.^^  In  1863,  however,  a  coach 
ran  from  Fyfield,  3  miles  from  Abbess  Roding,  daily 
to  London.^'*  Now  (1954)  Abbess  Roding  is  on  a  bus 
route  between  Dunmow  and  Brentwood,  with  two 
services  a  day  in  each  direction  and  three  on  Saturday. 

A  walking  postman  operated  between  Ongar  and 
Margaret  Roding  (about  8  miles)  in  1844,  but  in  that 
year  it  was  stated  that  this  was  too  far  for  any  man  to 
travel  every  day  and  it  was  decided  to  terminate  the 
post  at  Abbess  Roding  and  to  transfer  the  receiving 
house  there  from  Margaret  Roding.^s  A  sub-post- 
office  was  maintained  until  19 14  but  had  been  dis- 
continued by  1922.2* 

Piped  water  was  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex 
Waterworks  in  195 1."  The  new  'Airey'  houses  have 
main  drainage,  connected  to  a  sewage  works  which  is 
situated  near  the  Longbarns  road  and  was  installed  by 
the  Air  Ministry  during  the  Second  World  War.^' 
Electricity  is  now  (1955)  supphed  tothe  village.^'  A 
village  hall  for  Abbess  and  Beauchamp  Roding  is 
situated  in  the  grounds  of  The  Manor.  It  is  a  con- 
verted cow-shed  and  has  been  in  use  for  the  past  20 
years.^"  A  branch  of  the  county  library  was  opened  in 
1931.3' 

Throughout  the  history  of  the  parish  agriculture  has 
been  almost  the  only  occupation  of  the  inhabitants. 
From  about  1500  to  about  1700  there  was  a  resident 
landowner  living  at  Rookwood  Hall.  Apart  from  that 
period  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  owners  of  any  of  the 
principal  estates  lived  at  Abbess  Roding.  In  1842  it 
was  estimated  that  the  parish  contained  1,257  acres  of 
arable,  243  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture,  and  75  acres 
of  woodland.  There  were  then  six  farms  over  50  acres 
of  which  the  largest  was  382  acres.  None  of  these 
farms  was  occupied  by  the  owner. ^^  An  inventory  of 
the  goods  and  chattels  of  Richard  Hills  of  Abbess 
Roding,  made  after  his  death  in  16 14,  sheds  some  light 
on  the  life  of  a  small  farmer  of  the  parish  at  that  time.'^ 

There  is  very  little  evidence  of  occupations  other 
than  agriculture.  The  name  Brick  Kiln  Wood,  how- 


"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  2. 

'8  Defoe's  Tour  through  Great  Britain, 
ed.  G.  D.  H.  Cole,  1927,  p.  89. 

»  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  86/5+. 

»»  Ibid.  230/31,  32.   Cf.  Q/SBa  1/42. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/SR  354/25. 

22  Pigot's  Dir.  Essex  (1839);  fVhite's 
Dir.  Essex  (iS^»). 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (185 1  f.).  And  see 
Chipping  Ongar. 


"  ffhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863),  740. 
"  P.M.G.  Mins..i844,  vol.  78,  p.  629. 
2'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (19 14,  1922). 
"  Inf.  from  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co. 
28  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  R.  T.  K.  Griffin. 
"  Ibid.  30  Ibid. 

3*  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  292. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DGe  506. 


189 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


ever,  suggests  that  brickmaking  was  once  carried  on  in 
that  part  of  the  parish,  as  it  was  in  many  places  in  Ongar 
hundred,  and  Defoe's  reference  to  malt  recalls  another 
ancient  industry  of  this  locality. 

The  absence  of  resident  landowners  in  the  i8th  and 
19th  centuries  left  local  affairs  in  the  hands  of  the 
tenant  farmers,  and  these  were  sometimes  indifferent 
to  the  needs  of  the  community-^''  The  existence  of 
many  nonconformists  may  also  have  hampered  united 
action  in  parish  government  and  education.  The  pro- 
vision of  the  village  school  and  the  restoration  of  the 
parish  church  in  the  middle  of  the  19th  century  were 
both  carried  out  largely  at  the  expense  of  Capel  Cure, 
the  patron  of  the  rectory,  who  was  not  a  landowner  in 
Abbess  Roding  and  had  many  responsibihties  else- 
where. 

Two  notabilities  were  the  sons  of  local  people  and 
probably  lived  at  Abbess  Roding  in  childhood.  Sir 
Anthony  Browne  (i  5 10  .^-67),  Chief  Justice  of  Com- 
mon Pleas,  was  the  son  of  Sir  Wistan  Browne  of  Rook- 
wood.  John  Thurloe  (1616-68),  Secretary  of  State 
under  Cromwell,  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Thurloe, 
Rector  of  Abbess  Roding  16 12-3 3.3s 

Before  the  Conquest  ABBESS  RODING  (later 
known  as  ABBESS  HALL)  was  held  by 
MANORS  Leuild  (probably  a  woman)  as  a  manor 
and  3  virgates.  In  1086  it  was  held  by 
Geoffrey  Martel  as  tenant  of  Geoffrey  de  Mandeville. 
It  was  then  stated  that  the  manor  had  previously  been 
in  the  possession  of  Barking  Abbey  'and  he  who  held 
this  land  was  only  the  man  of  Geoffrey's  predecessor, 
and  had  no  power  to  put  this  land  in  possession  of  any- 
one but  the  abbey'.36 

Barking  subsequently  regained  possession  of  the 
manor,  perhaps  as  a  result  of  the  Domesday  survey, 
and  retained  it  until  the  dissolution  of  the  abbey  in 
1539.37  In  1291  the  manor  was  valued  at  £,^  lyj.^s 

In  April  1 540  Abbess  Roding  was  granted  by 
Henry  VIII  to  Thomas  Cromwell.^'  In  November  of 
the  same  year,  after  Cromwell's  disgrace  and  execu- 
tion, the  stewardship  of  the  manor  was  given  to  Sir 
Richard  Rich  and  in  January  1 541  the  manor  itself  was 
settled  upon  Anne  of  Cleves,  the  king's  divorced  wife.^" 
The  manor  was  soon  in  the  king's  hands  again,  for  in 
I  544  it  was  granted  by  the  Crown  to  Robert  Chartsey 
and  nineteen  others.'*'  In  1 546  Chartsey  conveyed  his 
interest  in  the  manor  to  Robert  Meredith,  one  of  the 
grantees  of  1 544,  whereupon  Meredith  and  three  other 
of  those  grantees  transferred  their  interest  to  Robert 
Long.*^  In  1 549  Long,  in  whom  by  this  time  the 
manor  seems  to  have  been  solely  vested,  conveyed  it  to 
William  Glascock.'*'  An  annual  rent  of  24/.  6\d.  from 
the  manor  was  reserved  from  the  grant  of  I  544  and 
was  granted  by  the  king  in  1553  to  Oliver  St.  John 
and  Robert  Thorneton.+* 

William  Glascock  died  in  1579  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Richard.*'    In   1592  Abbess  Roding  was 

^  See  Schools,  Parish  Govt.     35  D.N.B. 

3'  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  340,  5053. 

3'  Ibfd.  38  Ibid,  ii,  117. 

3»  L.  &f  P.  Hen.  VIII,  XV,  p.  285. 
Cromwell  was  then  (ist)  Baron  Cromwell. 
He  became  Earl  of  Essex  in  April  1 540, 
soon  after  the  grant. 

<**  Ibid,  xvi,  pp.  139,  242. 

*'  Ibid,  xix  (2),  p.  80.  The  grant  was  to 
be  void  if  the  purchase  money  was  repaid 
within  a  year. 

'•2  Ibid,  xxi  (i),  p.  77. 

'•3  Cal.  Vat.  1 548-9,  60. 

«  Ibid.  1553,  83. 


137. 
For 


43    C142/188/35. 

4'  C66/1386;    Morant,   Essex,   i, 
cf.    Cal.    S.P.   Dom.    159 1-4,    204, 
Tipper  see  E.  St.  J.  Brooks,  Sir  Christopher 
Hatton,  220-30. 

4'  C66/1508  m.  I. 

48  CP25(2)/i39/i758;  E.A.T.  n.s.  ix, 
272.   For  Berwick  Bcrners  see  below. 

49  Morant,  Essex,  i,  137. 
5»  Ibid.;  Visits,  of  Essex,    1664-8,  ed. 

J.  J.  Howard,  21. 

3'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  137. 

52  Ibid,  i  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  8 1 ;  E.R.O., 
D/DZu  203. 


granted  by  the  queen  to  William  Tipper  and  Robert 
Daw,  'the  two  greedy  hunters  after  concealed  lands' .4' 
In  1599,  however,  the  manor  was  restored  to  Richard 
Glascock,47  who  sold  it  in  the  same  year  to  Gamahel 
Capel  of  Rookwood  (see  below),  younger  brother  of 
Arthur  Capel  (d.  1632),  lord  of  Much  Hadham 
(Herts.)  and  of  Berwick  Berners.48  Gamaliel  was  later 
knighted,  and  died  in  1613.4' 

The  manor  passed  successively  to  Sir  Gamaliel's  son, 
grandson,  and  great-grandson,  each  of  whom  was  also 
named  Gamaliel  Capel.so  About  1 700  the  last  Gamaliel 
Capel  sold  or  mortgaged  Abbess  Roding  to  John 
Howland  of  Streatham.s'  Howland's  daughter  and  heir 
Elizabeth  carried  the  estate  in  marriage  to  Wriothesley 
Russell,  Duke  of  Bedford. '^  In  1739  their  son  John, 
Duke  of  Bedford,  sold  it  to  Stephen  Skinner  of  Walt- 
hamstow.53  Skinner's  daughter  Emma  eventually 
inherited  the  estate.  She  married  (1750)  William 
Harvey  of  Barringtons  (Rolls)  in  Chigwell  (q.v.),  and 
the  manor  of  Abbess  Roding  subsequently  followed 
the  same  descent  as  Barringtons.54  In  1830  'Abbots 
Hall  farm'  comprised  2 1 2  acres.  Parker's  farm,  which 
was  part  of  the  same  estate,  was  224  acres  and  there 
were  67  acres  of  woodland. 's  There  was  then  no  men- 
tion of  manorial  rights  and  it  seems  probable  that  these 
had  been  alienated  at  the  beginning  of  the  1 8th  cen- 
tury.5*  In  the  partition  of  the  estates  of  Admiral  Sir 
Eliab  Harvey,  who  died  in  1830,  Abbess  Roding 
passed  to  the  share  of  Thomas  W.  Bramston  of  Skreens 
in  Roxwell,  who  had  married  the  admiral's  daughter 
Elizabeth.5'  T.  W.  Bramston  held  the  property  in 
1868.5'  j(  yyjg  bought  soon  after  that  date  by  the 
Revd.  L.  Capel  Cure  but  Thomas  H.  Bramston  owned 
a  rent-charge  in  the  parish  as  late  as  1 888.5'  jn  jgg^ 
Abbess  Hall  farm  was  being  farmed  along  with  Rook- 
wood Farm.*" 

Abbess  Hall  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and 
plastered  and  was  probably  rebuilt  or  much  altered  in 
the  late  1 7th  or  early  1 8th  century.  The  sash  windows 
were  added  about  100  years  later.  South  of  the  house 
is  a  large  barn  with  seven  bays  and  two  porches.  The 
older  parts,  which  have  plastered  panels  between  the 
studs,  may  date  from  the  17th  century.  The  panels 
of  red  brick  are  probably  not  more  than  1 50  years  old. 
There  is  a  granary  of  similar  construction  to  the  north- 
east of  the  house. 

The  early  history  of  the  manor  of  BERWICK 
BERNERS  is  not  entirely  clear  and  is  made  even  more 
difficult  to  trace  by  the  existence  of  the  manor  of  Ber- 
wick in  High  Easter  and  that  of  Berners  Roding,  both 
held  by  the  Berners  family  which  also  held  Berwick 
Berners. 

In  1086  Eudo  dapifer  held  a  manor  in  Roding  in 
demesne.  Before  the  Conquest  it  had  been  held  by 
Ulmar  as  a  manor  and  3  hides.*'  At  the  time  of 
Domesday  there  was  a  sokeman  holding  \  virgate  and 
%\  acres  who  could  sell  his  land  although  the  soke 

53  Morant,     Essex,     i,     137;     E.R.O., 
D/DBT714. 
34  See  Burke^s  Commoners,  ii,  434. 
33  E.R.O.,  D/DBT714. 

56  Morant,  Essex,  \,  138;  CP25(2)/829 
Trin.  loWm.  Ill;  CP25(2)/924  East.  II 
Anne;  CP43/658  rot.  264;  CP25{2)/i3i3 
Mich.  24  Geo.  III. 

57  E.R.O.,  D/DBT714. 

58  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T700. 

59  E.R.O.,  Q/RPr  3/18;  inf.  from  the 
Revd.  R.  T.  K.  Griffin. 

">  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895). 
«>  y.C.H.  Essex,  \,  494i. 


190 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


ABBESS  RODING 


remained  attached  to  the  manor.  It  is  probable  that 
Eudo's  manor  was  that  which  later  became  known  as 
Berwick  Berners.  When  Eudo  founded  the  abbey  of 
St.  John,  Colchester,  about  1096  he  gave  the  monks 
the  tithes  of  Roding.*^  The  same  tithes  are  probably 
referred  to  in  a  later  confirmation  of  the  abbey's  pro- 
perty by  the  Bishop  of  London,  in  which  they  are 
described  as  the  tithes  of  Fulk  dapifer  in  Roding 
Abbess.'-'  Fulk  dapifer  does  not  occur  in  Domes- 
day but  is  found  as  a  tenant  of  Eudo  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  I.*'' 

Eudo  dapifer  died  without  heirs  in  1 1 20.  The  king 
later  restored  to  Eudo's  widow  Rose  the  lands  which 
her  husband  had  given  her  in  dower.*'  These  included 
'the  two  Rodings'.  In  1142  the  lands  of  Eudo  were 
granted  by  the  Empress  Maud  to  the  notorious 
Geoffrey  de  Mandeville,  Earl  of  Essex.**  This  grant 
did  not  become  completely  effective,  for  many  of 
Eudo's  manors  never  seem  to  have  belonged  to 
Geoffrey  or  his  heirs.*'  Berwick  Berners,  however, 
probably  did  pass  to  the  Mandevilles.  In  1 166 
Geoffrey's  son  of  the  same  name,  also  Earl  of  Essex, 
was  tenant  in  chief  of  lands  in  Essex  which  were  held 
of  him  by  Adam  son  of  Fulk  for  \\  knight's  fee.*' 
Early  in  the  13  th  century  William  son  of  Geoffrey  de 
Roinges  (Roding)  son  of  Adam  son  of  Fulk  made  a 
grant  of  an  acre  of  land  in  a  field  called  Merefeld  to 
St.  John's,  Colchester.*'  A  William  son  of  Geoffrey 
was  holding  land  in  Roding  in  1 240,"'  but  before  this, 
in  1220,  the  manor  of  Berwick  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
Berners  family,  from  which  it  took  the  second  part  of 
its  name.  In  that  year  Beatrice  widow  of  William  de 
Berners  was  granted  dower  by  Ralph  de  Berners  in 
Berwick  and  elsewhere."  In  1166  an  earlier  Ralph 
de  Berners  had  held  4  knights'  fees  of  the  Earl  of  Essex, 
and  also  \  fee  of  Henry  Fitz  Gerold  as  of  the  fees  of 
Eudo  dapifer.  The  successor  of  the  first  Ralph  was 
apparently  William  de  Berners.'^  The  tenancy  in 
demesne  is  thus  doubtful  up  to  1220.  It  may  have 
passed  from  Fulk  dapifer  to  Adam  son  of  Fulk,  to 
Geoffrey  son  of  Adam,  and  William  son  of  Geoffrey 
or  it  may  have  been  acquired  by  Ralph  de  Berners  in 
the  middle  of  the  1 2th  century.  The  tenancy  in  chief 
is  not  so  obscure.  In  1297  the  manor  was  held  of 
Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl  of  Essex,  the  descendant 
and  heir  of  the  Mandeville  earls. '3  It  subsequently 
descended  with  the  earldom  of  Essex  until  the  death 
in  1397  of  Thomas  of  Woodstock,  Earl  of  Essex,  and 
Duke  of  Gloucester.''*  In  1400  Berwick  Berners  and 
other  manors  were  assigned  by  the  king  to  Edmund, 
Earl  of  Stafford  and  his  wife  Anne,  eldest  daughter 
and  coheir  of  Thomas  of  Woodstock  and  of  Eleanor 
his  wife,  eldest  daughter  of  Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl 

"  Cart,  of  St.  John's  Abbey,  Colchttttr 
(Roxburghe  Club),  3. 

«3  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  492a  (n.). 

'*  Ibid.;  Farrer,  Hons.  and  Knight's  Fees, 
iii,  166—7. 

"  Farrer,  op.  cit.  iii,  273. 

»»  J.  H.  Round,  Geoffrey  de  Mandeville, 

•67.  '73- 

"  Farrer,  op.  cit.  168.  It  is  curious  that 
Farrer  does  not  mention  the  grant  to 
Geoffrey  de  Mandeville. 

M  Red  Bk.  of  Exch.  345. 

<>»  Cart,  of  St.  John's  Abbey,  Colchester, 
242. 

'"  Feet  of  F,  Essex,  \,  129. 

"  Ibid,  i,  58. 

'^  Farrer,  Hons.  and  Knight's  Fees,  iii, 

214- 
'3  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iii,  p.  273. 


ofEssex(d.  I373).'5  In  1 421,  however,  a  new  partition 
was  made  of  the  Bohun  inheritance,  by  which  the  king 
received  the  fee  of  the  earldom  of  Essex.'*  Berwick 
Berners  was  thus  merged  in  the  Crown.  In  1623-4 
it  was  annexed  to  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster." 

The  tenancy  in  demesne  of  the  manor  descended  in 
the  Berners  family  like  Barnston  and  Berners  Roding 
(Essex)  and  West  Horsley  (Surr.)."  In  1336  Berwick 
Berners  was  conveyed  by  John  son  of  Edmund  de 
Berners  to  John  son  of  Ralph  de  Berners."  In  138 1-2 
it  was  being  administered  by  the  bailiff  of  Sir  John  de 
Gildesburgh.*"  The  net  value  of  the  manor  was  then 
,^1  10/.  i\d.  It  had  been  granted  to  Gildesburgh  for 
life  by  Sir  John  de  Berners.*'  Sir  John's  son  Sir  James 
de  Berners,  a  knight  of  the  king's  chamber,  was  executed 
in  1388  as  an  evil  counsellor  of  Richard  11.*^  In  1389 
Anne  widow  of  James  was  granted  the  manor  for  500 
marks.*'  Like  West  Horsley  it  passed  with  Anne  to 
her  second  husband  John  Bryan  and  subsequently  to 
her  son  Richard  de  Berners.**  Richard  died  in  14 17 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter  Margery,  who 
married  as  her  first  husband  John  Fereby.*'  John  and 
Margery  were  holding  manor  courts  at  Berwick 
Berners  in  1427-40.**  After  John's  death  Margery 
married  John  Bourchier,  who  was  later  summoned  to 
Parliament  as  a  peer  and  is  thus  held  to  have  become 
Lord  Berners.*'  Berwick  Berners  passed  to  Bourchier's 
grandson  and  heir  John,  Lord  Berners,  who  was  hold- 
ing it  in  1 508.**  Soon  after  this  the  manor  apparently 
passed  to  Sir  William  Capel  who  by  his  will  dated 
1 5 1 5  left  it  to  his  son  Sir  Giles  Capel.*'  Courts  were 
held  in  1 520  for  the  manor  of 'Berwick  Capel'.'"  The 
manor  descended  in  the  direct  male  line  to  Arthur 
Capel,  created  Baron  Capel  of  Hadham  in  1 64 1 ,  who 
was  one  of  the  royalist  garrison  of  Colchester  which 
surrendered  on  27  August  1648.  He  was  beheaded  in 
the  following  year."  In  1653  his  son  Arthur,  Lord 
Capel,  conveyed  Berwick  Berners  to  Robert  Abdy,'^ 
who  was  later  created  a  baronet  and  died  in  1670.  He 
was  succeeded  as  2nd  baronet  by  his  son  John.'^  In 
1690  Abdy  conveyed  the  manor  to  John  Brand,  mercer 
of  London.'*  Brand  was  lord  of  the  manor  in  1698." 
By  1 708  he  had  been  succeeded  by  Thomas  Brand,  who 
held  courts  at  Berwick  Berners  in  1708-12.'*  Thomas 
was  dead  by  1720,  when  Margaret  Brand,  widow, 
held  the  court  as  guardian  of  her  son  Thomas  Brand." 

Thomas  Brand  the  younger  was  holding  the  manor 
court  in  1741.'*  He  died  in  1770  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Thomas  who  in  1771  married  Gertrude 
Trevor  Roper,  suo  jure  Baroness  Dacre."  According 
to  his  biographer  this  last  Thomas  Brand  was  'a  very 
celebrated  and  expensive  commoner  whose  hospitality 
exceeded  his  means'.'    His  seat  was  at  Hoo  in  St. 


'♦  Complete  Peerage,  v,  136. 

"  Cal.  Fine  R.  1 399-14.15,  72. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  vi,  476. 

"  DL/30/74/915.  It  was  then  said  to 
be  held  as  of  the  Honor  of  Clare. 

78  Farrer,  Hons.  and  Knight's  Fees,  iii, 
214-16;  V.C.H.  Surrey,  iii,  353-4. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  39. 

8»  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M45. 

»■  Cal.  Pat.  1388-92,  150. 

82  A.  Steel,  Richard  II,  143,  157,  161. 

83  Cal.  Pat.  1388-92,  150. 
8*  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  238;  cf.  F.C.H. 

Surrey,  iii,  354. 

85  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M30,  31;  F.C.H. 
Surrey,  iii,  354. 

86  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M30,  31. 

87  Ibid.  M32;  y.C.H.  Surrey,  iii,  354; 
Complete  Peerage,  ii,  153. 


88  Complete  Peerage,  ii,  153;  CP25(2)/ 
51/369. 

8»  C142/109/23. 

«»  E.R.O.,  D/DP  M1024-6. 

9'  W.  Minet,  'The  Capels  at  Rayne', 
E.A.  T.  N.s.  ix,  243-72 :  Complete  Peerage, 
iii,  5-6. 

»2  CP25(2)/55oB  Trin.  1653. 

93  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage,  iii,  34; 
E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M38,  39. 

94  CP25(2)/827  Trin.  i  Wm.  &  Mary; 
cf.E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M39. 

95  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M40. 

96  Ibid.  M41.  97  Ibid. 

98  Ibid.  His  mother  had  held  it  as  late  as 
1731. 

99  Ibid. ;  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  343 ; 
Complete  Peerage,  iv,  1 7. 

'  Complete  Peerage,  iv,  17. 


191 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Paul's  Walden  (Herts.)  and  Berwick  Berners  subse- 
quently descended  along  with  the  manor  of  Hoo.^  In 
1870  Berwici;  Berners  Hall  farm,  containing  285 
acres,  was  put  up  to  auction  by  Thomas  Lord  Dacre.3 
It  was  then  let  to  Joseph  Barker  on  a  yearly  tenancy  at 
£^lo,  the  tenant  paying  tithe  rent  charges.  The 
'manor  of  Berwick',  i.e.  the  manorial  rights,  was  not 
included  in  the  sale.  The  present  owner  of  the  farm  is 
Mr.  N.  Stacey,  who  bought  it  in  1937  from  Mr. 
Robert  Soper.^ 

A  note  attached  to  the  court  roll  of  Berwick  Berners 
for  1390  states  that  Oger  Fitz  Michael  gave  to  Ralph 
Berners  his  garden  and  curtilage  in  Roding  Abbess 
'and  all  his  man  Gervase,  with  6  acres  land  and  William 
Green  with  3  acres  land  .  .  .  and  Geoffrey  Finch  with 
I J  acres  land  and  the  relict  of  Richard  le  Fynch  with 
I J  acres  land'.s  This  Oger  Fitz  Michael  was  probably 
the  man  of  that  name  who  in  1233  or  1234  granted 
100  acres  of  land  in  Roding  to  Alice  daughter  of 
William  Purle,*  and  he  was  probably  son  of  Michael 
Fitz  Oger.  If  so,  it  appears  that  there  was  an  estate  in 
Abbess  Roding  which  in  the  12th  century  was  held  by 
William  de  Selflege,  lord  of  Shelley  (q.v.),  as  tenant  of 
the  Mandevilles  and  which  descended  in  1182  to 
Michael  Fitz  Oger  as  the  purparty  of  his  wife  Sarah, 
daughter  and  coheir  of  William  de  Selflege.'  This 
estate  would  then  seem  to  have  been  acquired,  in  whole 
or  in  part,  by  Ralph  de  Berners  from  Oger  Fitz 
Michael  during  the  first  half  of  the  13th  century.  In 
1374  the  fees  of  the  Countess  of  Essex  included  one 
in  Abbess  Roding  formerly  held  by  Oger  Fitz  Michael.* 
Early  in  the  15  th  century  a  knight's  fee  in  Abbess 
Roding  and  in  the  hundred  of  Dunmow  formerly  held 
by  Oger  Fitz  Michael  was  said  to  be  held  by  the  Abbess 
of  Barking  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster.'  It  is  possible 
that  the  abbey's  claim  to  land  formerly  belonging  to 
■Oger  Fitz  Michael  was  derived  from  a  grant  made  in 
1235  by  Stephen  de  Caldecote,'°  for  Hugh  de  Calde- 
cote  had  been  a  tenant  of  Michael  Fitz  Oger  in  1 1 82." 
The  connexion  with  the  hundred  of  Dunmow  was 
maintained  by  the  later  custom  by  which  the  inhabitants 
of  Berwick  Berners  hamlet  elected  their  own  constable 
and  sent  him  to  attend  the  Dunmow  hundred  court 
(see  below.  Parish  Government). 

Berwick  Berners  Hall  stands  on  the  ancient  site  but 
the  house  does  not  appear  to  be  earlier  than  the  17th 
century.  It  is  timber-framed  and  there  is  zigzag  par- 
geting to  the  panels.  The  front  of  the  house  has  widely 
spaced  sash  windows  and  a  modern  porch.  At  the  back 
are  two  small  wings,  one  containing  the  staircase.  A 
third  wing  dates  from  the  19th  century.  North  of  the 
house  are  the  remains  of  a  moat  and  at  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  site  is  a  railed-in  enclosure  which  was 
formerly  a  pound. '^  A  fine  timbered  barn  of  nine  bays 
was  destroyed  by  German  incendiary  bombs  in  1940." 

The  manor  of  ROOKIVOOD  HALL  alias 
BROJVNES  was  first  so  styled  in  1488,  when  it  was 


held  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford  as  of  his  honor  of  Heding- 
ham.'^  The  same  tenure  was  apparently  still  acknow- 
ledged in  1632. '5  It  is  not  unhkely  that  this  part  of 
Abbess  Roding  was  included  in  the  manor  of  Roding 
held  in  1086  by  Aubrey  de  Vere,  ancestor  of  the  earls 
of  Oxford,  of  Alan,  Count  of  Brittany.'*  The  main  part 
of  that  Domesday  manor  was  undoubtedly  in  Beau- 
champ  Roding  (q.v.)." 

In  1359  it  w*5  stated  that  the  heirs  of  William  Fitz 
Richard  held  J  knight's  fee  and  William  Welde  I  fee, 
both  in  Abbess  Roding,  as  tenants  of  the  Earl  of 
Oxford.''  It  is  possible  that  the  J  fee  was  that  which 
in  1 1 66  was  held  by  Walter  Fitz  Richard  of  Aubrey 
de  Vere." 9  According  to  Morant,  who  quotes  no 
sources  for  the  statements,  John  Fitz  Richard  held 
Rookwood  in  1250  and  was  succeeded  by  Richard 
Fitz  William,  who  was  the  tenant  in  1268.^0  William 
Welde  became  lord  of  the  manor  of  Beauchamp 
Roding  (q.v.)  in  1360.  This  suggests  that  Rookwood 
was  then  part  of  the  manor  of  Beauchamp  Roding  and 
it  seems  possible  that  it  had  been  so  continuously  since 
Domesday.^' 

In  1467  John  Browne  died  seised  of  the  manor  of 
Abbess  Roding  (i.e.  Rookwood).  He  had  inherited  it 
from  his  brother  Baldwin,  who  had  died  without  issue; 
his  own  heir  was  another  brother  Thomas.^^  Thomas 
Browne  died  in  1488  leaving  Rookwood  Hall  alias 
Browne's  manor  to  his  son  (Sir)  Wistan.  The  manor 
then  comprised  300  acres  of  land,  200  acres  of  pasture, 
26  acres  of  meadow,  10  acres  of  wood,  and  also  a  toft, 
garden,  and  J  acre  of  land,  in  Abbess  Roding  and 
neighbouring  parishes.^3 

Rookwood  descended  in  the  direct  male  line  of  tht 
Brownes  until  1580  when  Wistan  Browne,  son  of 
George,  died  leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  Anthony.** 
Anthony  died  without  issue  in  1 583.^5  Rookwood  was 
then  divided  between  his  sisters  Jane,  wife  of  (Sir) 
Gamaliel  Capel,  and  Katherine,  wife  of  Nicholas 
Waldegrave  of  Borley.^*  Capel  apparently  acquired 
Waldegrave's  share  in  addition  to  his  own.  He 
certainly  lived  at  Rookwood  Hall,*'  and  there  is  no 
evidence  of  a  continued  Waldegrave  connexion  with 
the  manor.  After  1 599,  when  Capel  bought  the 
manor  of  Abbess  Roding,  Rookwood  formed  part  of 
a  larger  estate  in  the  parish  and  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  named  as  a  separate  manor.  Rookwood  Hall, 
however,  continued  to  be  the  residence  of  the  Capels 
throughout  their  connexion  with  the  parish.  In  their 
time  it  was  a  house  of  considerable  size.  Mrs.  Sarah 
Capel,  who  was  buried  at  Abbess  Roding  in  1698,  was 
probably  the  last  of  the  family  to  live  there.**  Rook- 
wood descended  as  part  of  the  Abbess  Roding  estate 
until  the  i8th  century.  It  still  formed  part  of  the  estate 
in  1739  ''"'■  appears  to  have  been  separated  from  the 
manor  of  Abbess  Roding  by  1770,  when  the  owner  of 
Rookwood  was  a  Mr.  Pratt  of  St.  Ives  (Hunts.).*' 

William  Mills  owned  Rookwood  in  1780.   He  con- 


»  y.C.H.  Herts,  ii,  408. 
3  E.R.O.,  D/DU  199/24. 
*  Inf.  from  Mr.  N.  Stacey  of  Berwick 
Farm.  »  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M29. 

'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  96. 
'  Ibid.  9,  18.    See  below,  Church, 'for 
evidence   concerning  the   tithes   of  Oger 
Fitz  Michael,  which  supports  the  suggested 
descent.  '  Cal.  Close,  1374-7,  23. 

«  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  587. 
'°  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  i,  104. 
■>  Ibid.  9.     "  O.S.  6  in.  Map  {lit  edn.). 
"  Inf.  from  Mr.  N.  Stacey. 


>•»  Cal.  Inq.p.m.  Hen.  VII,  \,  p.  175. 

■5    C142/465/3. 

«>  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  473a. 

"  For  the  problem  of  overlordship  see 
further  under  Beauchamp  Roding. 

"  Cal.  Inq.p.m.  i,  p.  522. 

>»  Red  Bk.  of  Exch.  353. 

2"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  i«37. 

"  Morant's  statements  are  difficult  to 
fit  into  this  theory :  see  Beauchamp 
Roding.  22  C140/28. 

23  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VU,  i,  p.  175. 

2<  C 1 42/ 1 94/50.    For  the  pedigree  see 


Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  166-7. 

25  Morant,  Essex,  i,  118. 

26  CP2S(2)/i34/i7io,  13S/1719.  '36/ 
1731. 

2'  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1603-10,  568;  E.R. 
xiii,  97. 

28  E.R.O.,D/Pi45/i/i.  Thomas  Capel, 
buried  at  Abbess  Roding  in  1703,  and 
Charles  Capel  in  1709  were  both  from 
London. 

2»  Morant,  Essex,  i,  118;  Hist.  Essex  hy 
Gent,  iii,  342.  See  above.  Manor  of  Abbess 
Roding. 


192 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


ABBESS  RODING 


tinued  to  hold  it  until  about  1 8 1 4,  when  it  became  the 
property  of  William  Perry,  who  had  for  many  years 
been  Mills's  tenant.s"  In  1 8 17  or  18 18  Charles 
Selwin  became  the  owner.^i  Rookwood  Hall  farm, 
as  it  was  now  styled,  descended  subsequently  to  Henry 
Selwin-Ibbetson,  Baron  Rookwood  of  Down  Hall  (d. 
I902).3^  He  was  succeeded  by  his  nephew  Capt. 
Horace  W.  Calverly.33  After  the  purchase  by  Charles 
Selwyn  Rookwood  became  part  of  a  large  estate  which 
was  administered  from  Down  Hall  in  Hatfield  Broad 
Oak  and  which  in  1873  contained  1,564  acres  in 
Essex.34  In  1843  Rookwood  Hall  farm  comprised 
279  acres.35 

Only  part  of  old  Rookwood  Hall  remains  and  this 
is  in  a  ruinous  condition.  It  stands  on  a  site  of  more  than 
3  J  acres,  enclosed  by  a  very  fine  moat.  A  spur  of  the 
moat  extends  inwards  on  the  west  side  and  there  are 
indications  of  a  second  moated  enclosure  immediately 
to  the  south. 

The  house  has  been  thought  to  be  the  work  of  John 
Browne,  who  was  lord  of  the  manor  in  the  second 
quarter  of  the  i6th  century. 3^  It  has  several  features 
in  common  with  Colville  Hall  at  White  Roding  which 
was  also  the  property  of  the  Brownes  at  that  time.  In 
1578  Elizabeth  I  stayed  a  night  at  Rookwood  Hall  and 
held  a  Privy  Council  there.37 

The  existing  building  is  of  two  stories  and  is  L- 
shaped  in  plan  with  wings  extending  to  the  north  and 
west.  A  second  wing  on  the  west  side  has  been  demo- 
lished^'  and  it  is  possible  that  at  one  time  the  house 
was  of  even  greater  extent.  The  south  wing  is  of  three 
bays  and  is  mostly  of  timber-framed  construction.  The 
south  wall  has  been  rebuilt  in  17th-  or  18th-century 
brickwork.  The  roof  has  cambered  collar-beams.  The 
structure  is  independent  of  the  north  block  and  there 
is  some  evidence  that  it  is  of  earher  date.  The  north 
block  consists  of  one  large  room  to  each  floor.  The 
lower  room  has  moulded  timbers  and  the  remains  of  a 
brick  fireplace.  Above  it  is  a  fine  upper  chamber  or 
solar.  The  roof,  which  is  of  three  bays,  has  arch-braced 
collar-beams  and  curved  wind-braces.  The  wall-posts 
have  elaborate  mouldings  which  are  returned  along  the 
wall-plates  to  form  a  cornice.  There  was  formerly  a 
wide  stone  fireplace  in  this  room  and  beside  it  a  stop- 
moulded  door-frame  with  a  four-centred  head  and 
carved  spandrels."  This  door  led  to  the  demohshed 
north-west  wing.  In  the  east  wall  there  were  originally 
two  six-light  mullioned  windows  which  were  later 
blocked  and  are  still  largely  concealed  by  plaster.  The 
mullions  are  richly  moulded  and  there  are  moulded 
sills  externally.  Below  the  windows  the  wall  has  close- 
set  oak  studs  with  original  'nogging',  one  brick  wide, 
between  them.  The  sides  of  the  studs  have  splayed 
grooves  to  receive  the  brickwork  and  the  bricks  them- 
selves are  laid  horizontally  and  diagonally  in  alternate 
panels.  This  form  of  construction  is  rare  in  Essex  but 
is  found  in  a  small  group  of  buildings  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood,  all  apparently  dating  from  the  early 


1 6th  century.*"  The  north  wall  is  of  solid  brickwork, 
probably  later,  and  has  diaper  decoration  in  darker 
brick.  The  house  originally  had  a  fine  brick  chimney 
consisting  of  two  slender  shafts  joined  at  the  top  with 
octagonal  moulded  caps.  The  shafts  were  enriched 
with  zigzag  flutings  of  moulded  brick. 

The  decline  of  Rookwood  Hall  probably  began  early 
in  the  i8th  century  after  the  departure  of  the  Capels. 
By  about  1770  it  had  ceased  to  be  an  important  house 
and  was  described  as  'a  venerable  mansion  to  which 
there  formerly  belonged  an  extensive  park'.*'  It  was 
probably  about  that  time  that  the  walls  were  plastered 
over  and  sash  windows  were  inserted.  Rookwood 
continued  to  be  used  as  a  farm-house  until  about  1886 
when  a  new  red  brick  house  was  built  south  of  the 
moated  site.*^  The  north-west  wing  of  the  old  house 
was  demolished  late  in  the  19th  century.  Between 
1904  and  1 9 14  the  chimney  was  taken  down  and  re- 
built at  a  cottage  in  the  grounds  of  Down  Hall,  now 
Downham  School  (in  Hatfield  Broad  Oak).  The 
house  is  now  partly  in  use  as  an  outhouse  but  is  rapidly 
falling  into  decay. 

Inside  the  moated  enclosure  are  two  very  fine 
timbered  barns,  also  probably  of  the  early  i6th  century. 
Each  is  of  eight  bays  and  the  roofs  have  arch-braced 
tie-beams  with  king-posts  and  four-way  struts.  Below 
the  purlins  are  curved  wind-braces.  In  the  smaller 
barn  are  window  openings  with  diagonally  set  mullions. 
Part  of  this  barn  is  said  by  local  tradition  to  have  been 
the  original  meeting  place  of  the  Presbyterians  who 
later  built  the  church  that  formerly  stood  beside 
Anchor  House. 

During  the  Middle  Ages  the  advowson  of  the  parish 
church  of  Abbess  Roding  was  held  by 
CHURCH  Barking  Abbey.*'  The  first  presentation 
after  the  Dissolution  was  made  by  Edward 
Brook  in  1541  by  virtue  of  a  previous  grant  from  the 
abbey.  Thomas  Wiseman  presented  in  1565  and  John 
Glascock  in  i  587.**  Soon  after  this  the  advowson  was 
acquired  by  (Sir)  Gamaliel  Capel  and  descended  with 
the  manor  until  1680,  when  Prosper  Nicholas  pre- 
sented pro  hac  vici.^^  William  Turner  presented  in 
1682.**  In  17 19  the  advowson  was  conveyed  to 
Richard  Waylett  by  Samuel  Pratt  and  Anne  his  wife 
and  John  Benson  and  Mary  his  wife.*'  In  1731 
Richard  Waylett  conveyed  it  to  Edward  Hinton, 
Rector  of  Sheering  and  John  Maryon,  Rector  of  White 
Roding.**  Hinton  and  Maryon  presented  in  1732  and 
Maryon  alone  in  i748.*9  The  next  presentation,  in 
1786,  was  by  Thomas  Dyer  and  Walwyn  Shepheard.'" 
The  advowson  remained  in  the  Dyer  family  until 
about  1850.  Two  members  of  the  family  were  rectors 
of  Abbess  Roding.s'  By  1854  the  advowson  had  been 
acquired  by  Capel  Cure  of  Blake  Hall  (in  Bobbing- 
worth,  q.v.)  who  presented  his  son,  L.  Capel  Cure,  in 
1858.5^  The  latter  was  rector  until  191 2  and  also  held 
the  advowson.  He  was  succeeded  as  rector  and  patron 
by  his  son,  C.  L.  Capel-Cure,  who  held  the  rectory 


M  E.R.O.,Q/RPl  685-719. 

3'  Ibid.  722-3. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  xi,  88;  G.E.C. 
Complete  Baronetage,  v,  96—97. 

S3  E.R.  xiii,  98;  Burke,  Land.  Gent. 
(1906),  1,253. 

M  Retm.  of  Otvners  of  Land,  1873 
[C.  1097],  Essex,  p.  25,  H.C.  (1874), 
Ixxii  (i).  35  E.R.O.,  D/CT  292. 

3»  E.R.  xiii,  96. 

3'  E.R.  xxvi,  127. 

3'  Miss    Rowe    of    Falkiners,    Abbess 


Roding,  has  a  I9th-cent.  water-colour 
showing  this. 

39  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Recs.;  Hist.  Man. 
Com.  Essex,  ii,  2. 

«  Outbuildings  at  Colville  Hall,  White 
Roding,  and  New  Hall,  High  Roding. 

♦'  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  341. 

*^  Inf.  from  Miss  Rowe. 

43  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  498. 

<*  Ibid.  Between  1541  and  1565  the 
advowson  was  the  subject  of  several  royal 
grants:  Cal.  Pat.  1550-3,  13,  326;  ibid. 


1558-60,  460. 

*5  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  498-9. 

*6  Ibid. 

*'  CP25(2)/ioi3  Mich.  6  Geo.  I. 

♦8  E.R.O.,  D/DC  13/560. 

49  Morant,  Essex,  i,  1 39.  For  Maryon 
see  J.  E.  Maryon,  Recs.  of  Family  of 
Maryon  (E.R.O.,  pamphlet). 

5»  P.R.O.  Inst.  Bks.,  Ser.  C.  i(i). 

5'  Cler.  Guide,  1819-36;  Clergy  List, 
1845  f. 

52  Clergy  List,  1854  t.;E.R.  xxi,  226. 


ES.  IV 


193 


CC 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


until  his  retirement  in  1948.  In  1927  the  benefice  of 
Abbess  Roding  was  united  with  that  of  Beauchamp 
Roding  (q.v.).  The  advowson  of  the  united  benefice 
was  vested  in  the  Revd.  C.  L.  Capel-Cure  and  the 
Bishop  of  Chelmsford  alternately.  The  present  patrons 
are  the  bishop  and  Mrs.  L.  J.  Capel-Cure. 53  Since 
1949  the  united  benefice  has  been  held  along  with  the 
vicarages  of  Good  Easter  and  Berners  Roding. 

The  rectory  of  Abbess  Roding  was  never  appro- 
priated but  about  1096  the  tithes  from  the  lands  of 
Eudo  dapifer  (see  above,  Berwick  Berners  manor)  were 
granted  to  the  abbey  of  St.  John,  Colchester.  In  about 
1254  it  was  stated  that  the  Abbot  of  Colchester  and  the 
nuns  of  the  priory  of  Stratford-atte-Bow  (Mdx.)  then 
received  all  the  tithes  of  Oger  Fitz  Michael.st  At  some 
date,  presumably  after  this,  the  Abbot  of  Colchester 
restored  all  the  tithes  to  the  Rector  of  Abbess  Roding. ss 
The  rectory  was  valued  at  10  marks  in  about  1254, 
1291,  and  1428  and  a  £14  10/.  in  1535.'*  Tithes 
were  commuted  n:  843  for  ^455;  there  were  then 
19  acres  of  glebe.'' 

The  original  rectory  house  was  immediately  south 
of  the  churchyard.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1859  on  or  near 
the  same  site  by  L.  Capel  Cure.''  The  new  building 
served  as  the  rectory  only  until  191 2.  It  is  now  called 
The  Manor  and  is  a  large  red-brick  structure  of  three 
stories.  In  191 2  a  smaller  rectory  was  built  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road  by  C.  L.  Capel-Cure.  This 
was  sold  to  him  on  his  retirement  and  has  since  been 
named  Abbess  House.  It  is  a  well-designed  red-brick 
building  in  an  informal  Queen  Anne  style.  There  is 
now  no  rectory  in  Abbess  Roding.  The  present  (1955) 
rector  is  also  vicar  of  Good  Easter  and  lives  there. 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  EDMUND  consists  of 
nave,  chancel,  west  tower,  north  vestry,  and  south 
porch.  The  walls  are  of  flint  rubble,  roughly  coursed 
except  where  they  have  been  restored,  and  the  original 
dressings  are  of  clunch.  The  plan  indicates  a  12th- 
century  origin  and  the  dedication  suggests  that  there 
was  a  church  here  before  the  Norman  Conquest.  The 
nave  was  probably  rebuilt  in  the  14th  century  and  the 
chancel  in  the  14th  and  15  th.  The  tower  and  porch 
were  rebuilt  in  1866—8  and  the  vestry  was  probably 
added  before  the  end  of  the  19th  century.  The  most 
interesting  features  of  the  church  are  the  oak  screen 
and  the  stained  glass,  both  of  the  1 5th  century. 

The  position  of  the  north  and  south  doorways  sug- 
gests that  the  nave  was  originally  built  in  the  12  th 
century.  The  font  is  of  the  late  12th  century  and  is 
similar  in  type  to  others  in  the  neighbourhood. 5'  The 
square  bowl,  which  is  bound  with  iron,  has  vine  orna- 
ment carved  on  two  sides  and  conventionalized  flowers 
on  another.  On  the  fourth  side  appear  the  disk, 
crescent,  whorl,  and  stars  which  are  characteristic  of 
these  fonts.  The  stem  is  circular  and  has  small  angle 
shafts. 

The  nave  was  probably  rebuilt  in  the  14th  century. 
There  are  two  pointed  windows  with  tracery  of  this 
date.  They  have  been  partially  restored  but  retain 
their  external  label  moulds  and  grotesque  head-stops. 
The  doorways  are  also  14th-century  in  style  but  the 
south  doorway  has  been  completely  rebuilt.  West  of 
the  doorways  are  single-light  windows  which  are  either 


modern  or  very  thoroughly  restored.  A  14th-century 
piscina  in  the  south  wall  has  an  ogee  head  on  a  square 
drain.  The  chancel  arch,  much  restored,  is  of  two 
moulded  orders.  The  windows  on  the  north  side  of 
the  chancel  have  tracery  of  the  14th  century,  but  the 
later  rebuilding  of  the  rear  arches  has  blocked  the 
spandrels.  Between  them  is  a  small  chamber  or  cup- 
board, projecting  externally  and  having  a  pent  roof. 
The  opening  to  the  chancel,  now  blocked,  has  a  small 
doorway,  probably  of  the  14th  century,  with  a  pointed 
head. 

There  is  much  15th-century  work  in  the  chancel. 
The  two  south  windows  have  moulded  jambs  and  four- 
centred  heads.  The  east  window,  entirely  rebuilt  in 
the  19th  century,  has  tracery  in  the  style  of  the  15  th 
century  and  may  replace  a  similar  window  of  that  date. 
The  late  15th-century  south  doorway  has  a  four- 
centred  head  with  carved  spandrels  and  a  square  label 
externally.  The  stonework  has  been  partly  renewed. 
The  chancel  roof  has  two  tie-beams  and  a  deep  moulded 
and  embattled  wall-plate.  Below  the  east  tie-beam  are 
moulded  wall-posts  and  arched  braces  springing  from 
modern  corbel  brackets.  The  nave  roof,  of  similar  date, 
has  two  tie-beams  with  traceried  spandrels  between  the 
arched  braces  and  the  moulded  wall-posts.  At  the  west 
end  are  indications  of  the  former  bell  turret,  'a  little 
wooden  turret  with  a  spire'.*"  This  is  showTi  in  an 
engraving  of  1797.*'  In  the  same  picture  appears  a 
large  timber-framed  south  porch,  also  probably  of  the 
15  th  century,  having  seven  pointed  lights  along  the 
sides.  The  turret  and  porch  were  both  rebuilt  in  1 867 
but  there  is  still  a  1 5th-century  stoup  outside  the  south 
door. 

The  fine  oak  screen  is  of  the  late  15  th  century.  It 
has  evidently  been  brought  from  elsewhere  and  cut  to 
fit  the  present  chancel  arch.  There  are  three  full  bays, 
one  of  which  forms  the  entrance  to  the  chancel,  and  an 
extra  half  bay  at  the  south  end.  The  upper  panels  have 
four-centred  heads  and  are  filled  with  elaborately 
cusped  perpendicular  tracery.  The  principal  mullions 
are  carved  with  buttresses  and  crocketed  finials.  The 
rail  is  enriched  with  a  running  vine  ornament  and  the 
lower  panels  have  tracery  carving.  The  cresting  is 
modern. 

In  one  of  the  1 5th-century  chancel  windows  is  some 
painted  glass  of  the  same  period.  It  includes  tabernacle 
work  and  two  figures,  one  being  a  bishop  in  mass  vest- 
ments and  the  other  a  woman,  probably  St.  Margaret. 

Above  the  pulpit  is  a  fine  early-i8th-century  sound- 
ing board  with  an  inlaid  soffit  and  an  enriched  cornice. 
It  is  supported  on  a  fluted  Doric  pilaster  in  the  angle 
between  the  south  and  east  walls  of  the  nave.  The 
octagonal  oak  pulpit  may  be  partly  of  the  same  date, 
altered  later.  The  wrought-iron  hour-glass  stand  near 
the  pulpit  is  probably  also  of  the  i8th  century. 

In  1866-7  the  church  was  restored  and  refitted  at 
the  expense  of  Capel  Cure  of  Blake  Hall.  The  work 
included  the  rebuilding  of  the  tower  and  the  south 
porch.  The  present  tower  is  of  flint  rubble  with  free- 
stone dressings  and  is  of  three  stages  surmounted  by  a 
castellated  parapet.  Its  style  is  mainly  of  the  14th  cen- 
tury. The  south  porch  is  of  timber.  At  the  same  time 
the  east  wall  of  the  chancel  was  completely  rebuilt. 


53  CrockfoTtVs  Cler,  Dir.  passim ;  Chelms- 
ford Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1952. 

5*  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19.  For  Oger  Fitz 
Michael  see  Berwick  Berners.  No  other 
reference  has  been  found  to  the  Priory  of 
Stratford  in  this  conneiyon. 


55  Cart,  of  St.  John's  Abhey,  Colchester, 
ed.  Stuart  Moore,  522. 

56  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19;  Tax.  Bed. 
(Rec.  Com.),  2ii;  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205; 
Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

57  E.R.O.,  D/CT  292. 


58  E.R.  xxi,  226. 

5'  Cf.  Moreton,  Little  Laver,  and  (out- 
side Ongar  hundred)  Fryerning. 
''"  Morant,  Essex,  \,  I  39. 
'■  E.R.O.  Prints,  Abbess  Roding. 


194 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


ABBESS  RODING 


there  were  repairs  to  windows  and  roofs,  the  nave  was 
repaved  and  new  seats  and  new  stained  glass  were 
installed.  The  total  cost  of  the  restoration  was  about 
j^2,ooo.*^  The  north  vestry  was  probably  added  later 
in  the  19th  century. 

The  carved  oak  reredos,  which  has  traceried  panels 
and  other  enrichments,  is  the  work  of  the  late  Miss 
Capel-Cure  and  was  added  in  1 938.^3 

There  are  three  bells.  Two  are  probably  of  the 
1 5th  century,  one  being  by  John  Walgrave.  The  third 
is  by  John  Hodson,  1665. 

The  church  plate  includes  a  plated  paten,  cup,  and 
flagon  of  the  19th  century  and  a  silver  paten  of  1869. 
The  plated  paten  was  probably  bought  after  an  arch- 
deacon's visitation  of  about  18 16  when  the  church  was 
ordered  to  sell  a  pewter  paten  and  flagon  and  provide 
a  paten  for  bread  and  offerings.*'* 

On  the  north  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  fine  carved  and 
painted  wall  tablet  of  alabaster  and  black  marble.  It 
is  in  memory  of  Sir  Gamaliel  Capell  (161 3)  and  has 
figures  of  himself  and  his  wife  kneeling  at  a  prayer 
desk.  Below,  also  kneeling,  are  six  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  monument  was  formerly  in  the 
chancel.*5  On  the  opposite  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  tablet 
in  similar  materials  but  of  very  unusual  design.  It 
commemorates  Mildred  (Capell)  wife  of  Sir  William 
Lucklyn  (1633)  and  shows  a  lady  looking  out  from  a 
curtained  recess,  the  curtains  being  held  back  by 
cherubs.  Behind  her,  angels  are  descending  to  place  a 
crown  on  her  head.  Above  is  a  segmental  pediment 
and  an  achievement  of  arms.  Also  on  the  south  wall  of 
the  nave  are  two  mounted  brass  tablets  having  an 
achievement  of  arms  and  a  rhymed  inscription  to 
Edward  Humberstone  of  Cockerells  (1622).  There 
are  marble  tablets  to  Thomas  Dyer  (1852)  and  L. 
Capel  Cure  (191 2),  both  rectors  of  the  parish,  and 
there  is  also  a  memorial  tablet  to  those  who  were  killed 
in  the  First  World  War. 

The  Congregational  church  at  Abbess  Roding,  once 
an  important  nonconformist 
NONCONFORMITY  centre  for  this  part  of  Essex, 
originated  about  1698  through 
the  labours  of  the  Revd.  Samuel  Pomfret,  minister  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  in  Gravel  Lane,  Hounds- 
ditch.**  He  is  said  to  have  visited  Rookwood  Hall  for 
the  benefit  of  his  health  and  to  have  obtained  from  his 
hosts  the  use  of  a  former  malt  house  at  the  hall.  This 
was  used  for  worship  until  a  church  was  built.  Accord- 
ing to  local  tradition  this  first  meeting-place  was  part 
of  a  barn  which  still  exists  at  Rookwood  Hall  (see 
above).  This  is  probably  correct.  Pomfret's  friends 
at  the  hall  were  probably  the  Capels,  who  were 
certainly  living  there  in  1698  and  perhaps  for  a  few 
years  after.  Until  the  end  of  the  1 8th  century  the 
church  continued  to  be  known  as  that  of  Rookwood 
Hall.*'  It  was  at  first  Presbyterian,  but  became  Con- 
gregational during  the  ministry  of  John  Cook  (1743- 
78).  The  first  minister  ordained  to  the  church  was 
Daniel  Wilcox  (1703-6).  His  successor,  Lauchlan 
Ross,  ministered  with  success  from  1706  to  1740.    In 


1 7 16  the  congregation  was  estimated  at  500,  of  whom 
59  were  county  voters  and  19  were  'gentlemen'.**  If 
these  figures  are  correct  this  was  one  of  the  strongest 
nonconformist  churches  in  Essex.  Ross  also  had 
licensed  preaching  rooms  in  many  neighbouring 
villages.  In  1729—30  a  new  church  was  built  on  land 
given  by  Joseph  Springham  of  Cockerells  Farm  (now 
Fairlands).  Within  6  or  7  years  XI630  was  raised  to- 
wards the  cost  of  the  church.  George  Ross,  who 
became  minister  in  1741,  was  said  by  a  writer  of  about 
1820  to  have  been  imbued  with  the  'spirit  of  the  very 
Pope  himself,  and  his  quarrels  with  the  congregation 
terminated  in  1743,  when  he  was  dismissed  from  his 
office.  His  successor  John  Cook  was  not  very  well 
educated  but  served  faithfully.  In  1745  Joseph 
Springham  gave  two  freehold  cottages  to  be  used  as 
the  minister's  house.*'  This  intention,  however,  never 
seems  to  have  been  carried  out.  Although  the  cottages 
were  beside  the  church  the  minister  continued  to  live 
in  the  'gentleman's  end'  of  Cockerells  Farm  until  1786 
when  a  house  at  Fyfield  was  bought  as  a  manse  during 
the  pastorate  of  Thomas  Eisdell  (1784—9). 

With  these  economic  advantages  the  church  was  able 
to  retain  ministers  throughout  the  1 8th  and  19th 
centuries,  with  only  short  vacancies,  and  some  of  them 
remained  for  many  years.  Eisdell's  ministry  came  to 
an  end  as  the  result  of  a  dispute  with  some  of  his  con- 
gregation. His  successor  Joseph  Corbishley,  minister 
from  1790  to  1 83 1,  was  an  active  evangelical.'"  In 
1829  he  reported  that  the  congregation  numbered 
500."  In  1881  it  was  estimated  at  only  250;  there 
were  75  church  members,  75  pupils  in  the  Sunday 
school,  and  10  teachers."  The  decline  in  numbers 
probably  resulted  from  the  foundation  of  other  Con- 
gregational churches  in  the  neighbourhood.  In  1848 
it  was  stated  that  the  two  cottages  beside  the  church 
had  been  'converted  into  a  respectable  public  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  congregation,  most  of 
whom  come  from  a  considerable  distance'.'^  By  1881 
there  were  new  Congregational  churches  at  Norton 
Mandeville,  Moreton,  and  Thrushes  Bush  (in  High 
Laver)  (qq.v.) .  At  Abbess  Roding  the  contraction  of  the 
catchment  area  of  the  church  was  perhaps  reflected  by 
the  sale  (1852)  of  the  Fyfield  manse  after  the  building 
of  a  new  one  in  Abbess  Roding.''*  The  income  from 
endowments  was  £18  in  1881,  and  that  from  other 
sources  was  about  ^^92.  The  minister  received  a  salary 
of  ^80.75 

In  1 884  J.  E.  Rattee  became  minister.  He  organized  ' 
services  at  White  Roding,  Leaden  Roding,  and  other 
neighbouring  villages  and  persuaded  the  Essex  Con- 
gregational Union  to  make  a  grant  of  ^^35  towards  this 
work  in  1885,  when  24  new  church  members  were 
reported.'*  By  1886  an  iron  church  had  been  opened 
at  Leaden  Roding,  and  there  was  a  mission  room  at 
White  Roding,  both  under  Rattee's  supervision.  He 
was  also  holding  services  at  Aythorpe  Roding  and 
Margaret  Roding."  A  chapel  was  built  at  White 
Roding  in  1888  at  a  cost  of  ;^262.'8  In  1890  the  old 
church  at  Abbess  Roding  was  dilapidated  and  services 


'2  E.R.O.,  D/P  145/5;  '"Wet  in  church 
tower. 

«5  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  R.  T.  K.  Griffin, 
present  rector. 

>•*  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  146.  Cf.  E.A.T.  N.s. 
xviii,  207. 

<"  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  344. 

*'  Abbess  Roding  Congr.  Church  Bk. 
(now  in  Congr.  Church,  White  Roding). 
Unless    otherwise    stated    the    following 


acct.  is  based  on  this  book,  which  opens 
with  a  history  of  the  church,  started  in 
1820  and  continued  up  to  c.  1880. 

"  Monthly  Mag.  1 797,  p.  204. 

68  Davids,  Evang,  Nonconf.  in  Essex, 
450-2. 

M  Char.  Com.  files. 

'<>  Evang.  Mag.  1797,  385;  Davids, 
ibid. 

'■  E.R.O.,  C/CR  3/2. 


"  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep,  1 88 1. 

'3  fTAite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848).  For  this 
public  house,  called  'The  Anchor',  see 
below. 

'4  Char.  Com.  files. 

'5  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  I  88  I. 

"  Ibid.  1885;  Congr.  Tear  Bk.  1884, 
1885. 

"  Essex  Congr.  Union  Rep.  1886. 

'8  Ibid.  i8q8. 


195 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


were  being  held  in  the  schoolroom  there.^'  In  1899 
the  old  church  was  sold,  together  with  the  neighbour- 
ing Anchor  House,  for  ^^ijOOO,*"  and  the  money  made 
over  to  the  church  at  White  Roding,  which  was 
extended  in  1901.  The  manse  remained  at  Abbess 
Roding  until  1948,  when  it  was  sold,  and  a  new  manse 
was  built  at  White  Roding.*'  Rattee  left  the  district 
in  1904—5.  He  had  been  ill  and  a  fund  was  raised  to 
pay  his  debts  before  he  left.*^ 

The  Abbess  Roding  church  was  demolished  soon 
after  1 899  and  nothing  now  remains  of  it  except  the 
red-brick  wall  of  the  forecourt.  It  stood  immediately 
to  the  west  of  the  present  Anchor  House.  An  oil  paint- 
ing of  the  front,  executed  about  1876,  hangs  in  the 
Congregational  church,  White  Roding.  It  shows  a 
two-story  plastered  building  with  rusticated  quoins 
and  a  hipped  tile  roof.  At  each  end  of  the  front  is  a 
doorway  with  flanking  pilasters  supporting  an  entabla- 
ture. The  windows,  of  which  there  are  four  to  the 
upper  story,  have  semicircular  heads  and  are  divided 
by  mullions  and  transomes  (see  plate  facing  p.  1 1 3). 
A  photograph  of  the  interior,  also  in  the  White 
Roding  church,  shows  a  gallery  on  three  sides  and  on  the 
fourth  a  high  panelled  pulpit  set  between  two  tall 
round-headed  windows.  To  the  west  of  the  church 
stood  the  Sunday  school.^^ 

Anchor  House,  which  appears  to  have  become  a 
public  house  in  the  19th  century  (see  above)  retained 
its  licence  until  about  1910.**  The  iron  anchor  which 
served  as  an  inn  sign  still  hangs  above  the  entrance  door. 
The  building  is  timber-framed  and  roughcast  and  prob- 
ably dates  from  the  late  17th  or  early  1 8th  century.  To 
the  west  of  it,  near  the  site  of  the  former  church,  are  the 
remains  of  a  moat. 

The  Old  Manse,  formerly  known  as  Hill  House, 
was  built  in  185 1  to  the  design  of  the  Revd.  H.  Stacey, 
then  minister  of  the  church. ^s  It  is  a  square  double- 
fronted  house  of  brown  brick. 

The  court  rolls  of  the  manor  of  Abbess  Roding  sur- 
vive for  1472-15  3086 
and  those  of  Berwick 
Berners  for  1 3 82-1 8 19 
with  a  gap  between 
1484  and  1574.8'  Both  courts  exercised  leet  juris- 
diction and  each  elected  its  own  constable.  The  last 
recorded  appointment  of  a  constable  for  Berwick 
Berners  manor  was  made  in  168 1.  A  manorial  pound 
is  mentioned  in  the  Abbess  Roding  roll  of  1473. 

The  earliest  surviving  minutes  of  parish  vestry  meet- 
ings are  entered  in  a  parish  register.**  They  cover  the 
period  1708-52.  They  are  continued  in  a  separate 
parish  book  from  about  1752  to  1803,  but  most  of  the 
entries  for  the  first  dozen  years  of  the  new  book  are 
illegible  owing  to  decay.*'  The  Easter  vestry  at  which 
officers  were  elected  was  generally  the  only  one  in  the 
year,  and  the  rector  usually  took  the  chair.  From  1785, 
coinciding  with  a  change  of  rector,  the  vestry's  interest 
in  the  parish  government  almost  ceased.  The  entries 
were  no  longer  signed  and  recorded  only  the  continuing 
in  office  of  the  same  three  persons  as  churchwarden 
and  constables.    Their  accounts  were  passed  without 


PARISH  GOVERNMENT 
AND  POOR  RELIEF 


"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890). 

'»  Deed  of  Conveyance,  now  at  White 
Roding  Congr.  Church. 

«■  Char.  Com.  files. 

"  Essex  Congr.  Union  Refs.  1904,  1905. 

M  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  xlii. 

•♦  Inf.  from  the  son  of  the  present 
owner  and  grandson  of  the  last  licensee. 

"  Abbess  Roding  Congr.  Church  Bk. 


86  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mss-84. 

8'  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  M28-41  (1382- 
1484  and  1574-1727);  ibid.  M16  {1729- 
1 8 1 9).  The  last  is  a  book  recording  courts 
baron  only. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/P  14S/1/1. 

8»  E.R.O.,  D/P  145/8. 

«»  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  241  (1835),  xxi  (i);  Char.  Com.  files. 


scrutiny  and  there  never  remained  any  balance  to  be 
carried  over.  In  1729  it  was  agreed  to  hold  a  vestry 
dinner  at  Easter  for  all  ratepayers,  each  to  pay  6d. 
whether  he  attended  or  not. 

The  parish  clerk  had  an  income  of  £2  a  year  from  a 
rent  charge  left  under  the  will  of  Nicholas  Burton 
(proved  1678).'"  In  1834  the  sum  was  allowed  in  the 
rent  paid  by  the  then  clerk,  who  happened  to  live  in 
Falkiners,  the  house  charged.  In  1910  the  property 
charged  was  called  Willington  Cottages,  and  the  clerk 
was  still  receiving  the  payment  in  19 14.  The  payment 
is  now  being  made  from  Falkiners  at  the  rate  of  10/. 
a  quarter." 

The  vestry  appointed  two  constables,  one  for  the 
'township'  and  one  for  'Berwick  hamlet';  perhaps 
originally  each  represented  a  separate  towTiship  or  vill 
and  subsequently  the  manors  of  Abbess  Roding  and 
Berwick  Berners  respectively.  Morant  {c.  1768) 
stated  that  the  constable  of  the  hamlet  of  Berwick 
Berners  attended  at  the  court  of  the  hundred  of 
Dunmow,  'which  causes  it  to  be  reputed  within  that 
hundred'.'^  There  had  been  an  ancient  connexion 
between  the  manor  of  Berwick  Berners  (see  above) '^ 
and  Dunmow  hundred.  Separate  surveyors  of  high- 
ways were  nominated  for  the  township  and  Berwick 
hamlet  and  sometimes  also  separate  rates  were  levied. 
In  1762  a  rate  of  313'.  in  £\  for  the  hamlet  produced 
just  over  ^3.  An  earlier  undated  memorandum  in  the 
parish  register  shows  that  a  rate  for  the  township  pro- 
duced one  third  more  than  that  for  the  hamlet.  In 
1836  the  rateable  value  of  the  whole  parish  was 
^859.54 

During  the  first  half  of  the  i8th  century  only  one 
overseer  was  appointed  and  he  almost  invariably  served 
for  two  consecutive  years.  There  is  no  reference  to  the 
overseer  in  the  parish  book  covering  the  second  half  of 
the  l8th  century,  but  between  1824  and  1836  two 
overseers  were  sometimes  appointed. '5  During  the 
whole  of  this  latter  period  five  persons  only  shared  the 
offices  of  churchwarden  and  overseer.  They  occupied 
the  largest  farms  in  the  parish  and  included  the  widow 
of  a  previous  overseer. 

In  1 7 1  o  the  overseer  spent  ;^20  on  poor  relief.  After 
that  date  the  vestry  minutes  ceased  to  record  the 
detailed  disbursements  of  any  officer,  but  only  gave  the 
balance  in  hand.  After  1785  even  this  was  abandoned, 
and  for  information  on  parish  expenditure  we  are 
dependent  on  parliamentary  returns.'*  These  show 
that  between  1783  and  1785  an  average  of  ^{^150  was 
raised  by  the  poor  rates.  This  rose  to  a  peak  of  over 
;^644  for  1 800-1.  This  was  the  equivalent  of  a  rate 
of  15/.  in  £1  on  the  rateable  assessment  of  1825.  No 
other  year's  rates  were  as  high  as  this  but  between  1 800 
and  1 817  the  annual  average  was  about  jr400.  Be- 
tween 1824  and  1833  an  average  of  ^^330  was  raised 
each  year  by  the  poor  rates. 

In  1776  the  parish  was  renting  a  house  for  use  as  a 
poorhouse."  In  1829  it  united  with  Stanford  Rivers 
(q.v.)  and  other  parishes  in  a  voluntary  poor  law 
Union  under  Gilbert's  Act.  In  1836  Abbess  Roding 
became  part  of  the  Ongar  Poor  Law  Union. 

9*  Inf.  from  Miss  Rowe  of  Falkiners. 

'^  Morant,  Essex,  i,  139. 

"  p.  192. 

««  E.R.O.,  D/P  145/11:  Overseer's 
Rate  Bk. 

»5  Ibid. 

»«  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/i,  1/9,  1/12. 

"  Rep.  Sel.  Cttee.  on  Overseers'  Reins. 
1777,  H.C.  ser.  i,  vol.  ix. 


196 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


ABBESS  RODING 


In  1807  there  was  no  school  in  the  parish.  The 
rector  wished  to  establish  one  because  he 
SCHOOL  thought  that  the  children  of  the  poor  were 
unruly  and  in  need  of  training  but  he  had 
found  the  village  too  poor  and  the  local  landowners  too 
indifferent  to  support  one.'*  There  was  still  no  school 
in  1818."  Between  1818  and  1832  local  Anglicans 
succeeded  in  establishing  a  Sunday  school  and  a  day 
school  which  for  many  years  remained  closely  con- 
nected. By  1832-3  there  were  36  pupils  at  the  day 
school.  Parishioners  then  subscribed  towards  its 
expenses,  but  by  1846-7  the  rector  alone  seems  to 
have  maintained  the  school,  paying  the  mistress  £6  a 
year  and  providing  her  with  board  and  lodging.  The 
number  of  pupils  was  then  50.' 

In  1858  Capel  Cure,  the  patron  of  the  church,  pro- 
vided a  new  school  building  with  accommodation  for 
34  children.  It  remained  his  property  and  he  and  his 
heirs  appointed  the  school  managers  for  many  years. 
In  1 87 1  an  inspector  reported  that  to  ensure  universal 
elementary  education  in  Abbess  Roding  10  more  places 
were  needed  than  were  available  at  the  school  but  that 


these  were  vacant  at  Beauchamp  Roding.^  In  1888 
the  Abbess  Roding  school  was  enlarged  to  take  all  local 
children.'  In  1893  its  accommodation  was  estimated 
at  65  and  average  attendance  was  54.*  In  1904  there 
were  56  pupils  and  2  teachers.' 

Under  the  Education  Act  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee, Ongar  District.  Beauchamp  Roding  children 
attended  at  Abbess  Roding  after  their  own  school  had 
been  closed  in  1923.*  By  1930,  however,  attendance 
had  fallen  to  36  and  in  1937  the  school  was  reorganized 
for  mixed  juniors  and  infants,  the  seniors  going  to  the 
new  central  school  at  Ongar.  In  1947  the  Abbess 
Roding  school  was  closed  because  the  County  Council 
found  it  impossible  to  bring  the  existing  site  and  pre- 
mises up  to  a  proper  standard.  The  children  were 
transferred  to  the  Fyfield  and  White  Roding  schools.^ 

The  school  building  is  now  a  private  residence.    It 
is  single-storied,  of  red  brick  with  a  tiled  roof.   The 
former    teacher's    house,    a    two-story    building,    is 
attached. 
CHARITIES.  None  known. 


BEAUCHAMP  RODING 


Beauchamp  Roding  lies  south  of  Abbess  Roding, 
about  5  miles  from  Chipping  Ongar."  For  ecclesiastical 
purposes  it  is  united  with  Abbess  Roding.^  For  civil 
purposes  it  has  since  1946  been  united  with  Abbess 
Roding  and  Berners  Roding.'  The  ancient  parish  of 
Beauchamp  Roding  contained  1,262  acres.'*  It  was 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Abbess  Roding,  on  the  east  by 
the  River  Roding,  on  the  south  by  Willingale  Doe, 
and  on  the  west  by  Fyfield.  It  contained  a  small  de- 
tached part  of  Abbess  Roding.'  Bird's  Green,  a  hamlet 
in  the  extreme  south-east  of  Beauchamp  Roding,  and 
partly  in  the  parish  of  Willingale  Doe,  was  treated  for 
the  purposes  of  Land  Tax  Assessment  (1780— 1832)  as 
being  in  Dunmow  hundred.* 

In  its  landscape  and  general  economy  Beauchamp 
Roding  is  similar  to  Abbess  Roding,  but  there  is  one 
marked  difference:  unlike  Abbess  Roding,  Beauchamp 
Roding  has  no  central  village  grouped  about  its  parish 
church.  Beauchamp  Roding  church,  on  a  site  probably 
of  great  antiquity,  is  indeed  in  the  centre  of  its  ancient 
parish  but  it  is  completely  isolated  and  can  only  be 
reached  by  a  field  track.  There  is  not  even  an  old 
manor  house  near  it  as  is  usually  the  case  with  the 
medieval  churches  of  Essex.  Most  of  the  population 
is  located  to  the  east  of  the  church,  at  Bird's  Green  and 
along  the  road  leading  to  it.  In  1 801  the  population 
was  220.  By  1881  it  had  risen  to  281  but  by  1901  it 
had  declined  to  221  and  it  fell  further  to  162  in  1921. 
There  was  then  a  slight  increase  to  173  in  1931.  The 
figure  for  the  combined  parish  of  Abbess,  Beauchamp, 
and  Berners  Roding  in  195 1  was  515,  which  implies  a 


slight  increase  over  1931.'  It  is  probable  that  some  of 
this  results  from  the  building  of  council  houses  in  Beau- 
champ Roding  and  of  houses  for  the  London  Co- 
operative Society's  farm  workers.* 

Beauchamp  Roding  rises  from  about  175  ft.  above 
sea-level  near  the  river  to  250  ft.  in  the  west.  Two 
streams  flow  east  to  join  the  Roding.  Butt  Hatch  Wood 
is  in  the  south-west  of  the  ancient  parish.  The  road 
from  Ongar  to  Dunmow  enters  the  parish  in  the  south 
near  Butt  Hatch  Farm.  In  its  earlier  form  'Burn- 
thatch',  the  name  of  this  farm,  goes  back  at  least  to 
1 542.'  The  present  house  is  a  square  double-fronted 
building  dating  from  the  early  or  mid- 19th  century. 
Roden  Lodge,  which  adjoins  Butt  Hatch  to  the  north, 
is  a  similar  house  of  the  same  period.  The  Rood  Inn 
formerly  occupied  the  same  position  as  Roden  Lodge, 
which  at  one  time  was  known  as  Rood  House.'"  Half 
a  mile  north  of  Roden  Lodge,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
road  is  Slade's  Farm,  whose  name,  like  that  of  Butt 
Hatch,  goes  back  to  1542."  The  present  building  is 
of  the  1 6th  century  or  earlier  but  is  much  altered  out- 
side. A  J  mile  north-west  of  Slade's  is  Wood  End  Farm, 
which  is  linked  with  the  main  road  by  a  lane  which  ' 
continues  west  to  Leader's  Farm  in  Abbess  Roding. 
The  farm  took  its  name  from  the  wood  which  formerly 
lay  to  the  west  of  it.'^  The  name  Wood  End  also  goes 
back  to  1 542."  The  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and 
plastered  and  has  an  original  chimney  with  six  octagonal 
shafts.  The  front  porch,  which  is  dated  162 1,  has  a 
moulded  frame  and  an  original  panelled  door.  There 
are  later  additions  at  the  back  of  the  house. 


•»  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 
»»  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  266 
(i8i9),ix(i). 

'  Nal.  Soc.  Rep.  1832,  p.  77;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  287  (1835), 
xli;  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ck.  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  16-17. 

'  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/2. 

'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899],  310. 

■•  Rein,  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  712, 
H.C.  (1894),  Ixv. 

5  Essex  Educ.  Cllee.  Handhk.  1904, 
p.  183. 


*  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/16. 

'  Ibid.  13/2;  inf.  from  Essex  Educ. 
Cttee.  and  the  Revd.  R.  T.  K.  Griffin. 

'  O.S.  2j  in.  Map,  sheets  52/50,  51. 
For  some  general  remarks  about  the 
Roding  parishes  see  Abbess  Roding. 

'  See  below,  Church. 

'  Co.  of  Essex  {Rural  Parishes)  Conf. 
Order,  1^46,  p.  15. 

♦  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  xlii. 
s  For  the  former  boundary  with  Abbess 

Roding,  and  the  detached  part,  see  Abbess 
Roding. 


6  E.R.O.,Q/RPl3isf. 
'  Census  Reports. 

'  See  below.  Manors  of  Longbarns  and 
Frayes. 

»  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  76. 
■»  E.R.O.,  D/CT-294i  O.S.  6  in.  Map 
(ist  edn.),  sheet  xlii. 
"  P.N.  Essex,  76. 

**  See  e.g.  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of 
Essex,  1777,  sheet  xii ;  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist 
edn.),  sheet  xlii. 
"  P.A^..  Essex,  76. 


197 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


A  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  Slade's  is  the  church, 
which  is  reached  by  a  track  running  from  the  main 
road  near  its  junction  with  the  Wood  End  lane.  Near 
the  church  to  the  east  is  the  old  rectory.  A  little  to  the 
north  of  the  church  track  the  main  road  meets  the  road 
which  runs  south-east  to  Bird's  Green.  Farther  north, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  main  road,  is  Longbarns  (see 
Manors).  Opposite  Longbarns  is  Sparrow's  Hope, 
a  small  cottage  with  an  'Off'  licence.  The  site  was 
formerly  part  of  the  detached  strip  belonging  to  Abbess 
Roding  parish  (q.v.).  The  cottage  is  weather-boarded 
and  has  a  thatched  roof  and  probably  dates  from  the 
17th  century.  Wicks  Farm,  now  demolished,  was  also 
in  the  detached  strip,  beside  the  Roding  about  a  mile 
east  of  Longbarns.  Half  a  mile  north-east  of  Long- 
barns is  Frayes  (see  Manors)  from  which  a  long  drive 
leads  to  the  main  road. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  main  road  near  the  Bird's 
Green  turning  are  three  pairs  of  council  houses. 
Scattered  along  the  Bird's  Green  road  are  cottages, 
many  of  which  date  from  the  17th  and  i8th  centuries. 
The  former  school,  originally  the  parish  poorhouse,  is 
on  the  east  side  of  the  road  J  mile  north-east  of  the 
church.  Near  it  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  are  four 
pairs  of  council  houses.  The  'Two  Swans'  at  Bird's 
Green  was  a  farm-house  until  the  middle  of  the  19th 
century.'*  It  is  a  17th-century  timber-framed  house 
that  has  been  refronted  in  brown  brick.  Hornets 
Farm,  formerly  Homers  (see  Manors)  is  near  Bird's 
Green  to  the  west.  Gubbiss  Farm,  which  formerly 
stood  on  an  isolated  site  between  Hornets  and  Butt 
Hatch,  has  now  been  demolished  and  the  track  lead- 
ing to  it  from  the  Bird's  Green  road  is  largely  obli- 
terated. The  house  was  of  the  i6th  century,  built  on 
an  L-shaped  plan,  and  there  was  an  enriched  plaster 
panel  above  an  original  fireplace  arch  on  the  ground 
floor.'s  From  Bird's  Green  one  road  runs  south-west 
to  join  the  Ongar  road  in  Fyfield  and  another  runs 
east  via  Shallow  (formerly  Shellow)  Bridge  toBerners 
Roding,  Willingale,  Shellow  Bowells,  and  Chelmsford. 
Shallow  Bridge,  between  Beauchamp  Roding  and 
Willingale  Doe,  seems  to  have  been  accepted  as  a 
county  bridge  from  about  1654.'*  In  1596  a  Beau- 
champ  Roding  man  was  said  to  be  partly  responsible 
for  the  repair  of  the  bridge,'^  but  during  the  late  i6th 
and  early  17th  century  responsibility  was  more  often 
assigned  to  Willingale  Doe,'*  and  a  more  detailed 
history  of  the  bridge  will  be  given  under  that  parish 
in  a  later  volume. 

In  1618  the  parish  surveyors  of  highways  made  a 
report  on  the  statute  work"  and  a  detailed  return  was 
made  in  1720.^"  The  most  important  road  in  the 
parish  has  for  many  centuries  been  the  Ongar- 
Dunmow  road,  which  is  marked  on  Norden's  Map  of 
Essex,  1594.  This  probably  enjoyed  its  greatest 
importance  in  the  l8th  and  early  19th  centuries  when 
it  was  used  by  coaches  running  between  Dunmow  and 

X  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294.. 

*5  Hiit.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  13—14. 

>«  E.R.O.,  Q/CP  3,  pp.  163,  171,  174, 

352.417- 

"  E.R.O.,  e/SR  135/22,  cf.  56/18. 

■8  E.R.O.,  e/CP  I,  37  Eliz.,  38  Eliz.; 
Q/CP  2,  pp.  62,  63,  64,  65,  66,  69,  71, 72. 

"  e/SBa  4/5. 

"  Q/SBb  75- 

2'  See  Abbess  Roding.  The  present  bus 
service  between  Dunmow  and  Brentwood 
runs  through  Beauchamp  Roding,  as  well 
as  Abbess  Roding. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 


23  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Waterworks 
Co.,  and  personal  observation. 

2*  For  some  general  comments  on  agri- 
culture in  the  Rodings  see  Abbess  Roding. 

25  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294.  The  estimate 
may  have  been  slightly  inaccurate  but  it  is 
probably  a  good  indication  of  the  land 
use. 

26  See  Abbess  Roding. 
"  f^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  473a. 
28  Cal.  Inq.  Misc.  i,  p.  169.  Earl  Aubrey 

is  mentioned  in  the  list,  but  this  was  filed 
among  the  inquisitions  of  Henry  Ill's 
reign.   After  the  death  in  1214  of  Aubrey 


London.^'  The  decay  of  the  road  from  Wood  End  to 
Little  Laver  in  recent  times  has  already  been  mentioned. 

For  postal  services  Beauchamp  Roding  has  usually 
depended  upon  Ongar.  In  1886  it  received  letters  by 
foot  post  from  Brentwood  through  Ongar.^^  Part  of 
the  parish  has  a  water-supply  by  pipes  laid  in  1952—3 
by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.^3  Beauchamp 
Roding  shares  a  village  hall  with  Abbess  Roding  (q.v.). 

As  elsewhere  in  the  Rodings  hardly  any  occupations 
other  than  agriculture  have  been  carried  on  in  this 
parish.^*  From  the  i6th  century  until  late  in  the  19th 
the  owners  of  most  of  the  land  in  Beauchamp  Roding 
were  non-resident.  In  1840  it  was  estimated  that  the 
parish  contained  1,011  acres  of  arable,  172  acres  of 
meadow  and  pasture,  and  46  acres  of  wood  excluding 
38  acres  of  glebe  of  which  32  acres  were  arable  and  the 
rest  meadow  and  pasture."  In  1843  there  were  six 
farms  of  over  50  acres,  the  largest  of  which  was  Long- 
barns with  Frayes,  containing  some  370  acres.  Several 
farms  had  more  than  one  homestead  and  had  been 
formed  by  the  amalgamation  of  smaller  holdings.  The 
same  survey  refers  to  a  malthouse  and  elsewhere  to  a 
'hop  garden  field'  which  recalls  Defoe's  comment  on 
this  area.2* 

In  1086  a  manor  of  Roding  was  held  by  Aubrey  de 
Vere,  ancestor  of  the  earls  of  Oxford,  as 
MJNORS  tenant  of  Alan,  Count  of  Brittany.  Before 
the  Conquest  it  had  been  held  by  Lewin 
and  Etsi  as  a  manor  and  as  ij  hide.^'  Most  of  this 
Domesday  estate  later  became  known  as  the  manor  of 
BEAUCHAMP  RODING  alias  LONGBARNS. 
Part  of  it,  however,  may  have  split  off  to  form  the 
manor  of  Rookwood  in  Abbess  Roding  (q.v.). 

Beauchamp  Roding  was  apparently  still  considered 
as  part  of  the  honor  of  Richmond  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  III,  when  the  Earl  of  Oxford  owed  guard  at 
Richmond  castle  in  respect  of  Roding.^*  By  1358,  if 
not  before,  the  tenancy  in  chief  was  held  to  rest  in  the 
then  Earl  of  Oxford. 2'  In  1401  it  was  stated  that  the 
manor  had  escheated  to  the  Crown  in  1389  as  a  result 
of  the  attainder  of  Robert  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford, 
and  that  the  tenant  in  demesne  had  subsequently  held 
directly  of  the  Crown. 3°  In  1477  and  148 1  Beauchamp 
Roding  was  said  to  be  held  of  the  Duke  of  Gloucester." 
In  1558  it  was  said  to  be  held  in  chief.^^  In  1485,  how- 
ever, the  tenant  in  chief  had  again  been  stated  to  be  the 
Earl  of  Oxford.33 

It  is  probable  that  Beauchamp  Roding  was  sub- 
infeudated  during  the  1 2th  century  by  Aubrey  de  Vere 
or  one  of  his  successors.  About  1190  the  manor  was 
referred  to  as  Roding  Willelmi  filii  GaufrUi.i*  By 
1231  it  was  in  the  possession  of  John  de  Beauchamp 
of  Eaton  Socon  (Beds.).''  This  makes  it  probable  that 
the  William  Fitz  Geoffrey  of  about  1 190  was  William 
Fitz  Geoffrey  de  Mandeville,  who  married  Olive, 
sister  and  heir  of  Roger  de  Beauchamp  of  Eaton  Socon, 
for  John  de  Beauchamp  was  the  son  of  Olive  de  Beau- 

de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford,  there  was  no  earl 
of  that  name  and  title  in  the  13th  cent. 
For  Count  Alan  and  the  honor  of  Rich- 
mond see  Early  Torks.  Charts,  ed.  C.  T. 
Clay,  vol.  V. 

2»  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  x,  p.  348. 

3"  Cal.  Pat.  1 399-1402,  424;  Complete 
Peerage,  x,  230-1. 

31  C140/56;  C140/80. 

32  Cal.  Pat.  1557-8,464. 

33  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  i,  p.  II. 

34  J.  L.  Fisher,  Colne  Cartulary,  53. 
And  see  below  Church. 

35  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1226-57,  139. 


198 


ONGAR  HUNDRED        beauchamp  roding 


champ  and  her  husband.  In  1235-6  Beauchamp 
Roding  was  held  for  I  knight's  fee.3*  It  descended 
along  with  Eaton  Socon  until  1 291,  when  Ralph  de 
Beauchamp  granted  the  reversion  of  it  to  Adam  le 
Tailleur  and  Joan  his  wife.37  The  manor  was  then 
being  held  for  life  by  Richard  de  Brumpton,  and  was 
said  to  consist  of  a  messuage,  60  acres  of  land,  16  acres 
of  meadow,  5  acres  of  wood,  and  6  acres  of  pasture. 
In  1292  or  1293  William  de  Marny  and  Amice  his 
wife  conveyed  28  acres  of  land  and  12a'.  rent  in  Beau- 
champ Roding  to  Adam  de  Biddik  and  Joan  his  wife.^* 
Adam  de  Biddik  and  Adam  le  Tailleur  were  probably 
identical.  The  manor  was  certainly  in  the  hands  of  the 
Biddiks  soon  after  1 29 1 .  Henry  de  Biddik  was  lord  in 
1328  when  he  presented  to  the  church. 3  9  He  was 
dead  before  1348  and  Beauchamp  Roding  had  been 
granted  in  dower  to  his  widow  Joan,^"  who  subse- 
quently married  Arnald  Mounteneye.  In  1350 
Thomas  son  of  Henry  de  Biddik  granted  the  reversion 
of  the  manor,  after  Joan's  future  death,  to  Thomas  de 
Forde  of  London.^'  In  the  following  year  Joan  and 
Arnald  leased  the  manor  to  Simon  Fraunceys  of  London 
at  a  rent  of  40  marks  a  year.''^  Simon  Fraunceys  died 
in  1358,^3  and  in  1360  Joan  and  Arnald  conveyed  the 
manor  to  William  atte  Welde,  draper  of  London,  in 
return  for  an  annuity  of  40  marks  during  Joan's  hfe.*^ 
It  is  not  clear  what  had  happened  to  Thomas  de 
Forde's  interest  in  the  manor:  possibly  it  had  been 
acquired  by  Joan  and  Arnald  Mounteneye.  The  grant 
of  1360  certainly  had  the  effect  of  vesting  the  lordship 
of  the  manor  in  the  Welde  family.  Richard  de  Welde 
presented  to  the  church  in  1387  and  I389.*s  He  was 
dead  by  May  1391,  when  the  custody  of  Ehzabeth 
his  daughter  and  heir  was  granted  to  Roger  Marshall.** 
By  October  140 1  Elizabeth,  still  under  age,  had 
married  Lewis  Mewes.*'  Lewis  or  a  successor  of  the 
same  name  presented  to  the  rectory  in  1430  and  1447, 
and  Thomas  Mewes  in  1463.** 

Sir  Geoffrey  Gate  (d.  1477)  had  married  Agnes, 
probably  the  heir  of  Thomas  Mewes.*'  After  Geoffrey's 
death  Agnes  married  William  Brown.  She  died  in 
148 1  leaving  Beauchamp  Roding  to  her  son  William 
Gate.50  The  latter  died  in  1485  leaving  Geoffrey 
Gate,  an  infant,  his  son  and  heir.''  Geoffrey,  later 
knighted,  died  in  1526  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
(Sir)  John  Gate  or  Gates  (1504  .'-15  5 3)  who  was 
executed  for  his  support  of  Lady  Jane  Grey.'^  In 
1553,  soon  after  Sir  John's  death,  the  Crown  granted 
the  site  of  the  manor  of  Beauchamp  Roding  to  Rowland 
Scurlocke.sJ  The  Crown  retained  the  manorial  rights. 
It  undertook  to  bear  the  cost  of  repairs  to  the  houses  of 
the  manor  in  timber  and  tile,  while  Scurlocke  was  to 
bear  those  in  thatching  and  daubing  and  was  to  have 
fireboot,  ploughboot,  harrowboot,  and  hedgeboot.  In 
1554  the  manor  was  granted  for  hfe  to  Mary,  widow  of 
Sir  John  Gate. 54  She  was  still  alive  in  1 570,  when  she 


presented  to  the  rectory.  Meanwhile  in  1558  Long- 
barns  (or  presumably  its  reversion)  was  granted  by  the 
Crown  to  (Sir)  Richard  Weston  of  Skreens  in  Rorwell, 
then  Solicitor  General  and  later  a  justice  of  Common 
Pleas.55  He  died  in  1572  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  (Sir)  Jerome  (d.  i6o3).5*  The  manor  descended 
to  Jerome's  son  Sir  Richard  (1577-163  5)  who  in  1633 
was  created  Earl  of  Portland.57  Sir  Richard  still  held 
Longbarns  in  1624  but  he  must  have  sold  it  soon  after, 
for  in  1638  it  was  sold  by  Sir  John  Ramsden  and  Anne 
his  wife  to  Sir  John  North,  K.B.s*  On  North's  death 
in  1639  the  manor  passed  to  his  brother  Dudley,  Lord 
North  (d.  1 666). 5' 

In  1668  this  Lord  North's  successor  sold  Longbarns 
to  Sir  Michael  Heneage  (d.  1711).*°  The  manor 
descended  to  Michael's  son  Charles  (d.  1738)  and 
subsequently  to  Charles's  daughters  Elizabeth  (d. 
1765)  and  Cecil  (d.  1779)  neither  of  whom  married.*' 
By  1770  Longbarns  had  been  acquired  by  the  Harveys 
of  Barringtons  in  Chigwell  (q.v.).  It  was  held  in  that 
year  by  William  Harvey  (d.  1779).*^  It  passed  like 
Barringtons  to  Thomas  W.  Bramston  of  Skreens.  In 
1843  Bramston's  estate  in  Beauchamp  Roding  com- 
prised 629  acres  which  was  made  up  mainly  of  the 
separate  farms  of  Longbarns  (some  230  acres),  Frayes 
(see  below),  and  Wood  End.*^  In  1848  it  was  stated 
that  all  the  parish  was  freehold  except  about  8  acres 
and  that  Bramston  owned  most  of  the  land.**  By  1866 
Longbarns  had  probably  been  acquired  by  Robert 
Parris,  who  lived  there  from  about  that  date  until 
about  1880  and  was  described  in  1878  as  the  lord  of 
the  manor  and  principal  landowner.*'  Since  1886 
Longbarns  has  been  occupied  by  a  succession  of  farmers 
who  have  probably  also  been  the  owners.**  In  1933 
Mr.  John  Latham  was  the  farmer  and  one  of  the  two 
principal  landowners  of  the  parish.*'  In  1943  the 
farm  was  bought  by  the  London  Co-operative  Society, 
together  with  Frayes  (see  below).  The  two  farms 
together  comprise  417  acres  and  mixed  arable  and 
dairy  farming  is  carried  on.** 

Longbarns  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and  plastered 
and  was  probably  built  or  rebuilt  in  the  late  i6th 
century.  The  original  part  consists  of  a  central  block 
with  cross-wings  to  the  east  and  west.  The  upper  floor 
of  the  east  wing  oversails  at  its  south  end.  On  the 
north  front  a  two-story  porch  gives  access  to  the  central 
block.  In  line  with  this  on  the  south  side  is  a  projecting 
staircase  wing.  The  house  was  considerably  altered  in 
the  19th  century.  It  has  recently  been  converted  into 
two  dweUings  for  employees  of  the  London  Co- 
operative Society. 

The  manor  of  f  RAKES  may  have  derived  its  name 
from  the  family  of  John  Fray,  to  whom  a  tenement  in 
Beauchamp  Roding  was  conveyed  in  1408  by  William 
Sudbury,  draper  of  London,  and  Cecily  his  wife,  and 
Peter  Wymundham,  also  draper  of  London.*'    In 


3'  Bk.  of  Fees,  ^»t). 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  70 ;  W.  Farrcr, 
Hons.  and Knight^s  Fees,  iii,  253  f. 

3*  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  74. 

39  Sec  below. 

«  Cal.  Close,  I  34.6-9,  498. 

♦'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \\\,^%. 

**  Ibid.  99.  Simon  was  a  mercer :  cf. 
ibid.  109.  <3  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  x,  p.  348. 

**  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  129. 

*5  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  502. 

*^  Cal.  Fine  R.  1383-91,  356. 

♦'  Cal.  Close.  1399-1402,  424. 

*'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  502-3. 


«  C140/56.  50C140/80. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  Vll,  i,  p.  1 1. 

5»  D.N.B.  Sir  John  Gates. 

"  Cal.  Vat.  1553-4,  325. 

5<  Ibid.  318. 

5S  Cal.  Fat.  1557-8,  464;  D.N.B.  Sir 
Ricd.  Weston  (1577-1635). 

"  €142/160/35;  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl. 
Soc),  319.  i->  D.N.B. 

»8  CP25(2)/296  Micii.  22  Jas.  I; 
CP25(2)/4i8  East.  14  Chas.  I. 

"  C142/494/37. 

•o  CP25(2)/653  Mich.  20  Chas.  II ; 
CP43/343  rot.  10,  168. 


'■  CP25(2)/i3o6  Hil.  3  Geo.  Ill; 
Burke,  Land.  Gent.  1937,  p.  1093. 

'2  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  339.  Cf. 
E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685  f. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294. 

'♦  rrhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  435. 

<"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1866-8^).  A 
John  Parris  was  tenant  of  Longbarns  in 
1813:  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  718.  And  see 
below  Frayes. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i 886-1937). 

6'  Ibid.  (1933). 

^^  Inf.  from  London  Co-op.  Soc. 

69  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  250. 


199 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


1477  Frayes  was  held  by  the  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Beauchamp  Roding  (see  above).'"'  It  followed  the 
same  descent  as  that  manor  until  161 1  when  Sir 
Richard  Weston  sold  it  to  Thomas  Younge."  On 
Younge's  death  in  1638  Frayes  passed  by  his  will  to 
his  kinsman  John  Miller,  son  of  Richard  Miller  of 
Great  Waltham."  It  remained  in  the  Miller  family 
until  1704,  when  another  John  Miller  sold  it  to  George 
Pochin.'J  In  1770  the  owner  was  George  Pochin  of 
Ickleton  (Cambs.)  who  was  the  son  or  grandson  of  the 
previous  George.^*  In  1780  'Captain  Putchin'  was 
owner.'s  He  remained  in  possession  until  18 10- 11, 
when  Frayes  was  acquired  by  Admiral  Harvey,  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Beauchamp  Roding.'*  In  1843  Frayes 
Farm  formed  part  of  T.  W.  Bramston's  Beauchamp 
Roding  estate,  and  comprised  1 40  acres."  It  was  then 
and  subsequently  owned  and  worked  as  part  of  Long- 
barns  Farm. 

The  manor  house  was  probably  rebuilt  late  in  the 
17th  century  to  the  south  of  the  original  site.  Part  of  a 
moat  surrounding  a  square  enclosure  is  still  in  existence 
immediately  to  the  north.  Morant  called  Frayes  house 
'the  chiefest  in  the  parish','*  but  it  evidently  fell  into 
disrepair  at  a  later  date.  It  is  now  being  restored  and 
modernized  by  the  London  Co-operative  Society  to 
form  two  dwellings  for  farm  workers.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  drive  leading  to  the  main  road  are  three  pairs 
of  new  houses  for  farm  workers.  The  drive  itself  has 
been  planted  as  an  avenue. 

The  manor  of  HORNERS  (the  modern  Hornets 
Farm)  lay  partly  in  Beauchamp  Roding  and  partly  in 
Willingale  Doe.  In  1597  it  was  conveyed  by  John 
Collin  the  elder  to  Robert  Collin."  In  the  17th  cen- 
tury the  manor  appears  to  have  been  split  between 
coheirs,  for*  in  1649  half  of  it  was  conveyed  to  John 
Russe  by  Lazarus  Annys  and  Mary  his  wife,  John 
Rogers  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  Honora  Collin.*" 
In  1652  John  and  William  Russe  obtained  half  the 
manor  (probably  the  other  half)  from  John  Collin  the 
elder,  clerk,  and  John  Collin  the  younger,  clerk,  and 
Katherine  his  wife.*'  In  1722  Daniel  Russe  conveyed 
the  manor  to  Edmund  Butler.*^ 

In  1780  Hornets  Farm  was  owned  and  occupied  by 
Richard  Eve.'s  He  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Eve,  who 
held  the  property  from  about  1801  to  1820.  From 
1 81 8  to  1820  John  Clift  was  joint  owner  with  Henry 
Eve.**  Clift  alone  was  owner  from  1821  to  1832.*' 
By  1843  the  ownership  had  passed  to  William  Bush, 
who  had  for  many  years  been  tenant  of  the  farm.  It 
then  comprised  64  acres.**  It  was  subsequently  oc- 
cupied by  various  farmers.  From  about  1909  to  1943 
it  was  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Mead  family.  The 
present  (1954)  owner  is  Mr.  George  Read  of  Butt 
Hatch,  and  a  Mr.  Mead  is  the  tenant.*' 

The  farm-house  was  probably  built  in  the  i8th 
century.    It  is  timber-framed  and  plastered  and  has  a 


tile  roof.  A  brick  wing  was  added  at  the  back  of  the 
house  in  1922.**  A  window  with  several  trefoil-headed 
lights  was  inserted  in  an  outhouse  to  commemorate  the 
passing  of  the  Local  Government  Act,  1929,  by  which 
agricultural  land  was  de-rated.*'  The  window  is  said 
to  have  come  from  a  chapel  in  Netting  Hill,  London,'" 
and  is  probably  of  the  19th  century.  Isaac  Mead,  a 
former  owner,  is  buried  beside  his  wife  in  a  small  patch 
of  consecrated  ground  near  the  drive  gate,  where  an 
inscribed  stone  marks  their  grave. 

The  advowson  of  Beauchamp  Roding  descended 

with  the  manor  of  that  name  until  late  in 
CHURCH  the  i6th  century."    Mary,  widow  of  Sir 

John  Gate,  presented  in  1 570,  presumably 
by  virtue  of  her  life  tenure  of  the  manor  (see  above). 
Before  this,  in  1 560,  the  advowson  (presumably  in 
reversion  only)  had  been  granted  by  the  Crown  to  John 
Harrington  and  George  Burden,  and  in  the  same  year 
Harrington  and  Burden  had  conveyed  it  to  Sir  Richard 
Weston,  who  had  recently  acquired  the  lordship  of  the 
manor  (also  presumably  in  reversion  after  Mary  Gate's 
death). '2  John  Hoskyn,  who  presented  pro  hoc  vice  in 
1578,  probably  had  the  advowson  from  Sir  Richard  or 
his  son  Sir  Jerome  Weston. '3  The  Westons  retained 
the  advowson  until  1613,  when  the  younger  Sir 
Richard  sold  it  to  Sir  Gamaliel  Capel  of  Rookwood, 
Abbess  Roding  (q.v.).''»  In  1624  Sir  Gamaliel  Cape] 
the  son  sold  it  to  John  Mead  and  his  son  William." 
William  Mead  sold  it  in  1639  to  John  Siday.«*  This 
was  presumably  the  John  Siday  who  became  rector  in 
1642.'"  After  his  death  the  advowson  passed  to  his 
son,  also  named  John,  who  became  the  next  rector 
(1689).'*  The  younger  John  (d.  1704)  devised  the 
advowson  to  his  son  John  Siday  (III)."  Mary  Siday, 
widow,  presented  in  1704, 17 10,  and  1720.'  The  rector 
whom  she  presented  in  1720  was  another  John  Siday, 
probably  John  Siday  (III).  In  1739  Jo^'^  ^""^  Mary 
Siday  conveyed  the  advowson  to  Thomas  Bramston, 
who  was  acting  for  Sir  John  Comyns,  of  Writtle,  Chief 
Baron  of  the  Exchequer.^  At  the  same  time  Comyns 
bought  Gubbiss  Farm  in  this  parish.  According  to 
statements  made  after  his  death  he  intended  that  the 
advowson  and  the  farm  should  be  used  'as  an  honorary 
trust  for  the  benefit  of  poor  clergymen  and  small  livings 
in  Essex'. 3  There  was,  however,  no  such  provision  in 
his  will  (dated  Nov.  1740).  He  died  soon  after  and 
the  advowson  passed  to  his  wife  Ann,  who  presented 
in  1752.*  She  was  succeeded  as  patron  by  John 
Comyns,  nephew  of  Sir  John.  In  1 768  John  Richard, 
son  of  John  Comyns,  conveyed  the  advowson  and  other 
property  in  trust  to  William  Birch  in  order  to  provide 
an  annuity  for  John  Comyns's  widow  Mary.'  In  1770 
John  Richard  Comyns  sold  the  advowson  to  the  Revd. 
Richard  Birch  of  Roxwell  and  John  Birch  of  Boswell 
Court,  London.* 

In  March  177 1  the  above  Richard  and  John  Birch 


'<>  C140/56. 

'■  CP25(2)/294  Mich.  9  Jas.  I. 

"  C142/487/127. 

"  CP25(2)/922  Hil.  3  Anne.  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  1 36,  has  John,  brother  of  George 
Pochin  as  purchaser  from  Miller. 

'♦  Hisl.  Essex  hy  Gent,  iii,  340;  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  1 36. 

'5  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685. 

"  Ibid.  686-716. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  136. 

'«  CP25(2)/i38/i75o. 

•o  CP25(2)/550B  East.  1649. 

•'  CP25(2)/550B  East.  1652.   For  these 


two  John  Collins  see  J.  and  J.  Venn, 
Alumni  Cantab,  pt.  i,  vol.  i,  p.  373. 

"  CP25(2)/ioi4  Mich.  9  Geo.  I. 

83  E.R.O.,  (2/RPI315. 

8«  Ibid.  316-55. 

«5  Ibid.  356-67. 

«'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294. 

"  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Mead  of  Hornets; 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1912  f.). 

88  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Mead. 

8'  Inscription  in  situ.  ">  Local  inf. 

**  J.  L.  Fisher,  Colne  Cartulary,  9; 
E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19;  Newcourt,  Refert. 
ii,  502. 

"  E.R.O.,   D/DHf  T16:   Abstract   of 


Title  to  advowson. 
«3  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  503. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DHfTi6. 
«5  Ibid.  »'  Ibid. 

*'  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  503.  The  pre- 
sentation of  1642  was  made  by  William 
Siday. 

98  E.R.O.,     D/DHf    T16.     The    pre- 
sentation of  1689  was  made  by  William 
Purcas  :  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  503. 
»9  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  T16. 
'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  137. 
2  E.R.O.,  D/DHfTi6.  3  Ibid. 

■•  Ibid.;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  137. 
5  E.R.O.,  D/DHf  T16.  '  Ibid. 


200 


ONGAR  HUNDRED       beauchamp  roding 


sold  the  next  presentation  to  Nicholas  Toke  of  Linton 
(Kent),  and  in  May  of  the  same  year  Toiie  conveyed 
this  in  trust  for  his  nephew  the  Revd.  Nicholas  Layton 
of  Nottingham.  If  Layton  should  be  alive  at  the  next 
presentation  he  was  to  have  the  rectory  or  was  to 
nominate  a  rector.  If  not,  the  presentation  was  to 
revert  to  Toke.'  In  1776  Layton  in  fact  became 
rector.'  He  seems  to  have  been  non-resident.  In  1795 
Richard  Birch  sold  the  advowson  to  Samuel  R. 
Gaussens,  who  presented  in  the  same  year.'  J.  L. 
Barrett,  D.D.,  who  was  rector  in  1 8  29,  was  also  patron.'" 
For  the  remainder  of  the  19th  century  the  advowson 
was  apparently  acquired  by  or  for  the  benefit  of  each 
successive  rector."  J.  Howard,  who  had  been  curate 
from  1882  to  1887,  became  rector  in  the  latter  year 
and  held  the  benefice  until  1927.  It  was  then  united 
with  that  of  Abbess  Roding  (q.v.),  the  advowson  of  the 
united  benefice  being  vested  in  the  Bishop  of  Chelms- 
ford and  the  Revd.  Capel-Cure.'^  For  purposes  of 
internal  organization,  however,  .'Abbess  and  Beauchamp 
Roding  remain  separate  parishes. 

Though  the  rectory  of  Beauchamp  Roding  was  never 
appropriated,  Aubrey  de  Vere,  about  1 100,  gave  two- 
thirds  of  the  tithes  of  his  demesne  lands  in  the  parish  to 
Colne  priory.'3  It  is  likely  that  this  grant  also  included 
a  small  portion  of  land  in  Beauchamp  Roding,  for  in 
1539,  after  the  dissolution  of  the  priory,  the  king  granted 
'the  manor  or  lordship  of  Langbornes  in  Beauchamp 
Roding,  belonging  to  the  late  priory  of  Colne'  to  the 
Duke  of  Suffolk.'^  In  the  same  year  Suffolk  conveyed 
the  property  to  John  Wiseman  and  Agnes  his  wife.'' 
Wiseman  conveyed  it  in  1 5  8 1  to  Sir  Jerome  Weston.'* 
It  subsequently  descended  along  with  the  manor  of 
Beauchamp  Roding.  At  the  tithe  commutation  in 
1843  T.  W.  Bramston,  lord  of  the  manor,  owned  two- 
thirds  of  the  tithes  of  some  500  acres  of  land,  which  was 
the  greater  part  of  his  property  in  the  parish.  Most  of 
the  manor  of  Beauchamp  Roding  and  more  than  half 
of  Frayes  were  included  in  these  500  acres.  John 
Walden  owned  two-thirds  of  the  tithes  of  a  3-acre  field 
called  Longfield  and  the  Trustees  of  the  late  Revd. 
Robert  Gibson  of  Fyfield  owned  two-thirds  of  the 
tithes  of  a  5-acre  field  called  English  Bottom,  which  was 
part  of  Gubbiss  Farm.  It  was  then  agreed  that  the 
tithes  owned  by  Bramston  and  Walden  should  be 
merged  in  their  freehold.  A  tithe-rent  charge  was,  how- 
ever, fixed  on  English  Bottom,  payable  to  Gibson."  In 
1794  a  map  of  the  parish  was  drawn  for  Samuel 
Gaussens,  who  was  described  as  the  impropriator.'* 
This  probably  meant  that  he  was  leasing  the  tithes 
belonging  to  the  owner  of  Beauchamp  Roding  manor. 

In  about  1254  the  rectory  of  Beauchamp  Roding 
was  valued  at  £5  and  in  1 291  and  1428  at  ^^5  6s.  iJ.^'> 
In  1535  it  was  valued  at  j^i6  13/.  /^.J?"  The  rector's 
tithe  was  commuted  in  1843  for  £284.^'  Sir  Peter 
Siggiswyk,  by  his  will  proved  in  1 503,  left  his  house  at 
Beauchamp  Roding  to  the  church  of  Beauchamp  Roding 
for  40  years  for  the  keeping  of  his  obit  and  the  payment 
of  8</.  a  year  to  the  rector." 

The  glebe  terriers  of  16 10  and  1619  state  that  there 


was  a  parsonage  house  and  some  40  acres  of  glebe.^' 
There  were  41  acres  of  glebe  in  1843.2*  In  1618  the 
parsonage  was  found  to  be  out  of  repair.^'  Parts  of  the 
back  wing  of  the  present  Old  Rectory  may  date  from 
a  rebuilding  soon  after  this  report.  The  house  is  now 
T-shaped  on  plan.  It  is  timber-framed  and  roughcast 
with  a  tiled  roof.  The  long  back  wing  appears  to  be  of 
various  dates  but  the  interior  was  remodelled  and  the 
front  wing  added  about  1 800.  The  entrance  front  is 
Georgian  in  style.  At  the  south  end  of  the  front  a 
grou»d-floor  room  was  added  in  the  19th  century. 
This  is  now  (1954)  used  for  parish  purposes.  South 
of  the  house  is  a  large  rectangular  fishpond.  The  house 
was  occupied  by  the  rectors  of  Beauchamp  Roding  until 
the  union  with  Abbess  Roding  in  1927.  It  was  then 
sold,  and  is  now  a  private  residence.^* 

The  ancient  parish  church  of  ST.  BOTOLPH 
stands  on  rising  ground,  the  churchyard  being  com- 
pletely surrounded  by  fields.  The  dedication  suggests 
that  there  was  a  church  at  Beauchamp  Roding  before 
the  Norman  Conquest.  The  building  consists  of  nave, 
chancel,  west  tower,  and  south  porch.  The  walls  are 
of  flint  rubble  mixed  with  freestone.  The  nave  is  built 
on  an  I  ith-  or  12th-century  plan  but  the  present  struc- 
ture probably  dates  from  the  14th  century.  In  the 
15  th  century  the  tower  was  added  and  the  chancel 
rebuilt.  The  porch  dates  from  1870. 

A  piscina  in  the  chancel  may  be  of  the  13  th  century, 
indicating  that  there  once  existed  an  earlier  chancel  of 
that  date. 

The  nave  has  two  windows  on  the  south  side  and 
one  on  the  north  which  are  of  the  early  14th  century. 
They  have  pointed  heads  with  quatrefoils  in  the  tracery 
and  externally  they  have  original  label-moulds  and 
head-stops.  The  north  and  south  doorways,  the  former 
now  blocked,  are  also  of  the  14th  century. 

The  church  was  evidently  enlarged  and  much 
altered  in  the  15th  century.  The  chancel,  which  was 
probably  rebuilt  then,  has  two  fine  three-light  windows 
with  four-centred  heads  and  vertical  tracery.  Farther 
west  are  two  smaller  windows  of  the  same  period  and 
a  south  doorway,  now  restored,  with  a  four-centred 
head.  The  east  window,  rebuilt  in  the  igth  century, 
is  in  similar  style,  and  a  three-light  15th-century 
window  has  been  inserted  in  the  north  wall  of  the  nave. 
The  chancel  arch  is  grooved  on  the  underside,  prob- 
ably to  take  the  tympanum  of  a  rood  loft.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  nave  there  is  a  stone  staircase  which  formerly 
led  to  the  rood  loft.  This  forms  a  projection  externally 
and  is  covered  with  a  pent  roof  Both  upper  and  lower 
doorways  are  in  position  and  there  is  a  moulded  stone 
bracket  near  the  former.  A  piscina  in  the  nave  is  also 
probably  of  the  15th  century.  Both  the  nave  and 
chancel  have  15th-century  roofs.  The  nave,  which  is 
of  two  bays,  has  moulded  king-posts  with  two-way 
struts.  The  tie-beam  in  the  chancel  has  curved  and 
moulded  braces  resting  on  carved  stone  corbels.  One 
of  these  is  in  the  form  of  a  grotesque  head,  the  other  of 
an  angel  bearing  a  shield.  The  1 5th-century  west  tower" 
is  of  three  stages  with  a  castellated  parapet  above.  Over 


■>  Ibid. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/P  1+6/1/1,  146/8; 
D/AEM  2/3. 

•  CP25{2)/i3ii  Mich.  36  Geo.  Ill; 
P.R.O.,  Inst.  Bits.  ser.  C,  vol.  i,  pt.  i, 
p.  204^'. 

■»  CUr.Dir.  1829. 

"  Ibid.  i%i6;  Clergy  List,  184.5  f. 

'»  Clergy  Liu,  i88of. 

'^  J.    L.    Fisher,   Colne   Cartulary,    5 ; 


E.R.O.,  D/DPr  150. 

>♦  L.  &  P.  Hen.  nil,  xiv,  p.  258.  This 
cannot  have  been  the  manor  of  Beauchamp 
Roding  alias  Longbarns  (see  above). 

'5  Ibid.  262. 

■6  CP40/.391. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294. 

18  Cat.  of  Maps  in  E.R.O.,  26A. 

>»  W.  E.  Lunt,  f^al.  of  NorivicA,  337; 
Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  21A;  Feud.  Aids, 


u,  205. 

20  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.-Com.),  i,  437. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294. 

"  E.A.T.ji.s.  xxi,  256. 

^3  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  502.  The  glebe 
figures  arc  not  identical  in  the  t-vo  terriers. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294. 

2'  E.R.  XV,  49. 

^'  Inf.  from  the  Revd.  R.  T.  K..  Griffin. 


201 


Dd 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  west  doorway  is  a  three-light  window  with  a  four- 
centred  head.  There  are  single-h'ght  windows  to  the 
second  stage  of  the  tower  and  larger  windows  with 
four-centred  heads  to  the  belfry.  Some  of  the  floor-tiles 
inside  the  communion  rails  are  thought  to  be  of  medieval 
origin. 

Some  early  17th-century  carved  oak  panelling  which 
was  in  the  chancel  before  192 1  is  now  kept  in  a  chest  in 
the  church.^' 

On  both  sides  of  the  nave  at  the  west  end  are  curious 
oak  benches  in  three  stages,  probably  dating  from  the 
1 8th  century.  Oak  steps  to  the  upper  stages  have  ring 
handles  and  can  be  pulled  out  like  drawers  when 
required. 

In  1 870  the  church  was  thoroughly  restored  and  in 
the  same  year  the  south  porch  was  rebuilt  in  memory 
of  Ann  Powell.^*  The  exterior  was  restored  in  1893^' 
and  much  of  the  stonework  was  covered  with  cement, 
some  of  which  has  since  been  removed. 

In  195 1  the  tower  and  other  parts  of  the  church 
were  restored  after  war  damage  at  a  cost  of  ^1,300.3° 

Memorial  stained  glass  was  inserted  in  various 
windows  in  1850,  1866,  1870,  and  1872.  There  are 
four  bells,  said  to  be  by  Miles  Graye,  1664."  In 
1446-7  William  Wiltshire,  homer,  left  a  chalice  of 
the  value  of  30/.  to  the  church.^^  At  an  Archdeacon's 
Visitation  of  about  18 16  it  was  ordered  that  a  pewter 
paten  and  flagon  should  be  sold  and  a  silver  or  plated 
paten  provided.''  The  plate  now  consists  of  an  un- 
dated silver  cup,  a  silver  paten  of  1778,  and  a  plated 
flagon  given  by  the  rector  in  1835.3^  There  is  a  tablet 
in  the  chancel  to  William  Bond  (1887)  rector. 

The  surviving  parish  book  for  Beauchamp  Roding 

covers  the  period  1723 
PARISH  GOFERNMENT  101817.35  It  records 
JND  POOR  RELIEF  only  the  annual  Easter 

vestry  meetings  for  the 
passing  of  accounts  and  the  election  of  new  officers. 
John  Siday,  rector  until  1752,  presided  every  year  at 
these  meetings.  Often  the  only  other  attendants  were 
the  churchwarden  and  one  parishioner.  Siday's  suc- 
cessor, William  Wicksted,  attended  frequently  but  less 
regularly.  After  1780  the  name  of  the  churchwarden 
always  headed  the  list  of  signatures.  There  were  never 
more  than  eight  parishioners  present  during  this 
period,  four  being  the  average.  In  1745  the  church 
clerk  received  2^s.  in  wages — a  sum  charged  to  the 
overseer's  account. 

In  1699  the  rateable  value  of  the  parish  was  £6()^,^^ 
and  it  was  not  much  higher  in  18 17,  when  a  2S.  rate 
produced  ^^8 1 .  Rates  of  7^12'.  and  SJ.  were  levied  in 
1790  and  1 79 1  towards  the  building  of  the  new  Shire 
Hall  at  Chelmsford.  The  parish  officers  seem  to  have 
conducted  their  business  honestly.  When  expenditure 
was  highest  about  1800  balances  of  as  much  as  £j^ 
were  successfully  carried  from  year  to  year.  In  1723 
the  rector  and  three  parishioners  resolved  that  every 
parishioner  should  maintain  a  poor  person  for  a  period 
proportionate  to  his  rateable  assessment,  receiving  i  SJ. 
a  week  for  so  doing. 

^'  Cf.  Hist.  Mon,  Com.  Essex-,  ii,  13. 
"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895);  inscription 
in  porch. 
i»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1895). 
30  Inf.  from  Rev.  R.  T.  K.  Griffin. 
"  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  373. 
"  E.A.T.  N.6.  xiv,  35. 
"  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  14.6. 
"  Ibid.  The  cup  is  probably  c.  17 18. 
35  E.R.O.,  D/P   146/8.    Unless  other- 


All  officers  except  the  overseers  tended  to  remain  in 
office  for  long  periods.  Thus  Richard  Nicholas  was 
surveyor  of  highways  from  1 74 1  to  1757  and  church- 
warden from  1753  to  1762,  and  John  Lunnon  was 
constable  from  1786  to  1815.  No  woman  was  ever 
appointed  to  a  parish  office  between  1723  and  18 17. 
The  overseer  served  for  only  one  year  at  a  time,  and 
service  was  probably  by  rotation.  The  same  names 
recur  at  intervals  of  six  or  seven  years,  but  the  absence 
of  women  seems  to  indicate  that  the  service  was  purely 
personal  and  was  not  associated  with  the  occupation  of 
particular  properties.  After  1792  a  longer  list  of 
nominees  was  entered  each  year  and  the  order  thus 
established  was  strictly  observed  in  subsequent  years. 
Each  person  thus  knew  several  years  in  advance  when 
he  was  due  to  serve. 

In  161 3  £z  lis.  \od.  was  raised  for  poor  relief, 
assessed  on  nineteen  contributors  who  paid  sums 
ranging  from  zd.  to  lo/.''  At  the  beginning  of  the 
1 8th  century  the  overseer's  annual  expenditure  was 
about  £z  5-;^3o,  and  it  had  not  risen  much  by  the  middle 
of  the  century,  when  only  two  or  three  families  were 
receiving  regular  relief.  Expenditure  thereafter  rose  to 
j^i93  in  1795  and  then  almost  doubled  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  It  reached  a  peak  of  ,{^5 1 5,  the  equivalent  of 
a  12/.  dd.  rate,  in  1800— i.  The  average  annual 
expenditure  between  1800  and  1817  was  over  jC35°-'' 
It  dropped  slightly  to  ^^260  for  the  period  1829-35.39 

A  parish  almshouse  existed  in  1745  and  1749,  when 
the  overseer's  accounts  included  sums  spent  on  its 
repair.  In  1776  the  parish  was  renting  a  house  for  use 
as  a  poorhouse  but  its  site  is  not  known.'*"  In  1830  the 
vestry  borrowed  ;^35o  from  Sir  Eliab  Harvey,  the  lord 
of  the  manor  (see  Beauchamp  Roding  manor,  above) 
for  the  erection  of  a  workhouse.^'  The  final  instalment 
of  the  debt  was  repaid  in  1837,  but  by  that  time 
Beauchamp  Roding  had  become  part  of  the  Ongar 
Poor  Law  Union,  formed  in  1836,  and  the  workhouse 
was  converted  into  a  school. 

There  were  stocks  in  the  parish  in  1767.*^ 

In  18 18  there  was  a  dame  school  in  the  parish, 
attended  by  28  children,*'  but  by  1822 
SCHOOL  it  seems  to  have  closed.  In  that  year  the 
rector  decided  to  establish  a  Church  school. 
Fearing  that  the  parish  was  too  poor  to  support  the  cost 
of  building  and  maintaining  a  schoolroom  he  sought 
subscriptions  for  the  conversion  of  a  room  in  the  church 
tower  into  a  classroom.  The  National  Society  gave  ;^20 
and  subscribers  all  or  most  of  the  further  ^^24  required.** 
In  1828  there  were  29  pupils  at  the  school  and  there 
were  38  in  1833,  when  the  only  other  local  school  was 
a  private  one  with  7  pupils.  By  1833  the  Church 
school  had  been  removed  to  a  cottage  rented  by  the 
rector,  who  also  allowed  the  mistress  ,^10  a  year  in 
addition  to  the  school  pence.*'  By  1839  the  old  parish 
workhouse,  on  the  road  to  Bird's  Green,  was  being 
used  as  the  school.  The  new  rector  was  paying 
expenses  with  the  help  of  his  predecessor,  who  con- 
tinued to  give  a  large  subscription,  and  41  children 
attended.**  Attendance  rose  to  43  in  1846-7  and  45 


wise  stated  all  the  following  account  is 
taken  from  this  source. 

3'  E.R.O.,  D/P  146/1/1. 

3'  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

38  E.R.O.,  e/CR  1/9. 

30  E.R.O.,  D/DOp  B39/75. 

*"  Ref>.  Sel.  Cttee.  on  Overseers  Retns. 
1777,  H.C.  Ser.  i,  vol.  ix,  p.  350.  In  184.3 
Almshouse  Field  adjoined  Butt  Hatch 
Farm:  E.R.O.,  D/CT  294. 


«•  E.R.O.,  D/P  146/18/1. 

42  E.R.O.,  e/SBb  268. 

*3  Reins.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  266 
(i8i9),ix(i). 

**  Inf.  from  Nat.  Soc. 

«5  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1828,  p.  76;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  287  (1835), 
xli. 

*'  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/18. 


202 


"*&•;' 


;■■«•,». 


Beauchamp  Rodinc  Church 


Magdalen  Laver  Church 


ONGAR  HUNDRED       beauchamp  roding 


in  1 87 1.*'  In  1870  the  building  was  enlarged  and  in 
1 87 1  an  inspector  reported  that  the  accommodation  was 
sufficient.'** 

In  1880  a  school  board  of  five  members  was  com- 
pulsorily  formed.^'  At  first  it  hired  the  Church  school 
for  a  small  annual  sum  which  was  applied  to  the  relief 
of  the  rates,  but  in  1895  it  accepted  complete  transfer 
of  the  building. 5°  In  1880  average  attendance  was 
only  23.  It  rose  to  37  in  1893  and  to  60  in  1899,  and 
this  in  spite  of  the  falling  population.''  In  1894  the 
school  was  enlarged  to  accommodate  95  children.'^ 
The  annual  government  grant  rose  from  ^^13  in  1872 
tO;^47  in  1893  and  ,^78  in  1902.53 

Under  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 


under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee, Ongar  District.  In  1904  there  were  2  teachers 
and  68  pupils.''*  Average  attendance  fell  to  33  in  19 14 
and  to  24  in  1923,  when  the  school  was  closed  and  the 
children  transferred  to  the  Abbess  Roding  school." 
The  former  school  has  been  converted  into  two  dwell- 
ings, one  a  bungalow.  The  south  end  of  the  building 
consists  of  a  two-story  red-brick  block  with  a  gable-enrf 
facing  the  road.  It  was  formerly  the  schoolmaster' 
house  and  was  probably  built  for  the  purpose  in  the 
middle  of  the  igth  century.  The  single-story  school- 
rooms, which  originally  extended  farther  north,  have 
now  been  plastered. 
CHARITIES.  None  known. 


SHELLEY 


Shelley  is  a  small  parish  immediately  to  the  north  of 
Chipping  Ongar.'  Its  area  is  608  acres.^  There  were 
3  2  inhabited  houses  in  1 80 1  and  34  in  1 8 1 1  and  1 8  2 1 .3 
In  1 80 1  the  population  was  i69.''  By  1851  it  had 
grown  to  21  5;  then  it  declined  to  158  in  1901.S  Since 
191 8  there  has  been  a  steady  increase,  mainly  due  to 
the  building  of  council  houses.  The  population  was 
386  in  1931  and  about  650  in  1953.* 

The  land  is  about  200  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the  south 
and  slightly  less  elsewhere.  Cripsey  Brook,  a  tributary 
of  the  River  Roding,  flows  south  through  the  west  of 
the  parish.  To  the  east  of  the  brook  lies  Shelley  Com- 
mon. The  south-eastern  corner  of  the  parish  is  bounded 
on  the  south  by  the  road  from  Chelmsford  to  Epping 
and  on  the  east  by  the  road  from  Chipping  Ongar  to 
Dunmow.  The  junction  of  the  two  roads  is  called  The 
Four  Wants  and  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  cross- 
roads stands  Shelley  House.  In  about  1770  this  was 
referred  to  as  the  only  'good  house'  in  the  parish.'  In 
about  183;  it  was  described  as  'a  handsome  dwelling 
upon  a  moderate  scale'.*  It  was  probably  built  towards 
the  end  of  the  17th  century  and  part  of  the  back  of  the 
house  is  faced  with  brickwork  of  this  date  or  a  little 
later.  The  front  rooms  were  added  about  1800  and 
there  is  a  good  Georgian  facade  facing  the  road.  A 
west  wing  was  added  later  in  the  19th  century'  and  a 
small  extension  was  built  at  the  back  about  1920. '<> 

About  300  yds.  north  of  The  Four  Wants  the 
Dunmow  road  is  joined  by  a  road  running  north-west 
to  Moreton.  Between  this  Moreton  road  and  the 
Epping  road  there  is  a  large  housing  estate  laid  out  since 
1945  by  the  Ongar  Rural  District  Council.  When  com- 
plete it  will  have  seven  new  roads  and  will  consist  of 
about  450  houses."  The  plan  provides  sites  for  shops, 
a  primary  school,  and  a  community  hall.  By  November 
1953  178  houses  had  been  completed  and  147  were 
under  construction.'^ 


At  the  south-east  end  of  the  Moreton  road  there  are 
council  houses,  built  both  before  and  after  the  Second 
World  War,  including  a  pair  made  of  Swedish  timber. 
On  the  north-east  side  of  the  road  there  are  1 2  pairs  of 
older  council  houses  and  near  Shelley  Bridge  some  pre- 
fabricated bungalows.  From  Shelley  Bridge  over  the 
Cripsey  Brook  the  road  runs  directly  northward.  On 
the  east  side  of  the  road  to  the  north  of  Shelley  Bridge 
is  Bridge  House  which  appears  to  have  been  built  about 
1800.  There  are  gravel  pits  to  the  north-east  of  Bridge 
House.  Farther  north  there  are  scattered  18th- 
century  cottages  on  both  sides  of  the  road.  On  the  east 
side  just  before  the  road  leaves  the  parish  there  is  a 
pair  of  estate  cottages  dating  from  about  1830,  called 
Gothic  Cottages.  They  follow  a  type  of  studiously 
'picturesque'  dwelling  which  was  evidently  popular 
with  local  landowners  during  the  first  half  of  the  19th 
century.  Nearly  opposite  Gothic  Cottages  stands 
Ashlings,  which  was  built  on  the  site  of  a  property 
called  Motes."  The  present  house  originated  in  a  pair 
of  timber-framed  estate  cottages  belonging  to  Blake 
Hall  in  Bobbingworth  (q.v.),  similar  in  general 
arrangement  to  Gothic  Cottages  but  perhaps  rather 
earlier  in  date.  Later  a  third  cottage  was  added  and 
later  still  a  wing  at  the  back. 

The  Dunmow  road  is  built  up  from  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  parish,  almost  as  far  north  as  Shelley 
Lodge,  which  is  about  \  mile  north  of  The  Four  Wants. 
This  building  development  dates  mostly  from  the  pre- 
sent century.  The  Ongar  and  District  War  Memorial 
Hospital'*  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  just  beyond  the 
turning  to  Moreton.  Shelley  Lodge  is  a  single-story 
thatched  cottage,  built  early  in  the  19th  century  by 
Noble  of  Ongar."  From  Shelley  Lodge  a  drive  runs 
straight  to  Shelley  Hall,'*  about  \  mile  to  the  north. 
Immediately  to  the  east  of  the  Hall  is  the  church.  A 
foot-path,  formerly  a  lane,  leads  from  the  church,  past 


♦'  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ck.  Sckt. 
1846—7,  pp.  16-17;  R'f".  Elem.  Educ. 
H.C.  201,  pp.  I  lo-ii  (1871),  Iv. 

«8  Kelly' 1  Dir.  Essex  (1899);  Chelmsford 
Chron.  2  Aug.  1872. 

«  Land.  Gax.  7  May  1880. 

">  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/16. 

»■  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1880 
[C.  2948-1],  p.  575,  H.C.  (1881),  xxxii; 
Retn.  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  713, 
H.C.  (1894),  Ixv;  ibid.  1899  [Cd.  315], 
p.  68,  H.C.  (1900),  Ixv  (2). 

s»  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/16;  Retn.  of 
Schs.  1899,  p.  68. 

"  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cllee.  of  Council,  1872 
[C.    812],    p.    409,    H.C.    (1873),    xxiv; 


Retn.  of  Schs.  1893,  p.  713;  Schs.  under 
Bd.  of  Educ.  1902  [Cd.  1490],  p.  68,  H.C. 
(1903),  li. 

'4  Essex  Educ.  Cttee  Handbk.  1904, 
p.  183. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/16. 
'  O.S.  2i  in.  Map,  sheet  52/50. 

*  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 
3  Census,  1801,  181 1,  1821. 

*  r.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

5    Ibid. 

^  Census,  I9iif. ;  inf.  from  Essex 
County  Council.  At  the  195 1  census  the 
population  was  519. 

'  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  365.  The 
comment  is  particularly  interesting  in  view 


of  the  fact  that  very  soon  afterwards  the 
manor  house  and  its  lands  were  mortgaged 
to  Samuel  Evans  who  was  very  probably 
the  occupier  and  afterwards,  if  not  already, 
the  owner  of  Shelley  House. 

«  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  356. 
»  A  'ladies'  academy'  was  held  in  the 
house  in  c.  1863  :  see  below.  School. 

'°  Inf.  from  Mr.  Avery,  present  occupier. 

"  Inf.  from  the  District  Surveyor,  Ongar 
R.D.C.  ■!  Ibid. 

'3  Chapman  and  Andri,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  plate  xii. 

'*  See  Chipping  Ongar,  p.  159. 

'5  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Storkey,  occupier. 

"  See  below,  Manor. 


203 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  site  of  the  rectory"  about  J  mile  to  the  west,  to  the 
Moreton  road  north  of  Bridge  House.  Another  lane 
leads  eastward  from  the  church  to  join  the  Dunmow 
road  about  ^  mile  north  of  Shelley  Lodge.  There  are 
some  18th-century  cottages  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Dunmow  road  near  the  turning  to  the  church.  Almost 
opposite  the  turning  a  drive  leads  eastwards  to  Boarded 
Barns,  formerly  New  Barns.'*  The  house  is  timber- 
framed  and  plastered  and  an  oak  lintel  beside  an  original 
brick  fireplace  is  dated  161 3.  There  is  an  addition  on 
the  south  side  and  the  whole  house  has  been  altered  and 
restored.  The  property  is  now  an  experimental  farm 
belonging  to  Messrs.  May  and  Baker.  The  farm  build- 
ings have  been  converted  and  two  new  red-brick 
laboratories  for  veterinary  and  horticultural  research 
were  built  in  195 1  and  1952.  A  building  on  the  road 
near  the  drive  entrance  was  formerly  called  Boarded 
Barns."  Nearly  J  mile  farther  north  on  the  west  side 
of  the  road  a  long  drive  leads  to  Bundish  Hall  on  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  parish.^" 

Shelley  Bridge,  described  as  a  foot-  and  horse-bridge 
in  1665,^'  was  often  in  a  bad  state  of  repair.  In  the 
1 6th  and  17th  centuries  it  was  claimed  that  the  bridge 
should  be  repaired  by  the  parson  of  Shelley.^^  In  1835 
the  Report  of  the  Charity  Commission  quoted  from  the 
court  rolls  of  Shelley,  which  purported  to  show  that 
responsibility  for  repairing  Shelley  Bridge  rested  with 
the  rector.^3  In  reply  to  a  letter  of  inquiry  the  then 
rector,  Henry  Soames,  told  the  commissioners  that 
although  he  had  kept  the  bridge  in  good  repair  since 
his  institution  in  1 8 1 2,  he  did  not  admit  his  liability  to 
do  so.^  Some  time  afterwards  the  county  accepted 
responsibility  for  repairing  the  bridge  which  first  ap- 
pears in  a  list  of  county  bridges  in  1872.  In  1873  the 
county  surveyor  described  it  as  a  new  iron  bridge,  in 
good  repair;  the  roadway  was  not  to  be  mended  by  the 
county.25 

The  roads  of  Shelley  were  frequently  presented  as  in 
need  of  repair  but  individual  roads  are  not  often  dis- 
tinguished. In  161 3  the  inhabitants  of  both  Shelley 
and  Bobbingworth  were  presented  for  not  repairing 
the  highway  leading  from  'Moreton  Street  to  Shelley 
Bridge'.^*  This  was,  doubtless,  the  highway  which 
led  from  Ongar  via  Shelley  Bridge  to  Moreton  and 
which  evidently  then  as  now  lay  partly  in  Bobbing- 
worth, partly  in  Shelley,  and  also  formed  part  of  the 
boundary  between  the  two  parishes.  In  161 8  it  was 
said  that  these  parishes  shared  the  responsibility  for 
this  road.^'  In  1632  the  inhabitants  of  Shelley  were 
presented  for  neglect  of  their  highways  to  Bishop's 
Stortford  and  Dunmow;  they  made  the  cryptic  answer 
that  'they  can  take  it  of  better  cheape  some  other  waye'.^' 


There  is  no  post-office  in  Shelley.  The  parish  is 
served  by  the  Shelley  Road  post-ofEce  which  is  within 
the  boundary  of  Chipping  Ongar  and  which  was 
opened  in  May  1934.^' 

Water  is  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.so  Gas  was  supplied  from  Ongar  in  1926 
by  the  Bishop's  Stortford  Gas  C0.31  Electricity  mains 
were  laid  on  in  193  5.32  A  branch  of  the  county  library 
was  opened  in  July  1940;  it  is  now  closed.33  There  is 
a  cycle  speedway  in  the  parish.34 

In  about  1770  a  writer  noted  that  Shelley  'is  small 
and  has  but  few  houses  in  it,  the  inhabitants  of  which 
are  chiefly  supported  by  husbandry'. 35  Shelley 
remained  a  rural  parish,  engaged  almost  entirely  in 
agriculture,  until  after  the  Second  World  War. 

The  lords  of  the  manor  did  not  live  in  the  parish  in 
the  middle  of  the  l6th  century  but  after  John  Green 
purchased  the  manor  in  1582  the  Green  family  lived 
on  the  estate  until  the  early  i8th  century.'*  Mary 
Green  went  to  live  in  the  parish  of  St.  George,  Han- 
over Square,  after  her  husband  Andrew  Trebeck  be- 
came rector  there  in  1725.37  She  and  her  son  James 
were  still  resident  in  that  parish  three  years  after 
Andrew's  death  in  1759.38  In  1762-4  Shelley  manor 
house  was  let  to  two  tenants,  one  of  whom  farmed  the 
estate.39  The  manor  farm  continued  to  be  let  until 
1 8 14-15,  after  which  Harvey  Kimpton,  then  lord  of 
the  manor,  occupied  it  until  his  death  in  1817.*°  The 
Tomlinson  family,  who  purchased  the  estate  in  1819— 
20,  occupied  Shelley  Hall  from  1822-3  ""^'1  1878-82, 
since  when  it  has  always  been  let  to  a  tenant.^' 

In  1839  the  parish  consisted  of  601  acres.*^  Of  this 
James  Tomlinson  owned  197  acres,  all  of  which  were 
farmed  by  Richard  Tomlinson  .■'3  There  were  in  the 
parish  only  two  other  substantial  owners,  neither  of 
whom  farmed  his  land  himself;  the  Revd.  John 
Bramston  Stane  (of  Forest  Hall  in  High  Ongar,  q.v.) 
owned  New  Barns  Farm  (98  acres)  and  Boarded  Barns 
Farm  (44  acres),  and  Thomas  White  owned  Shelley 
Bridge  Farm  (95  acres).^  There  were  59  acres  which 
belonged  to  Bundish  Hall.^s  No  other  farm  in  the 
parish  was  over  40  acres.** 

In  Shelley  as  in  neighbouring  parishes  mixed  farm- 
ing is  carried  on.  In  1837  there  were  estimated  to  be 
330  acres  of  arable,  188  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture, 
and  2  acres  of  woodland.*'  There  was  also  an  enclosed 
common  of  1 3  acres.*' 

In  1066  SHELLETwils  held  by  Levedai  as  a  manor 

and  as  80  acres  and  was  worth  60/.*'   In 

MANOR    1086  it  was  held  by  Rainald  of  Geoffrey  de 

Mandeville   and    was   worth   C^.^"    The 

manor  was  subsequently  held  of  the  Earls  of  Essex, 


"  Sec  below,  Church. 

*8  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  EsseXy 
/777,  plate  xii. 

'9  Ibid. ;  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet 
li. 

*"  See  Moreton:  Manor  of  Bundish 
Hall.  The  farm-house  is  in  Moreton  and 
is  therefore  treated  under  that  parish. 
Some  of  the  outbuildings  are  in  Shelley. 

"  E.R.O.,Q/SR  403/10. 

'2  Ibid.  Q/SR  16/3,  42/20,  179/62, 
351/34,  403/10;  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  162. 

"  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  2i6, 
pp.  241-2  (1835),  xxi(i). 

M  Ibid. 

15  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

"  Ibid.  Q/SR  204/113. 

"  Ibid.  2/SBa  1/32. 

28  Ibid.  Q/SR  279/4. 

"  Inf.  from  Head  Postmaster  of  Brent- 


wood. 

3°  Inf.  from  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co. :  date  when  water  was  first 
supplied  not  known. 

3'  Inf.  from  East.  Gas  Bd. 

J»  Inf.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 

33  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

3<  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 

35  Hisl.  Essex  hy  Gent,  iii,  365. 

3'  E.R.O.,  e/RTh  I,  5;  ibid.  D/DFa 
T17;  see  below,  Church,  for  memorials  to 
Green  family. 

3'  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T17;  D.N.B.  xiv, 
403—4;  G.  Hennessy,  Novum  Repert, 
Eccl.  Par.  Land.  1 64.  The  Revd.  Andrew 
Trebeck  was,  however,  buried  in  Shelley : 
Reg.  Burials  in  possession  of  rector. 

38  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T17.  James  Trebeck 
was  Rector  of  Shelley  from  1752  until 
c.     1769.      His    brother-in-law    Thomas 


Newton,  later  Bishop  of  Bristol,  used  the 
parsonage  as  a  retreat  in  the  1750's  (see 
below.  Church)  but  whether  James  ever 
lived  in  the  parish  does  not  appear.  All 
that  is  certain  is  that  in  the  middle  of  his 
incumbency  his  place  of  residence  was  St. 
George's,  Hanover  Square. 

39  See  below.  Manor. 

«»  E.R.O.,  e/RPl  685  f. 

<■  Ibid.  e/RPl  725  f.;  ibid.  D/CT  314; 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1859  f.);  fVhite's  Dir. 
Essex  {i%^%,  1863). 

«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  314. 

«  Ibid.  **  Ibid. 

^3  Ibid.  Sec  Moreton  :  Manor  of  Bundish 
Hall. 

«>  E.R.O.,  D/CT  314. 

"  Ibid.  ♦»  Ibid. 

*9  F.C.H.  Essex,  i,  504*. 
.    so  Ibid. 


204 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


SHELLEY 


the  heirs  of  Geoffrey  de  Mandeville,  by  the  service  of 
one  fee,  until  the  death  of  Humphrey,  Earl  of  Essex, 
in  1373.^'  It  was  then  assigned  in  dower  to  Joan, 
widow  of  Huniphrey.52  She  died  in  1419.S3  After- 
wards the  manor  was  held  in  chief  of  Henry  V  whose 
mother  Mary  (d.  1 394)  was  a  daughter  and  coheir  of 
Earl  Humphrey.5<  Thereafter  the  manor  continued 
to  be  held  in  chief  of  the  Crown. 

The  tenant  Rainald  devised  the  manor  to  his 
daughter  Aubrey  who  in  1 1 34  was  the  widow  of 
Eustace  de  Sellea  and  whose  son  and  heir  was  Eustace. ss 
In  1 182  William  de  Selflege,  son  of  Emma,  died  in 
possession  of  Shelley  and  some  other  manors. 5*  His 
inheritance  was  divided  between  his  two  daughters.*' 
Shelley  was  allotted  to  his  elder  daughter  Amy,  wife  of 
Oger  Fitz  Oger.'*  Her  heir  was  her  son  Peter  Fitz 
Oger  from  whom  the  manor  descended  to  his  daughter 
Emma  and  afterwards  to  his  granddaughter  Joan  de 
Saunford,  daughter  of  Emma  and  wife  of  Waleran  de 
Monceaux.59  On  Joan's  death  without  issue  in  1278 
there  were  two  claimants  to  Shelley.*"  One  was 
Aveline,  wife  of  Roger  de  Lees  and  daughter  of 
Geoffrey  de  Cruce,  son  of  Mirabel,  sister  of  Peter 
Fitz  Oger.*'  The  other  was  Sir  William  de  Clovile, 
the  origin  of  whose  claim  is  not  clear  but  who  ap- 
parently had  some  connexion  with  a  sister  of  one  of  the 
family,  probably  another  sister  of  Peter  Fitz  Oger.*' 
Whatever  the  basis  of  his  claim.  Sir  William  evidently 
expected  difficulty  in  establishing  his  right  to  Joan's 
lands.  In  1280  he  agreed  to  enfeoff  Queen  Eleanor, 
the  king's  consort,  of  all  the  lands  of  Joan  de  Saunford 
to  which  he  could  establish  his  claim,  saving  for  him- 
self and  his  heirs  Joan's  lands  in  Suffolk.*^  In  1281 
WiUiam  seems  to  have  established  his  claim  to  the 
lands  and  Queen  Eleanor  was  presumably  enfeoffed 
with  them,  according  to  the  agreement,  for  a  considera- 
tion of  250  marks.**  Eleanor  may  in  her  turn  have  dis- 
posed of  her  right  to  these  lands  to  the  king's  brother 
Edmund,  for  in  1286  Edmund  acknowledged  the 
manor  of  Shelley  to  be  the  right  of  Alan  Waldesef  and 
Aveline  his  wife  to  hold  to  them  and  their  joint  issue 
with  remainder  to  the  right  heirs  of  Aveline.*'  Aveline  - 
wife  of  Roger  de  Lees  seems  to  have  married  Alan 
Waldesef  as  her  second  husband  but  to  have  had  no 
issue  by  him,  for  on  her  death  in  1299  John  de  Legh 
was  named  as  her  son  and  heir.**  In  1302  John  de 
Legh  was  recorded  as  holding  2  fees  in  Shelley  and 
Frinton.*7    In   1349  this  or  another  John  de  Legh 


evidently  held  the  manor  of  Shelley.*'  In  1374 
Thomas  de  Legh  was  reported  as  holding  2  fees  in 
Shelley  worth  j^io.*'  In  1422  John  de  Legh  died  in 
possession  of  the  manor  of  Shelley .'"  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Thomas  who  died  in  1439  leaving  as  his  heir 
an  infant  son  Thomas."  In  1 509  Thomas  Legh 
died,'^  having  settled  the  manor  on  his  son  Henry  and 
Margaret,  wife  of  Henry,  with  remainder  to  Giles, 
son  of  Henry  and  Margaret.'^  Henry  had  died  in 
1494  and  Giles  de  Legh  therefore  succeeded  to  the 
manor  in  1509.7*  In  1538  Giles  conveyed  the  estate 
to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  afterwards  ist  Baron  Rich.'' 
Rich  died  in  1567  leaving  as  his  heir  Robert,  2nd 
Baron  Rich,  who  settled  Shelley  on  his  eldest  son 
Richard  when  Richard  married  Katherine  Knevett.'* 
Richard  died,  without  issue,  before  his  father  who  was 
succeeded  on  his  death  in  1581  by  his  second  son 
Robert,  3rd  Baron  Rich.''  In  1582  Lord  Rich  con- 
veyed the  manor  of  Shelley  to  John  and  Thomas  Green 
and  William  Stane.'*  John  Green  died  in  1595  and 
was  succeeded  as  lord  of  Shelley  by  his  sixth  son 
Robert  Green."  Robert  died  in  1624  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  John.*"  The  Green  family  still  held 
the  estate  at  the  end  of  the  17th  century.  Hadsley 
Green  died  in  1699  leaving  a  son  John  who  died  in 
infancy.*'  The  manor  was  then  divided  between  the 
two  daughters  of  Hadsley  Green,  Sarah  and  Mary.'^ 
In  171 5  in  anticipation  of  the  marriage  of  Mary  Green 
to  Andrew  Trebeck,  later  the  first  Rector  of  St. 
George's,  Hanover  Square  (Mdx.),*^  it  was  agreed 
that  the  half  of  the  manor  which  Mary  inherited  from 
her  brother  should  be  put  in  trust  for  Andrew  Trebeck 
during  his  life  and,  after  his  own  and  Mary's  death, 
for  their  eldest  son  and  his  male  heirs.**  The  marriage 
settlement  also  provided  that  Andrew  Trebeck  should 
increase  the  estate  by  the  purchase  of  lands  to  the  value 
ofj^Soo.'s  Andrew  Trebeck  died  in  1759.**  Mary 
survived  until  at  least  1769.*'  By  the  end  of  1764 
James  Trebeck,  son  and  heir  of  Mary,  and  Andrew, 
had  secured  possession  of  the  half  of  the  manor  inherited 
by  his  aunt  Sarah  subject  to  the  payment  of  an  annuity 
of  jC3°  to  ^^^  fo''  I'fs  ^"'l  to  the  payment  of  ;^375  on 
her  death  to  Bernard  Baker,  who  may  have  been  her 
grandson.**  In  November  1764  James  Trebeck 
mortgaged  his  interest  in  the  manor  to  Mary  Grosvenor 
for  ;^6oo.*'  In  1771  he  mortgaged  the  manor  to 
Samuel  Evans  for  ,^600  and  within  the  next  eighteen 
months  he  borrowed  further  sums  from  Evans,  making 


"  Fett  of  F.  Essex,  i,  9;  Cal.  hq.  Misc. 
i,  p.  5 10  J  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  145;  Com' 
flete  Peerage,  V,  135. 

52  Cal.  Close,  I  374.-77,  22-23. 

*3  Complete  Peerage,  vi,  474. 

5«  C138/55;  Complete  Peerage,  vi,  474- 
7.  A  final  partition  of  the  inheritance  was 
made  in  142 1  when  Henry  V  received  the 
fee  of  the  Earldom  of  Essex. 

55  J.  H.  Round,  'The  Early  Lords  of 
Shelley',  E.A.T.  N.s.  xi,  363. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  i,  9, 1 8. 

"  Ibid,  i,  9. 

58  Ibid. 

59  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  145. 
««  Ibid. 

«>  Ibid. 

»»  Ibid.  Cf.  Morant,  Essex,  i,  146. 
Aveline  was  certainly  descended  from 
Peter  Fitz  Oger's  sister  and  not  as  Morant 
states  from  the  sister  of  Joan  de  Saunford. 
Although  there  is  not  the  same  clear 
evidence  in  the  case  of  Sir  William  de 
Clovile,  it  is  probable  that  his  claim  was 


derived  from  some  relationship  with 
another  sister  of  Peter  Fitz  Oger. 

f"  Cal.  Close,  1279-88,  53. 

<■••  Cal.  Fine  R.  i,  149. 

'5  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  ii,  57. 

»«  Cal.  Fine  if.  i,  415,  417.  By  at  least 
one  more  legal  process  in  1288  [Feet  of  F. 
Essex,  ii,  63)  Aveline  had  secured  full 
rights  in  Shelley  manor  to  her  heirs. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  Misc.  i,  p.  5 10. 

''^  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ix,  p.  314. 

<">  Cal.  Close,  1374-77,  23.  The  report 
that  Thomas  held  2  fees  in  Shelley  was 
probably  a  mistake.  All  other  records 
speak  of  Shelley  being  held  as  i  fee. 

">  C138/55. 

'■  Ibid.;  C139/90. 

"  C142/24/12. 

'3  Ibid.  ^  '■»  Ibid. 

'5  CP4o/i096rot.  100;  CP25{2)/i2/65 
Hil.  29  Hen.  VIII;  CP25(2)/i2/66  East. 
30  Hen.  VIII. 

'6   C142/147/14I. 
"   C142/192/29. 


'8  CP25(2)/i3i/i686. 

'9  Morant,  Essex,  i,  147. 

80  C142/747/158. 

«'  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T17.  John  Green, 
son  of  Robert  Green  (d.  1624),  had  two 
sons.  The  elder  was  Robert  whose  son 
and  heir  John  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Edward  Hadesley,  and  had  by  her  John, 
living  in  1664.  Hadsley  Green  (d.  1699) 
was  son  of  this  John  Green :  Morant, 
Essex,  \,  147. 

8J  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T17. 

83  G.   Hennessy,  No-vum  Repert.   Eccl.' 
Par.  Lond.   164.    St.  George's  was  con- 
secrated  in   March    1725.    Trebeck  was 
appointed  rector  in  May  of  that  year. 

84  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T17. 

85  Ibid.  It  seems  that  he  did  not  do  this. 
8'  Ibid.  87  Ibid.;  E.  331/39. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T17 ;  Morant,  Essex, 
i,  147. 

89  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T17.  At  this  time 
Mary  Trebeck,  mother  of  James,  had  a 
life  interest  in  |  of  the  manor. 


205 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  total  debt  in  January  1773  ;^3,ooo.»<'  In  the  years 
1762-4,  when  James  Trebeck  lived  in  the  parish  of 
St.  George,  Hanover  Square,  part  of  Shelley  manor 
house  was  let  to  John  Brecknock;  the  other  part  of  the 
house  was  let  with  the  manor  farm  to  Robert  Tabrum." 
In  1 768  Trebeck  was  appointed  Rector  of  St.  Michael's, 
Queenhithe  (Lond.).'^  He  must  have  sold  his  Shelley 
estate  soon  after  the  period  of  heavy  mortgaging,  for  by 
May  1780  it  was  owned  by  Thomas  Richards.'^  In 
1790  Richards  was  succeeded  by  Edward  Kimpton, 
Vicar  of  Rogate  (Suss.),  who  was  apparently  his 
nephew.''*  In  November  1799  it  was  reported  that  the 
lord  of  the  manor  was  Harvey  Kimpton  who  was  ap- 
parently the  son  of  Edward  Kimpton. «5  Harvey 
Kimpton  held  the  estate  until  his  death  in  18 17.'* 
Elizabeth  Kimpton,  probably  the  widow  or  daughter 
of  Harvey,  then  held  the  estate  until  1819-20  when 
it  was  purchased  by  James  Tomlinson,  a  London 
solicitor.'^  In  1839  the  manor  farm  consisted  of  168 
acresofwhich  138 acres werearable.'*  TheTomlinson 
family  held  the  manor  until  1902  or  soon  after."  In 
1 899  the  estate  was  put  up  for  sale  by  auction.'  At  that 
time  there  were  three  copyhold  tenants  who  paid  rents 
totalling  £1  3/.  6J.  a  year  and  two  freeholders  who  paid 
a  total  of  5/.  2<s'.  a  year  in  rents.^  At  the  time  of  the 
auction  most  of  the  land  belonging  to  the  estate  was  let 
to  John  Harvey  who  did  not,  however,  occupy  Shelley 
Hall.3  The  estate  was  apparently  not  sold  in  1 899  but 
by  1906  it  had  come  into  the  ownership  of  W.  A. 
Fleming  who  held  it  until  after  1914.*  By  1922  it 
belonged  to  James  Kerr  who  is  still  (1953)  the  owner.5 

Shelley  Hall,  a  timber-framed  structure,  has  been 
remodelled  at  various  times.  The  oldest  part  is  at  the 
south  end  where  there  was  originally  a  15th-century 
hall  of  two  bays,  open  to  the  roof.  The  hall  has  subse- 
quently been  divided  and  two  ceilings  inserted  so  that 
the  only  evidence  of  its  existence  is  in  the  roof  space. 
Here  the  original  roof  timbers,  blackened  by  smoke 
from  an  open  hearth,  still  remain  and  the  two  bays  are 
divided  by  a  15th-century  truss.  The  square  king-post 
has  a  moulded  cap  and  four-way  struts.  The  hall  may 
originally  have  been  flanked  by  two  cross-wings  but 
if  so  the  one  on  the  south  side  has  disappeared,  the  south 
wall  at  this  end  of  the  house  being  of  more  recent  con- 
struction; the  wing  on  the  north  side,  probably  the 
service  wing,  survives  in  a  somewhat  altered  form.  The 
present  dining-room  fireplace  with  other  blocked  fire- 
places adjacent  to  it  may  represent  the  base  of  the 
medieval  kitchen  chimney. 

Late  in  the  l6th  century  the  house  was  remodelled, 
almost  certainly  by  John  Green  who  acquired  the 
property  in  1582  and  had  a  very  large  family.*  The 
open  hall  was  divided  into  two  stories  each  of  which 


»»  E.R.O.,  D/DFaTi7.  The  mortgagee 
was  probably  Samuel  Evans  of  Shelley 
House:  Hisl.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  365;  T. 
Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  356;  E.R.O., 
g/RPl  685  f. 

"  Ibid. 

"  G.  Hennessy,  Novum  Repert.  Eccl. 
Par.  Land.  249. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/RPl  685-95;  T.  Wright, 
Hist.  Essex,  ii,  355.  The  estate  may  have 
been  sold  c.  1776,  for  copies  of  the  title 
deeds  were  made  at  that  date. 

«♦  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  695-6;  ibid.  g/RSg 
4;  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  355. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/RSg  4;  T.  Wright,  Hist. 
Essex,  ii,  355.  Wright  stated  that  Harvey 
Kimpton  did  not  acquire  the  estate  until 
Edward  Kimpton's  death,  which  took  place 
in  iS:i.    In  the  Land  Tax  Assessments 


'the 


the  owner  of  the  estate  was  named  as 
Revd.  Kimpton'  until  1813-14. 

9<>  E.R.O.,  Q/RSg  5 ;  ibid.  Q/RPl  722-3 ; 
T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  355. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  723-5;  T.  Wright, 
Hist.  Essex,  ii,  355. 
98  E.R.O.,  D/CT  314. 
»«  fVhite's    Dir.    Essex    (1848,    1863); 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870  f.). 

■  E.R.O.,  Sage  Coll.  (Sale  Parties.),  1/7. 
2  Ibid. 

'  Ibid.   Shelley  Hall  was  let  to  another 
tenant. 

<  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1902  f.). 
5  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {1922  f.);  inf.  from 
Mrs.  Calcraft,  present  (19S3)  occupier. 

'  See  below,  Church,  for  his  memorial 
brass.  '  E.A.T.  n.s.  xii,  facing  p.  27. 

^  Ibid,  facing  p.  26. 

206 


was  divided  into  two  or  more  rooms.  The  plastered 
walls  of  one  of  the  upper  rooms  were  painted  with  the 
black  and  white  stencilled  decoration  of  the  period. 
Later  still  a  lower  ceiling  was  inserted  above  the  first 
floor,  so  that  the  paintings  have  disappeared  in  the 
room  itself  (now  the  first  floor  landing)  but  are  still 
visible  in  the  loft  above.  They  consist  of  running 
designs  on  the  timber  studs  with  panels  of  a  con- 
ventionalized flowers  on  the  plaster  between.^  One 
panel  shows  a  large  bird,  probably  a  cock.* 

Also  in  the  late  i6th  century  the  north  wing  was 
altered,  the  roof  being  reconstructed  to  give  a  gabled 
attic,  and  a  second  wing,  of  approximately  the  same 
size,  was  built  beyond  it.  This  second  wing  has  a  large 
external  chimney.  The  doorway  beside  the  chimney, 
now  the  back  door  of  the  house,  has  a  four-centred  oak 
lintel  carved  with  the  date  1 587.  The  other  feature  of 
this  period  is  the  carved  oak  chimney-piece  in  the  stair- 
case hall.  As  there  is  no  chimney  connected  with  it,  the 
assumption  is  that  it  has  been  moved  from  elsewhere, 
probably  from  some  other  position  in  the  house.'  The 
overmantel  has  pairs  of  round-headed  arches  flanking 
a  central  panel  and  the  whole  is  enriched  with  arabesque 
and  jewel  ornament. 

The  present  dining-room  was  fitted  with  panelling 
during  the  first  half  of  the  1 8th  century.  There  is  a 
splayed  bay  window  on  the  east  side  and  the  opposite 
wall  has  been  splayed  also  to  give  an  eight-sided  room. 

A  writer  of  about  1770  evidently  did  not  consider 
that  Shelley  Hall  was  'a  good  house'.'"  Considerable 
alterations  took  place  in  the  first  half  of  the  19th 
century;  the  staircase  and  many  of  the  windows  appear 
to  be  of  this  date.  In  about  1835  the  Hall  was  described 
as  'now  a  handsome  residence  of  moderate  size  .  .  . 
retaining  very  little  appearance  of  antiquity'."  In 
1 869  it  was  encased  in  gault  brick  with  red-brick  dress- 
ings'2  and  the  porch  was  added. '^  The  two  red-brick 
additions  to  the  west  date  from  1933. '* 

Among  the  farm  buildings  is  a  three-bay  open  shed, 
probably  of  the  i8th  century,  with  its  hipped  tiled  roof 
terminating  in  a  dove-cote. 

Until  the  end  of  the  19th  century  the  advowson  of 
Shelley  was  usually  appurtenant  to  the 
CHURCH  manor  but  in  and  after  the  i6th  century 
there  were  several  occasions  when  it  ap- 
pears to  have  been  granted  for  single  turns  to  persons 
who  did  not  hold  the  manor.  In  about  1250  the  patron 
was  reported  to  be  the  heir  of  Peter,  probably  Peter 
Fitz  Oger.'s  The  advowson  probably  descended  with 
the  manor  through  Peter's  heirs  to  the  Legh  family. 
In  1329  John  de  Legh  presented  to  the  living.'*  His 
heirs  continued  to  present  until  the  i6th  century.'^ 
In  1 509  Thomas  Legh  died  in  possession  of  the  advow- 

9  Its  existence  was  noted  by  Wright  c. 
1835:  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  3  54. 

'"  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  365. 

"  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  354. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (19 12). 

"  It  is  dated  1869. 

■■*  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Storkey,  Shelley 
Lodge. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19.  The  patron  is 
described  here  as  the  heir  of  Peter  son  of 
Roger  but  this  is  almost  certainly  a 
transcriber's  error  for  Peter  son  of  Oger. 

*6  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  520. 

"  Ibid.  Thomas  Arblaster  who  pre- 
lented  from  1441  to  1468  was  an  executor 
of  Thomas  Legh  (d.  1439)  and  married 
his  widow  Alice.  Thomas  Legh's  heir  was 
only  6  months  old  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  death:  Cal.  Pat.  1446-52,  392. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


SHELLEY 


son  leaving  as  his  heir  his  grandson  Giles.' 8  In  1530 
Richard  Samford  and  others  presented  to  the  hving." 
Giles  Legh,  however,  was  holding  the  advowson  in 
1538  and  in  that  year  conveyed  it  with  the  manor  to 
Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  ist  Baron  Rich,  who  presented 
several  times  between  1542  and  1558.^0  Robert,  2nd 
Baron  Rich,  presented  in  1568  and  1574.^'  In  1582 
Robert,  3rd  Baron  Rich,  conveyed  the  advowson  with 
the  manor  to  John  and  Thomas  Green  and  William 
Stane.^^  In  1589  John  Jollye  presented  to  the  living 
but  Robert  Green  died  in  possession  of  the  advowson 
in  1624.^3  In  1628  John  son  of  Robert  Green  con- 
veyed the  advowson  with  the  manor  to  Robert  Holenden 
and  Thomas  Emevere.^*  Jollye  Stone,  a  farmer  and 
copyholder  of  Shelley  manor,  presented  in  1662  and 
1664.  In  1686  Hadsley  Green  presented,^'  and  in 
1732  his  daughters  Sarah  Baker  and  Mary  Trebeck 
with  their  husbands  John  Baker  and  Andrew  Trebeck.^* 
In  1752  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  patron  by 
lapse,  presented  James  Trebeck,  son  of  Mary  and 
Andrew  Trebeck.^'  James  Trebeck  probably  acquired 
his  aunt  Sarah's  rights  in  the  advowson  when  he 
acquired  her  half  of  the  manor  in  about  1764  although 
he  seems  not  to  have  mortgaged  the  advowson  when 
he  mortgaged  the  manor  at  the  end  of  that  year.^*  In 
1769,  shortly  after  his  appointment  as  Rector  of  St. 
Michael's,  Queenhithe,  James  Trebeck  and  his  mother 
presented  to  Shelley.*'  In  1771  and  1773  James 
mortgaged  the  advowson  with  the  manor  to  Samuel 
Evans.3"  The  descent  of  the  advowson  during  the 
next  40  years  is  not  clear.  It  is  probable,  however,  that 
it  followed  the  descent  of  the  manor.  Nathaniel 
Soames  presented  Henry  Soames  in  i8i2.3'  Accord- 
ing to  Wright  (1835)  James  Tomlinson  purchased  the 
advowson  with  the  manor  in  18 19  or  1820.3* 

The  Tomlinson  family  held  the  advowson  for  most 
of  the  remainder  of  the  19th  century.'^  In  1895-6 
J.  H.  Tomlinson  conveyed  it  to  H.  Garnett  and  others 
who  held  it  until  1898— 9.34  In  the  latter  year  William 
Philp,  Rector  of  Shelley  from  1895,  acquired  the 
advowson  and  held  it  with  the  living  until  his  death  in 
1926-7.35  Afterwards  the  advowson  was  held  by  his 
executors  until  1930— i  when  it  was  acquired  by  the 
Community  of  the  Resurrection,  Mirfield  (Yorks.).3* 
Since  1932  it  has  been  held  by  Keble  College,  Oxford. 3' 
At  present  the  rectory  is  held  with  that  of  Chipping 
Ongar.38 

In  1254  the  value  of  the  rectory  was  assessed  at  5 

marks. 39  A  pension  of  3/.  was  paid  to  the  church  of 

"  C142/24/12. 

'•  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  520. 

«>  CP4o/i096rot.  ioo;CP25(2)/i2/65 
Hil.  29  Hen.  VIII;  CP25{2)/ 12/66.  East. 
30  Hen.  VIII;  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  521. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  521. 

"  CP25(2)7i3i/i686. 

"  C142/747/158;  Newcourt,  Repert. 
ii,  521. 

"  CP43/183. 

*5  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  521. 

"  P.R.O.  Inst.  Blcs.  Scr.  C.  i  (i). 

"  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DFaTi7. 

"  P.R.O.  Inst.  Bits.  Scr.  C.  i  (i);  G. 
Hennessy,  Novum  Repert.  Ecct.  Far.  Lond. 
249.  In  c.  1770  it  was  reported  that  'now 
the  Bishop  of  London  and  the  lord  of  the 
manor  present  to  the  living  alternately' : 
Hht.  Estex  hy  Gent,  iii,  366.  There  seems 
to  be  no  other  evidence  that  this  was  the 


case. 
30  E.R.O.,  D/DFaTi7. 
"  P.R.O.  Inst.  Bks.  Ser.  C.  i  (i). 


'^  See  above.  Manor. 

33  Cler.  Guide,  1829  f.;  Clergy  List, 
1842  f.;  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  {i86of.)i 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870  f.). 

i*  Clergy  List,  1896  f.;  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex  (1899). 

35  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899);  Clergy 
List,  1 900  f. ;  Crockford's  CUr,  Dir. 
(192.  f.) 

36  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  (1927  f.) 
3'  Ibid,  (1932  f.);  Chel.  Diac.  Tear  Bk. 

1952. 

38  Chel.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1952. 

3»  Lunt,  f^al.  of  Nor-wich,  336. 

to  Ibid. 

♦'   Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  23. 

*^  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  205. 

■•3  yalor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437; 
E.A.T.  N.s.  xxi,  78. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  314.  ■•5  Ibid. 

*<<  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Storkey. 

*'  Hist.  Mors.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  212. 

♦«  D.N.B.  xiv,  403-4;  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex  (1886);  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 


High  Ongar.^"  In  1291  the  rectory  was  valued  at 
£1  loj.'"  In  1428  it  was  assessed  at  11  marks.<*  Later 
valuations  were  £<)  15/.  in  1535  and  £9iO  in  i66i.'«3 
The  tithes  were  commuted  in  1839  for  ^^192  13^.;** 
there  were  then  37  acres  of  glebe.'*' 

The  rectory  was  burnt  down  about  1937.**  It  was 
unoccupied  at  the  time,  the  rector  then  living  in  Fyfield. 
The  lane  leading  to  it  is  now  a  foot-path,  still  viable,  and 
the  foundations  doubtless  exist  on  the  overgrown  site. 
It  was  a  timber-framed  building  dating  from  the  1 6th 
century,  if  not  earlier.'*'  For  a  short  time  from  about 
1754  Thomas  Newton,  brother-in-law  of  the  then 
Rector  of  Shelley,  James  Trebeck,  and  later  Bishop  of 
Bristol,  used  the  rectory  as  a  retreat  and  apparently 
wrote  his  'Dissertation  on  the  Prophecies'  there.^' 
Later  the  house  was  altered  and  enlarged.  Henry 
Soames,'"  Rector  of  Shelley  from  1812  until  i860, 
was  said  to  have  spent  considerable  sums  on  it  by  about 
1835.50  In  1861  the  house  was  restored.5'  A  photo- 
graphs* shows  a  long  four-gabled  front  with  a  central 
two-story  porch. 

The  medieval  parish  church  of  ST.  PETER  be- 
came ruinous  towards  the  end  of  the  1 8th  century  and 
was  considered  unsafe  for  use  after  June  1800.53  In 
about  1 768  it  was  described  as  'of  one  pace  with  the 
chancel,  and  tyled.  In  the  spire,  which  is  shingled,  are 
2  Bells.'5*  In  1 8 1 1  a  new  church  was  built  on  the 
same  foundations,55  the  cost  being  met  largely  by  sub- 
scription.5*  This  was  a  rectangular  brick  structure 
with  a  steep  roof  and  a  castellated  gable  at  the  west  end. 
The  windows  were  gothic  but  there  was  a  Georgian 
bell  cupola.  Between  the  windows  were  massive 
buttresses,  probably  added  later  when  the  building 
showed  signs  of  instability.''  In  1888  a  faculty  was 
obtained  for  building  yet  another  church. 5  *  The 
architect's  report  on  the  existing  structure  stated  that 
repair  was  impossible  and  that  in  any  case  'not  one 
single  feature  was  worth  preservation'."  The  new 
church  was  designed  by  Habershon  and  Fawckner,*" 
and  ;^3,ooo  towards  the  cost  was  contributed  anony- 
mously by  the  Revd.  W.  M.  Oliver,  Rector  of  Bobbing- 
worth.*' 

The  church  is  larger  than  those  preceding  it  and 
consists  of  chancel,  nave,  north  aisle,  vestry,  organ 
chamber,  and  combined  north  porch  and  bell  tower. 
The  external  walls  are  of  flint  with  Bath  stone  dress- 
ings. The  tower  has  a  shingled  spire.  The  style  is  a 
19th-century  version  of  Early  English  and  most  of  the 
windows  are  grouped  lancets.  The  internal  walls  are  • 

<"  See  Stapleford  Tawney,  Church.  He 
was  also  rector  of  that  parish  from  1839. 

50  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  356.  He 
lived  at  the  parsonage  from  about  the  time 
he  became  rector  until  at  least  1839: 
E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  721-37;  ibid.  D/CT  314. 
By  1848  he  was  living  in  Stapleford 
Tawney:  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848). 

5'  ffhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863). 

5^  In  possession  of  Mrs.  Storkey. 

S3  Note  in  the  Register  of  Baptisms 
1687-1812  in  possession  of  rector. 

5*  Morant,  Essex,  i,  147. 

55  E.A.T.  N.s.  xi,  174;  ffhite's  Dir. 
Essex  {li^.?,). 

5'  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  356. 

5'  These  details  are  from  an  architects' 
drawing  of  1886,  a  copy  of  which  is  in  the 
possession  of  the  rector. 

58  Faculty  in  possession  of  rector. 

50  Ibid. 

*"  Foundation  stone  in  west  wall  of 
church.  . 

"  E.R.  xiv,  186. 


207 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


faced  with  red  brick,  having  dark  brick  bands  and  stone 
dressings.  The  capitals  of  the  nave  arcade  are  carved 
with  stiff-leaved  foliage.  The  east  window  has  plate 
tracery,  the  stained  glass  being  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Allen 
in  1888.*^  Formerly  there  were  two  bells  dated 
1 8 1  o  ;*3  only  one  is  now  in  use. 

On  the  walls  of  the  porch  are  tablets  from  the 
original  church.  Over  the  door  is  an  inscribed  brass 
commemorating  John  Green  (1595)  and  Katherine 
his  wife.*^  On  the  east  wall  of  the  porch  is  a  carved  and 
painted  stone  tablet  to  Agnes  wife  of  John  Green 
(1626);  it  shows  the  kneeling  figures  of  husband  and 
wife  with  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Also  mounted 
on  the  porch  walls  are  two  floor  slabs  from  the  chancel 
of  the  original  church  discovered  when  the  present 
foundations  were  dug.*'  They  commemorate  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  John  Neale  (1625),  and  Hadsley 
Green  (1699);  this  last  slab  has  an  achievement 
of  arms. 

The  plate  includes  an  undated  Jacobean  cup,  a 
silver  paten  of  1724  given  by  Harvey  Kimpton,** 
patron,  and  another  of  1726  given  by  John  Pearson, 
rector.  There  is  also  a  beaker  of  1799  given  by  Harvey 
Kimpton  and  two  almsdishes  probably  of  the  19th 
century. 

In  161 3  the  cost  of  poor  relief  was  20s.  4/*^  In 
1776  it  was  £6\.<>^  In  178 3-; 
POOR  RELIEF  expenditure  averaged  j^Sg  a  year.*' 
In  the  years  of  scarce  food  at  the 
turn  of  the  century  it  almost  reached  £ioo  and 
through  the  Napoleonic  wars  varied  between  ^^200 
and  ;^345.^°  There  was  a  parish  poorhouse  by  1776.7' 
In  each  of  the  three  years  ending  at  Easter  1 8 1 5  there 
were  16  or  17  persons  on  'permanent'  outdoor  relief 
and  9  or  10  persons  who  were  relieved  occasionally .^^ 


In   1836  Shelley  became  part  of  Ongar  Poor  Law 
Union. 

In   1 8 19  there  was  no  school  in  the  parish.    The 

rector,  H.  Soames,  sent  some  children  to 
SCHOOL    Chipping  Ongar  Sunday  school  and  a  few 

others  to  a  neighbouring  day  school.^J  By 
1832  he  had  established  a  Sunday  school  in  Shelley; 
25  children  attended  it  in  1832  and  17  in  1833.'*  No 
day  school  was  later  founded  except  a  'ladies'  academy' 
in  Shelley  House's  and  until  the  Education  Act  of 
1 870  only  a  few  Shelley  children  seem  to  have  attended 
King's  Trust  School  in  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.).'*  In 
1872,  however,  the  Education  Department  decided 
that  the  33  Shelley  children  needing  an  elementary 
education  could  most  conveniently  obtain  it  if  Shelley 
and  Chipping  Ongar  were  formed  into  a  single  School 
District  and  King's  Trust  School  were  enlarged.  This 
policy  was  adopted  and  Shelley  children  then  attended 
King's  Trust  School,  their  expenses  being  paid  by 
means  of  voluntary  contributions.  In  1897-9  the 
rector  found  it  very  difficult  to  collect  these  contribu- 
tions.77 

Harvey  Kimpton,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Shelley,  by 
will  dated  18 17,  left  ;£ioo  in  trust  for 
CHARITIES  the  poor  of  the  parish.  In  1834  the 
income  was  distributed  in  small  sums 
of  cash  to  all  poor  parishioners  including  some  receiving 
parish  relief.  William  Bullock,  by  deed  poll  of  1822, 
gave  ;^333  6s.  SJ.  in  trust  for  the  poor,  subject  to  a  life- 
interest  for  himself  In  1834  the  income  was  spent  on 
bread,  meat,  and  coals  for  all  poor  parishioners  of  good 
character.'*  A  scheme  of  1863  provided  for  the  use  of 
both  charities  in  support  of  a  clothing  club  or  for  gifts 
in  kind,  but  in  1950  £10  were  distributed  from  them 
in  gifts  of  cash  to  zo  people." 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


Stanford  Rivers  is  a  large  parish  whose  north-east 
boundary  is  |  mile  south-west  of  Chipping  Ongar.' 
The  soil  is  Boulder  Clay  and  London  Clay  with  small 
patches  of  gravel.  The  part  of  the  parish  to  the  north 
of  the  stream  which  flows  into  the  Roding  at  Wash 
Bridge,  and  which  includes  Toot  Hill  and  Ongar  Park 
Wood,  may  originally  have  been  part  of  the  parish  of 
High  Ongar,  and  may  have  become  part  of  Stanford 
Rivers  about  1280.2  LJ^e  many  other  parishes  in  this 
area  Stanford  Rivers  is  made  up  mainly  of  scattered 
farms  and  cottages.  There  are  two  hamlets,  one  in  the 
east  and  the  other  in  the  north-west,  both  some  dis- 
tance from  the  parish  church.  The  population  density 
never  seems  to  have  been  unusual  for  the  area,  although 
until  the  19th  century  the  population  was  larger  than 
that  of  High  Ongar,  a  parish  adjacent  and  of  similar 
area. 3  Population  in  1801  numbered  740.  It  rose  to 
a  peak  of  1,082  in  185 1  and  then  gradually  declined. 


In  195 1  it  was  802.*  There  has  been  a  slight  increase 
since  191 1,  due  to  council  housing  and  private  building 
after  the  break-up  of  the  Bishops  Hall  estate. 

The  land  in  the  parish  varies  in  height  from  about 
100  ft.  above  sea-level  in  the  south  to  over  300  ft.  at 
Toot  Hill  in  the  north-west.  The  River  Roding  forms 
the  eastern  and  southern  boundaries  of  the  parish.  A 
stream  flows  east  across  the  north  of  the  parish  to  join 
the  Roding  at  Wash  Bridge.  Several  smaller  streams 
join  the  river  farther  south.  Ongar  Park  Wood,  in  the 
north-west,  is  a  mile  long  and  J  mile  wide.  A  mile 
south  of  this  is  Knightsland  Wood,  and  farther  south- 
east are  Twentyacre  Wood  and  Tenacre  Wood.  The 
main  road  from  Chipping  Ongar  to  London  passes 
south-west  through  the  parish.  Lying  along  this  road, 
at  a  distance  of  2  miles  from  Chipping  Ongar,  is  the 
hamlet  of  Little  End.  There  have  been  houses  here  at 
least  since  1777. '  A  recent  group  of  council  houses  has 


*'  Inscription  in  situ. 

'3  CA.  Belli  of  Essex,  386. 

'*  It  is  recorded  that  they  had  13 
children  and  that  the  number  of  their 
descendants  was  1 1 1  in  their  lifetime. 

'5  E.A.T.  N.s.  xi,  174. 

'^  See  above.  Manor. 

«'  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

«8  Ibid.  e/CR  i/i.  «»  Ibid. 

'»  Ibid.  (2/CR  1/9.  The  peak  year  was 
1809-10. 

"  Rep.  Sel.  Cttee.  on  Overseers'  Retns. 
1777,  H.C.  Ser.  i,  vol.  ii,  p.  350. 


"  Ibid.  e/CR  i/io. 

'3  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  270 
(1819),  ix(i). 

'♦  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1832,  p.  80;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Abstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  288  (1835), 
xli. 

'5  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863).  This 
school  was  probably  founded  not  long 
before  1863.  Cf.  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex 
(1848)  and  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1859). 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  i/i/i. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/66. 

'8  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C.  216, 

208 


pp.  241-2(1835),  xxi(i). 
"  Char.  Com.  files. 
'  O.S.  2\  in.  Map,  sheet  52/50.   Total 
area  4,413  acres. 

2  See  below.  Church,  and  High  Ongar, 
Church. 

3  See  below,  pp.  300  f.  For  the  Domesday 
population  see  V.C.H.  Essex,  \,  466^,  467U. 
For  some  comparisons  see  High  Ongar. 

♦  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council; 
V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350 ;  Census  Reps.  1 9 1 1  f. 

s  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
ITJJ,  sheet  xvii. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


been  built  here.  The  factory  of  Piggott  Bros.  &  Co., 
tent  and  tarpaulin  makers,  is  on  the  east  side  of  the 
main  road  at  Little  End.*  Opposite  the  factory  is  the 
site  of  the  former  Congregational  church,  and  also  the 
present  rectory.  Stanford  House,  which  hes  near  the 
factory  to  the  south,  is  of  18th-century  date  possibly 
with  an  older  core.  It  has  brick  walls,  to  which  imita- 
tion half-timbering  has  been  applied  recently.  It  was 
the  home  of  Isaac  Taylor  (see  below).  A  mile  north- 
east of  Little  End  is  Littlebury  (see  below).  Wash 
Farm,  at  Wash  Bridge,  is  the  name  given  on  modern 
maps  to  Bridge  Farm,  alias  Bridge  House  Farm  (see 
below.  Bridges  and  Piggsland).  The  part  of  the  main 
road  to  the  south-west  of  Little  End  has  been  known 
since  at  least  the  17th  century  as  Hare  Street.' 

The  main  road  is  joined  at  Little  End  by  a  road 
running  north-west  to  Toot  Hill.  Stanford  Hall  (see 
below)  and  the  church  lie  beside  this  road  J  mile  from 
Little  End.  The  old  rectory  is  i  mile  south-west  of  the 
church.  The  school,  and  Steward's  Farm,  are  on  the 
road  between  the  church  and  Toot  Hill. 

Toot  Hill  is  now  the  main  centre  of  population. 
Does  Farm  here  is  of  late  16th-century  origin,  faced 
with  brickwork  in  the  19th  century.  It  has  a  cruciform 
chimney-stack  with  five  polygonal  shafts.  A  cottage 
on  the  north  side  of  the  road  about  J  mile  east  of  Does 
was  part  of  a  larger  building  at  one  time  divided  into 
three  tenements.*  The  east  end,  including  a  central 
chimney,  was  destroyed  by  fire  within  the  last  20  years. 
It  is  of  the  1 5th  or  early  i6th  century  and  is  of  timber 
construction,  plastered  and  weather-boarded.  Also  at 
Toot  Hill  is  a  small  cottage  with  one  gabled  cross-wing 
which  may  be  of  the  i6th  century  or  earlier.  On  both 
sides  of  the  'Green  Man'  at  Toot  Hill  is  a  layout  of  16 
post- 1 94  5  council  houses. 

In  the  extreme  south  of  the  parish  the  main  road  is 
joined  by  a  road  which  leads  to  Navestock  and  crosses 
the  Roding  by  Shonks  Mill  Bridge.  Haifa  mile  north- 
west of  the  bridge  is  Lawns  Farm.  The  house  is  of 
late  i6th-  or  early- 17th-century  date,  much  restored. 
It  is  timber-framed  and  plastered  and  has  a  tiled  roof 
The  front  is  flanked  by  two  gables  oversailing  at  first- 
floor  level.  North  of  Lawns  is  Wayletts,  another 
timber-framed  and  plastered  house,  probably  of  the 
17th  century.  Traceys  Farm  (see  below)  is  i  mile 
north-west  of  Wayletts.  Murrells  is  on  the  north-west 
side  of  the  main  road,  to  the  north-east  of  Traceys.  It 
also  is  timber-framed  and  plastered.  The  front  has 
been  entirely  rebuilt  after  receiving  severe  damage  from 
a  flying  bomb  in  1944.  The  house  probably  dates 
from  the  i6th  century,  but  may  have  incorporated 
parts  of  an  even  older  house."  Berwick  Farm  (see 
below,  Barwicks)  is  in  the  west  of  the  parish  near 
Twentyacre  Wood.  The  site  of  Bellhouse  (see  below), 
once  the  main  manor  house  of  the  parish,  is  a  mile  east 
of  Berwick. 

The  railway  from  Epping  to  Chipping  Ongar  passes 
through  the  north  of  the  parish.   North  Weald  station 


is  just  inside  Stanford  Rivers  in  the  north-west,  and 
Blake  Hall  station  similarly  in  the  north. 

There  are  frequent  references  to  the  condition  of 
bridges  in  Stanford  Rivers.  In  1566  Stewards  Bridge, 
with  land  on  both  sides  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Steward, 
was  in  need  of  repair.'"  This  may  have  been  the  bridge 
described  later  as  Hawkes  or  Hackes  Bridge  and  as 
Hallyngford."  Stewards  Bridge  was  frequently  pre- 
sented in  the  manor  court  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth 
I  as  needing  repair.'^  The  great  bridge  between 
Stanford  Rivers  and  Navestock,  Shonks  Mill  Bridge, 
is  treated  under  Navestock  (q.v.).  Wash  Bridge  was 
taken  over  by  the  county  in  1 8 30. '3  In  1858  it  was 
described  in  detail  by  the  county  surveyor.'* 

The  coach  and  carriers  from  Chipping  Ongar  were 
calhng  at  Stanford  Rivers  in  1848  and  1863. '5 

The  railway  stations  at  North  Weald  and  Blake 
Hall  were  probably  opened  as  soon  as  the  line  to 
Chipping  Ongar  was  completed  in  1865.  There  was 
a  coal  merchant's  wharf  at  Blake  Hall  Station  in  1869.'* 
Stanford  Rivers  had  a  postal  receiving  house  in 
1793."  It  was  on  the  daily  horse  ride  shown  on  the 
post-office  map  of  1 8 1 3.'*  In  1 848  the  post-office  was 
at  the  'White  Bear'."  By  1896  there  was  a  sorting 
office.^"  Toot  Hill  had  a  sub-post-office  in  1863.^' 
There  was  a  telephone  service  at  Stanford  Rivers  by 
1926." 

There  was  a  resident  police  constable  at  Stanford 
Rivers  from  1906.^^  Two  new  police  houses  were 
built  at  Hare  Street  in  1954. 

Water  was  supplied  to  parts  of  the  parish  in  1949 
by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.^'*  There  is 
sewerage  in  part  of  Stanford  Rivers.^5  Electricity  was 
laid  on  in  part  of  the  parish  in  January  195 1. 2*  There 
is  no  local  supply  of  gas,  but  the  parish  is  traversed  by 
an  untapped  trunk  main.^' 

There  is  a  village  hall  at  Hare  Street  and  a  parish 
room  at  Toot  Hill,  both  dating  from  1921.^*  A 
branch  of  the  county  library  was  opened  in  April 
1927.29 

In  1086  the  main  manor  of  Stanford  was  a  large  and 
important  estate  containing  a  total  of  20  plough- 
teams.3o  Little  Stanford  contained  I  plough-team.3' 
There  was  another  \  plough-team  on  the  estate  formerly 
held  by  a  freeman. 3^  At  the  time  of  Domesday  5J 
plough-teams  were  employed  on  the  demesne,  but  the 
number  had  dropped  steadily  since  1066.  There  was 
estimated  to  be  woodland  sufficient  to  feed  a  total  of 
520  swine.  This  suggests  that  Stanford  was  less 
densely  wooded  than  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.)  immedi- 
ately to  the  north.  From  the  nth  century  until  the 
1 6th  the  lords  of  the  capital  manor  never  seem  to  have 
been  resident.  This,  and  the  size  of  the  parish,  explain 
why  so  many  subordinate  estates  grew  up.  Even  after 
the  Petres  had  settled  at  Bellhouse  there  does  not  seem 
to  have  been  a  large  demesne  farm.  Their  estate  was 
mostly  let  out  to  tenants  farming  100—300  acres. 33  In 
1842  there  were  17  farms  in  the  parish  with  90  acres 


'  See  below,  and  also  Parish  Govt,  and 
Poor  Relief. 

'  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  78. 

'  Hisl.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  222. 

«  Cf.  Morant,  Essex,  i,  1 54,. 
■0  E.R.O.,  e/SR  20/6.  This  bridge  was 
probably  near  Steward's  Farm. 
"  See  Navestock,  p.  14.2. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  127. 
"  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  I. 
■••  E.R.O.,  e/ABz  3. 
"  ff^iile's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  437;  ibid. 


(1863),  744. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/5. 

"  Cary's  English  Atlas,  1793. 

"  See  Chipping  Ongar,  p.  158. 

■9  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  436. 

^o  P.M.G.  Minutes  1896,  vol.  573, 
min.  iigi. 

"  Ibid.  1863,  vol.  25,  min.  274. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926). 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1906,  1933). 

**  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Water- 
works Co. 


"  Inf.  from  the  rector,  the  Revd.  J.  H. 

Ward. 

^'  Inf.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 

"  Inf.  from  East.  Gas  Bd. 

^'  Inf.  from  the  rector. 

29  Inf.  from  the  County  Librarian. 

3»  l^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  466*. 

"  Ibid.  467a. 

3^  Ibid.  466^.  For  the  Domesday 
tenants  and  their  predecessors  see  below, 
Manor. 

33  See  various  manors,  below. 


209 


EC 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


or  more.'*  The  largest,  of  703  acres,  was  a  compara- 
tively new  creation,  of  which  the  nucleus  was  Stanford 
Hall  farm.35  The  others  were  between  90  and  320 
acres.  There  were  also  a  number  of  smaller  holdings. 
There  were  400  acres  of  woodland  (mostly  in  Ongar 
Park  Wood).  The  remainder  of  the  parish  contained 
cultivated  arable  and  grassland  in  roughly  equal 
quantities.  A  field  of  1 3  acres  near  Stanford  Hall  to 
the  west  was  named  Hop  Gardens;  but  it  was  then 
being  used  for  pasture. 3* 

There  is  little  to  show  how  and  when  inclosure  took 
place  in  the  parish.  In  1579  Bartholomew  Combers, 
blacksmith  of  Stanford  Rivers,  was  granted  permission 
by  the  queen,  as  lord  of  the  manor,  to  build  a  cottage 
and  forge  on  a  piece  of  waste  ground  in  the  manor 
called  Bridges  Green.^'  The  Tithe  Map  (i  842)  shows 
traces  of  former  open  meadow:  strips  or  'pieces'  in 
Hollingford  Mead,  running  down  to  the  Roding,  in 
the  south-east  of  the  parish.'S 

In  1086  there  was  a  mill  in  the  main  manor  of 
Stanford.39  There  was  one  at  Littlebury  in  1260.*" 
Its  tithes  were  granted  about  that  time  to  Thoby 
Priory.*'  In  1701  there  was  a  water-mill  at  Little- 
bury.*^  The  present  Littlebury  Mill  appears  to  be  of 
early- 19th-century  date.  It  is  weather-boarded  on  a 
brick  base.  In  1946  it  changed  over  from  water  to 
electric  power,  and  in  1952  the  mill-stream  was  filled 
in,  so  that  the  water  now  follows  the  original  course 
of  the  Roding.*3  In  1 777  there  was  a  windmill  between 
Littlebury  Hall  and  the  main  road.**  This  is  shown  on 
the  Tithe  Map  but  it  may  not  then  have  been  in  opera- 
tion.*s  The  former  Shonks  Mill  is  treated  under 
Navestock  (q.v.).  The  map  of  1777  shows  this  water- 
mill  beside  Shonks  Bridge,  and  also  a  windmill  a  little 
to  the  west.**  This  windmill,  like  that  at  Littlebury, 
is  marked  on  the  Tithe  Map,  but  had  disappeared  30 
years  later.*'  There  was  also  a  windmill  at  Toot  Hill 
in  the  19th  century.  It  was  built  about  1824.**  In 
1 829  it  was  badly  damaged  by  lightning  and  the  miller 
was  seriously  injured.  A  lithograph  drawing  of  the 
mill,  showing  him  gazing  at  the  damage,  was  sold  for 
the  benefit  of  him  and  his  family.*'  The  mill  was  soon 
working  again  and  continued  to  operate  until  about 
1900.  It  was  finally  demolished  in  193 5. so  It  was  a 
wooden  post-mill  turned  by  hand.  The  four  brick 
piers  which  formerly  supported  the  cross-trees  at  the 
base  of  the  mill  can  still  be  seen  on  the  site.  The 
single-story  weather-boarded  mill  cottage,  probably 
built  about  1824,  still  exists.  The  mill  stood  on 
the  north  side  of  the  road  leading  to  Greenstead 
Green. 

Spinning  was  carried  on  in  the  parish  workhouse 
from  1770  to  about  1800.5'  The  brick  and  tile  works 
to  the  south  of  North  Weald  station  existed  in  1871-3.5^ 


A  transmitting  station  of  the  Marconi  Wireless  Tele- 
graphy Co.  operated  in  the  parish  in  about  1926-9.'' 
The  factory  of  Piggott  Bros.  &  Co.,  tent  and  tarpaulin 
makers  at  Little  End,  was  formerly  the  Ongar  Union 
workhouse.  It  was  converted  to  its  present  use  after 
the  union  was  dissolved  in  1930.  The  central  range 
of  brown  gault  brick  has  three  stories  and  a  basement, 
also  a  splayed  projecting  bay  at  the  back.  It  was  built 
in  about  1830— i  as  the  workhouse  of  the  voluntary 
poor  law  union  which  preceded  the  Ongar  Union. 
The  side  wings,  in  a  slightly  pinker  brick,  were  added 
a  few  years  later  (see  plate  facing  p.  233). 

Most  of  the  eminent  men  who  have  been  connected 
with  Stanford  Rivers  were  rectors  of  the  parish;  these 
are  mentioned  below  (see  Church).  Isaac  Taylor 
(1787-1865)  artist,  author,  and  inventor,  is  usually 
known  as  Isaac  Taylor  of  Stanford  Rivers.  He  was  the 
son  of  Isaac  Taylor  of  Ongar  (i759-i829).5*  He 
settled  at  Stanford  House  in  1825  and  lived  there  for 
the  rest  of  his  life.'' 

Before  1066  the  owners  of  land  in  Stanford  were 
Lewin,  who  held  the  main  manor,  con- 
MyfNORS  sisting  of  9  hides,  Brictwin  with  20  acres 
and  a  certain  free  man  with  40  acres. 
Little  Stanford,  consisting  of  i  hide  and  80  acres,  was 
held  by  the  father  of  Alvric.  After  the  Conquest  all 
these  estates  came  to  Ingelric  the  priest  and  later  to 
Eustace  of  Boulogne. 5*  Together  they  became  a  single 
manor  later  known  as  that  of  STANFORD  RIFERS. 
This  descended  with  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.)  to  Richard 
de  Lucy  and  subsequently  to  Maud  de  Lucy,  wife  of 
Richard  de  Rivers.  In  the  13th  century  it  was  usually 
said  to  be  held  of  the  king  as  of  the  honor  of  Boulogne. 
When  Maud  died  {c.  1243)  it  was  stated  in  the 
inquisition  that  the  jury  did  not  know  whether  her 
heir  was  her  younger  son  Baldwin  de  Rivers  or  the  son 
of  her  elder  son  Richard. 5'  The  jurors  stated  that  the 
manor  then  included  602  acres  of  land,  of  which  212 
acres  were  worth  ^5  6/.  a  year  (at  6ti.  an  acre)  and 
390  acres  were  worth  ^^6  10/.  (at  \d.  an  acre),  24 
acres  of  pasture  worth  24J'.  in  all,  and  24  acres  of 
meadow,  of  which  18  acres  were  worth  30/.  in  all  and 
6  acres  were  worth  7/.  in  all.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
Chipping  Ongar  passed  to  Maud's  grandson  John  and 
Stanford  Rivers  probably  did  the  same.  Sir  Philip 
Basset,  who  had  custody  of  the  infant  heir  to  Chipping 
Ongar  after  1243,  was  also  a  party  to  deeds  in  this 
period  relating  to  Stanford  Rivers. 58  Baldwin  de 
Rivers  seems,  however,  to  have  had  some  land  in 
Stanford. 59  John  de  Rivers  (d.  1294)  was  lord  of 
Stanford  Rivers  as  well  as  Chipping  Ongar.^o  It  was 
stated  at  his  death  that  Stanford  contained  400  acres 
of  land,  23  acres  of  meadow,  10  acres  of  pasture,  and 
a  park.  This  park  was  that  later  known  as  Ongar  Park 


M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327. 

"  For  the  extent  of  Stanford  Hall  farm 
1768-73  see  below. 

3'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327.  Parcel  393  on 
the  Tithe  Map.  Note  ref.  to  hop  growing 
in  Chipping  Ongar,  Occupations. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  140.  The  grant 
bears  the  autograph  of  Elizabeth  I. 

38  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327a.  Parcels  673- 
81  on  Tithe  Map, 

"  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  466a. 

■<»  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  i,  236. 

4"  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Ti/45. 

«»  CP25(2)/830,  East.  13  Wm.  III. 

*3  Inf.  from  the  present  miller. 

**  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex, 
J777,  sheet  xviii. 


■»5  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327B.  It  is  not  shown 
on  the  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  lix 
(.871-3). 

4*  Chapman  and  Andre,  op.  cit. 

4'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327B;  O.S.  6  in.  Map 
(ist  edn.),  sheet  Iviii  (1870-2). 

*'  Essex  Naturalist,  xxviii  (2),  51-54: 
illustrated  article. 

49  See  plate  facing  p.  210. 

50  Essex  Naturalist,  xxviii  (2),  53.  No 
miller  is  shown  in  the  directory  after  1 902  : 
Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874,  1902,  1906). 
Daniel  Surridge  was  the  miller  c.  1874—95. 

5'  See  below,    Parish  Government  and 
Poor  Relief. 
sa  O.S.  6  in.  Map,  sheet  lix  (187 1-3). 
53  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1926, 1929,  1933). 


'4  See  Chipping  Ongar. 

55  D.N.B. 

56  f^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  466*,  4673.  Like 
Chipping  Ongar  Stanford  figured  in  a 
grant  of  William  I  to  St.  Martin-le-Grand, 
London,  in  1068,  but  this  does  not  seem 
to  have  become  effective.  For  the  possible 
identification  of  Little  Stanford  with 
Littlebury  see  Littlebury,  below. 

57  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  i,  p.  6.  The  name  of  her 
grandson  was  John  de  Rivers.  The 
original  inq.  is  C132/1. 

58  Cat.  Anct.  D.  i,  A.  738,  729,  806. 

59  Cal.  Pat.  1247-58,586.  Baldwin  was 
dead  by  Feb.  1257. 

'"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iii,  p.  109.  The  orig. 
inq.  is  C133/67. 


210 


1 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


in  High  Ongar  (q-v.).    In  the  13th  century  this  was 
often  referred  to  as  Stanford  Park. 

In  1294  John  son  of  John  de  Rivers  conveyed  to 
Robert  son  of  Richard  of  Chigwell  his  manor  of  Stan- 
ford Park,  except  the  deer,  stews,  and  woods.  The 
grant  was  for  six  years,  on  the  occasion  of  John  de 
Rivers's  departure  to  Gascony  in  the  king's  service.*' 
In  1298  de  Rivers  was  granted  the  king's  licence  to  let 
Stanford  Park  to  farm  to  Salamon  le  Cutiller,  citizen 
of  London,  for  four  years  after  the  expiration  of  the 
lease  granted  in  1294.*^  At  the  same  time  John  de 
Rivers  was  given  licence  to  let  to  farm  for  eight  years 
to  Fulk  of  St.  Edmunds  and  John  his  son,  also  citizens 
of  London,  his  manor  of 'Stanford  without  the  park'.*' 
In  1 300  John  de  Rivers  leased  the  last-named  manor  for 
sixteen  years  to  Fulk  of  St.  Edmunds  and  James  son 
of  Fulk.**  On  the  same  day  de  Rivers  granted  to 
Humphrey  de  Walden  for  life  the  manor  of  Stanford, 
i.e.  Stanford  Park.*'  Stanford  Park  was  known  after 
this  as  Ongar  Park  and  is  treated  under  High  Ongar 

(q-v.)- 

The  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers  alias  Stanford  'with- 
out the  park'  continued  to  be  held  as  of  the  honor  of 
Boulogne.  This  manor  was  granted  by  John  de  Rivers 
in  1308  to  Richer  de  Refham,  citizen  and  alderman  of 
London,  to  hold  for  life  'and  for  two  years  after'.**  In 
the  following  year  the  grant  was  converted  into  a 
tenancy  in  fee.*'  In  1 3 1 3  Richer  de  Refham  granted 
the  manor  to  his  son  John.*'  In  1 3 14  John  de  Refham 
granted  it  to  John  de  Gras  and  PauHne  his  wife.*'  In 
1334  John  son  of  John  de  Rivers  released  to  Pauline, 
widow  of  Sir  John  de  Gras,  all  his  right  in  the  manor.'° 

Pauline  de  Gras  granted  the  manor  in  1348  to 
Ralph,  Baron  Stafford,  later  ist  Earl  of  Stafford."  It 
was  thus  reunited  with  the  manor  of  Chipping  Ongar 
(q.v.)  and  had  the  same  descent  until  the  death  in  1460 
of  Humphrey  Stafford,  ist  Duke  of  Buckingham,  when 
by  virtue  of  a  previous  settlement  Stanford  Rivers 
passed  to  John  Stafford,  3rd  son  of  the  duke,  who  was 
created  Earl  of  Wiltshire  in  1470  and  died  in  1473." 
After  the  earl's  death  Stanford  Rivers  was  held  in 
dower  by  his  widow  Constance  until  she  died  in  1475.^1 
Edward  Stafford,  Earl  of  Wiltshire,  died  childless  in 
1499  and  Stanford  Rivers  was  again  reunited  with 
Chipping  Ongar  in  the  hands  of  Edward  Stafford, 
3rd  Duke  of  Buckingham.'*  In  1524  the  manor  of 
Stanford  Rivers  was  granted  by  the  king  to  William 
Cary,  squire  of  the  body,  and  Mary  his  wife.'s  Mary 
was  holding  a  court  for  the  manor  in  1534,  but  soon 
after  this  the  manor  reverted  to  the  Crown,  which  was 
appointing  stewards  in  1 544-7.'* 

In  1 548  Stanford  Rivers  was  given  to  Princess  (later 
Queen)  Mary."  In  1557  it  was  annexed  by  letters 
patent  to  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster.'*  The  manor 
remained  part  of  the  duchy  until  161 3,  when  James  I 


sold  it  to  Richard  Cartwright  and  Thomas  Cowley  of 
London."  A  fee-farm  rent  on  the  manor  was  ap- 
parently retained  by  the  Crown.  The  descent  of  this 
rent  is  given  below.  In  16 14  Cartwright  and  Cowley 
conveyed  the  manor  to  Henry  Spiller  and  Alexander 
Williams,  who  in  16 19  sold  it  to  Sir  Thomas  Elliott, 
Kt.*"  In  1623  Elliott  sold  the  manor  to  William, 
Baron  Petre.*'  Lord  Petre  settled  it  in  1628  upon  his 
3rd,  but  2nd  surviving,  son  William  as  a  jointure  for 
William's  wife  Lucy.'^  The  Petres  at  this  time 
acquired  all  the  other  manors  in  the  parish  except 
Littlebury.  Their  estate  in  Stanford  Rivers  became 
known  as  Bellhouse,  from  the  name  of  their  capital 
mansion.  It  comprised  about  1,600  acres  in  the  17th 
century. 

In  1645  Stanford  Rivers  was  granted  by  Parliament 
to  the  Earl  of  Essex,  on  account  of  William  Petre's 
adherence  to  Charles  1.^3  The  earl  died  in  1646.  It 
was  presumably  after  this  that  John  Mann  was  granted 
a  lease  of  part  of  the  estate — apparently  two-thirds. 
By  December  1650  Mann  had  become  a  member  of 
the  Essex  County  Committee  for  administering  the 
estates  of  delinquents.  Since  it  was  contrary  to  parlia- 
mentary ordinance  for  any  committee  to  lease  land  to 
one  of  its  own  members,  the  Essex  committee  appealed 
to  the  central  Committee  for  Compounding  to  allow 
the  law  to  be  waived  in  Mann's  favour,  'he  having 
spent  much  in  repairs  while  he  was  a  tenant  at  £100 
before  he  became  a  commissioner'. *♦  The  central  com- 
mittee refused  the  application  (165 1)  and  ordered  that 
another  tenant  should  be  found. *s  Early  in  1652 
negotiations  were  taking  place  between  the  central 
committee,  the  local  committee,  and  various  prospec- 
tive lessees  of  the  estate.**  From  the  details  of  these 
negotiations  it  appears  that  William  Petre  still  occupied 
the  mansion  house  and  one-third  of  the  estate.  Eventu- 
ally he  regained  possession  of  the  other  two-thirds  and 
in  January  1653,  'begging  allowance  of  two-thirds  of 
the  expense  of  rebuilding  the  outhouses,  burnt  down 
by  lightning',  was  granted  ^^40  by  the  central  com- 
mittee.*' He  had  never  apparently  lost  control  of  the 
manor  court:  in  the  court  rolls  for  1647-60  he  is 
invariably  entered  as  lord  of  the  manor.** 

William  Petre  died  in  1677  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  eldest  son  William.*'  On  the  death  of  the  latter  in 
1688  another  William  Petre  succeeded  his  father  as 
lord  of  the  manor.  He  raised  substantial  mortgages  to 
endow  his  daughters,  at  least  five  of  whom  became 
nuns.'°  This  outlay  was,  however,  more  than  balanced 
by  the  marriage  portion  of  ^4,000  brought  into  the 
estate  by  Lady  Mary  Radcliffe,  only  daughter  of 
Edward,  Earl  of  Derwentwater  (d.  1705),  who  in 
1722  married  William  Petre  the  younger,  heir  of  his 
father,  and  brother  of  the  girls  to  whom  the  above 
portions  were  given." 


»■  Cal.  Pat.  1292-1301,  78. 

"  Ibid.  366. 

"  Ibid.  '♦  Ibid.  503. 

"  Ibid.  506.  It  was  stated  that  this 
grant  was  to  assist  John  de  Rivers  to  dis- 
charge debts  incurred  by  him  in  Gascony. 

"  B.M.  Add.  Ch.  1996+. 

"  Ibid.  19982-3;  Cal.  Pat.  1307-13, 
281,554. 

«'  Cal.  Pat.  13 1 3-17,  31.  For  the 
Rcfhams  see  also  Littlebury,  below. 

M  Ibid.  174. 

'0  B.M.  Add.  Ch.  19984. 

'"  Ibid.  19986. 

'^  C 1 39/ 1 80;  Complete  Peerage  (orig. 
edn.),  viii,  165. 


73    C140/54. 

'4  CP25(2)/5i/364. 

'5  L.  &  p.  Hen.  Fill,  iv  (i),  p.  196. 

■">  SC2/173/81;  L.  &  P.  Hen.  nil, 
xix(2),p.74;xx(i),p.  327;xx(2),p.  397; 
Cal.  Pat.  1547-8,  113. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1548-9,  21. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1557-8,  50.  Under  powers 
granted  by  2  &  3  Ph.  &  Mary  c.  20. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  141  (Abstract  of 
Title,  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers). 

8»  Ibid.  8>  Ibid.;  CP43/161  rot.  66. 

82  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  141;  Fisiti.  of 
Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  i,  265;  Geneal.  Coll.  of 
R.C.  Families,  pt.  i,  cd.  J.  J.  Howard,  &c., 
p.  44. 


83  B.M.  Add.  MS.  5497,  f.  142. 

84  Cal.  of  Cttee.  for  Compounding,  435, 
2643.  "  Ibid. 

8«  Ibid.  525.  8'  Ibid.  2643. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Ml  129-30. 

89  Geneal.  Coll.  of  R.C.  Families,  p.  44, 
For  Wm.  Petre  (1602-77)  see  D.N.B. 
He  translated  (1669)  the  Flos  Sanctorum 
of  the  Jesuit  Pedro  de  Ribadeneira. 

9»  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T19;  Geneal.  Coll.  of 
R.C.  Families,  p.  44;  H.  Foley,  Recs.  of 
Eng.  Province  of  Soc.  of  yesus,  ii,  585. 

»■  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T19.  There  were 
other  portions  provided  for  the  younger 
sons  of  William  Petre  the  younger. 


2X1 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


WiUiam  Petre  the  elder  died  in  1728.92  In  1737 
his  son  William  handed  over  the  administration  of  the 
Stanford  Rivers  estate  to  his  kinsman  Robert,  Baron 
Petre  (d.  ij^z).'*^  An  account  book  for  the  years 
1738-44  shows  that  the  estate  (which  also  included 
the  manors  of  Stanford  Hall,  Traceys,  and  Bellhouse, 
for  which  see  below)  had  a  rent  roll  of  slightly  over 
;^i,ooo  a  year,  out  of  which  William  Petre  was 
allowed  £350  tax  free.''*  William  died  in  1745.95 
His  heir  was  John  Petre,  son  of  his  brother  Edward. 
Shortly  before  William's  death  John,  who  was  under 
age,  had  been  given  into  William's  care  by  his  grand- 
father and  previous  guardian  William  Keep.  After 
William  Petre's  death  John  was  sent  by  his  aunt.  Lady 
Mary  Petre,  to  Douai  to  be  educated  as  a  Roman 
Catholic.  WiUiam  Keep  thereupon  started  an  action 
in  Chancery  to  regain  custody  of  the  boy.  An  order 
was  made  to  this  effect  but  was  defied  by  Lady  Mary. 
In  1747  a  receiver  was  appointed  in  Chancery  to 
administer  the  Stanford  Rivers  estate.'*  John  Petre 
probably  assumed  control  soon  after  this,  for  he  was 
said  to  have  been  eighteen  years  old  in  1745.9' 

John  Petre  died  in  1762.  In  1759,  °^  ^'^  marriage 
to  Frances  Man  by,  he  had  provided  that  if  he  had  no 
sons  his  estates  should  pass  to  Robert,  Baron  Petre  (d. 
1 801),  in  trust  for  Lord  Petre's  second  son,  if  one 
should  be  born  to  him.98  Provision  was  made  for  any 
daughters  left  by  John  Petre.  In  the  event  he  left  only 
one,  Catherine,  who  became  entitled  on  his  death  to  a 
jointure  of  ^^4,000  from  his  estate.99 

From  1762  to  1775  the  Stanford  Rivers  estate  was 
administered  by  a  steward  acting  for  John  Tempest, 
executor  of  John  Petre's  will.  The  estate  accounts  for 
this  period  show  that  the  rent  roll  was  still  about 
;^i,ooo  a  year.'  Most  of  the  income,  and  in  some 
years  all  of  it,  was  taken  up  by  expenses  and  the  pay- 
ment of  annuities.  Catherine  Petre,  whose  jointure  of 
^4,000  remained  in  the  estate,  received  interest  at  the 
rate  of  ;^i6o  a  year.  Susan  Petre,  sister  of  John, 
similarly  received  £120  a  year  as  interest  on  a  jointure 
of  ;^3,ooo,  and  John  Petre's  widow  drew  ^^300  a  year 
from  the  estate.  By  1774  there  was  £()0^  in  hand  on 
the  running  of  the  estate,  but  most  of  this  was  ac- 
counted for  by  the  fact  that  the  annuities  had  for  some 
reason  not  been  paid  in  1772.  During  the  period 
covered  by  the  accounts  the  whole  estate  was  leased  to 
various  farmers  and  smallholders.^ 

In  1775  John  Tempest  conveyed  the  estate  to  Lord 
Petre  as  guardian  of  his  second  son  George  William 
Petre.3  In  1 79 1  the  estate  was  found  to  be  encumbered 
to  the  extent  of  ^^9,750:  in  addition  to  the  jointures  of 
Catherine  and  Susan  Petre  a  mortgage  of  ^^2,750  had 
been  raised  from  a  William  Plumer.*  In  1793  a 
further  mortgage  of  ;^io,ooo  was  raised  from  Thomas 
Heron  of  Chilham  Castle,  Kent.s  In  1796  part  of  the 
estate  (evidently  Stanford  Hall,  for  which  see  below) 


92  Geneal.  Coll.  of  R.C.  Families,  p.  44. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A32. 

»<  Ibid. 

•5  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T19. 

»'  E.R.O.,  D/DP  L5. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T19.  His  aunt  was 
,«dently  successful  in  educating  him  as  a 
Roman     Catholic:    cf.    E.R.O.,    Q/RRp 

3/>3- 
»«  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T19. 
99  Ibid. 
■  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A34/1.   The  receipts 
varied  from  ^988  in  1762  to  ^1,252  in 
1766. 
»  Ibid.  Cf.  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A33/1. 


3  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T19. 
*  Ibid. 
5  Ibid. 
«  Ibid. 
'  Ibid. 

8  Ibid.  For  Charles  Smith  see  Burke, 
Veera^e  (1891),  pp.  1265,  1267.  He  was 
son  of  Chas.  Smith  of  Stratford  (d.  1777), 
a  writer  on  the  corn  laws. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/DTc  M3. 
'"  In  1842  the  Stanford  Rivers  section 

of  the  estate  was  about  1,350  acres. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T20.  Originally  the 
rent  had  consisted  of  sums  amounting  in 
all  to  ^48  65.  id.  in  Stanford  Rivers  and 


was  sold  to  Charles  Smith  of  Suttons  in  Stapleford 
Tawney  (q.v.)  for  £j,(>t,o.^  George  William  Petre 
died  in  1797,  leaving  George  Petre  his  son  and 
heir.' 

In  1 8 19  the  remainder  of  the  Stanford  Rivers 
estate,  including  the  manorial  rights,  was  bought  from 
George  Petre  for  ^^2 5,280  by  Judith  Smith  of  Strat- 
ford, Essex,  who  was  probably  sister  of  the  above 
mentioned  Charles  Smith  of  Suttons.*  Judith  was 
lady  of  the  manor  up  to  1830;  in  and  after  1833  the 
lordship  (and  presumably  the  estate)  had  passed  to 
Charles  Joshua  Smith,  Bt.  (d.  1 831),  son  and  heir  of 
Charles  Smith  of  Suttons. 9  The  subsequent  descent 
was  the  same  as  that  of  Suttons.'" 

When  Judith  Smith  bought  the  estate  she  found  it 
encumbered  with  a  fee-farm  rent  of  ^^45.  Inquiries 
into  the  title  showed  that  this  rent  had  been  granted  by 
Charles  II  in  1672  to  Sir  John  Banks,  ist  (and  only) 
Bt.  of  Aylesford,  Kent.  From  this  it  seems  probable 
that  the  rent  had  been  reserved  when  the  estate  was 
granted  by  James  I  to  Cartwright  and  Cowley  in 
161 3."  The  rent  passed  on  the  death  of  Banks  in 
1699  to  his  daughter  Mary,  wife  of  Sir  John  Savile. 
Elizabeth  (d.  1767),  daughter  and  heir  of  Mary, 
married  John  Finch  and  the  rent  passed  to  her  son 
Savile  Finch  (d.  1788)  and  subsequently  to  Judith, 
widow  of  Savile.  By  her  will  (l  802)  Judith  Finch  left 
the  rent  to  her  brother  Weston  Fullerton,  who  by  his 
will  (proved  1 8 1 9)  left  it  to  his  nephew  John  Fullerton. 
In  1826  Judith  Smith  bought  the  rent.'* 

In  141 2  the  manor  oi  STANFORD  HALL,  worth 
£20,  was  held  by  Nicholas  Bradshagh.'^  It  is  likely 
that  this  manor  was  the  demesne  of  the  manor  of 
Stanford  Rivers,  and  that  Bradshagh  was  merely  the 
life  tenant  of  the  Earl  of  Stafford.  In  the  later  court 
rolls  of  the  Stanford  Rivers  estate  there  is  no  mention 
of  a  manor  of  Stanford  Hall,  whereas  Traceys  and 
Bellhouse  (see  below)  were  both  described  as  manors. 
Bradshagh  died  in  1415.'''  There  is  no  other  mention 
of  him  or  his  family  in  connexion  with  Stanford  Rivers, 
and  it  is  probably  significant  that  he  had  held  a  North- 
amptonshire manor  for  life  of  the  Earl  of  Stafford." 

There  is  no  further  mention  of  Stanford  Hall  until 
1543,  when  the  king  granted  to  William  Grene  of 
London  'the  manor  and  farm  of  Stanford  Hall,  parcel 
of  the  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers  ...  in  the  tenure  of 
Thomas  Grene',  to  hold  for  21  years  at  a  rent  of 
£26  13/.  4//'.'*  In  1548  Stanford  Hall,  along  with  the 
other  manors  formerly  included  in  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham's  estate,  was  in  the  possession  of  Princess 
Mary."  In  1557  it  was  merged  as  part  of  the  estate 
in  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster.'*  After  this  its  descent  was 
the  same  as  that  of  the  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers  until 
1796  when  it  was  sold  to  Charles  Smith  of  Suttons.' 9 
If  it  was  reunited  with  the  main  estate  after  the  death 
of  Judith  Smith  it  had  again  been  severed  from  it  by 

,^13  6s.  %d.  in  Suttons  in  Stapleford 
Tawney.  See  below.  Manors  of  Stanford 
Hall,  Traceys  and  Bridges. 

**  John  Fullerton  retained  rent  of  about 
j^i6  on  land  in  the  parish  held  by  Capel 
Cure.  For  the  manor  courts  see  below. 
Parish  Govt,  and  Poor  Relief. 

'3  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  443. 

'*  Cal.  Pat.  1413-16,  357,  380. 

'5  Ibid.  380. 

'<>  L.  &  P.  Hen.  fill,  xviii  (2),  p.  60. 
For  Thomas  Grene  sec  below,  Bellhouse. 

"  Cal.  Pal.  1548-9,21. 

>8  Ibid.  1557-8,  50. 

'9  See  above,  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers. 


212 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


1842  when  it  was  owned  by  Thomas  Wilson  and 
occupied  by  Maria  King  and  Hannah  Andrews.^" 

In  161 3  the  tenant  of  the  'manor  or  farm'  of  Stan- 
ford Hall  was  Thomas  Lake. 2'  In  1672  this  section  of 
the  estate  was  burdened  with  a  fee-farm  rent  of 
;^26  I  y.  ifd;  the  exact  amount  paid  by  William  Grene 
after  1 543."  The  tenant  of  Stanford  Hall  farm  in  and 
immediately  after  1745  was  William  Keep,  whose 
daughter  Sarah  married  Edward  Petre  and  was  the 
mother  of  John  Petre  (d.  1762)."  In  1768-73  Stan- 
ford Hall  farm,  with  Crumpscroft  and  Fresholts,  con- 
sisted of  298  acres  and  was  leased  to  Matthew  Playle 
for  /^i6o  a  year  gross.  Land-tax  and  the  cost  of  repairs 
were  deducted  from  the  rent  and  in  1768  Playle  paid 
^129  to  his  landlord.^  Stanford  Hall  farm  was  pur- 
chased in  1945  by  the  London  Co-operative  Society 
Ltd.  It  now  includes  Little  Colemans  and  contains  in 
all  579  acres.  Mixed  arable  and  dairy  farming  is 
carried  on.^s 

The  present  farm-house  of  Stanford  Hall  dates  from 
the  early  19th  century.  It  is  a  square  two-story  build- 
ing of  red  brick  with  sash  windows  and  a  pedimented 
doorcase.  A  two-story  splayed  bay,  now  cement  ren- 
dered, on  the  east  side  may  be  of  somewhat  earlier  date. 

The  manor  of  BARWICKS  (the  modern  Berwick 
Farm)  probably  originated  in  a  free  tenement  which  in 
1257  was  held  by  Richard  de  Berewyk  of  Roger  de 
Saumford  and  Joan  his  wife.  In  that  year  Richard 
undertook  to  pay  Roger  and  Joan  an  annual  rent  of  is. 
and  acknowledged  the  service  oi\  knight's  fee.  Roger 
and  Joan  in  return  gave  up  their  claim  that  Richard 
should  do  suit  at  their  court  at  Shenley  (Herts.).^* 
About  30  years  later  Alan  de  Berewyk  and  Joan  his 
wife  acquired  from  William  de  Sutton  2  messuages, 
80  acres  of  land,  10  acres  of  meadow,  6  acres  of  pasture, 
3  acres  of  wood,  1 3/.  i^d.  rent,  and  the  rent  of  9  lb. 
wax  in  Stanford  Rivers  and  elsewhere.^'  In  141 1 
William  Skrene  senior,  John  Skrene,  and  John  Adkyn 
acquired  from  Thomas  Berewyk  and  Alice  his  wife 

1  messuage,  400  acres  of  land,  1 2  acres  of  meadow, 
30  acres  of  wood,  zos.  rent,  and  the  rent  of  9  lb.  "wax 
in  Stanford  Rivers  and  elsewhere.^*  Shortly  before 
this,  in  1398,  a  certain  John  Chartesey  had  acquired 
from  Richard  Spyce  and  Isabel  his  wife  2  messuages, 

2  carucates  of  land,  20  acres  of  wood,  and  20  acres  of 
pasture,  and  40^.  rent  in  Stanford  Rivers^'  and  in  1408 
John  Chartesey  had  conveyed  to  William  Skrene  the 
elder  all  his  lands  in  the  parish. 3o  In  141 9  John 
Skrene  made  a  charter  of  feoffment  of  all  his  lands  in 
Stanford  Rivers  and  elsewhere  to  William  Skrene  the 
younger  and  Alice  his  wife  and  the  heirs  of  William. 3' 
William  Skrene  the  younger  died  in  143 1,  leaving  to 
his  son  John  messuages  in  Stanford  Rivers  called 
Berwyke  and  Cawnes.32  John  Skrene  was  succeeded 
in  1452  by  his  son  John.33  It  was  not  then  known  of 
whom  Barwicks  was  held. 

The  last-named  John  Skrene  died  in  i474.3'«  His 
"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327. 

"  C66/I988. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T20.  For  the  history 
of  the  fee-farm  rent  see  above,  Stanford 
Rivers  manor. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DP  L5. 

M  Ibid.  D/DP  A33/1. 

2'  Inf.  from  London  Co-op.  Soc. 

^'  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  i,  221. 

"  Ibid,  ii,  236.  This  is  from  the  note  of 
a  fine.  28  Ibid,  iii,  255. 

«  Ibid.  231. 

'0  Cal.  Close,  14.05-9,  390. 

"  Ibid.  1419-22,  55. 


widow  Elizabeth  later  married  Richard  Harper,  and 
Barwicks  seems  to  have  passed  through  her  to  Richard 
(d.  1492),  his  son  Richard  Harper  (d.  1507),  and  to 
George  Harper,  son  of  Richard  Harper  junior. 35  The 
next  reference  to  Barwick  is  in  1594,  when  the  manor 
was  in  the  possession  of  Richard  Elliott  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife.3*  Thomas  Elliott  held  the  manor  in  161 2.^7 
He  was  knighted  in  161 5^8  and  in  1619  bought  the 
manor  of  Stanford  Rivers  (see  above).  From  this  time 
onwards  Barwicks  was  merged  in  the  Stanford  Rivers 
estate.  In  the  court  rolls  of  the  estate  for  the  17th 
century  it  is  referred  to  as  a  manor.39 

In  1768  'Barwicks  and  Wallers',  part  of  the  Bell- 
house  estate,  were  leased  to  a  Mr.  Watkinson  for  ^160 
gross.  There  were  so  many  repairs  in  that  year  that 
Watkinson  actually  paid  only  £72*''  In  '842  the 
farm  contained  252  acres.^' 

The  present  farm-house  is  partly  of  timber  framing 
and  partly  of  brick.  It  appears  to  have  been  rebuilt  or 
largely  altered  in  the  late  1 8th  or  early  19th  century. 
The  front,  which  may  formerly  have  had  a  parapet, 
has  pointed  casements  in  the  'gothick'  style.  The 
detail  of  the  present  gables  is  mid  or  late  19th  century. 
The  fine  ilex  tree  in  front  of  the  house  may  have  been 
planted  at  the  time  of  the  alterations.  It  is  said  that  at 
one  time  most  of  the  farms  belonging  to  the  Suttons 
estate  had  these  ilex  trees.^^ 

The  manor  ofBELLHO  USE  was  held  as  of  that  of 
Stanford  Rivers.  In  1453  Thomas  Thorp  quitclaimed 
to  Thomas  Burgoyn  and  John  Croke  a  piece  of  ground 
in  Stanford  Rivers  called  the  'Belhous'  and  all  other 
lands  which  Thorp  and  Burgoyn  held  by  feoffment  of 
Robert  Fonteyns.^3 

Elizabeth  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Coke,  Kt.,  died  in 
1484  holding  the  manor  of  'Belhows'  in  Stanford 
Rivers  as  the  heir  of  her  father  Philip  Malpas,  citizen 
and  draper  of  London.**  Bellhouse  passed  by  settle- 
ment to  John  Coke,  a  younger  son  of  Elizabeth,  who 
died  in  1486.^5 

Thomas  Grene,  yeoman,  was  evidently  owner  of 
Bellhouse  in  1534,  when  he  devised  a  rent  from  the 
manor  for  the  support  of  a  stipendiary  priest.'**  Grene's 
will  was  proved  in  1537.*'  The  next  reference  to 
Bellhouse  is  in  1562,  when  it  was  held  by  Richard 
Elliott.**  This  was  possibly  the  same  Richard  Elliott 
who  held  it  and  the  manor  of  Barwicks  in  I594.*9 
Bellhouse  subsequently  descended  with  Barwicks  and 
in  1623  was  merged  in  the  Petre  estate  of  Stanford 
Rivers.  The  Petres  themselves  lived  at  Bellhouse  and  ' 
evidently  had  a  small  demesne  farm  there.  After  the 
death  of  John  Petre  in  1762  the  house  and  farm,  cover- 
ing 103  acres,  were  let  to  William  Colegrave  at  a  gross 
rent  of  £85.  In  1768  Colegrave  paid  ^71  after  deduc- 
tions for  land-tax. 50  In  1777  Bellhouse  was  a  small 
mansion  with  an  avenue  of  trees  running  from  it  to  the 
main  road  and  another  avenue  running  south  to 
Murrells.5' 


"  C139/145.  For  Cawnes  (or  Canes) 
see  N.  Weald.  33  Ibid. 

M  Morant,  Essex,  i,  50. 

35   E150/303/7. 

3'  CP25(2)/262,  East.  36  Eliz. 

37  E.R.O.,  D/DPT167/1. 

3'  W.  A.  Shaw,  Knights  of  England,  ii, 
156.  39  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  126-30. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A33/1. 

•"  Ibid.  D/CT  327. 

*2  Inf.  from  the  present  tenant  of 
Berwick  Farm. 

■•3  Cal.  Close,  1447-54,  483. 

+•  Ci4i/7i  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  i, 


p.  38.  A  Philip  Malpas  of  the  parish  of 
St.  Andrew,  Cornhill,  died  in  1469: 
P.C.C.  fVills  1383-1558  (Brit.  Rec.  Soc), 
ii,  551.  ••5  Ibid. 

*^  See  below.  Church.  For  Grene  see 
also  Stanford  Hall,  above.  He  probably 
acted  as  bailiff  of  the  manor  of  Stanford 
Rivers. 

"  P.C.C.  fFills  1383-155S,  i,  237. 

t«  CP40/1203  m.  680. 

■•«  CP25(2)/262,  East.  36  Eliz. 

so  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A33/1-3. 

5'  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
lyyj,  sheet  xvii. 


213 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


After  Judith  Smith  bought  the  Bellhouse  estate  she 
had  the  house  repaired,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that 
she  herself  lived  there.s^  In  1839-42  the  farm  was  let 
to  John  Gingell  and  consisted  of  106  acres.sJ  The 
house  is  shown  on  the  tithe  map  but  the  avenues  of 
trees  no  longer  existed. s*  The  house  was  probably 
pulled  down  soon  after  this,  for  it  is  not  shown  on  the 
I  in.  Ordnance  Survey  map  of  1843.  A  few  planted 
trees,  including  a  cedar,  now  mark  the  site  of  the  garden 
and  some  depressions  in  the  field  may  indicate  the  line 
of  a  moat.  There  are  also  two  large  rectangular  ponds 
near  the  site. 

The  manor  or  manors  of  BRIDGES  and  PIGGS- 
LAND,  alias  BRIDGES,  PIGGSLJND,  and 
BOTELERS,  was  held  as  part  of  the  manor  of  Stanford 
Rivers.  Bridges  was  probably  the  home  of  John  atte 
Brigge  (1326)5'  and  William  atte  Bregge  (i3g8).56 
As  late  as  1843  it  was  marked  on  the  map  as  Bridge 
House  Farm. 57  Modern  maps  show  it  as  Wash  Farm 
but  the  earlier  name  Bridge  Farm  is  still  used  locally. 
Piggsland  was  probably  the  tenement  of  Walter  Pig 
(i38i).s'  Its  name  survives  in  Pig  Mead.  Botelers 
has  not  been  identified  on  the  modern  map. 

Sir  Hugh  Stafford,  Kt.,  brother  of  Edmund,  Earl  of 
Stafford,  died  in  1420  holding  Piggsland  of  John 
Chambir.  It  comprised  46  acres  of  land,  5  acres  of 
meadow,  and  9  acres  of  pasture.  He  also  held  Botelers, 
comprising  40  acres  of  land  and  meadow,  of  the  Abbot 
of  Waltham.s'  The  property  passed  on  Hugh's  death 
to  Humphrey,  Earl  of  Stafford,  by  virtue  of  a  previous 
settlement.*"  In  1446-7  the  manors  of  'Pigges, 
Briggesland  and  Botteless'  were  together  farmed  by 
William  Tyng  for  ;^6.*" 

John,  Earl  of  Wiltshire,  died  in  1473  holding  the 
manors  of 'Pyggeslond,  Botelles  and  Brigges'.*^  John's 
widow  Constance,  who  died  in  1475,  was  found  to  have 
held  the  manor  of  Bridges  and  messuages  called  Piggs- 
land and  Botleys,  of  the  king  in  chief  *3 

The  manor  subsequently  descended  along  with  that 
of  Stanford  Rivers.  In  1 543  it  was  leased,  under  the 
name  of 'the  manor  or  farm  called  Brygges  and  Pigges- 
lande'  to  John  Glascock  of  Stanford  Rivers  for  21 
years  at  an  annual  rent  of  £6  i  y.  4</.**  This  was  the 
exact  amount  of  the  fee-farm  rent  charged  upon 
the  manor  as  part  of  the  Bellhouse  estate  in  and  after 
the  17th  century.^5 

By  1798  Capel  Cure  had  become  the  owner  of 
Bridges,  which  comprised  93  acres  and  was  part  of  the 
Blake  Hall  estate  (see  Bobbingworth).**  It  was  let  to 
a  tenant  farmer  and  between  1798  and  1828  contained 
54  acres  of  arable  and  39  acres  of  pasture.*'  In  1828 
the  farmer  also  occupied  200  acres  belonging  to  another 
owner.  In  1919  Bridge  House  Farm  was  put  up  for 
sale  with  other  outlying  portions  of  the  Blake  Hall 
estate.  It  then  contained  89  acres  and  was  let  to  Horace 
Palmer  on  a  yearly  tenancy  at  a  rent  oi  £\6t,  for  the 

5>  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  Fj. 

53  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327. 

"  Ibid. 

!5  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  78. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1396-9,417. 

"  O.S.  I  in.  Map  {i%^-i). 

5'  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  604. 

!»  Ci 38/61.  For  Sir  Hugh  Stafford  see 
tUo  Traceys,  below.  Chambir  was  prob- 
ably the  Chaumbir  of  Epping  who  held 
Littlebury  (see  below). 

*o  C138/61. 

'■  E.R.O.,  D/DP  MsSz. 

"  C140/43.  The  earl  was  said  to  hold 
of  the  Abbot  of  Waltham. 


63  C140/54. 

64  L.  &  p.  Hen.  Fill,  iviii  (2),  p.  60. 

65  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T20.  For  the  descent 
of  the  rent  see  above,  Stanford  Rivers 
manor. 

<><>  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  E6  (Blake  Hall  estate 
notebook). 

<"  Ibid. 

'8  Sale  Cat.  19 19. 

<>•>  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  79-80.  The 
identification  is  based  mainly  upon  an 
intermediate  form  Rockcnhoe  given  by 
Morant.  This  form  has  been  found  no- 
where else.  Rockctt's  cottages  first  appear 
under  that  name  in  the  first  ed.  6  in.  O.S. 


year  ending  Michaelmas  1919  and  of  ^172  for  the 
year  ending  Michaelmas  1920.** 

The  manor  of  LITTLEB  URT,  alias  the  manors  of 
LITTLEB  URr  and  ROPFENHO,  first  appears  under 
those  names  in  the  13  th  century.  Rowenho  has  been 
identified — on  somewhat  doubtful  evidence — with 
Rocketts  cottages.*'  It  is  possible  that  this  manor  may 
be  identical  with  Little  Stanford,  which  in  1066  was 
held  by  the  father  of  Alvric  (see  above.  Manor). 

In  1260  Robert  son  of  Michael  de  Munteny  made 
a  conveyance  to  John  son  of  Adam  of  i  carucate  of 
land,  40/.  rent  and  a  mill  in  Littlebury.'" 

In  1288  John  de  Munteny  sought  to  replevy  his 
lands  in  Littlebury,  which  had  been  seized  by  the  king 
for  his  default  against  John  Lovel."  In  1 3 1 8  Richard 
de  Munteny,  son  of  John,  granted  to  John  de  Chelmers- 
ford,  clerk,  6  acres  of  land  in  two  crofts  with  hedges  and 
ditches  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  Gilbert  le 
Man,  and  which  the  donor  had  of  the  gift  of  John  de 
Munteny  his  father,  lying  between  the  demesne  lands 
of  Littlebury  and  the  king's  highway  from  Ongar  to 
London.'^  In  1320  Richer  de  Refham  and  his  son 
John  were  tenants  of  all  the  land  in  Littlebury  that  had 
belonged  to  John  de  Munteny.  The  Refhams  had 
acquired  the  tenancy  from  Sir  John  de  Bensted,  for 
whose  life  it  was  held.  The  annual  rent  was  ^10  and 
this  was  the  subject  of  a  dispute  (also  in  1 320)  between 
the  Refhams  and  Richard  de  Gatesbyry,  the  guardian 
of  John,  son  and  heir  of  John  de  Munteny.  Richard 
had  been  given  the  wardship  by  Sir  Arnulph  de 
Munteny,  'the  chief  lord  of  the  fee',  and  claimed  arrears 
of  rent  from  the  Refhams.  An  agreement  was  eventu- 
ally reached  by  which  the  arrears  were  remitted  and 
the  rent  was  reduced  to  £8  a  year.'3  In  1333  Ralph 
[sic]  de  Gatesbery  conveyed  the  manor  of  'Littlebury 
near  Ongar'  to  John  son  of  John  de  Munteny  and 
Margaret  his  wife.''*  It  was  probably  the  same  John 
de  Munteny  who  in  1355  granted  to  Richard  de 
Salyng,  citizen  of  London,  all  lands  which  he  had  in 
Stanford  Rivers.'^  This  grant  was  repeated  by  Edmund 
son  of  John  de  Munteny  in  1369  and  by  Thomas  son 
of  Richard  de  Munteny  in  1379.'* 

In  1398  Richard  Salyng,  the  younger,  son  of  John 
Salyng  of  Stanford  Rivers,  granted  to  Master  Richard 
Salyng,  mason  and  citizen  of  London,  and  Lore  his 
wife  the  manors  of  Littlebury  and  Rowenho.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  grant  was  apparently  to  settle  the  remainder 
of  the  manors  upon  the  children,  bastard  as  well  as 
legitimate,  of  Master  Richard."  By  1405  Master 
Richard  had  died  and  his  widow  had  married  John 
Bromhale  who  held  Littlebury  and  Rowenho  in  her 
right.'*  In  that  year  it  was  provided  that  the  two 
manors  should  be  held  by  John  Bromhale  and  Lore 
and  the  heirs  of  the  body  of  Lore  by  Richard  Salyng, 
with  remainders  as  to  the  manor  of  Littlebury  to  John 
son  of  Richard,  Richard  Salyng,  bastard  son  of  Richard 

Map  {c.  1870). 

'»  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  236. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1279-88,  549. 

'2  Ibid.  1313-18,  590. 

'3  Ibid.  1318-23,  330.  For  the  Refhams 
see  above,  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers. 

'4  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  32. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1354-60,  623.  For  John 
de  Munteny  and  Richard  de  Salyng  see 
also  Myles's  in  Kelvedon  Hatch. 

'6  Ibid.  1369-74,  88;  1377-81,  321. 

"  Ibid.  1396-9,416-17. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  243-4.  For  the 
will  of  Ricd.  Salyng,  proved  in  1404,  see 
below,  Church. 


214 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


and  the  heirs  male  of  their  bodies,  and  the  right  heirs 
of  Lore,  and  as  to  the  manor  of  Rowenho  to  Richard 
Salyng  the  bastard  and  John  son  of  Richard  and  the 
heirs  male  of  their  bodies  and  the  right  heirs  of  Lore." 

John  Chaumbir  of  Epping  held  the  manor  of  Little- 
bury  in  141 2,  when  it  was  said  to  be  worth  £20.*°  In 
1424  Chaumbir  remitted  to  William  Beauchamp  of 
London  all  his  right  in  the  manors  of  Littlebury  and 
Rowenho.*'  Chaumbir  and  Beauchamp  were  probably 
tenants  under  the  Salyngs,  for  in  1468-g  John  Salyng 
held  the  manors*^  and  in  1469-70  Roger  Salyng  of 
Merton  (Surr.)  and  his  sons  John  Salyng  of  Stanford 
Rivers  and  John  Salyng  of  Merton  made  a  conveyance 
of  Littlebury  and  Rowenho. 'J 

Richard  Salyng,  who  died  in  1528,  was  said  to  hold 
Littlebury  and  Rowenho  of  the  queen  as  of  her  manor 
of  Ansty  (Herts.),  parcel  of  the  honor  of  Clare. 84  His 
son  and  heir  Augustine  Salyng  died  in  1546,  leaving 
an  infant  daughter  Alice. *5  Augustine  had  mortgaged 
the  manors  in  1544  to  Sir  Richard  Rich.**  In  1547 
the  wardship  of  Alice  Salyng  was  given  to  William 
Morris,  together  with  an  annuity  of  (jj  6s.  id.  from 
the  issues  of  Littlebury  and  Rowenho.*'  Alice  died  in 
1 5  5 1  and  the  manors  passed  to  her  aunts,  daughters  of 
Richard  Salyng:  Elizabeth  Rolfe  and  Katharine 
Johnson.**  In  1553  the  manors  were  conveyed  by 
Elizabeth  and  her  husband  William  Rolfe  and  Katherine 
and  her  husband  George  Johnson  to  Robert  Geyre  and 
John  Foley.*'  The  purpose  of  this  conveyance  is  not 
clear,  but  it  may  have  been  part  of  the  procedure  neces- 
sary for  securing  Littlebury  and  Rowenho  upon 
William  Atwood,  who  was  the  second  husband  of 
Alice  widow  of  Augustine  Salyng.'" 

William  Atwood  died  in  1600  holding  Littlebury 
and  Rowenho  of  Sir  Henry  Cocke  as  of  his  manor  of 
Ansty."  In  1594  the  manors  had  been  settled  upon 
John  Atwood,  son  of  William,  on  John's  marriage  to 
Dorothy  daughter  of  William  Walter  of  Wimbledon. '^ 
John  Atwood  was  succeeded  by  his  son  William,  from 
whom  the  estate  passed  to  his  son,  another  William, 
who  was  alive  at  the  time  of  the  Essex  Visitation  of 
1664-8. '3  In  1701  William  Atwood,  probably  the 
son  of  the  previous  William,  and  Anne  Atwood, 
widow,  conveyed  Littlebury  to  John  Bull.'*  A  Mrs. 
Bull  held  the  estate  in  1729.'' 

The  Littlebury  estate  of  the  Atwoods  was  subse- 
quently divided.  In  1767  a  dispute  arose  between 
John  Tempest,  executor  of  John  Petre,  and  acting  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers,  and  Timothy  Graves 
of  Littlebury,  whose  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Bull.'*  The  dispute  concerned  manorial  rights  in 
Littlebury,  which  Graves  claimed  as  his  own.  The 
depositions  in  the  case  show  that  the  Atwoods'  estate 
had  lain  along  both  sides  of  the  main  road  and  that 
Graves  held  only  the  part  to  the  east,  the  part  to  the 
west  having  become  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Jones.  The 
outcome  of  the  dispute  is  not  clear,  but  Timothy 
Graves  continued  to  deny  that  Littlebury  was  part  of 
the  manor  of  Stanford  Rivers,  and  a  few  years  later. 


when  Lord  Petre  was  administering  the  Bellhouse 
estate,  there  was  another  quarrel,  over  fishing  rights, 
in  the  course  of  which  Graves  pushed  one  of  Lord 
Petre's  servants  into  the  Roding." 

In  1 8 1 1  Joseph  Waylet  conveyed  to  Timothy 
Phillips  the  manor  of  Littlebury,  with  '6  messuages, 
2  mills,  I  dovehouse,  4  barns,  4  stables,  4  orchards, 
100  acres  of  land,  100  acres  of  meadow,  50  acres  of 
pasture,  50  acres  of  wood,  20  acres  of  land  covered  by 
water  and  common  of  pasture  for  all  cattle.''*  In  1842 
the  owner  of  Littlebury  was  J.  Kynaston  and  the  tenant 
E.  Phillips.  The  farm  consisted  of  1 13  acres." 

The  older  part  of  Littlebury  Hall  is  of  late-l6th- 
century  date  and  is  of  brick  with  an  upper  story  of 
timber  framing.  It  is  T-shaped,  the  long  arm  of  the  T 
having  two  original  windows  with  moulded  brick 
jambs  and  hood-moulds,  a  moulded  oak  door-frame, 
and  some  original  glass.  The  cross-wing  to  the  north 
was  refronted  in  the  late  i8th  or  early  19th  century 
and  has  a  Georgian  doorcase  flanked  by  two  wide  bay 
windows.  Internally  there  is  some  16th-century  panel- 
ling and  moulded  woodwork.  In  the  middle  of  the 
19th  century  it  was  said  of  Littlebury  Hall  that  more 
than  20  rooms  had  been  taken  down  in  living  memory.' 
In  192 1  foundations  were  observed  to  the  east  of  the 
house,  showing  that  it  was  at  one  time  of  greater  extent.^ 
For  Littlebury  Mill  see  above,  p.  210. 

The  manor  of  TRJCETS  seems  originally  to  have 
been  held  in  chief,  but  from  the  middle  of  the  14th 
century  was  treated  as  being  held  of  the  manor  of 
Stanford  Rivers. 

In  1268  John  de  Tracy  and  Margery  his  wife  con- 
veyed to  William  de  Tracy  i  messuage  and  i  virgate 
of  land  in  Stanford  Rivers,  to  hold  of  John  and  Margery 
and  the  heirs  of  Margery  at  a  nominal  rent.-s  In  1 3 1 5 
Hugh  de  Tracy  and  Agnes  his  sister  conveyed  to 
Margery  de  Tracy  I  messuage,  i  carucate  of  land,  25 
acres  of  meadow,  50  acres  of  wood,  40  acres  of  pasture, 
and  5 ox.  rent  in  Stanford  Rivers.*  In  1325  a  settle- 
ment was  made  securing  to  Margery  de  Tracy  the  life 
interest  in  l  messuage,  360  acres  of  land,  25  acres  of 
meadow,  50  acres  of  wood,  40  acres  of  pasture,  and 
50X.  rent  in  Stanford  Rivers  and  pasture  for  14  cows 
and  14  heifers  in  the  great  park  of  Ongar.s  There  was 
to  be  remainder  to  Thomas  de  Tracy  and  Mabel  his 
wife  and  the  right  heirs  of  Thomas.  By  1335  both 
Margery  and  Thomas  had  evidently  died,  for  in  that 
year  the  king  granted  to  Mabel  Fitzwaryn,  damsel  of 
Queen  Philippa,  custody  of  the  lands  in  Stanford  , 
Rivers  belonging  to  the  heir  of  Thomas  de  Tracy 
tenant  in  chief.*  The  heir  was  James  de  Tracy,  who 
made  proof  of  age  in  1348.'  It  is  not  unlikely  that  he 
died  in  the  Black  Death,  for  in  1353  Thomas  de  Tracy 
his  son  died  seised  of  a  tenement  in  Stanford  Rivers 
called  Tracy,  said  to  be  held  of  the  Earl  of  Stafford  by 
the  service  of  a  pair  of  spurs  or  6d.  and  by  the  rent  of 
I  lb.  pepper  yearly  at  the  earl's  manor  of  Stanford 
Rivers.*  The  heir  of  Thomas  was  his  kinsman  Hugh 
de  Tracy,  chaplain. 


"  Ibid. 

8'  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  442. 

8*  Cat.  Close,  1422-9,  140. 

'^  C54/320  m.  22. 

83  C54/331  m.  19. 

*<  C14.2/51/107. 

85  C142/74/67. 

««  Ibid. 

"  Cal.Pat.  1547-8,  142. 

88  C142/93/60. 

"  CP2S(2)/57/424. 


»"  Fisits.  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  338. 
9"  C142/262/137. 

92  Ibid. 

93  yisii.  of  Essex,  1664-8  (ed.  J.  J. 
Howard),  9. 

94  CP25(2)/830,  East.  13  Wm.  III. 
According  to  Morant,  i,  155,  the  manor 
was  sold  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Bull  (d.  1694). 

95  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  141. 

9'  Ibid.  97  Ibid. 

08  CP25(2)/i3i2,Trin.  51  Geo.  III. 

215 


99  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327. 

>  MS.  Hist,  of  Stanford  Rivers  by 
Revd.  H.  Tattam,  D.D.,  rector  1850-68, 
in  keeping  of  the  present  rector. 

^  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  221. 

3  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \,  266. 

4  Ibid,  ii,  158. 

5  Ibid.  217. 

'  Cal.  Fat.  1334-8,  97. 
^  Cal.  Inq.f.m.  ix,  p.  138. 
8  Ibid.  X,  p.  74, 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Traceys  was  one  of  the  manors  quitclaimed  by  John 
son  of  John  de  Rivers  to  the  Earl  of  Stafford  in  1359.' 
There  is  no  mention  of  any  member  of  the  Tracy 
family  after  this  date  and  it  is  probable  that  their  manor 
escheated  to  the  Earl  of  Stafford.  The  manor  was  held 
in  1412  by  Nicholas  Bradshagh  (see  Stanford  Hall, 
above)  and  was  valued  at  ^20. ">  In  1420  Traceys 
(like  Piggsland,  see  above)  was  among  the  possessions 
left  by  Sir  Hugh  Stafford  at  his  death.  He  had  held 
Traceys  for  life  of  the  Earl  of  Stafford,  to  whom  it  then 
reverted.  It  comprised  100  acres  of  land,  10  acres  of 
meadow,  and  16  acres  of  pasture." 

The  manor  subsequently  followed  the  descent  of 
that  of  Stanford  Rivers,  although  it  was  sometimes 
leased  separately.  In  1535  the  court  of  the  manor  of 
Traceys  was  being  held  in  the  name  of  Mary,  Lady 
Cary,  widow.'^  In  1543  a  21-year  lease  of  Traceys 
was  granted  to  Richard  Elliott  (see  Barwicks,  above) 
at  an  annual  rent  of  ^"i;.'^  In  1738  William  Petre 
leased  Traceys  to  John  Shuttleworth  for  21  years  at 
an  annual  rent  of  ^{^156,  from  which  ^^42  was  to  be 
deducted  for  land  tax  and  jTio  for  repairs."'*  In  1768 
Shuttleworth  was  still  the  tenant,  at  the  same  rent. '5 
At  the  time  of  the  tithe  award  (1842)  John  Palmer 
was  the  tenant,  farming  163  acres.'* 

In  and  after  the  17th  century  the  manor  of  Traceys 
was  subject  to  a  fee-farm  rent  of  £1 5." 

The  present  farm-house  of  Traceys  appears  to  date 
from  the  late  1 8th  or  early  19th  century.  Traces  of  the 
moat  remain,  both  in  front  of  the  house  and  at  the 
north-west  corner. 

The  advowson  of  Stanford  Rivers  was  acquired  soon 
after  the  Norman  Conquest  by  the  priory 
CH  URCH  of  Ru  milly-le-Comte,  which  probably  had 
it  from  Eustace,  Count  of  Boulogne." 
The  history  of  the  advowson  down  to  the  14th  century 
is  treated  under  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  where  reasons  are 
given  for  supposing  that  about  1280  the  parish  of 
Stanford  Rivers  was  doubled  by  the  transfer  to  it  of 
part  of  High  Ongar.  In  and  after  the  14th  century  the 
advowson  of  Stanford  Rivers,  like  that  of  High  Ongar, 
was  held  by  the  king  until  1538.  In  that  year,  when 
the  advowson  of  High  Ongar  was  granted  to  Sir 
Richard  Rich,  that  of  Stanford  Rivers  was  retained  by 
the  king.  The  advowson  of  Stanford  Rivers  was  no 
doubt  annexed  to  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  at  the  same 
time  as  the  manor  and  since  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  I 
presentations  have  been  made  by  the  Chancellor  of  the 
Duchy." 

In  about  1254  the  rectory  of  Stanford  Rivers  was 
valued  at  20  marks.^"  In  1291,  1428,  and  1535  the 
value  was  returned  as  ;^26  13/.  \d."  At  the  tithe- 
commutation  in  1 842  the  total  income  of  the  rector 
from  tithe  rents  was  fixed  at  ,^1,038.^^  There  were 
54  acres  of  glebe.  Land  tax  chargeable  upon  the 
rectory,  rectorial  tithes,  and  glebe  had  been  redeemed 
in  1803  by  a  payment  of  £1,173.^3 

In  1534  Thomas  Grene  devised  a  rent  of  ^^6  1 3/.  4<3'. 


out  of  the  manor  of  Bellhouse  (see  above)  for  the  sup- 
port of  a  chantry  priest  who  was  to  serve  annually  in  the 
church  of  Stanford  Rivers  for  20  years  after  Grene's 
death.  Grene's  will  was  proved  three  years  later.  The 
stipendiary  was  being  employed  in  1 548  when  the 
chantries  were  dissolved.^ 

Another  endowment,  for  an  'anniversary'  in  the 
church,  consisted  of  10^.  rent  from  land  in  Stanford 
Rivers  called  Knyghtes.  In  1 549  this  rent  was  granted 
by  the  king  to  Henry  Codenham,  and  William 
Pendred,  citizen  and  founder,  both  of  London.^^ 
William  Shelton,  by  his  will  proved  1552—3,  left 
money  to  the  parish  for  the  payment  of  forgotten 
tithes.^* 

As  a  valuable  Crown  living  Stanford  Rivers  has  been 
held  by  a  number  of  rectors  of  distinction.  Thomas 
Cole  (d.  1 571),  one  of  the  Puritans  who  emigrated  to 
Frankfort-on-the-Main  under  Mary  I,  was  rector  after 
the  accession  of  Elizabeth  I."  Richard  Vaughan 
(l  5  50  .''-1607),  who  became  rector  in  1 594,  was  later 
Bishop  successively  of  Bangor,  Chester,  and  London.^^ 
Richard  Montagu  (i  577-1641),  controversialist, 
Bishop  of  Chichester  (1628)  and  of  Norwich  (1638), 
was  rector  from  161 3  to  1628.^'  Although  he  was  a 
pluralist  his  favourite  residence  is  said  to  have  been  at 
Stanford  Rivers.  After  he  resigned  the  living  an 
attempt  was  made  to  secure  it  for  Peter  Delauney, 
preacher  to  the  French  congregation  in  Norwich:  it 
was  stated  that  this  had  been  promised  by  James  I  to 
reward  Delauney  for  translating  the  English  liturgy 
into  French.'"  The  rectory  was,  however,  given  to 
Roger  Mainwaring,  one  of  the  chaplains  of  Charles  I.'' 
Mainwaring  became  Bishop  of  St.  Davids  in  1635.22 
Henry  Tattam  (1789-1868),  who  became  rector  in 
1850,  was  a  distinguished  Coptic  scholar  and  chaplain 
to  the  queen. 33 

The  parish  church  oi  ST.  MARG  J  RET  consists  of 
nave,  chancel,  north  porch  (blocked),  west  porch,  south 
vestry,  and  a  west  bell-turret  with  spire.  There  is  a 
gallery  beneath  the  turret.  The  walls  are  mostly  of 
flint  rubble  with  dressings  of  clunch  and  other  stone. 
Theupperpart  of  the  chancel  is  of  brick.  The  church  is 
faced  externally  with  Roman  cement.  The  roof  is  tiled. 

The  nave  was  built  in  the  middle  of  the  1 2th  century. 
The  original  semicircular  arch  of  the  south  doorway 
can  still  be  seen  internally.  Both  north  and  south  walls 
have  two  single-light  round-headed  windows  of  the 
1 2th  century,  but  in  each  case  those  nearest  the  west 
end  have  been  blocked  and  are  only  visible  from  the 
outside.  There  is  a  similar  blocked  window  in  the 
west  gable  with  exposed  flintwork  surrounding  it. 
During  the  first  half  of  the  14th  century  two  three- 
light  windows  were  inserted  near  the  east  end  of  the 
nave,  one  on  the  north  and  one  on  the  south  side. 
These  probably  replaced  small  12th-century  lights, 
which  suggests  an  original  arrangement  of  three 
windows  to  each  wall.  On  the  east  splays  of  the  two 
14th-century  windows  wall-paintings,  probably  con- 


»  B.M.  Harl.  Chart.  55D.  31. 

"  FeuJ.  Aids,  vi,  443. 

■•  C138/61. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  126.  See  above, 
Manor  of  Stanford  Rivers. 

"  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xviii  (2),  p.  60. 

■♦  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Mi  142. 

■5  E.R.O.,  D/DP  A33/1-3. 

>'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327. 

"  For  the  descent  of  this  rent  see 
Stanford  Rivers  manor,  above. 

■«  f^.C.H.   Essex,   i,    344.    The   priory 


probably  obtained  it  early  in  the  1 2th  cent. ; 
E.A.T.  N.s.  viii,  227. 

"  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  546-7 ;  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  1555  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir. 
passim. 

»o  Lunt,  yal.  of  Norwich,  336. 

"  Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  2iAj  Feud. 
Aids,  ii,  205;  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.), 
437*.  "  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327. 

23  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T17.  The  tax  had 
amounted  to  ,{^32  a  year. 

"  E301/19/43;  ibid.  30/59. 

216 


^5  Cal.  Pat.  1549-51,  146.  Cf.  Thomas 
Pctit*s  legacy.  Charities,  below. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  167. 

"  D.N.B.  He  was  rector  1564-71. 
Previously  Rector  of  High  Ongar. 

'8  D.N.B. 

2»  Ibid.;  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  49. 

io  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1628-9,  '^8- 

"  Ibid.  217. 

32  D.N.B.  (Manwaring).  He  was  rector 
until  1641. 

"  D.N.B.  Rector  until  his  death. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


temporary,  were  visible  until  recently.  These  consisted 
of  figures  under  gabled  and  crocketed  canopies  with 
shields  of  arms  above.s* 

The  present  chancel  also  dates  from  the  first  half  of 
the  14th  century.  On  its  north  side  there  is  a  con- 
temporary window  consisting  of  two  trefoil  and  ogee- 
headed  traceried  lights.  The  south  wall  has  two  similar 
windows  with  a  blocked  doorway,  probably  of  the 
same  date,  between  them. 

Richard  Salyng,  by  his  will  proved  in  1404,  made 
a  bequest  for  the  remaking  of  the  rood  loft,  and  pro- 
vided that  if  he  died  at  Stanford  Rivers  he  should  be 
buried  in  the  church  beside  the  monument  to  his  late 
wife  Alice.35  Late  in  the  1 5th  century  the  north  porch 
was  built.  It  is  of  timber  and  is  of  a  type  common  in 
Essex.  Many  of  the  original  timbers  remain.  The 
external  arch,  now  blocked,  is  four-centred  with  trefoil 
carved  spandrels,  and  the  panels  flanking  it  have 
traceried  heads.  It  is  now  used  as  a  store.  The  south 
porch,  now  the  vestry,  was  probably  similar.  The 
timber-framed  bell-turret  was  probably  built  in  the 
15th  century.  It  was  inserted  in  the  westernmost  bay 
of  the  nave.  The  massive  angle-posts  are  stop-chamfered 
near  floor  level.  The  turret  is  weather-boarded  and  is 
surmounted  by  a  small  lead-covered  spire.  The  roof 
of  the  nave  also  dates  from  the  15  th  century.  It  has 
three  trusses  with  rebated  king-posts  and  four-way 
struts.  The  timbers  between  the  trusses  were  exposed 
during  the  restorations  in  195 1. 

In  the  15th  century,  or  early  in  the  i6th,  a  wide 
three-light  window  with  a  segmental  pointed  head  was 
inserted  in  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel.  This  was 
later  plastered  over,  but  during  the  restorations  of 
1948-52  it  was  opened  up  and  glazed  and  the  stone- 
work was  renewed.  Early  in  the  i6th  century  the  roof 
level  of  the  chancel  was  raised,  the  walls  were  built  up 
in  brickwork  and  three  segmental-headed  clerestory 
windows  were  inserted  in  both  north  and  south  walls. 
This  curious  arrangement  may  have  been  the  pre- 
liminary to  a  general  raising  of  the  wall  height,  never 
carried  out.  The  chancel  arch  was  probably  destroyed 
at  this  time,  giving  the  present  awkward  junction  be- 
tween chancel  and  nave  roofs.  The  chancel  roof  has 
curved  and  moulded  principals  and  is  of  the  early  i6th 
century.  The  timbers  between  the  trusses  were  exposed 
in  1951. 

At  the  archdeacon's  visitation  of  1606  the  church- 
wardens stated  that  the  chancel  was  out  of  repair,  both 
glass  and  stonework  of  the  windows  being  broken,  and 
the  walls  dirty.J*  At  another  visitation  in  1683  the 
churchwardens  were  ordered  to  mend  both  the  church 
porches,  the  crack  on  the  north  side  of  the  steeple,  and 
the  tiling  towards  the  lower  end  of  the  church. 37  A 
small  scratched  sundial  on  the  external  jamb  of  the 
14th-century  window  in  the  south  wall  of  the  nave 
probably  dates  from  the  17th  century. 

In  1 8 1 7  important  repairs  and  alterations  were 
carried  out  at  a  total  cost  of  about  j^350.3'  These 
included  the  opening  of  the  present  west  entrance  and 
probably  also  the  conversion  of  the  south  porch  into  a 


vestry,  the  building  of  the  gallery,  and  the  insertion  of 
the  present  east  window  in  the  chancel.  The  west 
porch  is  open  and  of  oak.  It  has  a  segmental  pointed 
arch  and  pierced  spandrels.  The  window  above  it  is 
three-light  with  a  segmental  head  and  a  wide  architrave 
of  wood.  The  gallery  incorporates  panels  from  a  1 5  th- 
century  chancel  screen.  All  this  work  was  carried  out 
by  Richard  Noble  of  Ongar  under  the  direction  of  a 
surveyor  named  Foottit. 

In  1 944  a  flying  bomb  damaged  the  south  side  of  the 
church.  Restoration  was  carried  out  between  1948  and 
1952.3'  During  that  period  the  gallery  was  converted 
into  a  small  parish  room  by  the  fixing  of  a  temporary 
partition  to  the  front. 

In  1552  there  were  three  bells  in  the  steeple  'of 
which  the  great  bell  contains  i  yard  deep  lacking  3 
inches,  the  second  bell  2  ft.  3  ins.,  the  breadth  I  yd.  I  in., 
the  third  bell  2  ft.  3  in.,  and  the  breadth  i  yd.  lacking 
2  ins.''"'  There  were  also  a  handbell,  a  sanctus  bell, 
and  two  sacring  bells.^'  There  are  at  present  two  bells 
in  the  steeple,  one  cast  by  Joseph  Carter  in  1609,  the 
other  by  Anthony  Bartlet  in  1662;  one  of  these  was 
damaged  in  1 944  and  is  no  longer  in  use.+^  The  third 
bell  appears  to  have  been  sold  in  1806  and  the  money 
applied  towards  repairs  to  the  steeple.'tJ 

The  early-i3th-century  font  is  of  Barnack  stone,  the 
octagonal  bowl  having  sunk  panels  with  pointed  heads 
and  the  stem  having  eight  detached  shafts.  There  are 
sixteen  15th-century  oak  benches  near  the  west  end 
of  the  nave,  the  ends  being  carved  with  small  buttresses. 
The  communion  rails  have  turned  balusters  of  the  late 
17th  century.  They  were  no  doubt  erected  as  a  result 
of  the  archdeacon's  visitation  of  1683,  when  it  was 
ordered  that  the  communion  table  should  be  railed 
in.+*  The  wrought-iron-work  supporting  the  altar 
lamp  is  apparently  of  early-i  8th-century  date  and  came 
from  Suttons  in  Stapleford  Tawney.'"  The  stained 
glass  in  the  east  window  was  inserted  in  1 9  5  2  in  memory 
of  H.  W.  Millbank  (d.  1950).  The  electric  heating 
was  installed  in  1952.  The  church  plate  consists  of  a 
silver  flagon,  paten,  and  chalice  of  181 2,  presented  by 
the  Revd.  E.  C.  Dowdeswell.^^  In  1552  there  were 
three  chalices  of  silver,  one  being  partly  gilt.  There 
was  delivered  for  service  use  one  silver  chalice.*' 

There  are  a  few  details  of  the  church  furnishings  in 
past  centuries.  Richard  Ballard,  by  his  will  proved  in 
1 5  26,  left  money  for  the  'gilding  of  oon  of  the  taber- 
nacles'.*' The  image  of  the  Assumption  of  Our  Lady, 
in  the  chancel  of  the  church,  is  mentioned  in  a  will  of  ' 
1537.'*''  In  1636  ^i  10/.  was  paid  for  painting  the 
royal  arms  and  whitewashing  the  church. so  In  165 1 
the  arms  of  the  Commonwealth  were  substituted  for 
those  of  the  king;  this  and  the  setting  up  of  the  Ten 
Commandments  cost  ^i  8j.5'  In  1660  the  royal  arms 
were  again  set  up,  at  a  cost  of  j^i  5^.52 

On  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  an  inscribed 
brass  to  Thomas  Grene  (1535)  and  his  two  wives.  In 
his  will  (proved  1537)  Grene  gave  instructions  that 
he  was  to  be  buried  in  the  chancel  before  the  image  of 
the  Assumption  of  Our  Lady,  or  in  the  chancel  of  the 


'<  Cf.  Hisl.  Mon.  Com.  Essex.,  ii,  221. 
This  account  mentions  only  the  traces  of 
painting  on  the  south  window;  there  arc 
still  traces  on  the  north. 

'5  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  167.  For  Salyng  see 
Littlebury,  above. 

36  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  46. 

3'  E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  272. 

38  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/5. 


30  Inf.  from  the  present  rector,  Revd. 
J.  H.  Ward. 

*»  E.A.T.  N.s.  ii,  228. 

<■  Ibid. 

*^  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  395;  inf.  from  Revd. 
J.  H.  Ward. 

«3  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/8/3.  The  bell  was 
cracked  and  out  of  order. 

«  E.A.T.S.S.  xii,  272. 


«5  Inf.  from  Revd.  J.  H.  Ward. 

"  Ibid. 

■•'  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  310. 

«8  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  167. 

♦»  Ibid. 

5»  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/1/1,  f.  47. 

5'  Ibid.,  f.  $\h. 

52  Ibid.,  f.  55*. 


217 


Ff 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


church  of  Cottered  (Herts.). S3  Also  on  the  north  wall 
of  the  chancel  are  white  marble  tablets  to  Charlotte 
Edwards  (1823)  and  Isaac  Taylor  (1865). s*  On  the 
east  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  white  marble  tablet  to  Dr. 
Charles  Gibbs  (1681),  and  on  the  south  wall  a  brass 
inscription  to  Katherine  (1609)  wife  of  Richard 
Mulcaster,  rector  of  the  parish.  In  the  nave  is  a  stone 
tablet  to  Anne,  wife  of  William  Napper  (1584),  bear- 
ing a  brass  of  a  kneeling  woman  and  her  six  sons.  On 
the  floor  of  the  chancel,  some  of  them  concealed  below 
the  altar,  are  four  floor-slabs  with  brasses:  (i)  fragment 
of  late- 16th-century  slab  with  shield  of  arms;  (2) 
Thomas,  infant  son  of  Giles  Greville  (1492)  with  a 
figure  of  a  Chrisom  child  and  shield  of  arms;  (3)  Robert 
Borrow  (1503)  and  Alys  his  wife:  figures  of  man  in 
plate  armour  and  woman  in  pedimented  head-dress 
with  dog  at  their  feet  and  shield  of  arms;  (4)  Lucy, 
daughter  of  William  Petre  (1637):  inscription  only. 
Also  in  the  chancel  are  many  floor  slabs  to  the  Petre 
family,  ranging  in  date  from  1677  (William  son  of 
Lord  Petre)  to  1797  (Hon.  George  William  Petre). 

The  Berkeley  Charity,  for  the  upkeep  of  the  grave- 
yard of  the  church,  is  described  below,  under  Charities. 

The  old  rectory  is  a  fine  late-l8th-century  red-brick 
house  of  two  stories  and  attics,  with  a  one-story  wing 
to  the  south-west.  The  entrance  front  has  a  pedi- 
mented doorcase  and  on  the  garden  side  there  are  two 
slightly  projecting  bays  with  pediments.  The  detail 
here  and  elsewhere  is  of  c.  1780.  Parts  of  the  moat 
remain  to  the  north  of  the  house.  The  glebe  terrier  of 
1610  describes  extensive  buildings  which  were  prob- 
ably on  the  same  site.ss  There  appear  to  be  no  traces 
of  these  earlier  buildings. 

For  the  present  rectory  see  below,  Protestant  Non- 
conformity. 

In  the  17th  century  and  the  first  half  of  the  i8th 

Roman   Catholic   wor- 

ROMAN  CATHOLICISM    ship  was  carried  on  by 

the  Petres  at  Bellhouse 
(see  above).  This  was  one  of  the  places  served  by  the 
secret  Jesuit  mission  in  eastern  England  which  was 
founded  about  1633  and  largely  financed  by  the 
Petres.56  The  first  William  Petre  of  Bellhouse  was  a 
servant  of  Charles  I  and  in  1639  the  king  personally 
intervened  to  prevent  him  from  being  prosecuted  for 
recusancy.57  In  1676  there  was  an  unusually  large 
number  of  papists  in  Stanford  Rivers. 5*  There  was 
probably  a  private  chapel  at  Bellhouse,^'  and  Roman 
Catholic  worship  continued  there  until  after  the  death 
of  William  Petre  in  I745.*<'  The  date  when  it  finally 
ceased  is  not  certain,  but  it  is  unlikely  to  have  continued 
for  long  after  the  death  of  John  Petre  in  1762. 

The  Petres  also  contributed  generously  to  the  sup- 
port of  Roman  Catholicism  elsewhere.  During  the 
reign  of  Charles  II  an  annuity  of  ^{^40  out  of  the  manor 
of  Stanford  Rivers  was  being  paid  to  each  of  two 
members  of  the  family,  Richard  and  Robert  Petre, 
who  had  become  Jesuits.*'  In  1678,  however,  these 
revenues  were  seized  by  the  government.*^   William 


Petre  (d.  1728)  made  settlements  on  at  least  five  of  his 
daughters  who  became  nuns.*^  His  son  Robert  (1700- 
66)  became  a  Jesuit.*'* 

On  20  October  18 19  a  small  place  of  worship, 
originally  a  cottage,  was 
PROTESTANT  opened  for  the  use  of  dissen- 

NONCONFORMITT  ters.  Sermons  were  preached 
at  the  opening  service  by  the 
Revd.  James  Stratten  of  Paddington  and  the  Revd. 
Edward  Andrews  of  Walworth.  A  Sunday  school  was 
attached  to  the  chapel.  Arrangements  had  been  made 
for  the  supply  of  preachers  from  Hoxton  Academy  .*5 

On  27  June  1820  a  new  chapel,  specially  built  and 
seating  300,  was  opened  in  place  of  the  converted 
cottage.  Stratten  and  Andrews  were  again  the  preachers 
at  the  opening.  Two  local  residents  had  each  con- 
tributed ;^ioo  towards  the  cost  of  the  chapel.  Supplies 
were  still  being  sent  by  Hoxton.** 

In  1827  the  site,  chapel,  and  vestry,  with  a  stable 
and  outhouses,  were  conveyed  to  trustees,  among 
whom  were  Stratten,  then  of  Maida  Vale,  and  Thomas 
Kingsbury  of  Stanford  Rivers.  The  trust  deed  stipu- 
lated that  the  buildings  should  be  used  for  'a  con- 
gregation of  Protestant  Dissenters  usually  denominated 
Calvinists  of  the  Independent  Denomination'.*'' 

In  1829  the  congregation  numbered  150  and  there 
was  a  minister,  William  Temple.**  There  was  a 
minister  in  1846—7  and  another  in  1850-3.*'  About 
1839  David  Livingstone  preached  in  this  chapel  while 
a  student  at  Chipping  Ongar.  He  is  said  to  have 
suffered  from  stage-fright  and  to  have  been  unable  to 
complete  his  sermon.'"  From  about  1854  the  chapel 
was  served  mainly  by  the  ministers  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Chipping  Ongar."  Isaac  Jennings, 
formerly  the  minister  at  Ongar,  had  charge  at  Stanford 
Rivers  during  his  retirement  in  1863.'^ 

A  new  trust  was  appointed  in  1 877.'^  In  1904  there 
were  34  Sunday-school  children  and  2  teachers. '-t  The 
chapel  was  burnt  down  in  1927.  To  supplement  the 
insurance  money  of  ^(^700  a  fund  was  raised  to  rebuild 
the  chapel  as  a  memorial  to  David  Livingstone.  The 
response  to  the  appeal  was  disappointing,  less  than  ^{^400 
being  received,and  the  scheme  was  not  carried  through. 's 

The  chapel  was  a  rectangular  stucco  building  with 
a  pedimented  front.'*  It  stood  opposite  the  former 
Ongar  Union  workhouse  at  Little  End.  The  site  is 
still  walled  and  has  the  original  cast  iron  early- 19th- 
century  gate  piers. 

The  present  rectory,  formerly  the  Chapel  House, 
adjoins  the  chapel  site  and  may  have  been  built  in  con- 
nexion with  it.  It  was  originally  a  small  house  of  gault 
brick,  probably  built  in  the  first  quarter  of  the  19th  cen- 
tury. Additions  in  the  same  style  were  made  about  1 948 . 

Records  of  the  courts  of  the  manor  of  Stanford 

Rivers  exist  for  the  years 

PARISH  GOFERNMENT    1 3 24-5  and  1327-9  and 

AND   POOR  RELIEF  also  for  1 534"  but  they 

are  continuous  only  from 
1560.''     Between    1560   and    1624    the   court    met 


"  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  167. 

**  For  Taylor  see  above,  p.  210. 

s*  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  546. 

"  H.  Foley,  Rea.  of  Eng.  Province  of 
Soc.  ofjfeius,  V,  536. 

"  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1638-9,  607;  ibid. 
1639,427.  5'  See  below,  p.  31 1. 

"  R.C.  Parish  of  Brentwood,  MS.  Book 
(Letter  of  J.  F.  Wright,  1854). 

*"  See  above,  Manor  of  Stanford  Rivers. 

"  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.   1689-90,  359,  434; 


ibid.  1690-1,451.  For  the  identity  of  Ricd. 
and  Robt.  Petre  see  Foley,  Recs.  of  Eng, 
Provinceof  Soc.ofye!us,n,  s,%$.     "  Ibid. 

'3  See  above,  Manor  of  Stanford  Rivers. 

6<  Foley,  Recs.  of  Eng.  Province  of  Soc. 
ofjesu!,  ii,  585. 

^5  Evangelical  Mag.  xwiif  ^\J. 

"  Ibid,  xxviii,  390. 

"  Essex  Congr.  Union,  Trust  Deeds. 

'8  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2. 

<">  Congr.  rear  Bks.  1846-53. 

218 


">  E.R.  xxii,  90. 

"  Congr.  rear  Bh.  1854  f. 

'2  Ibid.  1863. 

'3  Essex  Congr.  Union,  Trust  Deeds. 

T*  Congr.  rear  Bk.  1904. 

'5  Char.  Com.  files. 

'*  See  plate  facing  p.  113. 

"  DL30/1 16/1762;  SC2/173/81. 

'8  E.R.O.,D/DP  Mi  127-40.  For  later 
court  rolls  (to  1923)  see  E.R.O..  D/DTc 
M3. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


annually,  usually  between  July  and  November.^'  No 
court  appears  to  have  met  between  1624  and  1659. 
The  fact  that  constables  began  to  be  chosen  by  the 
vestry  in  1637  seems  to  confirm  that  no  courts  leet  met 
about  this  time.  From  1662  courts  were  held  regularly 
about  Eastertide  until  1690.80  There  was  a  court  leet 
in  1 7 10,  another  in  17 14,  and  then  no  more. 

Twelve  to  seventeen  men  were  usually  sworn  as  a 
jury,  the  same  men  serving  year  after  year.  They  were 
chosen  as  tenants,*'  not  necessarily  resident  within  the 
manor. 8^  The  jurisdiction  of  the  court  extended  over 
all  residents  within  the  manor.^J  Each  court  leet  also 
transacted  court  baron  business,  and  courts  after  1667, 
although  described  as  'of  the  View  of  Frank-pledge'  did 
no  true  leet  business  except  the  election  of  constables. 
The  primary  duty  of  the  court — to  view  frank- pledge — 
was  occasionally  discharged  by  early  Elizabethan 
courts.**  The  immediate  extension  of  this  duty — a 
general  surveillance  of  manners — frequently  occupied 
courts  about  this  time.*'  But  the  commonest  subjects 
of  presentment  were  failures  to  maintain  roads  and 
bridges  by  those  bound  ratione  tenure  to  do  so.  Statu- 
tory offences  presented  in  Elizabethan  courts  included 
defaults  under  the  first  Highways  Act  (2  &  3  Philip  & 
Mary,  c.  8).**  Disrepair  of  the  stocks  was  sometimes 
presented. 

Most  courts  elected  two  constables  and  swore  them 
if  they  were  present.  In  1561  a  constable  was  not 
sworn  because  he  was  absent,  and  this,  uncommon  at 
that  date,  became  usual  as  the  court  declined.  Of  the 
seven  appointments  made  after  1675  three  were  made 
in  the  absence  of  one  or  two  of  the  men  elected,  who 
were  ordered  to  take  their  oaths  before  justices.*'  The 
only  reference  to  the  constables'  work  is  their  present- 
ment for  not  punishing  vagabonds,  made  in  1 567.  The 
orders  of  the  court  were  directed  to  the  bailiff.  The 
court  had  one  weapon,  the  amercement,  which  was 
assessed  or  'affeered'  by  two  jurors  appointed  as 
'affeerors'.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  very  effec- 
tive. 

A  principal  cause  of  the  decline  of  the  court  leet  was 
the  rise,  chiefly  as  the  result  of  the  Poor  Law  of  1 598, 
of  the  vestry.'*  In  1634-44  five  courts  (one  court  leet 
and  4  courts  baron)  were  attended  by  a  total  of  17 
jurors.  Of  these  7  had  served  parish  office  during  the 
same  1 1  years.  The  man  who  served  parish  office  most 
frequently  (5  times)  attended  I  court.  The  man  who 
attended  all  courts  served  parish  office  3  times. 

The  court  and  the  vestry  had  a  specific  common 
interest — the  appointment  of  constables — and  their 
activities  were  closely  co-ordinated.    From  1637  con- 

"  These  records  are  not  quite  complete. 
A  file  of  original  jury  presentments,  draft 
court  rolls,  and  miscellaneous  court  papers 
(D/DP  Mi  140)  is  stated,  in  the  paper 
which  begins  the  file,  to  have  been 
assembled  and  handed  over  in  lieu  of  cer- 
tain court  rolls  (which  were  missing)  upon 
conveyance  of  the  manor  in  161 5.  Hence 
any  statement  about  irregularity  of  meet- 
ing of  the  court  must  be  suppositious  :  the 
court  may  have  met  regularly  but  some  of 
its  records  may  have  perished. 

^  The  longest  gap  between  courts  was 
four  years. 

*■  e.g.  D/DP  Mi  127,  4  Apr.  1560:  2 
jurors  attended  in  right  of  their  wives. 

'^  e.g.  ibid.  3  Sept.  1573  :  John  Grene  of 
Navestock  was  sworn. 

83  e.g.  ibid.,  4  Apr.  1560:  'tenants  and 
inhabitants  of  the  manor  ...  to  amend  the 
buttes   within   the  manor*.    Cf.   another 


stables  were  nominated  in  the  vestry  while  courts  leet 
were  not  being  held.*'  After  1662  the  vestry  appears 
to  have  nominated  only  when  it  knew  that  the  court 
was  not  to  be  held  for  some  time.  When  the  court  was 
to  meet  soon  after  the  vestry'"  the  vestrymen  doubtless 
knew  this  from  the  baihff's  summons  and  did  not 
nominate  constables  in  the  vestry.  As  late  as  1734 
constables  were  still  being  noted  in  the  vestry  book  as 
'chosen  by  Wm.  Petre  esq.'  (lord  of  the  manor  and  an 
active  vestryman)  although  no  court  leet  had  met  for 
20  years."  Occasionally  the  tenants  in  court  were  able 
to  assist  themselves  as  parishioners  in  vestry,  as  for 
example  in  1684,  when  the  court  ordered  John 
Combers  the  younger  to  pay  2/.  dd.  a  year  to  the  poor 
for  a  gate  in  Bowyers  Lane.'^ 

The  earliest  surviving  vestry  record  is  a  brief  church- 
warden's account  of  1 592.'^  Notes  of  the  appointment 
of  officers  begin  in  1604  (f  5)  and  are  defective  at 
first.  The  earliest  summary  account  signed  by  the 
vestrymen  as  approving  it  is  dated  1619  (f.  35). 

In  the  early  17th  century  the  vestry  apparently 
met  only  at  Easter,  to  pass  accounts  and  appoint 
officers.  After  1673  there  was  a  regular  additional 
meeting  at  Christmas,  at  which  the  surveyors  of  high- 
ways were  nominated.  Other  meetings,  rare  in  the  late 
17th  century,  became  more  common  in  the  early  i8th 
century,  and  at  a  meeting  in  November  1724  it  was 
agreed,  as  one  of  ten  standing  orders,  that  a  vestry 
should  meet  once  a  month,  every  first  Thursday  at 
3  p.m.''*  This  order  was  followed  and  the  meeting  in 
February  1786  was  entitled,  as  something  uncommon, 
a  '2  month  vestry'. '5  Standing  orders  enjoined  the 
vestry  to  meet  in  the  church  and  prescribed  that  any 
expenses  incurred  if  it  adjourned  to  a  public  house 
should  be  borne  by  individuals.  Nevertheless  the 
Easter  vestries  of  1728  and  1744  charged  the  parish 
with  ;^i  and  £1  2S.  respectively,  the  latter  for  dinner 
and  punch.  The  Easter  vestry  of  1782  held  a  dinner  'at 
Mr.  Sammes'.'* 

In  the  17th  century  the  vestry  was  often  attended 
by  fewer  than  six  men.  Numbers  rose  in  the  next 
century.  In  the  three  periods  1725-7,  1750—2, 
1800—2,  for  example,  about  12  attended  the  Easter 
vestries  and  6-9  the  other  meetings.  The  chairman 
was  never  named  as  such  in  the  minutes  but  members 
of  the  Petre  family  always  signed  first  when  they  were 
present,  during  the  first  half  of  the  i8th  century;  in 
their  absence  the  rector  signed  first.  About  1740  the 
curate  sometimes  appears  to  have  written  the  minutes , 
but  did  not  sign.  When  neither  a  Petre  nor  the  rector 
was  present  one  of  the  churchwardens  signed  first. 


order  that  *no  one  neither  tenants  nor 
inhabitants  within  that  manor,  shall  per- 
mit their  servants  and  sons  to  break  hedges 
within  the  manor*. 

'♦  e.g.  ibid.  4  Sept.  1566. 

*5  e.g.  ibid.  29  Sept.  1562:  Wm. 
Mylborne  presented  for  keeping  a  woman 
suspect  as  a  whore.  On  4  July  1 564  he 
was  presented  as  a  common  barrator,  an 
'inhuman*  man  among  his  neighbours  and 
a  'public  enemy  of  the  commonwealth' 
(rei  publici  inimicus  puhticus)  and  the  bailiff 
was  ordered  to  move  him  from  his  tene- 
ment. 

*'  e.g.  ibid.  4  Apr.  1560:  default  of 
WiUiam  Wood. 

"  As  enjoined  by  Poor  Relief  Act,  14 
Chas.  IIc.i2(i662). 

88  The  loss  of  pecuniary  interest  by  the 
lord  may  have  contributed.  The  'common 
fine*  of  6i,   td.   became  increasingly  in- 


adequate as  an  incentive  to  the  lord  to 
hold  the  court. 

8»  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/1/1.  The  vestry 
had  no  power  to  swear  the  constables ;  that 
power  lay,  at  common  law,  with  the  leet 
or  a  justice. 

90  e.g.  1675 :  leet  8  Apr.,  Vestry  5  Apr. 

'■  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/8/1. 

"2  Ibid.  D/DP  M1131. 

"  Ibid.  D/P  140/1/1.  All  vestry 
information  down  to  1724  is  from  this 
source,  which  is  also  the  earliest  parish 
register.  Later  vestry  minutes  are  D/P 
140/8/1-7.  Unless  otherwise  stated 
references  below  are  to  vestry  minutes. 

9<  This,  of  course,  was  an  hour  when  only 
a  fairly  wealthy  employer  could  attend. 

95  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/8/2. 

"  Sammes  kept  the  'Green  Man* :  cf. 
E.R.O.,  g/RLv  36. 


219 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Committees  were  occasionally  appointed.  In  1769 
one  of  five  members  was  appointed  to  negotiate  with 
a  builder  for  the  erection  of  a  workhouse,  and  in  1 80  5  one 
of  seven  was  set  up  to  reassess  the  parish  rating.  The 
Easter  vestry  of  1824  adopted  the  2nd  Sturges  Bourne 
Act  (59  Geo.  Ill,  c.  12)  and  appointed  a  select  vestry 
consisting  of  five  men  in  addition  to  the  rector,  church- 
wardens, and  overseers.  Each  successive  Easter  vestry 
appointed  a  select  vestry,  usually  of  10-15  men,  until 
1834. 

The  usual  officers  were  nominated  and  appointed 
by  the  vestry.  Three  overseers  of  the  poor  were  ap- 
pointed until  1642,  when  it  was  decided  that  two  were 
sufficient.  Before  this  they  were  usually  called  'col- 
lectors'. In  1642  it  was  noted  that  the  constable  should 
be  chosen  first.  Between  1624  and  1634  there  were 
opportunities  for  93  men  to  serve  parish  office.'^ 
Thirty-nine  actually  served.  In  1750—60  there  were 
88  opportunities  and  30  men  served.  Allowing  for  the 
fact  that  one  churchwarden  served  throughout  the  later 
period  it  appears  that  the  incidence  of  office  changed 
little,  although  in  the  i8th  century  the  office  of  over- 
seer was  more  widely  shared  than  it  had  been  in  the 
17th  century,  when  the  responsibilities  were  lighter. 
A  paid  overseer  was  appointed  in  18 10  at  an  annual 
salary  of  ;^I0  10/.,  and  he  was  reappointed  every  year 
until  1822,  when  he  became  a  constable.  Women 
were  twice  chosen  as  overseers  in  the  i8th  century. 
This  indicates  a  rota  of  substantial  landowners  from 
which  overseers  were  picked.  A  woman  overseer's 
responsibility  seems  to  have  ended  with  providing  by 
her  'substance'  financial  security  for  the  operations  of 
her  male  deputy,  who  attended  vestry  for  her. 

It  is  possible  that  one  churchwarden  was  customarily 
chosen  by  the  parishioners  and  one  by  the  rector,  and 
an  explicit  statement  of  this  first  occurs  in  1763. 

The  standing  orders  of  1724  provided  that  an  officer 
with  an  account  to  pass  who  did  not  appear  should  be 
prosecuted.  This  order  was  applied  capriciously.  In 
1725  it  was  resolved  to  apply  for  a  warrant  against  a 
defaulting  overseer,  who  subsequently  returned.  In 
1735  Mr-  Webb,  a  surveyor,  came  to  the  vestry  with- 
out his  accounts  but  declared  'to  the  best  of  his  know- 
ledge' that  he  had  spent  £6.  In  fact  he  had  spent 
slightly  less,  as  appeared  later,  but  there  is  no  hint  of 
censure.  After  1750  the  totals  of  each  overseer's  dis- 
bursements were  recorded  monthly  and  were  pre- 
sumably examined  by  each  monthly  vestry. 

Income  from  parish  property  and  charities  went  far 
to  meet  the  expenses  incurred  during  the  i8th  century 
and  rates  were  not  often  required.  Money  was  raised 
for  special  purposes  by  loans  (e.g.  j^2  50  to  build  the 
workhouse  in  1769),  the  interest  on  which  was  paid 
from  the  rates.  In  1 806  the  parish  debts  were  paid  by 
the  sale  for  ;^I20  of  parish  lands  in  Shonks  Mill 
meadow  and  the  sale  of  timber  worth  £fio  'in  the  field 
adjoining  the  workhouse'. 

In  the  17th  century  and  the  first  half  of  the  i8th 
rates  were  granted  to  each  officer  as  required.  In 
1732  the  surveyors  were  ordered  to  pay  the  surplus  on 
their  account  to  the  repair  of  the  church  bells.  In  1741 
the  last  separate  surveyors'  rate  was  levied.  Thence- 
forth all  rates  were  levied  by  the  overseers  who  re- 
imbursed other  officers. 98  The  product  of  a  i</.  rate 
in  173 1  was  ^q.  By  a  resolution  of  1749  there  was  a 

'7  Eleven  pairs  of  churchwardens  and  of 
turveyors ;  1 1  trios  of  overseers ;  8  pairs 
of  sidesmen. 

"  The  levy  of  a  special  church  rate  in 


reassessment,  probably  stimulated  by  a  sharp  rise  in 
the  cost  of  poor  relief  In  1748  a  i</.  rate  produced 
£10  15/.,  and  in  1749,  C^^  4^-  ^^  produced  ^^9  in 
1805  and  1 8 17.  In  1824,  after  anew  reassessment,  the 
product  was  £17." 

An  entry  in  the  churchwardens'  accounts  in  1626 
'for  writeinge  is.  6d.'  is  the  first  surviving  record  of 
payment  to  a  servant  of  the  parish.  In  1674  Richard 
Cox  bequeathed  to  the  parish  a  black  shroud,  directing 
that  the  parish  clerk  should  have  custody  of  it  and  that 
he  and  succeeding  sextons  or  clerks  should  be  paid  \s. 
by  each  person  using  it.  In  1744  a  church  clerk  was 
appointed  at  a  salary  of  £2  a  year.  A  new  vestry  book 
was  started  in  1775  and  most  of  the  records  of  meetings 
in  it  are  signed  by  the  clerk.  Previously,  from  the  mid 
17th  century,  minutes  seem  to  have  been  written  by 
the  best  penman  present.  In  1 8 1 7  the  salary  of  the 
clerk  was  raised  to  £4  41.  a  year. 

It  was  easy  to  relieve  the  poor  in  the  17th  century. 
Income  came  from  Easter  communion  collections, 
from  Green's  Charity,  and  from  casual  bequests  to  the 
parish  poor.  In  16 17,  for  example,  the  first  source 
yielded  8^.,  the  second  £2,  and  the  third  10/.  Fifteen 
persons  shared  this  income.  They  included  five 
widows,  and  three  men  who  appear  from  the  Register 
of  Baptisms  to  have  been  aged  70,  58,  and  52.  The 
recipients  of  poor  relief  were  such  old  and  infirm  people 
as  these,  some  children,  and  travellers  along  the 
London  road.  Relief  was  by  money  doles,  boarding 
out,  apprenticing  of  poor  children,  providing  clothes, 
and  apparently  also  by  providing  accommodation.  In 
1652-3  the  sum  of  ^^^6  17;.  6J.  was  laid  out  towards  the 
building  of  a  cottage  for  the  poor.  No  other  reference 
has  been  found  to  the  use  of  this  cottage. 

The  administration  of  poor  relief  during  most  of 
the  17th  century  was  entrusted  not  to  the  overseers  of 
the  poor  but  to  the  churchwardens  and  constables.  All 
the  examples  quoted  above  come  from  the  church- 
wardens' accounts  except  those  relating  to  travellers, 
which  are  from  the  constables'  accounts.  Records  of 
the  overseers  handling  money  appear  first  in  1670. 
During  the  i8th  century  the  duties  of  the  overseers 
became  increasingly  heavy  as  the  cost  of  poor  relief 
rose.  Between  1724  and  1754  the  average  cost  was 
about  £iTiO  a  year.  In  1754-64  it  was  over  ;^i8o,  in 
1764-74  it  was  ^£260,  in  1774-84  it  was  ^360,  in 
1784-94  it  was  ;^44o,  and  in  1794-1804  it  rose  to 
£?)^o.  The  parish  spent  ten  times  as  much  in  1 800-1 
as  in  1726-7.  The  poor  rate  levied  between  1801  and 
1 8 17  was  rarely  below  ^^1,000  in  any  year.' 

The  two  overseers  acted  independently  and  rendered 
separate  accounts.  When  the  balance  of  both  accounts 
had  been  struck  at  the  Easter  vestry  the  surplus  in  the 
hands  of  the  outgoing  officers  was  shared  between  their 
successors.  Each  overseer  apparently  acted  for  a  dif- 
ferent 'end'  of  the  parish,  either  Toot  Hill  or  Hare 
Street. 

The  poor  in  the  l8th  century  formed  two  classes. 
About  two  dozen  received  regular  weekly  doles,  and 
the  rest,  varying  in  number  with  the  season  and  the 
price  of  food,  received  casual  aid.  The  recipients  of  the 
regular  doles  were  enjoined  by  the  orders  of  1724  and 
1732  to  wear  badges.^ 

Until  the  building  of  the  workhouse  the  expedients 
of  the  previous  century  seem  to  have  been  adopted  for 

1 8 17,  for  extensive  repairs  to  the  church,  tion. 

is  the  only  exception.  '  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  1/9. 

"  A  dispute  with  3  ratepayers  over  the  ^  This  was  under  Poor  Relief  Act,  8  k 

new  reassessment  was  settled  by  arbitra-  9  Will.  Ill,  c.  30. 


220 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STANFORD  RIVERS 


the  relief  of  the  poor.  Medical  attention  was  perhaps 
new.  In  1741  an  account  for  medicine  of  ^^4  8j-.  was 
passed,  and  in  1746  there  was  payment  o(  £,\  4/.  for 
medical  services.  Paupers'  rents,  and  from  1764  the 
cost  of  their  firing,  were  often  paid  and  in  many  cases 
the  money  went  to  prominent  vestrymen.' 

In  1769  a  workhouse  was  built  on  parish  land  near 
the  church.  From  1770  payments  for  wool  and  spindles 
indicate  that  the  inmates  were  engaged  in  spinning. 
From  177 1  this  work  brought  income;  the  weekly 
sums  recorded  were  usually  greatest  in  the  winter. 
This  income  later  declined.  Another  source  of  income 
was  the  hiring  of  paupers'  labour.  From  1810  until 
18 1 5  regular  statements  of  account  between  the 
governor  of  the  workhouse  and  the  parishioners  were 
recorded.  The  overseers  made  monthly  or  fortnightly 
cash  payments  and  supplied  flour  to  the  governor.  He 
kept  the  paupers  at  an  agreed  rate  for  each  person,  and 
received  extra  for  fuel,  potatoes,  and  'hair  cutting, 
shaving,  mops,  brooms,  thread,  worsted,  tape,  oil  &c.' 
In  i8og  there  were  12  beds  in  the  workhouse  and  in 
1 8  3  o  there  were  13.* 

In  1829  Stanford  Rivers  joined  with  nine  other 
parishes  in  a  voluntary  poor  law  union.'  The  parish 
raised  £300  on^^jo  bonds  at  4  per  cent.,  dated  1830— i, 
to  defray  its  contribution  towards  the  cost  of  the  new 
incorporated  workhouse,*  and  in  1831  sold  its  own 
workhouse  for  i,\^o^ 

The  new  incorporated  workhouse  was  built  (prob- 
ably in  1 830-1)  at  Little  End  in  Stanford  Rivers,  on 
land  formerly  owned  by  Capel  Cure.*  After  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Ongar  Union  in  1836  it  became  the  pro- 
perty of  the  new  union  and  served  as  its  workhouse 
until  the  union  came  to  an  end  in  1930. 

Stanford  Rivers  became  part  of  the  Ongar  Union 
in  1836. 

In  1818  there  were  two  day  schools  in  the  parish, 
with  some  50  pupils.'  In  the  following 
SCHOOLS  years  one  of  them  seems  to  have  ceased 
and  another  to  have  started,  so  that  in 
1833  there  were  still  two  schools  with  44  pupils.'"- As 
late  as  1846-7  the  only  schools  were  kept  by  dames. 
The  rector,  however,  exercised  some  supervision  over 
one  of  these  and  also  gave  financial  help  to  some  of  the 
others."  The  number  of  these  schools  had  evidently 
increased  with  the  growth  of  the  population  and  in 
1851a  National  School  was  at  last  built.  It  was  on  the 
road  about  half  way  between  Toot  Hill  and  Little 
End.  The  Department  of  Education  gave  ;{^ii7  and 
the  National  Society  ;^20  towards  the  cost.  The  lord 
of  the  manor  gave  the  site  and  ^^200,  and  other  sub- 
scriptions were  collected.  The  rector  and  church- 
wardens were  appointed  trustees  of  the  school.  They 


and  three  of  the  subscribers  constituted  the  board  of 
management.  In  1857,  when  some  additions  and 
alterations  took  place,  a  further  grant  of  £<)  was 
received  from  the  Department  of  Education.'^  In 
1870  there  were  stated  to  be  places  for  117  chil- 
dren.'^ 

The  accommodation  at  the  school  was  not  fully  used 
for  many  years.  In  1858—9  there  were  30  boys  and 
37  girls  in  attendance;  there  was  apparently  much 
truancy.'"*  In  1871  there  were  still  only  about  65 
pupils. 's  In  1858—9  there  were  a  mistress  and  two 
pupil-teachers'*  and  in  1863  there  were  a  master  and 
a  mistress. '7  The  school  received  parliamentary  grants 
for  the  training  of  pupil-teachers,  the  employment  of 
certificated  teachers,  and  the  purchase  of  equipment. 
In  1858—9  the  grant  was  ^^164,  but  an  inspector  found 
the  standard  of  education  to  be  low.'*  In  1871  it  was 
estimated  that  140  school  places  were  needed  to  secure 
universal  elementary  education  in  the  parish,  and  that 
the  National  School  could  provide  1 1 8  of  these.  The 
Education  Department  proposed  to  unite  the  parish 
with  North  Weald  Bassett  (q.v.)  in  a  single  administra- 
tive district,  apparently  to  facilitate  the  attendance  of 
some  Stanford  Rivers  children  at  a  new  school  to  be 
built  in  North  Weald.  There  was  much  opposition 
from  North  Weald  to  these  proposals  and  the  amalgama- 
tion did  not  take  place."  The  school  at  Stanford 
Rivers  was  enlarged  in  the  following  years.^"  The 
average  attendance  increased  from  69  in  1872  to  93 
in  1880  and  144  in  1902,  and  the  annual  grants  rose 
from  j^34  14^.  in  1872  to  ;^74  13/.  in  1880  and 
;^i46  18/.  in  1902.^' 

By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee, Ongar  District.  Its  average  attendance  fell  to 
74  in  1929.  In  1936  it  was  reorganized  for  mixed 
juniors  and  infants,  the  seniors  being  transferred  to  the 
new  school  at  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v,).^^  In  May  1952 
there  were  2  teachers  and  53  pupils.  In  May  1950  the 
school  was  granted  aided  status.^3 

The  school  is  an  L-shaped  one-story  building  of  red 
brick  with  a  tiled  roof.  The  teacher's  house  attached 
to  it  has  two  stories. 

Thomas  Petit^'*  (d.  before  1602)  left  5/.  a  year  each 
for  the  poor  and  'poor  folk's  marriages' 
CHARITIES  to  the  parishes  of  Stanford  Rivers  and 
Greenstead.  It  issued  from  lands  in 
Stanford  Rivers.^s  In  1834  the  money  had  not  been 
paid  for  at  least  2  3  years.  The  owner  of  the  land  was 
apparently  willing  to  pay  the  charge  in  future  but  there 
is  no  later  record  of  the  charity. 

William  Green,^*  by  will  dated  1554,  devised  a 
rent  charge  of  ^^2  to  1 2  poor  inhabitants  of  Stanford 


5  This  is,  of  course,  not  surprising :  they 
were  of  the  class  which  owned  cottages 
and  had  timber  to  sell. 

*  E.R.O.,  D/P  140/18/4. 

'  The  union  was  under  Gilbert's  Act 
(22  Geo.  Ill,  c.  83  (1782)).  The  other 
parishes  were  Abbess  Roding,  Bobbing- 
worth,  Greenstead,  Little  Laver,  Shelley, 
Stapleford  Abbots,  Stapleford  Tawney, 
Stondon  Massey,  and  Great  Warley.  All 
were  in  Ongar  hundred  except  the  last, 
which  was  in  Chafford  hundred.  For  a 
copy  of  the  agreement  see  E.R.O., 
p/RSw  I. 

"'  E.R.O.,    D/P    140/8/8.    The   bond- 
holders were  all  London  men. 

'  Ibid.  140/18/3. 

8  E.R.O.,  D/DCCT33. 

9  Retns.  on  Educ.  of  Poor,  H.C.   224, 


p.  271  (1819),  i!C(l). 

■"  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.,  H.C.  62,  p.  289 
(1835),  xli. 

"  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
1846—7,  pp.  18-19. 

'2  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/342;  ex  inf. 
National  Society. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/8. 

'*  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  Reps,  on  Schs. 
in  Norfolk,  Suffolk  and  Essex,  1858-9, 
p.  44  (in  Min.  of  Educ.  Libr.). 

■5  Retns.  Elem.  Educ,  H.C.  201,  pp. 
112-13(1871),  Iv. 

"  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  Reps,  on  Schs.  in 
Norfolk,  Suffolk  and  Essex,  1858-9,  p.  44. 

"  fVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863),  744. 

■8  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  Reps,  on  Schs. 
in  Norfolk,  Suffolk  and  Essex,  1858—9, 
p.   44;   Rep.   of  Educ.   Cttee.  of  Council, 


1858  [2510],  p.  560,  H.C.  (1859,  Sess.  i), 
xxi  (i). 

■9  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/342. 

»»  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1886 
[C.  5123-r],  p.  520,  H.C.  (1887),  xxviii. 

"  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  i8y2 
[C.  812],  p.  409,  H.C.  (1873),  xxiv;  'ibid. 
1880  [C.  2948-1],  p.  579,  H.C.  (1881), 
xxxii ;  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ,  igo2 
[Cd.  1490],  p.  74,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 

2^  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/342. 

"  Ex  inf.  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

2<  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  243  (1835),  xxi  (i);  cf.  E.R.O.,  D/P 
140/1/1  f.  143V. 

^5  Cf.  the  'anniversary'  in  the  Church, 
in  1549  and  earlier. 

*^  Rep.  Com.  Char.  [Essex),  p.  243 ;  cf. 
D/P  140/1/1  f.  138  f. 


221 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Rivers  and  ^^i  to  6  poor  of  Chipping  Ongar.  In  1786 
it  had  not  been  paid  since  1739. 

Mary  Rayner*'  of  Greenstead,  by  will  proved  1 873, 
left  ^^400  for  the  upkeep  of  her  family  tomb  and  for 
the  provision  of  clothing  for  the  most  deserving  poor  of 
Stanford  Rivers.  Although  the  primary  trust  was  void 
by  the  rule  against  perpetuities,  small  sums  were  spent 
on  the  tombstone  at  various  times.  In  1950  the  income 
was  ;^io  IS.  %d.,  which,  together  with  the  last  year's 


balance  was  enough  to  give  27  parishioners  10/.  each 
for  clothing. 

Jessie  Matilda  Berkeley's  of  Mere  (Wilts.),  by  will 
proved  1930,  left  ;^500  in  trust  for  the  upkeep 
of  the  graveyard  of  the  parish  church  and  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  provided  that  her  family  vault 
was  maintained  in  good  repair.^'  The  income  in  1950 
was  £zo  %s.  \d.,  all  of  which  was  spent  on  the  grave- 
yard. 


STAPLEFORD  ABBOTS 


Stapleford  Abbots  is  about  5  miles  north  of  Romford 
and  5  miles  south-west  of  Chipping  Ongar.'  It  has  an 
area  of  2,366  acres.'  It  is  still  a  rural  parish  but  during 
the  past  30  years  there  has  been  some  suburban  develop- 
ment in  the  south,  from  which  region  there  is  now  a 
good  bus  service  to  Romford.  Until  the  19th  century 
the  parish  retained  over  1 00  acres  of  woodland,  part 
of  the  ancient  forest  of  Essex,  and  some  300  acres  of 
common  waste  and  meadow.'  It  formerly  included 
also  two  large  mansions,  Albyns  and  Knolls  Hill. 
Albyns,  a  very  fine  house  dating  from  the  i6th  century, 
is  now  (1954)  being  demohshed  after  war  damage. 
Knolls  Hill  was  pulled  down  in  the  19th  century.  In 
the  1 8th  and  early  19th  centuries  there  was  a  con- 
siderable hamlet  in  the  east  of  the  parish  at  Martins 
Hern*  but  only  two  derelict  cottages  now  remain  there. 
There  were  47  inhabited  houses  in  the  parish  in  1801 
and  78  in  1 82 1. 5  In  180 1  the  population  was  320.^  By 
1 83 1  it  had  grown  to  507.'  It  remained  very  close  to 
500  until  the  i88o's,  when  it  fell  to  320  in  1891.*  It 
then  rose  again  to  433  in  191 1  but  fell  to  391  in  1921.' 
Since  1921  there  has  been  a  renewed  rise,  the  figure  for 
1951  being  731.'" 

There  are  hills  rising  to  291  ft.  (Knolls  Hill),x, 
257  ft.,  and  300  ft.  in  the  west,  centre,  and  south-east 
of  the  parish  respectively.  In  the  north  the  land  falls 
just  below  100  ft.  where  the  River  Roding  forms  the 
parish  boundary.  Bourne  Brook  flows  south-west  be- 
tween the  hills  in  the  centre  andsouth-east  of  the  parish. 
The  road  from  Romford  crosses  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  parish  and  runs  north-west.  At  Standish  Farm, 
just  inside  the  boundary,  it  is  joined  by  a  road  which 
leads  north-east  to  Navestock.  This  Navestock  road 
branches  at  Tysea  Hill  Chapel,"  one  branch  running 
east  to  Navestock  Side  and  the  other  continuing  north- 
east to  Navestock  Heath.  There  are  some  20th-century 
houses  on  the  Navestock  road  between  Standish  Farm 
and  the  chapel.  Opposite  the  chapel  are  three  pairs  of 
council  houses  and  there  are  another  three  pairs  on  the 
east  side  of  the  road  to  Navestock  Heath,  just  inside  the 
parish  boundary. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  Romford  road,  nearly  op- 
posite the  Royal  Oak  public  house,  is  a  field  in  which  a 
windmill  formerly  stood."  The  road  is  lined  with 
20th-century  houses  for  more  than  J  mile  beyond  the 
'Royal  Oak'.    Beyond  these  houses  it  is  joined  by 


Bournebridge  Lane  which  runs  west  to  Lambourne 
End.  There  are  also  some  20th-century  houses  at  the 
eastern  end  of  Bournebridge  Lane.  Beyond  them,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  lane,  is  Butchers  Farm,  a  red-brick 
house  dating  from  the  i8th  century;  it  has  a  dentil 
eaves  cornice  and  a  mansard  roof  with  dormer  windows. 
Beyond  Butchers  Farm  the  lane  crosses  Bourne  Brook 
at  Bourne  Bridge,  to  the  north-west  of  which  is  a 
cottage  which  was  formerly  Knolls  Hill  Free  School. '3 
About  \  mile  farther  west,  just  before  Bournebridge 
Lane  crosses  the  western  boundary  of  the  parish,  is 
Knolls  Hill  Farm,  which  is  on  the  hiU-crest  site  of  the 
mansion  demolished  in  the  19th  century.'*  On  the 
parish  boundary,  north-west  of  Knolls  Hill  Farm,  is 
Blackbush  Farm,  a  timber-framed  and  partly  weather- 
boarded  house,  which  probably  dates  from  the  i6th 
century;  it  consists  of  a  central  block  with  gabled  cross- 
wings  to  the  north  and  south. 

About  \  mile  beyond  the  junction  with  Bourne- 
bridge Lane,  the  Romford  road  is  joined  by  a  lane 
leading  east  to  Stapleford  Hall. '5  On  the  south  side 
of  this  lane  there  stood  until  a  recent  fire  Mitchells 
Farm,  probably  a  17th-century  house.  About  \  mile 
farther  along  the  Romford  road  is  the  school.'*  Beyond 
this  Hook  Lane  leads  south-west  to  Blackbush  Farm 
and  Lambourne  End.  A  drive  to  Battles  Hall"  leads 
north  from  Hook  Lane,  near  its  junction  with  the 
Romford  road.  About  \  mile  north  of  this  junction 
are  three  pairs  of  council  houses.  Beyond  these  the 
Romford  road  is  joined  by  Church  Lane  which  leads 
south-east  to  the  church' 8  and  the  rectory.'"  On  the 
east  side  of  this  lane  are  four  pairs  of  council  houses, 
south  of  which  is  the  site  of  the  former  parish  school.'" 

North  of  Church  Lane,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Romford  road,  is  Bons  Farm,  opposite  which  a  lane 
leads  westward  to  Hammonds  Farm."  Bons  farm-house 
is  timber-framed  and  plastered  and  consists  of  a  central 
hall  block  with  cross-wings  to  the  east  and  west.  There 
are  indications  that  the  east  wing  and  some  of  the 
timbers  of  the  hall  are  of  medieval  origin.  In  the  i6th 
century  the  roof  of  the  hall  was  raised  to  give  another 
story,  a  chimney  was  inserted,  and  the  three-story  west 
wing  was  added  or  rebuilt.  This  has  a  small  staircase 
wing  adjoining  it.  At  the  front  of  the  house  the  upper 
floors  of  both  wings  oversail  and  have  original  moulded 
bressummers.     The  doorway,  barge-boards,  and  other 


"  Char.  Com.  files.  "  Ibid. 

**  The  condition  was  void  under  the  rule 
concerning  perpetuities. 

■  O.S.  2 J  in.  Map,  sheets  5 1  /49,  51/59. 

^  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council. 

3  Sec  below. 

<  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  EsseXy 
jyjy,  plate  xvi;  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330. 

'  Census    Reports,    1801,    1821.     The 
number  of  houses  given  in  the  Census 


Return  for  181 1  is  29  but  this  is  obviously 
a  misprint. 

<■  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

'  Ibid.  8  Ibid. 

'  Ibid.;  Census  Reports,  191 1  f. 
">  Census  Reports,  1931,  1951. 
"  See  below.  Church. 
'^  See  below. 
'3  See  below,  Schools. 
'♦  See  below.  Knolls  Hill  estate. 


'5  See  below,  Manor  of  Stapleford 
Abbots. 

'^  See  below.  Schools. 

"  See  below,  Manor  of  Battles  Hall. 

'8  See  below,  Church. 

■9  Ibid. 

"  See  below,  Schools. 

2'  See  below.  Manor  of  Stapleford 
Abbots. 


222 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STAPLEFORD  ABBOTS 


timber-work  are  also  original.  Both  in  the  central  block 
and  in  the  west  wing  stone  fireplaces  of  the  i6th 
century  have  been  uncovered.  These  have  four-centred 
arches  and  carved  spandrels  and  are  almost  identical 
with  fireplaces  of  the  same  period  which  were  formerly 
at  Albyns.  In  two  instances  there  are  Tudor  roses  and 
fleurs-de-lis  above  the  lintels. 

The  Romford  road  leaves  the  parish  at  Passingford 
Bridge  over  the  Roding.  Immediately  to  the  south  of 
the  bridge  a  lane  leads  south-east  to  Albyns,^^  which 
lies  in  a  park,  and  the  main  road  via  Abridge  to  London 
runs  west.  On  the  north  side  of  the  London  road, 
about  J  mile  west  of  Passingford  Bridge,  is  Passingford 
Mill.^3  The  former  Mill  House  is  a  little  farther  west. 

References  in  the  Quarter  Sessions  rolls  to  com- 
munications in  Stapleford  Abbots  chiefly  relate  to 
Passingford  Bridge.^t 

In  1 592  Bourne  Bridge  was  presented  as  so  broken 
that  no  horse  and  cart  could  pass.^s  In  1609-10  it  was 
said  that  this  bridge  was  in  decay  and  should  be 
repaired  by  the  Crown.^*  In  1656  it  was  reported  that 
'the  lord  of  the  manor  of  Stapleford  Hall,  one  Chambers 
alias  Chamberline'  had  failed  to  repair  it.^' 

In  1896  a  sub-post-office  under  Romford  was  estab- 
lished at  Stapleford  Abbots,  with  two  rural  posts.^* 
There  was  a  telephone  service  by  1937.^'  A  police 
officer  is  stationed  in  the  parish.'" 

Water  was  first  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex 
Waterworks  Co.  in  1935,  but  there  is  no  main  drain- 
age.3'  In  1935  powers  were  obtained  by  the  Romford 
Gas  Co.  to  supply  gas  to  Stapleford  Abbots  and  other 
villages  but  there  is  not  yet  a  supply.'^  Electricity  was 
laid  on  in  1931.33  A  branch  of  the  county  library  was 
opened  in  i93i.3'» 

Stapleford  Abbots  has  always  been  a  rural  parish, 
devoted  mainly  to  agriculture.  The  lords  of  the  capital 
manor  have  never  lived  in  the  parish.35  The  owners  of 
Battles  Hall  were  never  resident  after  the  beginning  of 
the  1 5th  century. 3*  The  owners  of  Albyns  manor  seem 
to  have  lived  in  the  parish  at  some  periods  before  the 
middle  of  the  17th  century  and  the  Abdys,  who  bought 
the  estate  in  1654,  were  resident  for  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  period  from  1654,  if  not  before,  until  1840.3' 
After  1 840  both  the  house  and  the  estate  were  leased 
and  the  Abdys  did  not  again  live  in  the  parish.3  8 

In  1845  the  parish  consisted  of  2,332  acres,  most  of 
which  was  occupied  by  tenant  farmers.3'  The  Crown 
owned  349  acres  of  which  226  acres  (Stapleford  Hall 
farm)  were  occupied  by  E.  and  C.  Mollett  and  123 
acres  (Hammonds  Farm)  by  J.  Fitch.*"  Lady  Mildmay 
owned  351  acres  of  which  she  occupied  140  acres, 
mainly  woodland.'"  Sir  Thomas  Abdy  owned  350 
acres  of  which  12;  acres,  mainly  wood  and  meadow, 
were  occupied  by  R.  Currie,  70  acres  by  E.  and  C. 
Mollett,  and  66  acres  by  J.  Surridge;  the  rest  was  leased 
in  7  parcels.''^   W.  J.  Lockwood  owned  341  acres  of 

2*  See  below.  Manor  of  Albyns. 

23  See  Stapleford  Tawney,  p.  234. 

M  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  121/30. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  189/92. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  368/24..  Chambers 
may  have  acquired  a  lease  of  the  manor 
from  William  Crofts  :  see  below,  Manor  of 
Stapleford  .'Vbbots. 

^'  P.M.G.  Mins.  1896,  vol.  574,  min. 
1191. 

"  Brit.  Postal  Guide,  1937. 

3°  Inf.  from  Chief  Constable  of  Essex. 

3'  Inf.  from  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1937). 


32  Inf.  from  North  Thames  Gas  Bd. 

33  Inf.  from  East.  Elec.  Bd. 
3*  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

35  Sec     below,     Manor    of    Stapleford 
Abbots. 

36  See  below,  Manor  of  Battles  Hall. 
3'  See    below,    Manor    of   Albyns    and 

Church. 

38  E.R.O.,    D/CT    330;    ffiite's    Dir. 
Essex  (1863);  Kell/s  Dir.  Essex  (1862  f.). 

30  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330. 

«  Ibid.  •<■  Ibid. 

«  Ibid.  «  Ibid. 

«  Ibid.  ts  Ibid. 

*<■  H.O.  67/16. 


which  1 24  acres  (Knolls  Hill  farm)  were  occupied  by 
R.  Rudd,  96  acres  (Blunts  farm)  by  J.  Stains,  and  75 
acres  (Olivers  Farm)  by  H.  Viney;  the  rest  was  leased 
in  4  small  parcels.*'  There  were  3  other  substantial 
owners,  none  of  whom  farmed  the  land  himself: 
D.  Mcintosh  owned  160  acres  which  he  leased  in  2 
parcels;  the  Revd.  John  Bramston  Stane  owned  142 
acres  of  which  Rebecca  Roach  occupied  84  acres 
(Wiggans  farm)  and  C.  Stevens  57  acres  (Tunbridge 
farm).**  There  were  3  other  farms  of  over  40  acres, 
all  of  them  occupied  by  tenant  farmers.*' 

Then,  as  now,  there  was  mixed  farming  in  the  parish, 
with  a  predominance  of  pasture.  In  1801  it  was  esti- 
mated that  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  parish  was 
meadow  and  pasture  land.**  In  1 845  there  were  about 
800  acres  of  arable,  1,2  50  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture, 
and  200  acres  of  woodland  and  forest.*'  There  were 
also  40  acres  of  land  under  hops.** 

There  is  some  evidence  concerning  inclosure  in  the 
parish.  Most  of  the  common  field  and  meadow  land 
had  evidently,  as  elsewhere  in  the  area,  been  inclosed 
before  the  19th  century.  In  1824,  however,  291  acres 
of  land  belonging  to  the  capital  manor  were  inclosed.*' 
This  land  was  mainly  in  the  east  of  the  parish.  It  was 
largely  waste  but  included  36  acres  of  common  meadow 
(Rye  Mead),  21  acres  of  which  were  in  Lambourne 
parish.50 

About  132  acres  of  woodland  in  the  west  of  Staple- 
ford Abbots,  belonging  mostly  to  the  manor  of  Battles 
Hall,  formed  part  of  Hainault  Forest. si  When  the 
latter  was  disaiforested  in  1 85 1,  the  part  of  it  in  Staple- 
ford Abbots  was  unaffected. 5^  In  1858  the  Hainault 
Forest  Allotment  of  Commons  Act's  provided  that 
191  acres  in  Stapleford  Abbots,  Lambourne,  and 
Dagenham  should  be  allotted  as  common  to  the  parish 
of  Stapleford  Abbots.'*  This  land  was  inclosed  in 
186;;  14  acres  of  it  were  sold,  almost  entirely  to  the 
Crown,  to  pay  the  expenses  of  inclosure;  2  acres  were 
awarded  to  the  churchwardens  and  overseers  to  hold 
in  trust  as  an  allotment  for  the  labouring  poor  of  the 
parish  chargeable  with  a  rent  of  ^^2  to  the  Crown;  100 
acres  were  allotted  to  the  Crown  in  compensation  of  its 
rights  in  the  land  as  owner  of  Battles  Hall  manor;  the 
remainder  was  allotted  to  various  individuals  in  com- 
pensation for  their  rights  of  common." 

The  windmill  which  formerly  stood  opposite  the 
'Royal  Oak'  does  not  appear  on  a  map  of  17775*  and 
may  have  dated  from  the  early  19th  century.  It  was  a 
weather-boarded  post-mill"  on  a  brick  base  and  ceased 
work  some  years  before  igio.'*  In  1923  the  sails  were 
blown  off"  and  the  building  was  demolished.*" 

The  manor  o( STAPLEFORD  ABBOTS  was  held 

by  the  abbey  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds  before 

MANORS    the  Conquest.    It  was  recorded  in   the 

abbey's  registers  that  one  night  in   10 13 

the  lord  of  the  manor  of  Stapleford  was  miraculously 

«'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330. 
ts  Ibid. 

<«  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  22. 
5»  Ibid. 

5"  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  42,  55. 
52  W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  349. 
'3  21  &  22  Vict.  c.  37. 
5*  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  55. 
ss  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  65. 
56  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  pi.  xvi. 
"  E.R.  xxxii,  200. 
"  E.R.  xxxiii,  96. 

59    Ibid. 

"  E.R.  xxxiii,  148. 


223 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


cured  of  a  lingering  illness  by  the  presence  of  the  body 
of  St.  Edmund,  on  its  way  back  to  Bury  Abbey  from 
London,  and  that  in  return  for  his  recovery  he  granted 
the  manor  to  the  abbey  for  ever.*'  Whether  the  grant 
was  made  then  and  in  those  circumstances  cannot  be 
confirmed  but  the  abbey  certainly  owned  the  manor  by 
1066.*^  It  was  then  worth  45^.*'  In  1086  it  was 
worth  50^.*^  The  abbey  retained*s  Stapleford  until 
the  Dissolution  and  the  manor  and  the  parish  became 
known  as  Stapleford  Abbots. 

In  the  early  12th  century  the  abbey's  possessions 
were  divided  between  the  abbot  and  the  convent:** 
the  manor  of  Stapleford  was  apportioned  to  the  abbot.*^ 
Abbot  Hugh  (11 57-1 1 80)  let  or  confirmed  the  lease 
of  this  manor  to  Walter  of  Hatfield.*^  In  September 
1 182,  soon  after  his  election.  Abbot  Samson  took  all 
his  manors  into  his  own  hands.*'  He  pardoned  Walter 
of  Hatfield  £11^  arrears  of  rent  in  return  for  which 
Walter  surrendered  Stapleford  and  three  other 
manors.'"  In  1207  a  meeting  took  place  in  Abbot 
Samson's  chamber  at  Stapleford  between  King  John 
and  his  nephew  Otto  IV;"  as  a  result  of  the  meeting 
John  supplied  Otto  with  6,000  marks.'^  Later  in  the 
13th  century  the  abbots  again  leased  the  manor  of 
Stapleford.  In  about  1260  Abbot  Simon  (1257-79) 
granted  it  to  Sir  Philip  Basset  for  life.'^  In  1278 
Simon  granted  it  to  Laurence  de  Offinton  for  life  at  a 
rent  of  ^10  a  year.'<  Afterwards  Simon's  successor 
John  (1279-1301)  granted  a  life  interest  in  the  manor 
to  Hervey  de  Stanton,  king's  clerk.'' 

In  1539,  after  the  Dissolution,  a  man  whose  name  is 
lost  but  who  was  perhaps  George  Cely,  petitioned 
Thomas  Cromwell  to  grant  him  in  exchange  for  his 
house  and  lands  in  Havering  'the  lordship  in  Essex 
called  Stapleford  Abbot,  lately  belonging  to  the 
monastery  of  Bury  and  worth  ;^20,  within  which  lord- 
ship I  have  £1 5  over  and  besides  the  £zo  now  the 
King's'.'*  The  petitioner  added  that  he  would  not 
have  'Mr.  Chancellor's  favour  therein  as  he  has  pro- 
mised it  to  Mr.  Tuke  who  has  refused  it  unless  he  may 
have  my  lands  lying  within  the  same'."  In  1541  the 
manor  was  granted  in  fee  to  John  Maynarde,  mercer, 
of  London,  who  immediately  received  licence  to 
alienate  it  to  Sir  Brian  Tuke,  Treasurer  of  the  Cham- 
ber.'* Sir  Brian  held  his  first  court  in  October  1541 
and  three  more  courts  before  the  end  of  February 
1543."  By  April  1545,  however,  the  Crown  had 
regained  the  estate,  possibly  by  an  exchange,*"  and 
thenceforth  retained  the  freehold  until  1835  or  soon 
after. 

During  this  period  the  estate  was  let  on  long  leases. 
At  first  it  was  leased  in  parcels  and  the  leases  did  not 


include  the  manorial  rights,  although,  occasionally  at 
least,  a  lessee  was  appointed  bailifl^of  the  manor.  Later 
the  manorial  rights  were  leased  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the 
estate. 

In  1545  George  Cely  was  granted  a  lease  for  21 
years  of  the  capital  messuage  and  some  of  the  lands 
appurtenant  to  the  manor  at  a  rent  of  ^21  13/.  4</.  a 
year.*'  Cely  mortgaged  the  lease  to  one  Buckland  for 
j^20.82  Shortly  afterwards  George  Cely  died  having 
devised  the  lease  to  his  eldest  son  Walter  who  im- 
mediately redeemed  the  mortgage.  *3  Walter  was  al- 
ready bailiff  of  the  manor,  having  been  appointed  in 
1 546.*+  In  1 548  he  purchased  the  manor  of  Albyns.*' 
He  died  in  1 549  having  devised  his  lease  of  Stapleford 
Hall  to  his  wife  Elizabeth.**  Afterwards  Elizabeth 
married  Thomas  Smythe,  clerk  of  the  bakery,  who  in 
1557  was  appointed  bailiff  of  the  manor.*'  In  1558 
Smythe  surrendered  to  the  Crown  the  remaining  term 
of  the  lease  granted  to  George  Cely  in  1545  and 
received  a  new  lease  for  30  years  at  a  rent  oi£2 1  1 3/.  \d. 
a  year.**  This  lease  was  apparently  surrendered  before 
its  term,  for  in  1585  the  queen  granted  a  lease  of  the 
same  property  to  William  Dove  for  21  years  at 
j^2l  13/.  4d'.  a  year.*'  Later  Dove  surrendered  this 
lease  to  the  Crown  with  the  request  that  it  should  be 
granted  to  Roger  Gittins  and  his  wife  Anne  and  their 
daughter  Anne.'"  In  1591  a  lease  was  granted  to 
Roger  and  Anne  Gittins  and  their  daughter  Anne  for 
their  lives  in  survivorship  at  the  same  rent  as  that  paid 
by  previous  lessees."  In  1594  the  Crown  granted  a 
lease  of  the  same  property  in  reversion  to  John  Wood, 
clerk  of  the  signet,  for  30  years  at  a  rent  of  ;^2  r  1 3/.  4^/. 
a  year.'^ 

In  January  161 7  James  I  demised  the  manor  with 
all  its  lands  rents  and  profits  to  Sir  Francis  Bacon  and 
others  for  a  term  of  99  years.'^  In  July  1629  this  lease 
was  assigned  to  Henry,  Earl  of  Holland,  and  others  in 
trust  for  Queen  Henrietta  Maria  for  her  life  with  the 
power  of  letting  the  estate.'''  In  March  1641  the  queen 
leased  the  capital  messuage  and  some  lands  appurtenant 
to  the  manor  to  William  Crofts,  one  of  her  servants,  for 
21  years  at  a  rent  of  £21  1 3/.  \J.  a  year.'s  Crofts  was 
also  granted  the  manorial  rights  for  2 1  years  at  a  rent 
of  ^17  loj-.  a  year  and,  for  the  same  term,  a  tenement 
called  Hammonds,  which  was  also  part  of  the  manor 
and  which  had  been  leased  at  an  annual  rent  of  ^^8  10/. 
since  1541  or  earlier.'* 

By  letters  patent  of  7  February  1650  Charles  II 
mortgaged  four  manors,  including  Stapleford  Abbots, 
to  Sir  George  Carteret,  ist  Bt.,  for  ,^4,000,  part  of  a 
larger  sum  which  Sir  George  had  expended  in  the 
service  of  Charles  I  and  which  Charles  II  had  bound 


*'  Dugd.  Mon.  iii,  139,  140. 

"  r.C.H.Es!ex,\,^Si>'. 

"  Ibid. 

<>*  Ibid. 

"  During  the  period  1148-56  Aubrey, 
Earl  of  Oxford  (d.  1194)  quitclaimed  all 
his  rights  in  the  manor  to  the  abbey :  D.  C. 
Douglas,  Feud.  Docs,  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds, 
162.  There  is  no  indication,  however,  of 
what  these  rights  were. 

'*  Ckron.  of  Jocelin  of  Brakelond,  ed. 
H.  E.  Butler,  xix. 

<"  Ibid.  32. 

**  Ibid.  The  same  abbot  granted  the 
'staffacre'  of  Stapleford  Abbots  to  Henry 
«on  of  Henry,  clerk  :  Douglas,  Feud.  Docs. 
Bury,  141.  For  meaning  of  this  word  see 
Chron.  yocelin  of  Brakelond,  cd.  Butler, 
App.  N,  151. 


'9  Chron.  Jocelin  of  Brakelond,  ed. 
Butler,  32. 

'0  Ibid. 

"  A.  L.  Poole,  Dom.  Bk.  to  Magna  Carta 
io8y-i2i6,  451.  In  the  index  to  this  book 
Stapleford  is  wrongly  stated  to  be  the 
Cambridgeshire  place  of  that  name. 

'2  Ibid. 

"  Cat.  Anct.  D.  \,  A.  809. 

'<  Cal.  Fine  R.  1272-1307,  no. 

'5  Cal.  Pat.  I  3 17-21,  160. 

'6  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xiv  (2),  p.  358. 
Cf.  ibid,  (i)  p.  63  and  Dugd.  Mon.  iii,  176. 

"  L.  &  P.  Hen.  mi,  xiv  {2),  p.  358. 

'8  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xvi,  p.  281. 

"  SC2/173/86. 

80  Req.  2/23/49;  L.  &  P.  Hen.  fill, 
IX  (l),  683;  C<2/.  Pat.  1558-60,  82. 

8'  Req.  2/23/49;  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill, 


XI  (0,683. 

"  Req.  2/23/49. 

83  Ibid. 

8«  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  iii,  p.  770. 

85  See  below,  Manor  of  Albyns. 

8'  Req.  2/23/49;  cf.  Walter  Cely's  will: 
P.C.C.  44  PopulwcU  (1549). 

8'  Req.  2/23/49  ;Ca/.7'<2/.  1555-7.360- 

88  Cal.  Pat.  1557-8,  368. 

8«  E.R.O.,  D/DM  T77. 

9»  Ibid. 

»■  Ibid. 

»2  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1591-4,  515. 

«  Lord  Carteret's  Estate  Act,  2  &  3 
Anne,  c.  5  (priv.  act). 

«♦  Ibid. 

»5  SP16/478. 

9'  Ibid.;  Cal.  Pat.  1554-5,  "4- 


224 


ONGAR  HUNDRED        stapleford  abbots 


himself  to  repay."  He  made  this  grant  in  ignorance, 
it  seems,  of  the  lease  held  in  trust  for  Henrietta  Maria.'* 
Later  Sir  George  Carteret  discovered  the  existence  of 
Henrietta's  lease  and  in  April  1663  he  bought  it  in  so 
as  to  protect  his  mortgage."  In  1675,  the  principal 
sum  of  ;^4,ooo  and  most  of  the  interest  thereon  having 
remained  unpaid,  Sir  George  took  the  view  that  the 
sums  outstanding  greatly  exceeded  the  value  of  the 
estate  and  that  he  therefore  had  an  absolute  interest  in 
the  estate  for  the  term  of  99  years  granted  to  him  in 
the  mortgage.  He  proceeded  to  settle  the  manor  of 
Stapleford  Abbots  on  Grace  wife  of  his  grandson  and 
heir  George,  later  ist  Baron  Carteret,  as  part  of  her 
jointure.  Lord  Carteret  died  in  1695  leaving  his 
younger  children  unprovided  for.  In  order  to  help 
provide  portions  for  these  children  his  widow  Grace, 
Lady  Carteret,  wished  to  sell  the  Stapleford  Abbots 
estate.  There  were  doubts,  however,  about  the  validity 
of  her  title  to  this  estate  on  the  grounds  that  the  letters 
patent  of  7  February  1650  could  not  be  found  and 
that  an  enrolled  copy  showed  them  to  be,  in  any  case, 
defective,  because  they  did  not  recite  some  former 
demises.  Moreover,  even  if  the  grant  of  1650  were 
deemed  valid,  the  fact  that  the  Crown  was  not  fore- 
closed from  its  equity  of  redemption  constituted  a  bar 
to  sale.  To  clear  her  title  Lady  Carteret  obtained  an 
Act  of  Parliament,'  in  February  1704,  which  con- 
firmed the  grant  of  1650  and  barred  all  right  or  equity 
of  redemption  in  the  Crown.  By  the  same  Act  the 
estate,  with  others,  was  vested  in  trustees  for  the  pur- 
pose of  sale. 

It  seems,  however,  that  for  some  reason  Lady 
Carteret  did  not  after  all  dispose  of  her  interests  in  the 
manor  of  Stapleford  Abbots  for  as  lady  of  the  manor 
she  granted  a  tenancy  of  a  piece  of  manorial  waste  to 
Sir  John  Fortescue- Aland  of  Knolls  Hill  in  1735.^ 
Moreover  there  is  no  doubt  that  after  her  death  in 
1744  successive  Barons  Carteret  were  granted  further 
leases  of  the  estate  which  they  held  until  1805-9  when 
Henry,  Lord  Carteret  (d.  1826)  transferred  his  lease, 
which  had  been  renewed  in  1 805  for  30  years  at  a  rent 
°f  £S3^  i4-f-  ^-Z.  a  year,  to  John  Rutherforth  Abdy, 
owner  of  Albyns  manor.3  J.  R.  Abdy  still  held  the 
lease  when  it  expired  in  1835.*  The  Crown  then 
offered  the  estate  for  sale.'  At  that  time  it  comprised 
582  acres  of  demesne  land,  which  included  Stapleford 
Hall  farm  (163  acres),  Hammonds  farm  (123  acres), 
several  other  parcels  (totalling  162  acres)  in  Stapleford 
Abbots,  and  Wolves  and  Joyes  farm  (134  acres)  in 
Romford  and  Navestock;  freehold  and  copyhold  rents 
totalled  £1^  7/.  4.1/.  a  year;  fines  averaged  ,^65  a 
year.* 

The  Crown  was  evidently  unable  to  sell  a  large  part 
of  the  estate.  By  January  1844  John  Barnes  had  pur- 
chased the  manorial  rights'  but  apparently  he  did  not 
buy  any  of  the  demesne  land.  In  1845  he  owned  no 
land  in  Stapleford  Abbots;  the  Crown,  however,  still 


owned  349  acres  in  the  parish,  comprising  Stapleford 
Hall  farm  (226  acres)  and  Hammonds  Farm  (123 
acres).*  John  Barnes  was  dead  by  November  1849 
when  his  widow  Ann  held  a  court  as  lady  of  the  manor.' 
By  1 8  5 1  William  Pemberton  Barnes  was  lord  of  the 
manor.'"  Afterwards  the  ownership  of  the  manor 
remained  in  the  family  of  Pemberton  Barnes  until 
191 2-14."  The  Crown  still  owns  Stapleford  Hall 
farm  and  Hammonds  farm.'^ 

Stapleford  Hall  farm-house  was  probably  built  late 
in  the  17th  or  early  in  the  i8th  century.  It  is  timber- 
framed  and  roughcast  and  has  an  L-shaped  plan.  It 
was  much  restored  in  the  19th  century  and  most  of  the 
farm  buildings  are  of  the  same  date. 

Hammonds  farm-house  is  timber-framed  and  rough- 
cast and  probably  dates  from  the  17th  century.  There 
have  been  alterations  in  the  i8th  century  and  later. 

The  manor  oi  ALBTNS  has  not  been  traced  before 
1409  when  it  was  held  by  Sir  Richard  Walton,  lord 
of  Batayles,'3  at  the  time  of  his  death.'*  In  1414 
Robert  Newport  and  others,  who  were  probably 
trustees  under  the  will  of  Sir  Richard  Walton,  founded 
a  chantry  of  two  chaplains  in  Wivenhoe  church  for  the 
souls  of  Sir  Richard  and  his  wife  Isabel  and  made 
Albyns  a  substantial  part  of  its  endowment.'' 

Immediately  after  the  Chantries  Act  of  1545'*  the 
lands  with  which  Wivenhoe  Chantry  had  been  en- 
dowed were  taken  into  the  king's  hands  on  the  ground 
that  in  about  1538-9  John,  15th  Earl  of  Oxford,  lord 
of  Batayles,  had  dissolved  the  chantry  and  given  its 
revenues  to  Robert  Rochester."    In  December  1545 
the  king  leased  Albyns  to  William  Luther  for  2  r  years 
at  a  rent  of  ,/Ji  3  6s.  SJ.  a  year.'  *  It  is  not  clear  whether 
Luther  was  granted  the  perquisites  of  court  which 
amounted  to  2S.  ^.  a  year."    In  1548  Edward  VI 
sold  the  manor  for  ^{^339  18/.  to  Walter  Cely  and  his 
heirs  to  hold  in  chief  by  the  service  of  j^  knight's  fee.*" 
Cely  evidently  began  to  build  a  new  manor  house  but 
died  in  1 549  before  it  was  completed.*'    He  left  the 
house  to  his  wife  Elizabeth  'so  that  she  and  her  friends 
will  see  it  finished'.**  The  heir  to  the  manor  of  Albyns 
was  Walter's  son  George,  then  a  minor.*^    George 
Cely  held  his  first  court  in  1 567.**  In  1 570  he  granted 
the  manor  to  George  Wiseman.*'    At  that  time  the 
estate  consisted  of  5  messuages,  240  acres  of  arable, 
40  acres  of  meadow,  140  acres  of  pasture,  and  50  acres 
of  wood.**  Rents  amounted  to  40J.  a  year.*''   In  1572 
George  Wiseman  settled  the  manor  on  his  daughter 
Anne  and  her  husband  William  Fitch.**    In   1578     , 
Fitch  died,  leaving  the  reversion  of  the  manor  after  the 
death  of  his  wife  to  his  youngest  son  Francis.*'    In 
1587  Francis  Fitch  sold  the  manor  to  John  Wood 
(kt.   1603). 3"    In  1610,  shortly  before  his  death.  Sir 
John  Wood  settled  the  manor  on  his  daughter  Magdalen, 
wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Edmunds.3'    Magdalen  died  in 
1 6 14  and  Sir  Thomas  held  Albyns  until  1636  when 
he  settled  it  on  his  eldest  daughter  Isabella,  widow  of 


"  Lord  Carteret'j  EsUte  Act,  2  &  3 
Anne,  c.  5  (priv.  act). 
««  SP44/10,  pp.  44-45. 
»«  Lord   Carteret's  Estate  Act,  2  &   3 
Anne,  c.  5  (priv.  act).  '  Ibid. 

2  E.R.O.,    D/DLo    T51;    see    below, 
Knolls  Hill  and  Schools. 

'  E.R.O.,   D/DDa   T5;   ibid.    D/DDa 
M26iibid.  D/DDaE3. 
♦  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  E3. 
5  Ibid. 
«  Ibid. 
'  E.R.O.,  D/DLa  M38. 


8  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330. 

9  E.R.O.,  D/DLa  M38.  ■<>  Ibid. 
"  Ibid.;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874^). 

'*  Inf.  from  Rector  of  Stapleford  Abbots 
and  from  tenants. 
"  See  below,  Manor  of  Battles  Hall. 
'<  Cal.  Close,  1405-9,  449. 
'!  Cal.Vat.  1413-16,  151. 
'«  37  Hen.  VIII,  c.  4. 
"  E301/19,  20. 
■8  E30i/30/44;E3i5/68. 
■9  E30i/30/44;E3i5/68. 
M  Cd.  Pat.  1547-8,  312;  E3 15/68. 


"  Walter  Cely's  will :  P.C.C.  •  44 
Populwell  (1549).  *'  Ibid. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1550-3,  9. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  M21. 

"  CP25(2)/i2«/i639;  E.R.O.,  D/DDa 
Ti;ibid.  D/DDa  M21. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DM  T60. 

"  Ibid. 

»«  0142/184/34;  CP25(2)/i29/i647. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Ti. 

30  CP25(2)/i33/i705;  E.R.O.,  D/DDa 
Ti ;  ibid.  D/DDa  M21. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Ti. 


ES.  IV 


225 


Gg 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Henry,  Baron  De  La  Warre  (d.  i628).32  !„  j^jy 
Isabella  mortgaged  the  manor  to  Hugh,  ist  Baron 
Coleraine,  for  ;(^3,ooo.-'3  After  this  debt,  and  the 
interest  accruing  on  it,  had  remained  unpaid  for  more 
than  ten  years,  Coleraine  began  a  suit  for  the  recovery 
of  £^,4.00.3*  In  1653,  after  incurring  legal  costs 
exceeding  ^^1,000,  he  came  to  an  agreement  with  Lady 
De  La  Warre,  whereby  he  obtained  ownership  of  the 
manor  in  return  for  cancellation  of  the  debt.^s 

In  1654  Coleraine  sold  the  estate  for  ^^5,360  to 
Robert  Abdy,  later  ist  Bt.  (created  1660)  of  Albyns.3* 
Afterwards  the  manor  descended  with  this  baronetcy 
until  the  latter  became  extinct  on  the  death  of  Sir  John 
Abdy,  4th  Bt.,  in  1759.'^  ^"  accordance  with  the 
terms  of  Sir  John's  will  the  estate  then  passed  to  his 
aunt  Mrs.  Jane  Crank,  afterwards  to  Sir  Anthony 
Thomas  Abdy,  5th  Bt.  (created  1641)  of  Felix  Hall, 
and  on  his  death  in  1775  to  his  nephew  the  Revd. 
Thomas  Abdy  Rutherforth.'*  Rutherforth,  who 
adopted  the  surname  of  Abdy  on  succeeding  to  the 
estate,  died  in  1798.2'  His  son  and  heir  John  Ruther- 
forth Abdy  died  in  1 840  leaving  as  his  heir  his  nephew 
Sir  Thomas  Neville  Abdy,  ist  Bt.  (created  1850)  of 
Albyns.*"  Afterwards  the  estate,  which  in  about  1845 
consisted  of  585  acres,'"  descended  with  this  baronetcy 
until  the  death  of  Sir  Anthony  Abdy,  3rd  Bt.,  in  I92i.*2 
Shortly  after  this  Albyns  was  pu  rchased  by  an  American*' 
and  later  by  a  Mr.  Veryard,''*  but  by  1929  it  was  in  the 
ownership  of  F.  G.  Mitchell  who  retained  it  until  the 
Second  World  War.*5  After  the  war  it  was  purchased 
by  Mr.  W.  H.  Twynebam  who  is  still  the  owner.''* 

There  was  formerly  a  very  fine  manor  house  at 
Albyns,  most  of  which  dated  from  the  early  17th 
century.  It  incorporated  parts  of  a  smaller  house  which 
was  probably  built  by  the  Cely  family  in  the  middle 
of  the  i6th  century.  The  building  was  fully  surveyed 
in  1920  by  the  Royal  Commission  on  Historial  Monu- 
ments.*' A  few  years  later  the  American  owner  re- 
moved most  of  the  elaborate  17th-century  fittings  and 
transported  them  to  the  United  States.*'  The  subse- 
quent ovvTier  demolished  the  north  side  of  the  house 
and  rebuilt  the  facade  farther  back.*'  In  1945  the 
building  was  partly  destroyed  by  a  rocket  bomb  and  it 
is  now  (1954)  in  process  of  demolition. so 

In  the  1 8th  century  it  was  generally  believed  that 
the  design  of  Albyns  was  by  Inigo  Jones.  Horace 
Walpole  considered  this  unlikely:  'if  he  had  any  hand 
in  it,  it  must  have  been  during  his  first  profession  and 
before  he  had  seen  any  good  buildings.  The  house  is 
handsome,  has  large  rooms  and  rich  ceilings,  but  all 
entirely  of  the  King  James's  Gothic's'  Later  opinion 
confirms  Walpole's  view.'^  Although  the  exterior  with 
its  tall  windows  and  pedimented  dormers  is  advanced 
for  its  period,  there  is  no  sign  of  the  more  mature 
classical  work  which  is  generally  associated  with  Inigo 
Jones. 

The  house,  which  was  built  of  brick,  was  arranged 
round  four  sides  of  a  square  courtyard.   Parts  of  the 


south  and  east  ranges  were  of  the  i6th  century  and 
one  of  the  four  stair  turrets  in  the  courtyard  was  of  the 
same  date.  A  rainwater  head  dated  1620  has  been 
taken  to  indicate  the  time  at  which  the  courtyard  plan 
was  completed  and  most  of  the  interior  work  carried 
out.  The  external  elevations  had  plain  gables  and  large 
brick  dormers  with  pedimented  heads  and  flanking 
consoles.  The  windows  were  mostly  of  the  mullioned 
and  transomed  type  and  on  three  of  the  fronts  there 
were  splayed  bays  of  two  stories.  The  symmetrical 
entrance  front,  facing  north,  had  a  central  two-storied 
porch,  the  lower  stage  being  of  rusticated  brickwork 
with  moulded  brick  pilasters  and  a  semicircular  arch. 

In  the  older  part  of  the  house  there  were  three  stone 
fireplaces  and  a  ribbed  plaster  ceiling  of  the  i6th 
century.  The  bulk  of  the  interior  fittings,  which  were 
extremely  rich,  are  thought  to  date  from  1620.  A  long 
gallery  occupied  the  whole  of  the  west  range  on  the 
first  floor  and  this  had  fine  panelling,  an  elaborate 
chimneypiece,  and  a  plaster  ceiling  with  strapwork 
designs  and  enriched  ribs  and  panels.  The  room  adjoin- 
ing it  had  a  coved  ceiling  of  similar  type  but  including 
moulded  pendants.  The  only  fitting  of  this  period 
which  is  still  in  situ  is  the  fine  oak  staircase:  it  has  a 
balustrade  of  carved  strapwork  panels  and  heavy  square 
newels  with  moulded  finials.  The  female  figures  which 
crowned  the  newels  and  which  probably  represented 
the  Arts  and  Virtues  have  now  disappeared. 

Some  of  the  woodwork  on  the  first  floor  dated  from 
the  time  of  Robert  Abdy,  ist  Bt.  The  shields  in  the 
spandrels  of  the  older  fireplaces  were  painted  with  the 
date  i654and  the  initials  ^^k  (fo""  Robert  and  Katherine 
Abdy)  and  the  panelling  bore  the  arms  of  Abdy  and 
Gayre.  A  finely  executed  estate  map  of  Albyns,'' 
drawn  by  John  Kersey,  survives  from  this  period.  It 
shows  the  layout  of  the  grounds  with  stables  and  a  dove- 
house  to  the  east  of  the  mansion  and  a  straight  avenue 
leading  south  from  the  main  entrance.  An  enlarged 
elevation  of  the  north  front  proves  that  this  side  of  the 
house  suffered  remarkably  little  change  between  1654 
and  its  final  demolition  in  the  20th  century. 

In  1754  the  building  was  restored:  an  inscription 
in  a  bedroom  recorded  that  'this  house  was  repaired, 
sashed  and  beautified  by  Sir  John  Abdy  Bt.  17 54'. 5* 
Morant  (1768)  commented  that  this  was  done  'very 
judiciously,  he  keeping  in  his  repairs  to  the  old  taste' 
in  which  the  house  was  built.ss 

In  the  first  half  of  the  19th  century  the  straight  ap- 
proach from  the  north  was  abandoned  and  the  present 
curving  drive  constructed.'*  The  octagonal  brick 
lodge  is  of  the  same  period. 5'  Later  in  the  century  a 
large  brick  water  tower  was  built  over  the  north  range 
of  the  house. 

Two  of  the  outbuildings  at  Albyns  are  of  interest. 
East  of  the  mansion  is  a  contemporary  red-brick  range, 
formerly  used  as  staff  quarters  and  harness  rooms.  It 
has  now  been  converted  into  a  residence.  Farther  to 
the  north-east  is  a  coach-house  block,  now  garages. 


»  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Ti;  ibid.;  D/DDa 
M21.  J3  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  Ti. 

M  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Burke,  Peerage  ( 1 9 1 3),  49—50. 

i«  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/102-3;  ibid. 
D/DC  27/1122;  ibid.  Q/RPl  685-703; 
Burke,  Peerage  (191  3),  49-50. 

"  Burke,  Peerage  (1913),  50. 

««  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  e/RPI  704-737; 
ibid.  D/CT  330. 


*'  In  the  parishes  of  Stapleford  Abbots 
and  Navestock:  E.R.O.,  D/CT  248,  330. 

«  Kelly'!  Dir.  Essex  (i874f.);  Burke, 
Peerage  (1949),  I. 

■"  Inf.  from  Mr.  W.  H.  Twyneham 
jun.,  son  of  the  present  owner. 

«  Ibid. 

*'  Inf  from  Mr.  W.  H.  Twyneham 
jun. 

<»  Ibid. 

<'  Hist.  Man.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  222-5  (with 
plates).    The  following  description  of  the 

226 


house  prior  to  1920  is  based  on  this  survey. 

<s  Inf    from    Mr.    W.    H.    Twyneham 
jun. 

«  Ibid.  50  Ibid. 

"  Anecdotes  of  Paitiling  (1S2S),  347. 

52  E.A.T.  N.s.  iv,  53. 

53  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/1 121.   See  pi.  fac- 
ing p.  226. 

'♦  E.A.T.  N.s.  iv,  53. 
5s  Morant,  Essex,  i,  177. 
56  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330. 
"  Ibid. 


'-^A'M^^  {  f^ 


w  hfro'ti 


Old  Louchton  Hall  in  the  early  19TH  century 
Burnt  1836 


froidil]nnu,n  AaU  AcMB^'NS  cx  par^e  BoirxizcpK^^ 


.%x. 


tti 


i 


.4t4ilU*i:.U. 


OrtfAi  RJii .  I 


Albyns,  Stapleford  Abbots,  in  1654 
Derelict  in  1955 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STAPLEFORD  ABBOTS 


which  was  probably  rebuilt  in  the  i8th  century. ss  In 
the  centre  is  a  clock  turret  surmounted  by  a  domed 
cupola.  The  bell  which  hangs  inside  is  said  to  carry 
the  inscription :  'Anthony  Bartlett  made  mee  for  Robert 
Abdy  Esquire  i638.'59 

In  1066  the  estate  which  became  known  as 
BATATLES  and  later  as  BATTLES  HALL  was 
held  by  five  free  men  as  zj  hides  and  6J  acres  and  was 
worth  joj.^o  In  1086  it  was  worth  6o/.^i  Part  of  it 
was  then  held  by  Robert  Gernon  in  demesne.*^  One 
hide  and  a  half,  worth  28^.  was  held  of  Robert  Gernon 
by  Nigel.^3 

After  Robert  Gernon's  fief  had  escheated  to  the 
Crown,  Henry  I  granted  it  to  William  de  Montfichet.** 
In  1267  on  the  death  without  issue  of  Richard  de 
Montfichet,  great-grandson  or  great-great-grandson  of 
William,  his  inheritance  was  divided  between  the  issue 
of  his  three  sisters  Philippe,  wife  of  Sir  Hugh  de  Plaiz, 
Aveline,  wife  of  William,  Count  of  Aumale,  and 
Margaret,  wife  of  Hugh  de  Bolbec.^5  The  manor  of 
Batayles  was  held  of  Richard,  2nd  Lord  Plaiz,  great 
grandson  of  Philippe  and  Hugh  de  Plaiz,  at  the  time 
of  his  death  in  1327.**  For  some  time  afterwards  the 
tenancy  in  chief  descended  with  the  barony  of  Plaiz. 
In  1389  John,  5  th  Lord  Plaiz,  died  leaving  as  his  heir 
his  daughter  Margaret,  wife  of  Sir  John  Howard.*' 
After  her  death  in  1391  her  husband  obtained  livery 
of  her  inheritance  for  his  hfe.'*  He  died  in  I438.*9 
His  heir  was  his  granddaughter  Elizabeth,  only  child 
of  his  son  John,  Lord  Plaiz  (d.  1409).'°  Ehzabeth  had, 
however,  already  obtained  the  tenancy  of  the  manor  of 
Batayles  through  her  mother  Joan  (see  below)  and  the 
estate  was  therefore  presumably  held  of  the  Crown  in 
chief  after  1438. 

Before  1147  the  family  of  Batayle  obtained  the 
tenancy  of  the  whole  manor  which  subsequently  took 
its  name  from  them.  Between  1108  and  1147  Sir 
Hubert  Batayle  granted  to  the  priory  of  Holy  Trinity, 
Aldgate  (Lond.)  all  the  tithes  of  his  demesne  of  Staple- 
ford  except  2  acres  tithable  to  the  churches  of  Staple- 
ford  and  Lambourne."  His  sons  William  and  Matthew 
were  mentioned  in  the  grant.'^  In  1166  Richard 
Batayle  held  2  fees  of  Gilbert  de  Montfichet.'^  Soon 
after  William,  son  of  Richard  Batayle,  confirmed  the 
grant  made  by  his  great-grandfather  by  placing  a  gold 
ring  on  the  altar  of  the  priory  church.'*  William 
Batayle  vas  dead  by  1 200. 's  He  was  apparently  suc- 
ceeded by  Richard  Batayle.'*  In  1216  the  Sheriff  of 
Essex  was  ordered  to  put  Stephen  of  Oxford  in  pos- 
session of  land  which  the  king  had  granted  to  Richard 


Batayle  in  Stapleford  because  Batayle  had  joined  the 
king's  enemies."  It  is  not  surprising  that  Batayle  was 
a  rebel:  his  overlord,  Richard  de  Montfichet,  was  a 
prominent  rebel  at  this  time  and  he  also  had  had  his 
lands  seized  in  consequence.'*  Batayle  probably 
regained  his  estates  at  the  same  time  as  Montfichet,  in 
October  I2I7.'9  He  or  another  Richard  Batayle  was 
holding  of  Montfichet  in  1235-6.*"  Afterwards  the 
manor  was  held  by  Simon  Batayle  who  was  alive  in 
1272  but  was  succeeded  shortly  afterwards  by  Richard 
Batayle,  apparently  his  son.*' 

In  1298  the  estates  of  Richard  Batayle  were  divided 
between  his  two  daughters  Margery,  wife  of  William 
de  Sutton,  and  Anne,  wife  of  Peter  de  Taleworthe.*^ 
The  manor  of  Batayles  fell  to  the  share  of  Margery  and 
Wilham,  whose  son  John  succeeded  his  father  by 
I3l8.*3  John,  son  of  John  de  Sutton,  died  in  1393 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  brother  Sir  Richard  de  Sutton 
who  died  in  1396.*+  At  that  time  the  annual  value  of 
the  manor  was  £j  6s.  8i<2'.*5  Richard's  heir  was  his 
son  Thomas  who  apparently  died  without  issue.**  The 
estate  passed  to  the  heirs  of  Margery,  who  may  have 
been  the  sister  of  Richard  or  Thomas  de  Sutton  and 
who  was  the  wife  of  John  Walton.*'  In  1409  her 
grandson  Sir  Richard  Walton,  son  of  John,  died  in 
possession  of  the  manor  leaving  as  his  heir  his  sister 
Joan,  wife  of  John,  Lord  Plaiz  (d.  1409).**  She  died 
in  1424.*'  Her  heir  was  her  daughter  Elizabeth,  later 
the  wife  of  John  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford.'"  The  earl 
was  beheaded  in  1462."  In  1475,  after  the  attainder 
of  her  son  John,  Earl  of  Oxford,  Elizabeth  was  forced 
to  surrender  her  property  to  Richard,  Duke  of  Glou- 
cester.'^ She  died  shortly  afterwards  but  the  earl 
evidently  recovered  the  manor  of  Batayles  after  his 
attainder  was  repealed  in  1485.'^  He  was  lord  of  the 
manor  by  Michaelmas  1488. '■•  He  died  in  1 5 1 3  having 
settled  Batayles  on  his  wife  Elizabeth  for  her  life.'' 
She  died  in  1537.'*  The  manor  then  passed  to  the 
15  th  Earl  of  Oxford  and  on  his  death  to  the  i6th 
earl,"  who  in  1 548  was  forced  to  convey  a  large  part 
of  his  estates,  apparently  including  the  manor  of 
Batayles,  to  the  Protector  Somerset.'*  These  estates 
were  declared  forfeit  to  the  Crown  in  1552  after 
Somerset's  execution."  By  an  Act  then  passed,'  the 
manor  of  Batayles  was  settled  on  Aubrey  de  Vere,  brother 
of  the  i6th  Earl  of  Oxford  (d.  I562).2  By  1574  the 
reversion  of  the  manor  had  been  acquired  by  Edward 
de  Vere,  the  17th  earl,  for  in  that  year  he  granted 
a  lease  of  the  manor  for  3 1  years  to  William  Byrd,  the 
composer,  to  take  effect  after  the  death  of  Aubrey  de 


58  A  gabled  building  is  shown  in  this 
position  in  1654.:  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/1 121. 

*'  Inf.  from  Mr.  W.  H.  Twyncham 
jun.  If  the  inscription  has  been  read  cor- 
rectly it  suggests  cither  that  Robert  Abdy 
was  occupying  Albyns  before  his  purchase 
of  the  property  in  1654  or  that  he  brought 
the  bell  from  elsewhere.  It  would  also 
ante-date  by  9  years  the  earliest  known 
bell  cast  by  Anthony  Bartlct :  Ch.  Bells 
Essex.,  76. 

<><•  F.C.H.  Essex,  \,  518a. 

»'  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  M  Ibid. 

''*  Complete  Peerage,  x,  351  j  V.C.H. 
Essex,  i,  34.7. 

''  Cal.  Intj.  p.m.  \,  p.  217;  E.A.T.  v, 
173-207;  E.A.T.  N.s.  V,  14.0—2;  W. 
Farrer,  Hons.  and  Kts.  Fees,  m,  336; 
Complete  Peerage,  i,  351,  x,  538. 

^  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  26 ;  Complete 
Peerage,  I,  537-40. 

*'  Cal.   Inq.  p.m.    X,   p.    466;    Complete 


Peerage,  x,  541—2. 
'*  C 1 39/88;  Complete  Peerage,  x,  542. 
M  C139/88. 

'"  Ibid. ;  Complete  Peerage,  x,  542. 
"  Cat.  Afict.  D.  \,  A.  736. 
'2  Ibid. 
"  RedBk.o/Exci.-i^g-SO.  Ci.  E.A.T. 

N.s.  V,    140—2. 
'4   E40/733. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  \,  23.  "  Ibid. 

"  Rot.  Litt.  Claus.  (Rcc.  Com.),  i,  255. 

'8  E.A.T.  V,  193-5.  "  Ibid. 

8»  Bk.  of  Fees,  ^yg. 

*'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,'278;  ibid,  ii,  206. 

'2  Morant,  Essex,  ii,  187. 

W  Ibid.;  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  186;  Cal. 
Inq.  p.m.  vii,  p.  26. 

8t  C136/82/7;  C136/89;  Cal.  Close, 
1392-6,  168. 

85    C136/89. 

8'  Ibid.;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  176. 
8'  Morant,  Essex,  i,  176,  ii,  187. 


88  C137/72;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  176; 
Complete  Peerage,  x,  542. 

8«  Complete  Peerage,  x,  542. 

9»  Ibid. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  x,  238. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Ibid.  241-2. 

«♦  E.R.O.,  D/DPr  139. 

»5  E.R.O.,  D/DM  Ml 72. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  x,  244. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DM  T56;  ibid.  D/DPr 
138;  ibid.  D/DM  Mi72. 

98  Complete  Peerage,  x,  249. 

»9  Ibid. 

'  Act  for  Frustrating  Assurances  to  the 
Duke  of  Somerset  made  by  the  Earl  of 
Oxford,  5  &  6  Edw.  VI  (priv.  act,  no 
number),  marked  as  missing  in  Stats,  of 
Realm,  iv,  xiii. 

^  Complete  Peerage,  x,  249-50  ;  Morant, 
Essex,  ii,  293;  SP12/157/25,  26;  E.R.O., 
D/DM  M173. 


227 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Vere.'    Soon  afterwards  William  Lewyn,  apparently 
acting  on  behalf  of  his  brother-in-law  Anthony  Luther, 
negotiated  with  Byrd  for  the  purchase  of  the  lease."* 
Byrd  agreed  orally  to  the  transaction  but  later,  con- 
sidering that  the  oral  agreement  was  not  binding, 
transferred  the  lease  to  his  own  brother  John  Byrd. 5 
After  Aubrey  de  Vere's  death  in  1579-80  Anthony 
Luther  claimed  that  the  lease  had  been  lawfully  con- 
veyed to  him  by  'parol'  from  William  Byrd  in  about 
1574.*    Luther  obtained  the  verdict  of  a  Queen's 
Bench  jury  in  his  favour  but  Byrd  was  not  satisfied, 
alleging  that  the  jury  was  packed.''  In  1580  the  parties 
agreed  that  the  case  should  be  referred  to  arbitration.* 
In  December  1580  the  arbitrators  declared  that  the 
agreement  of  about  1574  was  lawful  but  that  in  their 
view  Luther  should  surrender  his  claim  on  the  ground 
that  Byrd,  having  guaranteed  the  lease  to  his  brother 
John,  faced  financial  ruin  if  he  could  not  fulfil  his 
pledge.9  Meanwhile  in  April  1 580  the  Earl  of  Oxford 
had  sold  the  manor  to  John  Byrd  for  ;^620  so  that  be- 
fore the  arbitration  award  was  announced,  John  Byrd 
had  become  owner  of  the  estate  which  then  comprised 
50  acres  of  arable,  40  acres  of  meadow,  100  acres  of 
pasture,  160  acres  of  wood,  300  acres  of  heathland, 
and  ;{^io  in  annual  rents.'"  It  is  not  clear  whether  the 
dispute  about  the  lease  continued  after  1580  but  in 
1583  John  Byrd  sold  the  manor  to  Philip  Smith, 
haberdasher,  of  Henley-on-Thames  (Oxon.)." 

Smith  held  his  first  court  in  1 584,  when  there  were 
8  freeholders  and  8  customary  tenants  of  the  manor. '^ 
In  1594  he  sold  the  manor  for  ,C'>95°  to  Richard 
Wiseman  of  London,  goldsmith,  who  died  in  1616 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  son  Sir  Robert  Wiseman. '^  In 
1616  Sir  Robert  leased  the  estate  for  eighteen  years  to 
Francis  Springham  at  {j)i  \os.  a  year  but  reserved  to 
himself  the  rents  and  services  of  freeholders  and  copy- 
holders and  all  the  manorial  rights.'*  He  died  in  1641 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  brother  Sir  Richard  Wiseman. 's 
In  1648  Richard  mortgaged  the  manor  to  Robert 
Edwarde  for  ;^l,50o.'*  In  1650  Richard  mortgaged 
it  to  Sir  Thomas  Hewett  for  the  same  sum  in  order  to 
pay  his  debt  to  Edwarde."  Wiseman  died  in  1654 
leaving  his  debt  to  Hewett  unpaid.'  'He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Richard  who  immediately  sold  the  manor  to 
Carew  Hervey  Mildmay  of  Marks  Hall,  Romford, 
for  a  total  of  £4,410  of  which  ^^2,8  50  was  paid  to 
Wiseman  and  the  remainder  to  Hewett  in  order  to 
redeem  the  mortgage."  The  estate  then  consisted  of 
583  acres.'o  Afterwards  the  manor  of  Battles  Hall 
descended  with  Marks  Hall.^'  After  the  death  in 
1784  of  Carew  Hervey  Mildmay,  great-grandson  of 
the  purchaser  of  Battles  Hall,  the  estate  passed  to  his 
daughter  Anne  and  afterwards,  in  1789,  to  his  great- 


niece  Jane,  wife  of  Sir  Henry  Paulet  St.  John,  ist  Bt., 
who  in  1790  adopted  the  surname  of  Mildmay." 
After  the  death  of  Sir  Henry  in  1808  his  widow  held 
Battles  Hall  until  after  1845.23  At  that  time  the  estate 
was  exactly  the  size  it  had  been  in  1655.^  Later  it  was 
sold  to  the  Crown,  probably  with  Marks  Hall  in 
1 8  54.25  It  is  still  Crown  property .26 

The  manor  house  is  of  two  stories,  timber-framed 
and  roughcast,  and  has  a  tiled  roof  with  gabled  dormers. 
It  probably  dates  from  the  i8th  century  but  has  been 
considerably  modernized. 

At  the  end  of  the  14th  century  KNOLLS  HILL 
alias  KNOfVLES  HILL  was  apparently  owned  by 
Henry  Despenser,  Bishop  of  Norwich  (d.  1406),  who 
also  held  the  manor  of  Bishops  Hall  in  Lambourne 
(q.v.)."  By  1604  it  had  passed  to  the  Stoner  family  of 
Loughton  (q.v.).  Francis  Stoner  (d.  1604)  made  it  his 
seat  and  left  his  son  Clement  as  heir  to  the  messuage 
and  to  the  94  acres  appurtenant  to  it.^s  In  1606 
Knolls  Hill  was  the  centre  of  an  estate  which  com- 
prised some  285  acres,  including  Knolls  Hill  farm 
(94  acres),  Wrights  farm  (51  acres),  both  of  which 
were  held  as  freehold  tenements  of  the  manor  of 
Battles  Hall,  two  copyhold  tenements  totalling  35 
acres,  and  the  manor  of  Bishops  Hall.^"  Clement 
Stoner  died  in  161 2  leaving  his  son  Francis  as  heir  to 
this  estate.30  Francis  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter 
Amy,  wife  of  George  Waldron.3'  George  died  in  1690 
and  Amy  in  1712.32  They  left  no  issue.33  Meanwhile, 
before  1675,  the  manor  of  Bishops  Hall  had  become 
separated  from  the  estate.  By  I7343'*  Knolls  Hill  had 
been  purchased  by  Sir  John  Fortescue-Aland,  lord  of 
the  manor  of  Lambourne  (q.v.)  and  it  descended  with 
that  manor  until  the  20th  century.'s 

Sir  John  Fortescue-Aland  made  Knolls  Hill  his 
residence  and  'by  several  judicious  improvements,  at  a 
very  considerable  expense,  rendered  it  a  most  delightful 
place'.J*  The  house  itself  stood  on  part  of  the  present 
farm-yard.  By  1835  part  of  the  mansion  had  become  a 
farm-house  but  'well  executed  portraits  of  the  family 
are  yet  to  be  seen  in  one  of  the  rooms'.^'  The  mansion 
was  demolished  in  the  middle  of  the  19th  century;  a 
pair  of  mid- 19th-century  cottages,  said  to  have  been 
built  with  bricks  from  it,  have  recently  been  converted 
into  a  house  for  the  present  owner  of  Knolls  Hill  farm, 
Mr.  D.  Kelly.  Traces  of  the  former  terraced  gardens 
of  Knolls  Hill  can  still  be  seen. 

The  rectory  of  Stapleford  Abbots  was  never  appro- 
priated. The  advowson  was  held  by  the 
CHURCH     abbey  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  lord  of  the 
capital  manor,  until  the  Dissolution. ^8  It 
then  passed  with  the  manor  to  the  Crown.   In  1541  it 
was  granted  with  the  manor  to  John  Maynarde  who 


'  SP12/157/25,  26;   E.R.O.,   D/DFa 
T9.  For  Byrd  see  also  Stondoa  Massey. 
«  Ibid. 
5  Ibid. 
0  Ibid. 
'  Ibid. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  T9. 
«  Ibid. 

>»  E.R.O.,  D/DM  Ts6. 
■'  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DM  175. 
»  CP25(2)/i36/i73S;  E.R.O.,  D/DM 
T56. 

■<  E.R.O.,    D/DM    T158.     In     1596 

Richard  Wiseman  had  leased  the  estate  for 

1 9  years  to  Richard  Spencer,  yeoman,  at  a 

rent  of  ^80  a  year:  E.R.O.,  D/DM  T56. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DM  T56. 


■6  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

■«  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DM  P17. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DM  183;  ibid.  Q/RPl 
685-713;  H.  A.  St.  John  Mildmay, 
Memoir  of  Mildmay  Family^  163,  195. 

2^  Burke,  Peerage  (1913),  1348—9; 
E.R.O.,  Sage  Coll.  760;  E.R.O.,  g/RPl 
685-737;  H.  A.  St.  John  Mildmay, 
Memoir  of  Mildmay  Family^  163,  195. 

"  E.R.O.,e/RPl  7,4-37;  D/CT  330. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330. 

25  E.R.O.,  Sage  Coll.  760;  H.  A.  St. 
John  Mildmay,  Memoir  of  Mildmay 
Family,  195;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1902  f.). 

2*  Inf.  from  the  Rector  of  Stapleford 
Abbots  (1953). 

228 


"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  178. 
28  C142/285/116. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  Ei. 

30    C142/327/149. 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  178. 
"  Ibid. 
"  Ibid. 

3«  n.R.O.,DIDLor;i ;  Ref>.Com.CAar. 
{Essex),  H.C.  216,  p.  243  (1835),  xxi  (i). 

35  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330;  T.  Wright,  Hist. 
Essex,  ii,  413. 

36  Hist.  Essex  hy  Gent,  iv,  37.  Sir  John 
also  built  a  school  at  Bournebridge  for  boys 
of  Stapleford  Abbots  and  Lambourne :  see 
below,  Schools. 

3'  T.  Wright,  Hist.  Essex,  ii,  413. 
3'  E.A.T.    N.s.    xviii,    18;    Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  554-5. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED         stapleford  abbots 


immediately  received  licence  to  alienate  both  to  Sir 
Brian  Tuke.-"  The  Crown  probably  regained  the 
advowson  with  the  manor  in  1 543-5-^°  Thomas  Smith 
presented  pro  hac  vice  in  1557.^'  In  1560  a  presenta- 
tion was  made  by  the  Crown,  which  has  since  retained 
the  advowson/^ 

In  the  time  of  Abbot  Samson  (1182-121 1)  the  value 
of  the  church  was  assessed  by  his  chronicler  Jocelin  of 
Brakelond  at  3  marks.'"  In  about  1 254  the  rectory  was 
valued  at  5  marks.'*''  The  Prior  of  Holy  Trinity, 
Aldgate  (Lond.)  then  received  \  mark  for  tithe  from 
the  demesne  of  the  manor  of  Batayles.*'  In  129 1  the 
rectory  was  valued  at  ^£8.**  The  portion  of  the  Prior 
of  Holy  Trinity,  Aldgate,  was  then  valued  at  1 3/.  ^dy 
In  1535  the  rectory  was  valued  at  [^\(i  i;/.'*'  Its 
'improved'  value  was  £^^0  in  1604,  ;^loi  in  1650,  and 
j^i20  in  1661.^'  The  tithes  were  commuted  in  1845 
for  ;£536;5o  there  were  then  22  acres  of  glebe. 5i 

In  about  1770  the  rectory  was  said  to  have  been 
'new  built  by  the  present  .  .  .  incumbent'. s^  It  is  a 
roughcast  house  of  two  stories.  The  pedimented  porch 
is  contemporary  and  the  bay  windows  and  veranda 
were  probably  added  early  in  the  19th  century.  There 
is  a  three-story  addition  of  yellow  brick  dating  from 
later  in  the  19th  century.  A  deep  L-shaped  pond  in  the 
garden  suggests  that  in  medieval  times  the  site  was 
moated. 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  Afy/^?*  consists  of  nave, 
chancel,  west  tower,  north  chapel,  vestry,  and  south 
porch.  Except  for  the  chapel,  which  is  dated  1638,  the 
church  was  rebuilt  in  the  19th  century. 

A  small  engraving  in  the  church  shows  the  building 
before  the  19th-century  reconstruction.  There  was 
evidently  a  porch  in  the  centre  of  the  south  side,  flanked 
by  what  were  apparently  14th-century  windows.  There 
was  also,  high  up  near  the  west  end  of  the  nave,  a 
single-light  window  which  may  have  been  of  the  1 2th 
century,  indicating  a  Norman  origin  for  the  church. 

In  a  modern  lancet  window  in  the  vestry  is  a  stained- 
glass  panel  depicting  St.  Edward  the  Confessor  holding 
a  ring;  this  probably  dates  from  the  early  14th  century. 
In  the  south-east  corner  of  the  chancel  there  is  a  piscina, 
reset,  with  a  pointed  head  and  foiled  drain,  also  prob- 
ably dating  from  the  14th  century. 

The  north  or  Abdy  chapel  is  of  red  brick  and  has 
semicircular  headed  windows,  a  coved  cornice  extern- 
ally, and  a  hipped,  tiled,  roof.  The  chapel  is  separated 
from  the  chancel  by  a  pointed  arched  opening  of  the 
19th  century.  A  small  entrance  lobby  of  the  17th 
century  adjoins  the  east  wall  of  the  chapel  but  is  not 
structurally  part  of  it.  The  front  of  this  has  been  rebuilt 
in  modern  brick  but  the  side  walls  and  the  external 
door,  which  has  a  segmental  head,  are  probably  of  the 
17th  century.  Above  the  inner  door  the  date  '1638' 
appears  in  cut  brickwork.  The  architectural  style  of 
the  chapel,  however,  suggests  that  it  was  rebuilt  or 
largely  altered  by  the  Abdy  family  later  in  the  17th 
century.53 


In  about  1770  the  church  was  described  as  'of  one 
pace  and  of  equal  breadth  with  the  chancel,  tiled.  At 
the  west  end  is  a  neat  gallery,  behind  which  is  a  wooden 
tower  containing  three  bells.  The  church  is  in  good 
repair  and  the  chancel  has  likewise  been  put  into 
exceeding  good  repair  by  the  present  incumbent.  The 
east  window  of  the  chancel  is  of  a  very  singular  con- 
struction.'s4 

The  west  tower  is  of  brown  brick  and  was  rebuilt  in 
1815.55  It  is  probable  that  the  door  and  window  open- 
ings were  altered  later  when  the  nave  and  chancel  were 
reconstructed.  The  parapet  was  formerly  embattled,5* 
but  is  now  finished  with  a  tiled  coping.  Internally  the 
tower  is  separated  from  the  nave  by  a  pointed  arch  of 
chamfered  orders,  the  whole  being  plastered. 

The  nave  and  chancel  were  rebuilt  in  1 861-2  at  the 
expense  of  William  Gellibrand  and  his  sister.5'  The 
architect  was  T.  Jekyll  of  Norwich5  8  and  the  style  is  a 
19th-century  version  of  early  'Decorated'.  The  stone 
walls  are  of  polygonal  masonry  with  strongly  emphasized 
joints.  The  windows  have  geometrical  tracery  and 
externally  all  the  openings  have  small  shafts  with 
foliated  capitals.  The  roof  has  exposed  timber  trusses. 

The  north  vestry  and  south  porch  are  of  the  same 
date.  The  porch  is  of  timber  arcading  on  a  low  stone 
wall.   In  1909  a  new  organ  was  put  into  the  tower  at 

a  cost  of  j^250.S9 

In  the  north  chapel,  over  the  lobby  doorway,  is  a 
late  16th-century  helm  with  a  winged  cap  of  main- 
tenance. The  pulpit,  which  is  hexagonal  and  panelled, 
is  of  the  early  17th  century.  In  the  chancel  are  two 
late- 17th-century  upholstered  chairs.  The  octagonal 
font  is  modern.  Above  the  south  door  of  the  nave  are 
painted  boards  {c.  1800)  setting  out  the  details  of 
William  Gould's  charities.*" 

There  are  now  two  bells,  one  large,  cast  by  T. 
Mears  and  acquired  in  18 18,  and  one  small,  of  the 
same  date  and  probably  by  the  same  maker.*' 

The  plate  consists  of  a  silver  cup  and  two  patens  of 
1687,  given  by  Sir  John  Abdy,  2nd  Bt.,  and  his  wife 
in  1688;  a  silver  flagon  of  1687  given  by  George 
Nicholas  and  his  wife;  and  a  silver  almsdish  of  1692.*^ 

The  oldest  monument,  which  is  on  the  north  wall 
of  the  tower,  is  to  Francis  Stonard  (1604),  his  wife 
Lucy  (i  596),  daughter  of  Sir  Clement  Heigham,  Lord 
Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  1558-9,  and  also  of 
Henry  Stonard  (l  555),  brother  of  Francis.*^  Next  to 
this  monument  is  a  marble  plaque  with  shield  of  arms 
to  Dormer,  2nd  Baron  Fortescue  of  Credan  (1780),** 
who  is  buried  nearby. 

The  north  chapel  contains  three  monuments  to  the 
Abdy  family.  On  the  west  wall  is  a  fine  marble  tablet 
commemorating  Sir  John  Abdy,  4th  Bt.  (1759)  ^""i 
earlier  members  of  his  family.  This  was  formerly  in 
the  chancel.*5  On  the  east  wall  are  tablets  to  Thomas 
Abdy  and  to  John  Rutherforth  Abdy  (1840)  and  his 
wife  (1838). 

Tysea  Hill  or  Pyrgo  Chapel  was  probably  builr  in 


39  L.  &■  P.  Her,.  Vm,  xvi,  p.  281. 

*"  See  above,  Manor  of  Stapleford 
Abbots. 

■♦■  Newcourt,  Re-pert,  ii,  555. 

"Ibid.;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f); 
Chel.  Dioc.  Year  Bk.  1952. 

<'  Chron.  jocelin  of  Brakelond,  ed. 
Butler,  63. 

♦♦  Lunt,  f^al.  of  NoriuicA,  336. 

♦5  Ibid.  Cf.  Cat.  And.  D.  i,  A.  736; 
E40/733  ;  see  Manor  of  Battles  Hall. 

««  Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  21A. 


"  Ibid. 

<8  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

"  £.yf.r.  N.s.  xxi,  78,  83. 

so  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330. 

S'  Ibid. 

52  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  37.  The 
incumbent  was  W.  Gould  who  became 
rector  in  c.  1767. 

"  Prof.  Pevsner  believes  that  it  is  a  very 
early  instance  of  the  style;  Buildings  of 
Essex,  29,  336. 

5*  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  37. 


55  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 

56  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1890). 
5'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886). 

5'  N.  Pevsner,  Buildings  of  Essex,  335. 

59  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (19 12}. 

^0  See  below,  Charities. 

'■  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  398. 

«2  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  16. 

"  For    the    Stonards    (or  Stoners)    see 
above.  Knolls  Hill  estate. 

*«  See  above,  Knolls  Hill  estate. 

'5  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  38. 


\ 


229 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


the  middle  of  the  1 9th  century.  It  is  a  rectangular  brick 
Structure  with  a  porch  and  a  bell-cote  at  its  entrance 
end.  Attached  to  the  farther  end  is  a  red  brick  house 
of  three  stories  which  was  once  occupied  by  a  curate. 
On  a  map  of  about  1870  the  building  is  marked  as  a 
school  but  it  cannot  be  identified  with  any  known 
school  in  the  parish.**  On  a  later  map  it  was  described 
as  St.  Edward's  Church.  By  the  end  of  the  19th 
century,  if  not  before,  it  belonged  to  the  Gibb  family, 
of  Pyrgo  Park,  who  enlarged  and  redecorated  it  about 
1892.*'  The  Gothic  windows  in  the  chancel  are  prob- 
ably of  this  date.  There  were  further  renovations  in 
1912.**  Services  were  discontinued  in  about  1937. 
During  the  Second  World  War  the  building  was 
damaged  by  German  bombs.  It  was  sold  recently  by 
the  executors  of  the  Gibbs.  The  main  part  of  the  build- 
ing is  used  as  a  barn  but  in  the  summer  of  1954 
evangelists  were  holding  services  in  the  vestry. 

In    1953   a   Roman   Catholic    Mission   Van   was 

scheduled  to  make  regu- 

ROMJN  CATHOLICISM    lar  visits  to  Stapleford 

Abbots.*' 

In  1672  a  Presbyterian  conventicle  was  licensed  to 
meet    in    Stapleford    Abbots 
PROTESTy^NT  at    the    house    of    Edward 

NONCONFORMITT    Braden.'o 

About  1858  Mr.  Knight, 
of  the  Congregational  church  at  Abridge  (in  Lam- 
bourne)  was  conducting  services  at  Bourne  Bridge." 

The  existing  vestry  minute-books   for    Stapleford 
Abbots  cover  the  period 
PARISH  GOVERNMENT    1777-1899.'^ 
JND  POOR  RELIEF  Fromi777  until  1808 

vestry  meetings  usually 
seem  to  have  been  held  only  at  Easter  in  each  year.'^ 
From  1808  until  1822  meetings  were  always  held  at 
Easter  and  in  September  but  not,  it  seems,  at  any  other 
time,  except  in  1 8 1 1  when  there  was  one  in  May  and 
in  1 81 3  when  there  was  one  in  January.  From  1822 
until  after  1834  four  to  eight  meetings  a  year  were 
recorded. 

The  number  of  parishioners  attending  the  meetings, 
in  addition  to  the  parish  officers,  varied  between  i  and 
1 2,  3  to  6  being  usual.  The  chairman  was  never  named 
as  such  in  the  minutes  until  1833  but  the  rector  or,  in 
his  absence,  one  of  the  churchwardens,  nearly  always 
signed  first.  Dr.  William  Gould,  rector  from  1767-8 
until  1799,  seems  to  have  attended  meetings  only 
occasionally  until  1791  and  not  at  all  after  April  in  that 
year.  His  successor,  J.  Hudson,  rector  until  1829, 
attended  nearly  all  the  recorded  meetings  until  1822. 
Afterwards  he  regularly  attended  the  Easter  and 
September  meetings,  when  the  officers'  accounts  were 
audited  but,  it  seems,  attended  other  meetings  only 
occasionally.  His  successor,  J.  Hamilton,  attended 
meetings  regularly  until  the  end  of  183 1.  Afterwards 
the  Revd.  Joseph  Stanfield  attended  regularly  on  his 
behalf.  On  several  occasions,  including  two  when  the 
rector  was  present,  the  first  person  to  sign  the  minutes 


was  John  Rutherforth  Abdy,  lord  of  Albyns  from  1798 
to  1840.74  On  several  other  occasions  Abdy  signed 
immediately  after  the  rector.  Abdy's  attendance  at 
vestry  meetings  was  erratic  but  he  showed  more  interest 
in  parish  business  than  did  his  father,  Thomas  Abdy, 
who  seems  not  to  have  attended  one  meeting  from  1777 
until  his  death  in  1798.75  More  active  than  J.  R.  Abdy 
in  the  parish  affairs  were  the  tenants  of  Battles  Hall,'* 
William  Fitch  and  later  George  Fitch  (from  18 10), 
and  those  of  Hammonds  Farm,"  Henry  Shuttleworth 
and  then  John  Fitch  (from  1806-7).  The  Fitches 
rarely  missed  a  vestry  meeting.'*  John  Fitch  was  over- 
seer from  1808  until  18 10  and  churchwarden  from 
1 8 1 1  until  1 8 1 5 .  George  Fitch  was  overseer  in 
1811-12  and  churchwarden  from  1815  until  i8i9.'9 

It  seems  to  have  been  the  Easter  vestry  of  1829 
which  adopted  the  second  Sturges  Bourne  Act*"  and 
set  up  a  select  vestry.  J.  R.  Abdy  and  George  Fitch 
were  among  the  seven  parishioners  then  chosen  to  form 
such  a  vestry.  From  May  1829  it  met  at  frequent 
intervals  until  at  least  1832.  In  1829-30  Abdy  seems 
not  to  have  attended  any  meeting  of  the  select  vestry 
but  George  Fitch  was  chairman  at  several  meetings. 
Abdy  was  one  of  1 1  parishioners  chosen  to  form  the 
select  vestry  for  the  year  1 830—1  but  he  did  not  attend 
a  meeting  of  it  until  September  1830. 

In  1783  it  was  agreed  that  John  Bastick  should  be 
Vestry  Clerk  at  a  salary  of  £2  2s.  a  year  'so  long  as  he 
shall  continue  the  school  and  settle  all  parish  accounts'. 
In  1788  Thomas  Allen  was  appointed  to  this  office  on 
the  same  terms.  In  1803  John  Richardson  was  ap- 
pointed clerk,  upon  the  resignation  of  his  father  David, 
at  a  salary  of  £i  a  year.  In  September  1827  the 
churchwarden,  Philip  Taylor,  represented  to  the  vestry 
that  David  Richardson  the  clerk  was  '81  years  old  and 
extremely  infirm  in  body  and  mind  and  unable  to  per- 
form his  duty  properly'.  It  was  then  decided  that 
James  Dixon  should  officiate  for  Richardson  until  the 
following  Easter.  In  1828  it  was  agreed  that  Dixon 
should  be  clerk  at  a  salary  of  ^^5  a  year.  In  1830  Dixon 
was  dismissed  and  Richard  Stevens  was  appointed  in 
his  place  at  a  salary  of  ^^5  a  year. 

The  work  of  the  open  vestry  consisted  mainly  in 
nominating  parish  officers,  granting  rates,  and  auditing 
officers'  accounts.  In  1780  the  rateable  value  of  the 
parish  was  ^1,1 58.  In  1802  receipts  from  rates  totalling 
6s.  in  the  pound  were  ^^5 1 5  5^.  This  implies  a  rate- 
able value  of  about  £1,717  I  ox. 

There  were  usually  i  overseer,  i  or  2  churchwardens, 
and  I  constable.  Churchwardens  usually  served  for  at 
least  2,  and  often  3  or  4,  years  consecutively.  During 
the  period  1776— 1836  one  churchwarden,  R.  Young, 
served  for  9  years  (1826—35)  consecutively  and  two, 
R.  Stokes  and  P.  Taylor,  served  for  8  years  con- 
secutively (1788-96  and  1827-35  respectively).  The 
overseer  usually  served  for  one  year  only.  No  overseer 
is  known  to  have  served  more  than  2  consecutive  years 
until  1 82 1.  In  1809  it  was  agreed  that  John  Fitch, 
who  had  already  been  overseer  in  1808-9,  should  be 


"  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Iivi. 
Sec  below.  Schools. 

"  Kelly' I  Dir.  Essex  (19 14)  j  and  inscrip- 
tion on  tombstone  of  Frances  Gibb,  who, 
like  two  other  members  of  the  Gibb 
family,  is  buried  beside  the  chapel. 

»«  Kelly's  Dir.  Eiiex{igi^). 

W  Brent-wood  {R.C.)  Dioc.  Tear  Bk. 
■953- 

'o  G.  L.  Turner,  Orig.  Sees,  of  Early 
Nonamf.,  ii,  929. 


'^  See  Lambourne,  Nonconformity. 

'^  For  these  books,  which  are  kept  by 
the  rector,  see  Essex  Par.  Recs.  195.  Un- 
less otherwise  stated  all  the  following 
information  is  derived  from  them. 

73  Two  meetings,  however,  were  re- 
corded in  1802—3,  3  '"  1803—4,  4  in  each 
cf  the  years  1779-83,  and  5  in  1788-9. 

'<  See  above,  Manor  of  Albyns. 

'5  Thomas  Abdy  was,  however,  also 
Rector  of  Theydon  Gamon  and  was  not 


resident  at  Albyns. 

"  See  above.  Manor  of  Battles  Hall. 

"  See  above.  Manor  of  Stapleford 
Abbots. 

'^  George  Fitch  attended  vestry  meet- 
ings more  regularly,  perhaps,  than  any 
other  parishioner. 

'»  Both  John  and  George  Fitch  held 
office  again  some  years  after  their  long 
terms  of  office. 

8°  59  Geo.  Ill,  c.  12. 


230 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STAPLEFORD  ABBOTS 


paid  ;^io  for  performing  the  same  office  in  the  ensuing 
year.  There  was  apparently  no  payment  to  the  over- 
seer for  the  year  1 8 1 o-i  i  but  in  May  1 8 1 1 ,  a  few  days 
after  the  Easter  vestry,  it  was  agreed  'by  the  major  part 
of  the  parishioners'  that  George  Fitch  should  serve  as 
overseer  for  1811-12  at  a  salary  of  ^^lo.  No  salary 
appears  to  have  been  paid  to  the  overseers  for  the  years 
1812-15.*'  The  overseer  for  1815— 16  may  have  been 
paid  but  the  overseer  for  1 8 16-17  was  probably  not. 
There  is  no  further  evidence  on  the  matter  until  1822 
when  at  the  Easter  vestry  it  was  agreed  that  Joseph 
Green,  who  had  already  been  overseer  in  the  preceding 
year  (182 1—2),  should  be  allowed  ^10  for  serving 
again  in  1822-3.  Green  remained  overseer  for  several 
years  after  this.  It  is  not  clear  whether  he  was  paid  a 
salary  between  Easter  1823  and  Easter  1829  but  at 
Easter  1829  he  was  appointed  assistant  overseer  at  j{^lo 
a  year.  He  filled  this  office  until  at  least  1830.  Before 
1800  there  were  at  least  three  illiterate  overseers.*^ 

From  1777  until  1779  the  overseer,  churchwarden, 
and  constable  each  submitted  a  separate  account  of  his 
term  in  office.  From  1780  until  1833,  however, 
neither  churchwardens  nor  constables  submitted 
separate  accounts,  their  receipts  and  expenditure  being 
incorporated  in  the  overseers'  accounts  which  continued 
to  be  submitted  to  the  Easter  vestry  each  year.  Until 
1808  it  is  not  clear  what  the  usual  practice  was  in 
regard  to  the  surveyors'  accounts.  The  surveyors 
delivered  an  account  in  September  1779  but  after  this 
there  is  no  evidence  about  them  for  nearly  30  years. 
From  1808  two  surveyors  regularly  submitted  their 
account  each  September. 

At  some  time  there  was  a  parish  poorhouse,  situated 
at  Tysea  Hill.  In  1841  the  vestry  resolved  to  sell  it. 
It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  used  as  a  poor- 
house  during  the  period  for  which  the  vestry  books 
survive. 

In  1776  there  were  30  poor  households  in  the  parish. 
Several  consisted  of  only  one  person,  usually  old,  but 
most  of  them  consisted  of  labourers  and  their  families.  ^^ 
Few  of  these  households  appear  to  have  had  constant 
relief.  In  1776—7  there  were  9  persons  in  receipt  of 
doles,  the  total  of  which  amounted  to  £1  4/.  6J.  a 
week.  In  1777-8  there  were  10  persons  receiving 
weekly  doles  totalling  £1  9/.  The  following  year  there 
were  11,  and  the  doles  totalled  ^l  16/.  6J.  a  week. 
Between  1779  and  1782  there  were  8  people  each 
year,  the  average  total  of  the  doles  being  £1  js.  In 
each  of  the  years  1813-15  there  were  17  persons, 
excluding  children,  in  receipt  of  'permanent  relief'.'* 
None  of  these  received  relief  in  a  workhouse.*'  There 
were  also  30  persons  relieved  occasionally  in  each  of 
these  years.  8*  Weekly  doles  and  occasional  gifts  of 
money  and  clothing  continued  to  be  paid  to  poor  per- 
sons in  the  parish  until  the  end  of  the  old  Poor  Law. 
In  February  1829  an  unusually  large  vestry,  consist- 
mg  of  12  parishioners  in  addition  to  parish  officers, 
unanimously  agreed  'to  join  for  a  Corporation  work- 
house'.*'   In  December  1830  an  open  vestry  agreed 

8'  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  1/9. 

'^  In  the  same  period  there  was  at  least 
one  illiterate  churchwarden. 

*3  In  most  cases  there  were  2-4.  children. 

S"  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/io. 

"  Ibid.  86  Ibid. 

"  This  was  the  voluntary  union  under 
Gilbert's  Act,  which  had  its  workhouse  at 
Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.). 

*'  See  above.  Manor  of  Battles  Hall. 

«»  E.R.O.,  S/CR  i/i.  «o  Ibid. 


that  £1 09  should  be  borrowed  towards  the  Incorporated 
House.  A  few  days  afterwards  a  select  vestry  resolved 
that  10  persons,  including  5  children,  should  be  sent 
to  the  Incorporated  House  forthwith.  Some  persons 
were  still  maintained  in  the  parish  on  weekly  pensions, 
and  at  least  two  of  those  committed  to  the  Incor- 
porated House  do  not  appear  to  have  gone  there  im- 
mediately, for  in  the  months  following  their  committal 
each  was  allowed  a  small  weekly  pension  by  the  select 
vestry.  In  1832  it  was  resolved  to  apply  to  Lady 
Mildmay,  owner  of  Battles  Hall,**  for  the  grant  of 
waste  land  on  her  manor  'for  the  purpose  of  employing 
and  bettering  the  condition  of  the  poor'.  In  April  1832 
when  Guardians  for  the  Incorporated  Workhouse  were 
appointed  for  1832-3  it  was  resolved  that  the  'visiting 
Guardian  be  allowed  ,^3  4/.  per  annum  for  his  trouble 
in  executing  the  office'.  In  1833  it  was  proposed  by 
the  Guardians  'that  certain  lands  in  this  parish  belong- 
ing to  the  parish  should  be  sold  by  public  auction  for 
the  purpose  of  defraying  the  medium  as  far  asit  will  go 
towards  erecting  the  associated  workhouse'. 

In  1776  the  total  cost  of  poor  relief  was  ;^ioo;*' 
in  the  three  years  1783—5  it  averaged  ^160  a  year.'" 
The  rise  continued  irregularly  and  in  the  years  1789- 
90,  1790— I,  and  from  1794  onwards  it  appears  to  have 
been  over  £,zoo  a  year  rising  to  nearly  £400  in  1799— 
1800.  In  1 800-1  it  was  ;^635  but  after  Easter  1801 
it  declined  to  ^^313  in  1802-3.  Between  1803  and 
181 1  it  varied  between  about  ;^37o  and  £\J^  a  year. 
In  1812-13  and  1818-19  it  reached  peaks  of  ;^620 
and  about  ;^7oo  respectively.  In  the  1820's  it  was 
usually  a  little  under  ^500  and  in  the  early  1830's  it 
declined,  being  about  ^^300  in  the  last  year  of  the  old 
Poor  Law.  9' 

In  1836  Stapleford  Abbots  became  part  of  the 
Ongar  Poor  Law  Union. 

In  1734  Sir  John  Fortescue-Aland  of  Knolls  Hill'^ 
built  a  school  at  Bournebridge,  on  waste 
SCHOOLS  land  belonging  to  the  capital  manor,'^ 
and  charged  his  estate  with  ^^25  a  year 
for  the  support  of  a  schoolmaster  who  should  teach 
reading  and  writing  to  20  boys  of  Stapleford  Abbots 
and  20  of  Lambourne.'*  The  school  seems  to  have 
had  a  continuous  existence'^  but  by  1 807  it  was  in  poor 
condition.  Owing  to  parents'  reluctance  to  send  their 
children,  the  master  was  teaching  elementary  subjects 
to  only  1 5  or  16  boys.'*  By  18 18,  however,  30  free 
pupils  were  attending  and  16  paying  pupils  as  well. 
The  master  lived  at  the  schoolhouse  rent-free  and  was 
paid  the  £2^  from  the  endowment."  In  1833  there 
were  50  pupils,  presumably  including  those  paying 
fees.'*  In  1835  there  were  55  pupils.  Of  these  40 
were  free  pupils,  the  children  of  Anglicans,  who  entered 
at  7  years  of  age  and  left  at  fourteen.  The  hours  of 
attendance  were  9  a.m.  to  5  p.m.  and  the  curriculum 
elementary."  In  1846—7  the  school  was  united  to  the 
Diocesan  Board  of  Education  and  the  teacher,  nowa 
mistress,  was  paid  ;^35  a  year,  though  the  fee-paying 
pupils  seem  then  to  have  been  very  few.'   In  1863  the 


9'  The  exact  amounts  spent  on  poor 
relief  are  known  only  for  the  years  1 776—7, 
1783-5,  1800— I,  1802-3,  and  1804.-17. 
For  all  other  years  a  close  approximation 
is  possible  on  the  basis  of  the  overseers* 
total  disbursements. 

^2  See  above.  Knolls  Hill  estate. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DLo  T51.  Subsequently 
Sir  John  acquired  a  tenancy  of  the  land  on 
which  the  school  was  built. 

9-t  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.   216, 


p.  243  (i83S),xxi(i). 

"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  178;  Chapman  and 
Andre,  Map  of  Essex,  lyjj,  pi.  xvi. 

96  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4. 

9'  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224.,  p.  271 
(18.9),  ix(.). 

98  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  290 
(.835),-xli. 

99  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  p.  243. 

^  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  18-19. 


231 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


teacher  was  again  a  master.^  In  1872  the  Education 
Department  urged  that  the  school  should  be  repaired 
and  enlarged  to  accommodate  40  boys,  as  a  contribu- 
tion towards  the  provision  of  elementary  education  for 
all  children  in  the  parish.^  No  steps  were  taken,  how- 
ever, to  enlarge  this  or  other  schools  in  Stapleford 
Abbots  and  Lambourne,  with  the  result  that  a  school 
board  was  formed  for  the  two  parishes.'*  In  1878  a 
board  school  was  opened.'  There  seem  to  be  no 
references  to  the  existence  of  the  Knolls  Hill  school 
after  that  date,  except  in  about  1907  when  it  was  stated 
to  be  still  in  existence  as  an  elementary  school.*  The 
Knolls  Hill  farm  estate  is  now  charged  with  the 
annual  sum  of  £2°  i^/.  which  goes  towards  the 
secondary  education  of  a  pupil  from  Stapleford  Abbots 
primary  school.^ 

The  original  Knolls  Hill  school  building  still  stands, 
being  now  occupied  as  a  cottage.  It  is  of  red  brick  with 
some  burnt  headers.  The  symmetrical  front  is  of  two 
stories  and  has  a  central  doorway  with  a  flat  hood  on 
moulded  brackets.  The  building  originally  consisted 
of  one  large  room  to  each  floor,  but  these  are  now  sub- 
divided. The  master's  house,  which  is  attached  to  the 
back  of  the  school,  may  be  a  later  addition. 

The  parochial  school  had  its  origins  in  the  early 
years  of  the  19th  century.  Presumably  because  girls 
were  not  admitted  to  Knolls  Hill  Free  School,  private 
schools  for  girls  existed  in  the  parish  both  in  1 807  and 
18 1 8.  In  1818  there  was  also  a  school  in  which  14 
girls  had  their  fees  paid  and  some  clothes  given  them 
by  Mrs.  Abdy  of  Albyns.^  This  girls'  school  seems  to 
have  accepted  boys  as  pupils  at  some  time  before  1839, 
when  the  Abdy  family  was  still  its  sole  supporter.'  In 
1 846-7,  when  the  school  was  situated  on  land  owned 
by  the  Abdys,  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  church,'" 
widow  Williams  was  being  paid  £^7  a  year  to  teach 
15  boys  and  43  girls,  including  some  from  Navestock 
and  Stapleford  Tawney."  The  school  continued  for 
at  least  another  28  years,  evidently  under  the  patronage 
of  the  Abdy  family.  In  1872  the  Education  Depart- 
ment urged  that  certain  alterations  and  re-equipment 
should  be  carried  out  so  that  its  accommodation  might 
be  used  to  help  provide  universal  elementary  education 
in  the  parish,'^  but  this  was  not  done'3  and  the  school 
seems  to  have  been  closed  on  the  establishment  of  the 
board  school.'* 

In  1878  the  school  board  of  Stapleford  Abbots  and 
Lambourne  opened  a  new  school  on  a  freehold  site  at 
the  top  of  the  hill  leading  to  Passingford  Bridge.  The 
cost  was  defrayed  by  a  loan.''  The  accommodation 
was  for  99.  The  average  attendance  rose  from  49  in 
1886  to  73  in  1902,  and  its  annual  grant  from  ,^35  to 
j^ioi.'*  In  1904  there  were  80  children  at  the  school 


and  3  teachers,  2  of  whom  were  certificated. '^  By  the 
Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed  under  the 
administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee  as 
a  provided  mixed  school.  Its  average  attendance  fell 
to  54  in  1909  and  32  in  1930.  In  1936  it  was  re- 
organized for  mixed  juniors  and  infants,' '  the  seniors 
being  sent  to  Chipping  Ongar.  In  May  1952  there 
were  3  teachers  and  74  pupils.  The  school  is  a  single- 
story,  red-brick  building,  and  it  has  a  teacher's  house 
attached. 

Elizabeth  Watson  (d.  1782)  left  ^^3  issuing  from 
her  estate  of  Mitchells  to  be  dis- 
CHJRITIES^^  tributed  to  the  poor  on  Christmas 
Day  and  Good  Friday,  provided  that 
her  parents'  monument  should  be  well  maintained  in 
its  then  position.  Although  all  the  monuments  in  the 
church  were  moved  into  the  tower  in  1 861,  the 
charity  money  continued  to  be  paid.  There  was  some 
difficulty  in  coUecting  the  rent-charge  from  1930  to 
1937.  In  1952  the  money  was  spent  on  gifts  of  bread 
to  38  recipients. 

Dr.  Gould,  rector  of  the  parish  (d.  1799),  left  j^i^S 
to  be  invested  for  distribution  among  the  poor  of  the 
parish  at  Christmas  and  Easter.  A  board  was  to  be 
maintained,  bearing  a  description  of  the  charity.  By 
1835  the  charity  was  only  distributed  on  alternate 
Easter  Saturdays,  when  meat  was  given  away  to  all  the 
poor  families  of  the  parish  in  proportion  to  their  size. 
In  about  1888  ^30  was  added  to  the  stock,  represent- 
ing the  endowment  of  the  Bell  Rope  Charity.  This 
was  of  unknown  origin  and  had  apparently  consisted 
of  a  small  plot  of  land  in  Hook  Lane  which  was  sold 
by  the  churchwardens  in  1781  for  ^25.  The  payment 
of  the  dividends  of  this  sum  seems  to  have  been  irregular 
for  some  time:  no  mention  of  the  charity  was  made  in 
the  Brougham  Commissioners'  Report  of  1835  and 
about  8  years'  arrears  were  paid  in  1855.  In  the  early 
19th  century  the  income  was  apparently  used  with 
that  of  the  other  charities,  and  from  1888  it  was  always 
distributed  with  Dr.  Gould's  Charity.  In  1952  the 
income  of  the  two  was  ^^4  1 8^.  \J.  which  was  spent  on 
meat  for  41  persons. 

Alice  Martin,  by  will  proved  1946,  left  the  residue  of 
her  estate  amounting  to  ^^2,265  8/.  5^'.  in  trust  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  of  the  parish  at  Christmas.  In  1952 
the  income  was  j^7  3  6s.  ioa'.;43  persons  received  gifts  in 
cash  and  7  persons  received  them  in  children's  clothes. 

The  Parliamentary  Returns  of  1786  recorded  two 
charities  which  were  then  lost:  Edward  Masters  had 
given  ^3  a  year  to  the  poor  in  1670,  and  Captain  Allen 
gave  them  £t.o,  producing  10/.  a  year,  in  1675. 
Nothing  had  been  received  from  the  first  'for  many 
years'  or  from  the  second  since  1690. 


»  mile's  Dir.  Essex  {iSSj). 

3  Chetmsford  Chronicle^  9  Aug.  1872. 

♦  Essex  Standard,  29  July  1874. 
s  Sec  below. 

*  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1878,  1882); 
F.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  563. 

'  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  fCelly,  present 
owner  of  Knolls  Hill  Farm. 

'  Reins.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  271 
(1819),    ix    (i);    see    above,    Manor    of 


Albyns. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

"o  E.R.O.,  D/CT  330;  see  above,  p.  222. 

*'  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs, 
1846-7,  pp.  18-19. 

"  Chelmsford  Chronicle,  9  Aug.  1872. 

"  Essex  Standard,  29  July  1874. 

■«  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1878,  1882). 

'5  Min.  of  Educ.  File  i  3/346. 

"  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cllee.  of  Council,  18S6 


[C.  S123-1],  p.  519,  H.C.  (1887),  xitviii; 
List  of  Schs.  under  Admin,  of  Bd.  igo2 
[Cd.  1490],  p.  71,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 

"  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handbk.  1904, 
p.  186. 

"  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

^9  All  the  information  which  follows  is 
derived  from  the  following  sources :  Rep. 
Com.  Char.  [Essex),  H.C.  216,  pp.  243-4 
(1835),  xii  (i)  j  Char.  Com.  files. 


232 


Thk  River  Roding  and  Passincford  Mill  from  Passincford  Bridge 


Louchton:  Treks  in  Eppino  Forest  showing  the  effects  of  lopping 


,3^a 


Cutlers  Force,  Stapleford  Tawney 


Stanford  Rivers:  Tent  and  Tarpaulin  1'aciorv,  Formerly  the  Ongar  Union  Workh 


ONGAR  HUNDRED       stapleford  tawney 


STAPLEFORD  TAWNEY 


Stapleford  Tawney  is  a  parish  about  7  miles  north 
of  Romford,  having  an  area  of  1,656  acres."  In  1801 
the  population  was  196.  It  reached  350  in  1841  but 
has  subsequently  declined.^  In  195 1  it  was  only  1 53.' 
Since  1755  the  rectory  of  Stapleford  Tawney  has 
always  been  held  jointly  with  that  of  Theydon  Mount 
(q.v.)  but  the  two  parishes  have  remained  separate 
for  civil  purposes. 

The  south  of  the  parish,  where  the  River  Roding 
forms  the  boundary,  is  about  100  ft.  above  sea-level. 
From  here  the  land  rises  gradually  to  over  300  ft.  in 
the  north.  A  stream  flowing  south  into  the  Roding 
forms  much  of  the  western  boundary.  A  wood  called 
Shales  More  lies  in  the  south-west  of  the  parish  and 
Bob's  Barn  Wood  lies  on  the  eastern  boundary.  The 
road  from  London  and  Woodford  to  Chipping  Ongar 
enters  the  parish  by  Passingford  Bridge  and  runs 
north-east.  On  the  west  side  of  this  road,  immediately 
north  of  the  bridge,  stands  a  group  of  buildings  most 
of  which  appear  to  date  from  the  late  i8th  or  early 
igth  century.  North-east  of  this  group,  at  the  junction 
of  the  main  road  with  a  by-road  to  Theydon  Mount 
and  Theydon  Garnon,  stands  Cutler's  Forge  (see  plate 
facing  p.  233)  which  is  said  to  have  belonged  to  the 
Cutlers'  Company  of  London  in  the  1 7th  century.''  It  is 
an  L-shaped  weather-boarded  building,  the  older  part 
of  which  has  a  roof  truss  probably  of  17th-century  date. 
The  forge  is  still  in  use  and  has  two  brick  furnaces.  The 
cottage  next  to  the  forge  is  also  probably  of  1 7th-century 
date  with  a  later  frontage  of  red  brick.  Farther  along  the 
main  road  to  Chipping  Ongar,  in  a  park  which  occupies 
most  of  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the  parish,  is 
Suttons.5  The  by-road  from  Cutler's  Forge  runs  west- 
ward to  Theydon  Mount.  Running  north  from  this 
Theydon  road  is  the  road  to  the  church  a  mile  north. 
The  site  of  Stapleford  Tawney  Hall*  lies  on  the  west 
side  of  the  road,  immediately  to  the  south  of  the  church- 
yard. South  of  this  site  stands  Great  Tawney  Hall.^ 
North  of  the  church  stands  the  former  schoolhouse, 
now  the  village  hall.*  Farther  north  on  the  east  side 
of  the  road  is  the  former  rectory.'  North  of  this  the 
road  turns  east  to  Colliers  Hatch,  but  a  by-road  con- 
tinues north  to  Little  Tawney  Hall,  an  18th-century 
building  later  refronted.  Bell's  Cottages  are  J  mile 
from  the  rectory  on  the  east  side  of  the  CoHiers  Hatch 
road.  These  Cottages,  formerly  Bell's  Farm,  have  an 
overhanging  upper  story  on  the  west  side  and  are  prob- 
ably of  early  17th-century  origin.  Off  the  road,  to  the 
south-east  of  them,  stands  Howfield  Farm,  an  18th- 
century  building.'"  About  ij  mile  farther  north,  at 
Wood  Hatch,  is  the  Moletrap  Inn.  This  and  its 
neighbouring    cottages    are    timber-framed,    and    are 


probably  of  the  early  1 8th  century.  Half  a  mile  farther 
north,  in  the  extreme  corner  of  the  parish  near  Colliers 
Hatch,  stands  Moat  Cottage,  which  dates  from  the 
late  1 8th  or  early  19th  century.  The  cottage  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  rectangular  moat,  well  preserved  and  full 
of  water.  North  of  this  is  a  pair  of  weather-boarded 
cottages  with  timber  framing  of  the  i6th  or  early  17th 
century.  There  is  also  a  small  T-shaped  cottage  of  the 
same  period  on  Tawney  Common  south-west  of 
CoUiers  Hatch. 

There  are  frequent  references  in  the  records  to 
Passingford  Bridge,  important  because  of  its  position 
across  the  Roding  on  the  main  road  from  London  to 
Ongar.  In  the  late  i6th  century  there  was  uncertainty 
as  to  who  was  responsible  for  the  bridge,  probably 
because  it  spanned  the  parish  boundary  with  Staple- 
ford Abbots."  By  1593,  however,  the  county  had 
accepted  responsibility  for  repairing  it.'^  In  1785  it 
was  rebuilt  in  brick. '3  In  1858  the  county  surveyor 
commented  that  the  bridge  was  narrow  and  'situate 
at  a  very  inconvenient  angle  with  the  road'.''*  It  has 
been  strengthened  and  repaired  at  various  times  and 
one  pier  was  rebuilt  in  1952. '5 

The  post-office  in  Stapleford  Tawney  has  from  the 
first  been  situated  a  little  to  the  north  of  Passingford 
Bridge.  It  was  at  first  described  by  the  name  of  the 
bridge.  It  was  kept  by  a  receiver  in  1793.'*  In  1813 
it  was  on  the  daily  ride  between  Ongar  and  Epping." 
In  1 88 1  a  money-order  office  was  established,' *  and 
in  1896  the  name  changed  to  Stapleford  Tawney." 
In  1 897  a  telegraph  office  was  set  up  under  guarantee,^" 
and  in  1930  a  rural  auto-telephone  exchange.^'  The 
present  post-office  building  appears  to  date  from  the 
first  half  of  the  19th  century. 

Water  was  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  in  1949  to  most  of  the  parish."  Electricity 
was  laid  on  in  December  1932  but  not  on  Tawney 
Common  .23  The  village  hall  was  formerly  the  school.^ 

In  1 77 1  a  writer  noted  that  Stapleford  Tawney 
'hath  but  few  houses  in  it  and,  like  the  other  [Staple- 
ford], seems  to  carry  on  no  other  business  than  that  of 
husbandry'. 25  Stapleford  Tawney  is  still  a  rural  parish 
devoted  almost  exclusively  to  agriculture. 

The  lords  of  the  capital  manor  were  resident  in 
Stapleford  Tawney  at  the  end  of  the  15th  century^* 
and  for  at  least  a  short  period,  1550-85,  in  the  i6th 
century."  After  1585  they  no  longer  lived  in  the 
parish.^'  The  lords  of  Buttons  may  have  been  resident 
in  the  13th  century  but  they  did  not  live  in  the  parish 
for  some  three  centuries  after  13 12. 2'  During  this 
period  the  manor  was  usually  farmed  out  on  long 
leases. 30  Since  the  Luthers  purchased  the  manor  in  the 


'  O.S.  2^  in.  Map,  sheets  51/49,  51/59, 
52/40,  52/50. 

2  r.C.H.  Essex,  u,  350. 
^  Census,  1951. 

*  Inf.  from  a  painted  inscription 
(modern)  inside  the  forge.  By  1649,  how- 
ever, the  forge  was  owned  by  Thomas 
Luther,  lord  of  Buttons  manor:  E.R.O., 
D/DSd  4. 

*  See  below.  Manor  of  Suttons. 

'  See  below,  Manor  of  Stapleford 
Tawney  Hall.  '  Ibid. 

*  Sec  below.  Schools. 
9  Sec  below,  Church. 

'°  The  building  was  described  as  How- 


field  House  in  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map 
of  Essex,  lyyj,  sheet  xvi. 
■■  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  25/7,  23/25,  39/30, 

+V33.  74/37- 

"  Ibid.  123/29. 

*3  E.  Jervoise,  Anct,  Bridges  of  Mid-  and 
East.  Eng.  136. 

■♦  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

■5  Inf.  from  local  police  constable. 

"  Gary's  English  Atlas,  1793. 

"  Western's  Post  Office  map,  18 13. 
Sec  Chipping  Ongar,  p.  158. 

"  P.M.G.  Mins.  1 88 1,  vol.  207,  min. 

945- 
"  Ibid.  1896,  vol.  573,  min.  1191. 


"  Ibid.  1897,  vol.  615,  min.  12547. 

^^  Ibid.  1930,  min.  11645. 

^^  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  and  from  Rector  of  Theydon 
Mount  and  Stapleford  Tawney. 

^J  Inf.  from  rector  and  East.  Electr.  Bd. 

^*  See  below,  Schools. 

^'  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  40. 

2*  E.R.  liii,  no.  245,  p.  44.  Sec  below. 
Church. 

^7  E.R.  Ixii,  no.  246,  pp.  46,  50. 

^'  Ibid.  y.  51.  See  below,  Manor  of 
Stapleford  Tawney. 

29  See  below.  Manor  of  Suttons. 

3»  Ibid. 


233 


Hh 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


early  17th  century  the  owners  of  the  estate  have  been 
resident.3' 

In  1838  the  parish  consisted  of  1,570  acres.32  of 
this  the  lord  of  the  capital  manor  owned  7 1 1  acres  and 
the  lord  of  Suttons  348  acres."  Mrs.  S.  West  was 
the  only  other  substantial  owner  (245  acres).3<  These 
landowners  let  nearly  all  their  land  to  tenant  farmers. 
The  largest  farm  in  the  parish  was  Stapleford  Tawney 
Hall  farm  comprising  374  acres.  There  was  one  other 
farm  of  over  200  acres.  There  were  three  farms  of 
100-200  acres  and  six  of  40-100  acres.^s 

In  this  parish  mixed  farming  is  carried  on.  In  1837 
there  were  estimated  to  be  491  acres  of  arable,  768 
acres  of  meadow  and  pasture,  and  125  acres  of  wood- 
land.3* 

Passingford  Mill,  which  is  about  J  mile  west  of 
Passingford  Bridge,  just  within  the  boundary  of 
Stapleford  Abbots,^^  belongs  to  Suttons  and  is  said  to 
have  replaced  an  earlier  mill  south  of  Suttons.'*  It  is 
a  timber-framed  and  weather-boarded  building  of  three 
stories  and  probably  dates  from  the  i8th  century. 
Inside  the  mill  are  the  names  and  dates  of  various 
millers,  the  earliest  being  a  Zach  Tuck,  1760.  In 
about  1 93 1  a  turbine  was  installed  and  later  the  water 
wheel  was  cleared  away.3'  In  a  map  of  1777  a  wind- 
mill as  well  as  a  water-mill  is  shown  in  this  position.'*" 
The  present  Mill  House  has  been  converted  from  a 
pair  of  weather-boarded  cottages,  probably  dating  from 
the  late  i8th  century.  The  former  Mill  House  is 
farther  west.  It  was  probably  built  late  in  the  17th  or 
early  in  the  i8th  century  and  has  a  treble  hipped  roof. 
The  chimney  has  diagonal  shafts.  On  the  south  wall 
is  a  painted  wood  sundial  with  a  pedimented  top;  this 
bears  the  date  1635  and  the  inscription  'Horas  non 
numero  nisi  Serenas'. 

In  1066  STAPLEFORD  TAWNETv^zi  held  by 
Godric  as  I  manor  and  as  5  hides.'*'  Of 
MANORS  these  5  hides  he  'gave  to  his  10  free  men 
freely  4  hides,  retaining  i  hide  in 
demesne'.'*^  After  the  Conquest  Robert  Fitz  Wimarc 
had  the  i  hide  by  the  king's  gift  and  his  son  Swein  of 
Essex  added  the  4  hides  to  it  after  his  father's  death.*' 
In  1086  the  manor  was  held  of  Swein  by  Siric.**  At 
that  time  the  manor,  which  had  been  worth  ;^8  before 
1066,  was  worth  ^io.*s  In  1086  Swein  of  Essex  held 
the  honor  of  Rayleigh,  and  the  manor  of  Stapleford 
Tawney  continued  to  be  held  of  that  honor,  which 
escheated  to  the  Crown  in  the  12th  century,  until  after 
1550.'**  In  1296  and  1301  the  manor  was  held  by  the 
service  of  2  knights'  fees.*'  In  1303,  1346,  and  1428 
it  was  said  to  be  held  by  the  service  of  I  fee.**  In  1 3 17 
and  1 341  it  was  reported  that  the  manor  was  held  by 

3"  Hisl.  Mm.  Com.  Esux,  ii,  226; 
E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685-737;  rVhite's  Dir. 
Ettex  (1848),  p.  439;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex 

(1874  f.)- 

3»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  331. 

w  Ibid.  Sec  below.  Manors. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  331. 

"  Ibid.  36  Ibid. 

"  See  Stapleford  Abbots,  p.  223. 

'•  Inf.fromMr.  W.  H.  Twyneham,jun., 
of  Albyns,  Stapleford  Abbots.  There  are 
obvious  mill-cuts  in  the  River  Roding, 
south  of  Suttons. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  W.  H.  Twyneham, 
jun. 

*»  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xvi. 

*•  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  490«. 

*»  Ibid. 

*'  Ibid.    For  Robert  Fitz  Wimarc  and 


the  service  of  i  fee.*'  In  1491  the  manor  was  held  in 
socage  by  a  rent  of  "js.  id.^°  In  1550  it  was  held  in 
socage  by  a  rent  of  3/.  8</.5' 

By  1211-12  the  tenant  of  the  manor  was  Richard 
Fitz  William.52  After  1232-3  Richard  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  William  who  died  in  about  1 246  leaving  as 
his  heir  his  daughter  Margaret,  wife  of  Richard  de 
Tany.s'  It  was  from  the  Tany  family  that  this  manor 
and  parish  took  the  second  part  of  its  name — Tany  or 
Tawney — to  distinguish  it  from  Stapleford  Abbots 
(q.v.). 

In  1 264  Richard  de  Tany  obtained  licence  to  enclose 
his  wood  of  Stapleford  Tany  within  the  bounds  of  the 
forest  of  Essex  together  with  5  acres  of  his  demesne 
land  adjoining  the  wood,  in  order  to  make  a  park.'* 
Richard  de  Tany  died  in  1270  leaving  as  his  heir  his 
son  Richard  who,  unlike  his  father,  had  taken  the  king's 
side  in  the  recent  baronial  wars.  55  In  the  juo  warranto 
proceedings  of  1274-5  Richard  claimed  to  hold  the 
assizes  of  bread  and  ale  and  view  of  frank-pledge  but 
was  unable  to  produce  any  charter  confirming  these 
rights. 56  He  was  ordered  to  seek  judgement  of  the 
king.57  At  the  time  of  the  second  Richard's  death  in 
1296  the  manor  included  60  acres  of 'foreign  wood  in 
the  forest  which  is  a  loss  to  the  lord  because  he  assigned 
a  tenant  to  the  keeping  of  the  wood,  who  used  to  render 
him  4/.  6d.  a  year  for  his  land  and  now  renders  nothing'. 5* 
Richard  left  as  his  heir  his  son  Roger  who  came  of  age 
in  1299.59  Roger  de  Tany  died  in  1301  leaving  as  his 
heir  his  son  Laurence,  a  minor.*"  The  king  granted  the 
custody  of  the  estate  during  the  minority  of  Laurence 
to  Queen  Margaret.*'  In  1306  Margaret  sold  the 
custody  to  William  de  Estden,  king's  clerk,  who  then 
sold  it  to  John  de  Uvedale.*^  The  manor  was  still  in 
the  custody  of  Uvedale  when  Laurence  de  Tany  died 
in  1 3 17  leaving  as  his  heir  his  sister  Margaret,  wife  of 
John  de  Drokenesford.*'  Margaret  predeceased  her 
husband  who  died  in  1341.*+  The  heir  of  John  and 
Margaret  was  their  son  Thomas  who  died  in  1 361  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  daughter  Anne,  afterwards  wife 
of  Sir  Thomas  Mandeville.*'  In  1382  Thomas  and 
Anne  granted  a  life  interest  in  the  manor  to  Thomas 
Lampet  at  a  rent  of  ^^20  a  year.**  Sir  Thomas  Mande- 
ville  was  dead  by  1399.*'  His  son  and  heir  Thomas 
died  in  1400  while  still  a  minor.**  The  heirs  of  the 
young  Thomas  were  his  sisters:  Alice,  wife  of  Helming 
Legat,  and  Joan,  wife  of  John  Barry.*'  A  partition  of 
their  inheritance  was  made  in  1400  and  the  annual 
rent  due  from  Thomas  Lampet  for  the  manor  of 
Stapleford  Tawney  was  allotted  to  Joan  and  John 
Barry.'"  It  is  not  clear  what  arrangement  was  made 
at  this  time  about  the  reversion  of  the  manor  after  the 


his  heirs  see  Manor  of  Theydon  Mount. 

■M  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  490a. 

«5  Ibid. 

*'  Bk.  of  Fees,  ii,  1463;  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  i, 
pp.  248,  302;  ibid,  iv,  pp.  12-13;  i'^''''  ^'> 
pp.  182-3;  C142/208/181;  E.R.O., 
D/DRgi/115. 

♦'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iii,  p.  201 ;  ibid,  iv, 
pp.  12-13. 

♦'  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  136,  160,  222. 

*'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  p.  69;  ibid,  viii, 
pp.  228-9. 

">  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  \,  p.  334. 

5"  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/115. 

"  RedBk.ofExci.s<)S- 

"  Ex.  e  Rol.  Fin.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  449; 
Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  i,  pp.  283,  302 ;  Bk.  of  Fees, 
ii,  1463.  Cf.  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  18.  In 
c.  1254  the  patron  of  the  living  was 
reported  as  William  eon  of  Richard.   It  is 


virtually  certain,  however,  that  William 
was  dead  by  March  1246. 

5*  Cal.  Pal.  1258-66,  394. 

*5  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  i,  p.  248. 

5'  Flac.  de  Quo  Warr.  (Rec.  Com.),  232. 

5'  Ibid. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iii,  p.  201. 

5'  Ibid.;  Cal.  Close,  1 296-1 302,  270. 

'°  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  iv,  pp.  12-13. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1 30 1-7,  439,  464. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1301-7,  464. 

63  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  p.  69. 

6*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  viii,  pp.  228—9, 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  i\,  pp.  182-3. 

"  FeetofF.  Essex,m,j^y.  For  Thomas 
Lampet  see  under  manor  of  Lampettfi  in 
Fyfield. 

"  C137/14. 

"  Ibid.  «»  Ibid. 

">  Cal.  Fine  R.  1 399-1405,  75. 


234 


ONGAR  HUNDRED       stapleford  tawney 


death  of  Thomas  Lampet.  By  a  series  of  conveyances 
ending  in  14 lo,  however,  Alice  and  Helming  Legat 
obtained  the  sole  reversionary  rights,  apparently  by 
grant  from  Joan  and  John  Barry  J'  In  141 2  it  was 
reported  that  Alice,  widow  of  Helming  Legat,  was 
holding  Stapleford  Tawney  manor  which  was  worth 
;^20.'^  Alice  married  as  her  second  husband  Roger 
Spice  and  after  she  died  in  1420  Roger  was  lord  of  the 
manor  until  his  death,  or  shortly  before  his  death,  about 
1459.73  The  manor  then  descended  to  Clement  Spice, 
son  of  Roger  and  Alice.''*  In  1466  Raphael  Vannell, 
grandson  of  Joan  and  John  Barry,  tried  to  dispossess 
Clement. 75  Between  1467  and  1473  Clement  filed  a 
bill  in  Chancery  against  Raphael  and  evidently  won 
his  case.'*  Between  1480  and  1485  Clement  Spice 
sold  the  manor  to  William  Scott,  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Woolston  in  Chigwell  (q.v.)."  By  a  deed  of  feoffment 
in  May  1485  the  manor  of  Stapleford  Tawney  was 
settled  on  William  and  his  wife  Margery  for  their  lives 
in  survivorship  with  remainder  to  their  eldest  son 
John.'*  William  died  in  1491  and  his  wife  in  ijo;." 
John  Scott  died  in  1527  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
grandson  Walter,  son  of  his  son  Thomas.*"  In  1534 
Walter  also  inherited  the  manor  of  Woolston  (q.v.) 
and  afterwards  the  manor  of  Stapleford  Tawney 
followed  the  same  descent  as  that  of  Woolston  until  the 
death  of  George  Scott  in  1589.*'  In  1550  the  manor 
of  Stapleford  Tawney  consisted  of  40  acres  of  arable, 
60  acres  of  meadow,  40  acres  of  pasture,  100  acres  of 
wood,  and  rents  totalling  40/.  a  year.*^  The  net 
annual  value  of  the  manor  was  ^^26  gs.  81/. *3  In  1 589 
it  passed  to  Elizabeth  and  Mary,  daughters  of  George 
Scott,  and  was  afterwards  allotted  to  Elizabeth  and  her 
husband  Sir  Edward  Aleyn,  ist  Bt.**  Sir  Edward  died 
in  1638  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson  Edmund, 
2nd  Bt.*5  In  1656  Edmund  died  leaving  as  his  heir  his 
daughter  Arabella,  wife  first  of  Francis  Thompson  and 
afterwards  of  Lord  George  Howard,  son  of  Henry, 
Duke  of  Norfolk  (d.  1684).**  In  1717  Arabella  and 
Lord  George  Howard  conveyed  the  manor  to  Sir 
Edward  Smyth,  Bt.,  of  Hill  Hall,  Theydon  Mount*' 
(q.v.).  Afterwards  the  manor  descended  along  with 
Hill  Hall  until  the  break  up  of  the  Hill  Hall  estate.** 
The  manor  then  passed  with  the  manor  of  Theydon 
Mount  (q.v.)  to  Mrs.  Battye  and  Mrs.  Stafford  North- 
cote  who  held  it  until  after  1937.*' 

In  1838  the  estate  in  Stapleford  Tawney  consisted 
of  711  acres  of  which  247  acres  were  arable.'" 

The  site  of  Stapleford  Tawney  Hall  is  immediately 
to  the  south  of  the  churchyard.  It  now  consists  of  a 
walled  garden,  surrounded  by  a  dry  moat. 

Great  Tawney  Hall,  standing  immediately  south  of 
the  site  of  Stapleford  Tawney  Hall,  probably  super- 
seded the  old  manor  house.  It  is  a  timber-framed  farm- 
house, apparently  of  the  1 8th  century,  and  was  probably 


built  for  the  occupation  of  the  tenant  of  Stapleford 
Tawney  Hall  farm  after  the  manor  had  passed  to  the 
Smyths  of  Hill  Hall.  In  1838  it  was  owned  by  Sir 
John  Smijth  of  Hill  Hall  but  was  in  the  occupation  of 
the  executors  of  Edward  Potter,  late  tenant  of  Staple- 
ford Tawney  Hall  Farm."  It  has  two  stories  and  a 
basement.  The  five-window  garden  front  has  been 
refaced  with  red  brick,  probably  about  the  middle  of 
the  19th  century. 

Nothing  has  been  found  concerning  the  manor  of 
S  UTTONS  until  1 29 1 .  It  derived  its  name  from 
John  de  Sutton  (see  below). 9^  Then  and  afterwards 
it  was  held  of  the  manor  of  Stapleford  Tawney  by 
knight  service,  the  amount  of  which  was  reported  as 
\  fee  in  1303  and  1428,  as  J  fee  in  13 17,  and  as  J  fee 
in  1326. '3 

In  1 29 1  Thomas  de  Bredstrete  granted  to  John  de 
Sutton  and  his  wife  Maud  i  messuage,  i  mill,  220 
acres  of  arable,  10  acres  of  meadow,  50  acres  of  pasture, 
8  acres  of  wood,  and  \s.  rent  in  Stapleford  Tawney 
and  Navestock,  to  hold  to  them  and  their  son  John 
and  his  issue,  with  remainder  to  the  right  heirs  of  John 
the  son.'*  In  1 3 1 2  or  1313  John  the  elder  granted  this 
estate  to  Gilbert  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  and  his 
wife  Maud  and  to  Gilbert's  heirs. 's  Gilbert  died  in 
1 3 1 4  and  his  wife  in  1 3  20.'*  The  estate  then  descended 
to  Margaret,  sister  and  coheir  of  Gilbert,  and  her 
husband  Hugh,  ist  Lord  Audley."  In  1321  Lord 
Audley  forfeited  this  estate  to  the  Crown,  with  the 
rest  of  his  lands,  when  he  joined  the  rebellion  against 
the  king.'*  The  manor  was  still  in  the  possession  of 
the  Crown  in  1326  when  the  sisters  of  John  de  Sutton 
the  younger,  who  was  then  dead,  claimed  the  estate  as 
their  brother's  heirs."  Their  claim  failed  and  the 
manor  was  restored  to  Lord  Audley  who  died  in  1347 
leaving  as  his  heir  his  daughter  Margaret,  wife  of 
Ralph,  later  ist  Earl  of  Stafford.'  Ralph  survived  his 
wife  and  died  in  possession  of  Suttons  in  1372.^  The 
manor  then  followed  the  same  descent  as  that  of 
Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.)  until  the  17th  century.  It  was 
usually  farmed  out,  on  long  leases,  at  a  rent  of 
^13  6s.  iJ.  a  year.3  One  of  the  lessees  in  the  i6th 
century  was  Walter  Cely,  lord  of  Albyns  in  Stapleford 
Abbots  and  also  lessee  of  part  of  the  manor  of  Staple- 
ford Abbots  (q.v.).* 

In  1613  James  I  sold  Suttons,  with  the  manor  of 
Stanford  Rivers,  to  Richard  Cartwright  and  Thomas 
Cowley  of  London. 5  Nothing  more  has  been  found 
concerning  Suttons  until  1649  when  the  lord  of  the 
manor  was  Thomas  Luther.*  He  died  in  1694  leaving 
as  his  heir  his  son  John  who  was  dead  by  171 3.' 
Thomas  Luther,  son  of  John,  died  in  1722  leaving  his 
estates  heavily  encumbered  with  debts.*  He  devised 
Suttons  to  his  mother  Jane  Luther  for  life  with 
remainder  to  his  sister  Rebecca  Goebell  for  life  and 


"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  243,  252,  254. 

'*  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  440. 

"  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  222;  Cal.  Close,  1447- 
54,  366;Ci39/i8i. 

'■•  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/115. 

"  Ibid. 

'6  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/115;  C140/S4. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/115. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  yil,  \,  p.  3  34. 

"  Ibid.;  Morant,  Essex,  \,  179. 

«»  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/115;  C142/46/10. 

«■  €142/90/87;  €142/208/181;  C142/ 
220/67;  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/115. 

«2  E.R.O.,  D/DRg  1/115.  83  Ibid. 

«♦  €142/220/67;  CP25(2)/293  East.  8 
Jas.  I;  CP25(2)/4i6  Trin.  6  Chas.  I. 


'5  G.E.C.  Baronetage,  ii,  74-75. 

86  Ibid. 

8'  CP25(2)/ioi2  Trin.  3  Geo.  I. 

88  E.R.O.,  e/RPl  685-737;  ibid.  D/CT 
331;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1874  f.);  Burke, 
Peerage  (193 1),  218 1-3. 

89  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1937). 

90  E.R.O.,  D/CT  331.  91  Ibid. 
92  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  454-5. 

95  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  69,  454-5 ;  Feud. 
Aids,  ii,  136,  222. 

9<  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  454-5. 

95  Ibid. 

9'  Complete  Peerage,  V,  714-15. 

9'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  454-5  i  Complete 
Peerage,  v,  715. 


98  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  454-5 ;  Cal.  Fini 
R.  1319-27,  57;  Complete  Peerage,  i,  346! 
ibid.  V,  716. 

99  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  454-5. 
'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ix,  p.  56. 

'Ci  35/230/1;  Complete  Peerage,  i, 
347- 

»  E.R.O.,  D/DP  M582;  L.  fiif  P.  Hen. 
VIU,  xviii  (2),  p.  60;  Req.  2/30/73; 
C66/1988. 

♦  Req.  2/30/73;  P.C.C.  44  Populwell 

('5+9)-     . 
5  C66/1988. 
»  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T4. 
'  Ibid. 
8  E.R.O.,  D/DSdTi. 


'^ZS 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


afterwards  to  her  son  John  Goebell.'  Jane  Luther 
died  in  1745  after  paying  off  her  son's  debts  to  the 
extent  of  £8,5oo.'»  In  1752  Rebecca  Goebell  and  her 
son  John  mortgaged  the  manor  for  ,{^2,000."  In  1768, 
after  Rebecca's  death,  John  Goebell  borrowed  another 
£2,000  on  the  security  of  the  estate  and  when  he  died 
in  1777  the  two  mortgages  were  still  unredeemed.'^ 
He  left  his  estate  to  his  sister  Rebecca  and  her  husband 
Gerrard  Goebell,  a  London  sugar  refiner."  Rebecca 
died  a  month  after  her  brother.'*  In  1778,  partly  in 
order  to  pay  off  his  brother-in-law's  debts,  Gerrard 
Goebell  mortgaged  the  estate  for  ;^9,ooo  to  John 
Baker,  from  whom  he  borrowed  another  £1,000  in 
1784."  Gerrard  Goebell  died  in  1786  leaving  the 
estate  encumbered  with  the  debt  of  £10,000.'*  He 
devised  all  his  estate  to  his  second  wife  Ann  who  in 
1787  sold  it  to  Charles  Smith  of  Mile  End  (Mdx.)  for 
£15,725  out  of  which  she  paid  the  £10,000  owing  to 
John  Baker."  The  manor  was  held  by  Charles  Smith 
until  1 8 14  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  widow 
Augusta  Smith,  who  held  it  until  after  1832.'^  By 
1838  it  had  passed  to  Sir  Charles  Cunliffe  Smith,  Bt., 
grandson  of  the  purchaser  of  the  manor."  It  has  since 
descended  with  this  baronetcy.^"  In  1838  the  manor 
farm  consisted  of  219  acres.^'  At  about  that  time 
Suttons  was  the  centre  of  an  estate  of  at  least  1,868 
acres  of  which  1,384  acres^^  lay  in  Stanford  Rivers, 
348  acres  in  Stapleford  Tawney,^^  and  136  acres  in 
Lambourne.M  It  included  the  manors  of  Stanford 
Rivers,  Barwicks,  Bellhouse,  and  Traceys  in  Stanford 
Rivers  (q.v.)  and  the  manors  of  Hunts  and  Pryors  in 
Lambourne  (q.v.)  as  well  as  Suttons  in  Stapleford 
Tawney. 

Suttons  was  at  one  time  a  two-story  timber-framed 
house  of  the  17th  century  or  earlier.  The  original  plan 
probably  consisted  of  a  central  hall  with  two  cross- 
wings.  At  the  back  of  the  south  wing  is  an  early-  or 
mid-i7th-century  staircase  with  flat  moulded  balusters 
and  square  newels.  The  hall  has  fine  panelling,  pilasters, 
and  cornice  of  the  early  1 8th  century.  About  1 81 5  the 
house  was  cased  in  brickwork  and  covered  with  stucco, 
the  eaves  were  raised  and  the  garden  front  added.  The 
weather-boarded  outbuildings  and  brick  dovecote  are 
probably  of  the  i8th  century. 

The  advowson  of  Stapleford  Tawney  was  held  by 
the  lords  of  the  capital  manor  until  1 92  5  .^s 
CHURCH     It  has  subsequently  descended  with  the 
advowson  of  Theydon  Mount  (q.v.). 

In  about  1254  the  rectory  was  valued  at  9  marks.^* 
In  1 291  it  was  valued  at  £6  13/.  412'."  In  1428  the 
church  was  still  taxed  on  this  valuation.^*  In  1535 
the  rectory  was  valued  at  £15  8^.  8^'.^'  Its  'improved' 
value  v/as  £80  in  1604  and  £200  in  1 661.30  fhe 
tithes  were  commuted  in  1838  for  £384;  there  were 
then  127  acres  of  glebe.3'  Since  1755  the  rectory  has 
always  been  held  along  with  that  of  Theydon  Mount 
but  they  have  never  been  formally  united. 

Henry  Soames  (178 5-1 860),  who  held  the  united 


living  of  Stapleford  Tawney  and  Theydon  Mount 
from  1839  until  his  death,  was  a  noted  ecclesiastical 
historian  and  was  appointed  Chancellor  of  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral  in  1842." 

The  former  rectory  was  originally  a  two-story 
timber-framed  house  built  probably  early  in  the  17th 
century.  In  the  mid  i8th  century  two  sides  were 
faced  with  red  brick  and  a  new  roof  with  dormer 
windows  was  added,  and  inside  there  are  panelled 
rooms  and  fireplaces  of  the  same  date.  In  1 771  it  was 
described  as  'an  exceeding  good  house'.33  About  1840 
a  new  staircase  hall  and  a  bay-windowed  drawing- 
room  were  built.  Since  195 1  the  rector  has  lived  at 
Theydon  Mount. 

The  parish  church  oi  ST.  My^RT  consists  of  chancel, 
nave  with  west  bell-turret,  south  chapel,  and  vestry. 
The  walls  are  of  flint-rubble  with  dressings  of  limestone. 
The  roof  is  tiled.  The  bell-turret  is  timber- framed  and 
weather-boarded  and  has  a  shingled  spire. 

The  chancel  was  built  about  1220.  In  the  north 
wall  is  a  lancet  window  which  may  be  original,  though 
the  splay  stones  have  been  recut. 

The  nave  was  built  shortly  after  the  chancel.  A 
blocked  north  doorway  with  chamfered  jambs  and 
two-centred  arch,  partly  restored,  can  be  seen  extern- 
ally. 

The  south  chapel  was  built  about  the  middle  of  the 
13th  century.  On  the  east  side  are  two  wall-arches, 
the  smaller  of  which  is  partly  original  13th-century 
work.  Enclosed  under  the  larger  is  an  original  lancet 
window.  Three  lancet  windows  in  the  south  wall  and 
one  in  the  west  wall  may  also  be  of  the  13th  century, 
much  restored. 

In  the  15  th  century  a  square-headed  two-light 
window  was  inserted  in  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel; 
the  stonework  of  this  is  much  decayed.  The,  bell  turret 
at  the  west  end  of  the  nave  was  probably  added  in  this 
century.  It  stands  on  four  chamfered  oak  posts  with 
tie-beams,  curved  braces,  and  diagonal  struts. 

Some  roof  timbers  of  the  south  chapel  are  of  the 
1 6th  century. 

In  1 862  the  church  was  largely  rebuilt  and  the  north 
vestry,  organ  chamber,  and  south  porch  were  added.^* 
The  three  lancet  windows  in  the  east  wall  of  the  chancel 
are  of  this  date  as  well  as  the  two-light  windows  of 
14th-century  design  in  the  nave.  The  arcade  of  two 
bays  between  the  south  chapel  and  the  body  of  the 
church  was  built  or  rebuilt  at  this  time. 

In  February  1862  the  vestry  accepted  an  offer,  made 
by  Sir  Charles  Cunliffe-Smith,  Bt.,  of  Suttons  (see 
above),  of  £300  towards  the  cost  of  restoring  the 
church.35  It  is  not  clear  what  the  final  cost  of  restora- 
tion was.  In  May  1862  George  Carter  of  Hornsey 
Road,  Holloway  (Lond.),  offered  to  do  the  work 
required  'at  the  Church  and  Chancel'  for  £526  of 
which  £105  was  for  repairing  the  chancel.  He  also 
offered  to  supply  new  fittings  for  an  additional  £123 
of  which  £24  was  for  seats  in  the  chancel.^*  A  vestry 


'  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  Ti. 

■0  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  T2. 

'■  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  Tijibid.  D/DYq 
ZO-21. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DYq  20-21. 

"  Ibid.:  Rebecca  and  Gerrard  were 
cousins.  '4  Ibid. 

■»  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  Ti. 

"  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

««  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  685-737. 

>»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  331;  Burke,  Peerage 
(1890),  1267. 


"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (i874f.)i  Burke, 
Peerage  (1949),  186 1-2. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  331. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  327. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  331. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  202. 

^5  Cal,  Inq.  p.m.  iv,  pp.  12—13;  ibid,  vi, 
p.  69;  Newcourt,  Reperl.  ii,  555-6; 
Morant,  Essex.,  i,  181;  Crockford*s  Cler. 
Dir.  passim;  E.A.T.  N.s.  xix,  74;  Kelly's 
Dir,  Essex  (1926). 

^'  Lunt,  yal.  of  Norioich,  336. 

236 


"   Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  2  li. 

2*  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  204. 

^»  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

30  E.A.T.  N.s.  xxi,  78,  83. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  331. 

32  D.N.B.    Previously  Rector  of  Shelley 
and  Little  Laver. 

33  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iv,  4 1 . 

34  E.R.O.,    D/P    i^ijSlz;   Hist.   Mon. 
Com.  Essex,  ii,  225. 

35  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/8/2. 

36  Ibid. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED       stapleford  tawney 


held  on  27  May  1862  seems  to  have  accepted  Carter's 
tender  for  repairs  and  fittings  in  the  'Church  and 
Chapelry'  at  a  cost  of  £520.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
estimated  that  the  fees  of  the  architect,  Mr.  Turner, 
and  incidental  costs  would  amount  to  about  ^200.37 
It  is  not  clear  that  this  vestry  accepted  Carter's  tender 
for  restoration  of  the  chancel. 

The  organ,  presented  by  Reginald  Heber  Prance, 
was  built  in  1869.3^ 

In  1884  a  new  roof  of  panelled  pine  was  con- 
structed.3»  Cusped  and  pierced  boarding  was  inserted 
to  suggest  a  chancel  arch. 

There  are  two  bells,  one  of  161 1  by  William  Carter, 
and  the  other  of  1630  by  Robert  Oldfield.''"  At  a 
visitation  held  in  161 1  it  was  reported  that  the  bell  was 
broken  and  it  was  not  known  'who  pulled  it  down'.*' 
The  date  on  Carter's  bell  indicates  that  the  broken  bell 
was  speedily  replaced. 

The  communion  rails  date  from  the  17th  century 
and  have  unusual  flat  moulded  and  pierced  balusters. 
The  font  in  the  form  of  a  Norman  column  dates  from 
the  19th  century  but  the  wooden  cover  is  older.  The 
stone  pulpit  is  of  the  igth  century.  The  mosaic 
reredos,  representing  the  Last  Supper,  was  presented 
by  Sir  Charles  Cunliffe-Smith,  Bt.,  of  Suttons  (see 
above)  .^^ 

The  plate  consists  of  two  cups,  one  of  which  was 
presented  by  John  Luther  in  1698;  three  patens,  one 
of  which  was  presented  by  John  Nicholson  in  1698 
and  another  of  which  bears  the  Luther  arms;  and 
an  alms-dish  of  1685,  also  bearing  the  Luther 
arms.*3 

On  the  floor  of  the  chancel  is  a  slab  to  William 
(Scott)  (1491)  and  Margery  his  wife  (iSo;).**  This 
has  a  fine  achievement  of  arms  and  cross  in  brass,  and 
also  part  of  a  marginal  inscription.  Near  it  is  a  slab  to 
Sir  Edward  Lowe,  LL.D.  (1684).  Both  in  the  chancel 
and  nave  are  floor  slabs  to  many  members  of  the 
Luther  family  who  died  in  the  17th  and  early  i8th 
centuries.  Also  in  the  nave  are  slabs  to  John  Nicolso'n 
(1710)  and  Gerrard  GoebelHs  (18th-century  date 
partly  worn  away).  In  the  nave  and  in  the  south  chapel 
there  are  tablets  commemorating  Charles  Smith  (18 14) 
and  members  of  his  family. 

During  the  restoration  of  1 862  two  stone  coffins  and 
slabs,  probably  of  13th-century  date,  were  found 
below  the  chancel.'**  One  of  these  is  now  outside  the 
church  on  the  south  side.  The  slab  is  said  to  be 
amongst  the  finest  in  Essex.  It  is  slightly  coped,  the 
central  shaft  forming  the  ridge.  On  the  shaft  are  three 
crosses,  those  near  the  head  and  foot  having  triangular 
arms.  Between  them  on  the  shaft  is  a  small  circular 
'cross-pate'.  North  of  the  church  stands  the  second 
coffin  with  a  shaped  head.  The  tapered  threshold  to 
the  blocked  north  doorway  may  be  the  slab  belonging 
to  it. 

For  the  Church  lands  see  Charities,  below. 

Parish  books  survive  for  Stapleford  Tawney  from 

1723  and  detailed  over- 

PARISH  GOVERNMENT    seers'     accounts     from 

AND  POOR  RELIEF.  1745  to  1836.17  Before 

1 78 1  vestry  meetings 
were  usually  held  twice  a  year,  at  Easter  and  Christmas, 


for  the  election  of  officers  and  audit  of  accounts.  After 
that  date  additional  meetings  were  called  at  irregular 
intervals  each  year  to  pass  the  overseer's  accounts.  The 
average  attendance,  inclusive  of  parish  officers,  was 
from  4  to  6,  and  most  of  the  parishioners  who  attended 
usually  served  at  some  time  as  parish  officers.  Some 
rectors  attended  regularly,  notably  Parson  Parkes  be- 
tween 1723  and  1732,  William  Smijth  between  1754 
and  1775,  and  Richard  Smijth  between  1781  and 
1793.  Thereafter,  except  in  183 1-2  when  the  rector, 
another  Richard  Smijth,  presided  at  nine  meetings, 
neither  the  rector  nor  the  curate  often  attended  vestry 
meetings.  In  their  absence  the  churchwarden  generally 
presided.  It  was  stated  in  1823  that  a  vestry  dinner 
was  held  every  year  at  a  cost  of  about  £6,  which  was 
charged  to  the  overseer's  account. 

There  was  a  tendency  from  an  early  date  to  use  the 
poor  rates  for  all  purposes  and  after  1784  this  became 
the  general  practice.  In  1749,  for  example,  the  sur- 
veyor's and  constable's  accounts  were  paid  by  the  over- 
seer, and  in  1778  the  overseer's  disbursements  included 
the  payment  for  a  bottle  of  wine  for  the  sacrament. 
From  1784  the  overseer  levied  one  general  rate  for  the 
whole  parish  out  of  which  he  paid  other  officers'  bills 
and  was  responsible  for  the  final  annual  balance.  This 
practice  was  abandoned  in  1823  after  an  investigation 
into  the  keeping  of  accounts  between  18 10  and  1822.*' 
A  rate  of  i(/.  in  the  pound  produced  £j  us.  zd.  in 
1727.  A  century  later  a  rate  of  \s.  brought  in  between 
^53  and  ;^54.'"  A  new  valuation  was  made  in  1839, 
when  the  approval  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  was 
sought  for  the  payment  of  ^36  out  of  the  poor  rates 
towards  the  expense  of  making  it.  A  further  valuation 
was  made  in  i86i,  when  the  rateable  value  was  fixed 
at  over  ,{^2,658. 

The  parish  officers  served  unpaid  until  1 8 1 7,  when 
Charles  Clark,  overseer  for  the  two  years  18 17—19, 
was  allowed  a  salary  of  £\  5  each  year.  This  practice 
was  apparently  not  continued  with  his  successors. 
Other  parish  officers  tended  to  serve  for  long  periods 
at  a  time  but  the  overseer  was  usually  changed  each 
year.  Women  were  appointed  as  overseers  on  two 
occasions  in  the  i8th  century,  and  of  these  Mrs. 
Haddon  of  Tawney  Hall  served  for  two  consecutive 
years  1725—7.  The  overseer  was  responsible  for  levy- 
ing rates  and  keeping  accounts  but  he  was  relieved  of 
some  of  the  labour  of  attending  to  the  wants  of  the ' 
poor  during  the  years  when  this  duty  was  most  press- 
ing. Between  1798  and  1830  the  task  of  paying  weekly 
doles  was  delegated  to  others,  principally  to  John 
Shuttleworth,  who  periodically  submitted  an  account 
to  the  overseer. 

Occasional  bills  for  medical  attention  for  the  poor 
were  included  in  the  overseer's  accounts  from  at  least 
1757,  but  a  regular  medical  attendant  was  not  ap- 
pointed until  1 79 1,  when  the  apothecary's  salary  of 
;^5  5/.  was  first  recorded.  A  note  was  entered  in  the 
parish  book  in  1726,  just  after  the  parish  school  (see 
below)  was  founded,  stating  that  the  schoolmaster  was 
to  pay  the  church  clerk  30^'.  a  year  for  life,  but  it  is  not 
clear  whether  the  clerk  was  to  give  any  assistance  in 
return.  The  pound  stood  in  the  road  about  1 20  yds. 
north  of  the  church.'o 


3'  Ibid. 

3*  Wall  tablet  in  chancel. 

3»  Kelly  i  Dir.  Essex  (19 1 2). 

«  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  398-9. 

<■  E.R.  XV,  46. 

**  Kelly s  Dir.  Essex  (19 12). 


"  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  104. 
*♦  Sec     above,     Manor     of    Stapleford 
Tawney. 
*5  See  above,  Manor  of  Suttons. 
*<>  E.A.T.  N.s.  vii,  392-3. 
47  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/8/1-2;  ibid.  D/P 


141/12/1-3.  Unless  otherwise  stated  all 
the  following  information  is  derived  from 
these  books. 

♦8  See  below. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/11/2. 

5"  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Iviii. 


237 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Rents  for  two  parish  houses  were  received  in  1723. 
In  1767  repairs  were  carried  out  at  two  parish  houses, 
described  as  the  Parish  House  and  the  Church  House. 
In  1 826  a  bill  was  paid  for  the  erection  of  a  cottage  on 
TawTiey  Common.  All  the  parish  property,  then 
described  as  consisting  of  cottages  on  Tawney  Common 
and  two  adjoining  the  church,  was  offered  for  sale  in 
1837  and  the  proceeds  were  used  to  repay  to  Lady 
Smith  the  money  borrowed  by  the  parish  for  their 
share  in  building  the  incorporated  workhouse.  The 
cottages  by  the  church  are  said  to  have  been  demolished 
about  1887. 

Annual  expenditure  on  the  relief  of  the  poor,  after 
averaging  about  ^^33  during  the  period  1725-50,  rose 
steadily  to  over  ^^loo  for  the  first  time  in  1772  and 
then  remained  fairly  constant  for  the  next  20  years. 
The  parish  subscribed  to  the  scheme,  formulated  by 
Mr.  Conyers  of  Epping  in  1794,  for  the  promotion  of 
industry."  From  1793-4  expenditure  rose  steeply 
until  1 80 1  when  it  amounted  to  over  ^428  and  a 
general  rate  of  8/.  td.  in  the  pound  was  levied.  This 
figure  was  surpassed  in  18 14-15  when  over  l,'^\o  was 
spent.  An  average  of  about  ;^36o  was  raised  by  the 
rates  each  year  between  1801  and  18 17.  Special 
grants,  occasioned  presumably  by  the  inclinations  of 
individual  overseers,  supplemented  the  normal  forms 
of  relief.  During  a  scarlet  fever  epidemic  in  1822,  the 
sick  were  provided  with  'neck  of  mutton  and  bullocks' 
feet  for  jelly',  and  in  1829  and  1830  the  expenses  of 
two  weddings,  including  licence,  ring,  and  fees,  were 
borne  by  the  parish. 

The  vestry  did  little  to  control  its  officers  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duties  until  a  crisis  had  occurred  in  the 
parish  in  1823.  In  January  of  that  year  the  vestry 
refused  to  grant  a  rate  requested  by  the  overseer, 
Thomas  Ford,  a  man  whose  well-meaning  schemes  for 
relief  did  not  always  meet  with  general  approval-'^ 
'Owing  to  the  depressed  state  of  agriculture',  various 
unemployed  paupers  had  applied  to  him,  as  overseer, 
to  find  work  for  them.  As  a  result  he  hired  some  of 
them  on  his  own  small  farm,  in  excess  of  his  actual 
requirements,  paying  them  a  basic  wage  of  i/.  a  day 
himself  and  supplementing  this  with  a  further  td.  each 
for  themselves  and  every  member  of  their  families  out 
of  the  poor  rates. 53  The  vestry  objected  to  this,  stating 
that  the  basic  wage  had  been  fixed  at  \s.  6d.  a  day,  and 
refused  to  grant  a  rate.  Thereupon  Ford  paid  off  his 
surplus  labour  and  bought  them  is.  worth  of  marbles, 
with  parish  money,  to  keep  them  out  of  mischief.  He 
then  counter-attacked  by  questioning  the  accuracy  of 
the  overseers'  accounts  for  the  years  1810—22.  He 
claimed  that,  owing  largely  to  the  disappearance  of 
some  annual  balances  and  the  failure  to  produce 
vouchers  for  the  overseers'  payments  on  the  accounts 
of  other  parish  officers,  over  £625  remained  un- 
accounted for.  A  committee  of  four,  including 
Thomas  Ford  and  the  curate,  William  St.  Andrew 
Vincent,  who  presided,  investigated  the  charges  and, 
under  the  curate's  influence,  cleared  the  officers  con- 
cerned, to  the  evident  dissatisfaction  of  Ford.  The 
committee  recommended,  however,  that  in  future  over- 


seers should  account  only  for  sums  spent  on  the  poor. 
The  vestry  thenceforth  began  to  control  more  closely 
the  overseers'  disbursements  and  the  audit  of  their 
accounts  and  each  succeeding  overseer  was  made  to 
sign  both  for  the  receipt  of  the  account  book  and  for  his 
predecessor's  balance. 

In  1829  Stapleford  Tawney  joined  with  nine  other 
parishes  in  the  voluntary  establishment  of  an  incor- 
porated workhouse  under  Gilbert's  Act  (22  Geo.  Ill, 
c.  83  (1782)). 54  The  accounts  of  the  overseer  in  1831 
included  the  payment  to  Capel  Cure  of  Stapleford 
Tawney's  share  of  the  mortgage  raised  for  building  this 
workhouse. 

In  1836  Stapleford  Tawney  became  part  of  the 
Ongar  Poor  Law  Union. 

A  schoolhouse  seems  to  have  been  built  in  1725  or 
1726  by  direction  of  the  parish  vestry  so 
SCHOOLS  that  elementary  subjects,  the  catechism, 
and  Church  of  England  doctrine  should 
be  taught  to  poor  children. 55  In  1725  Sir  Edward 
Smyth,  lord  of  the  capital  manor  (see  above),  lent  j^20 
towards  the  cost  of  building,  to  be  repaid  from  the 
rent  of  the  Church  lands. 5*  In  the  same  year,  however, 
Mrs.  Jane  Luther,  lady  of  Suttons  (see  above),  repaid 
this  debt. 57  It  would  seem,  moreover,  that  Mrs. 
Luther  undertook  the  entire  cost  of  building  for  she 
stated  in  her  will,  dated  1745,  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ''"'''^  *^^ 
schoolhouse  at  her  expense  and  had  afterwards  received 
a  rent  of  30X.  a  year  for  it.58  She  then  stipulated  that 
after  her  death  this  rent  was  to  be  used  primarily  to 
keep  the  schoolhouse  and  its  premises  in  repair,  the 
residue  being  used  to  purchase  bibles  and  prayer-books 
for  distribution  amongst  the  poor. 5'  Meanwhile  in 
1726  the  vestry  had  decided  to  employ  a  schoolteacher 
at  a  salary  of  ^^5  a  year  (see  Charities).*"  It  is  not  clear, 
however,  for  how  long  the  parish  employed  a  salaried 
schoolteacher  or  who  occupied  the  schoolhouse  before 
Mrs.  Luther's  death  in  1745.  Soon  after  her  death  the 
schoolhouse  was  being  rented  by  Thomas  King,  who 
also  rented  the  Church  house.  In  April  1748  it  was 
reported  that  King  owed  £j  for  two  years'  rent  of  the 
schoolhouse.*'  From  1750— i,  if  not  before,  the  school- 
house  or  at  least  the  schoolroom  was  occupied  by  a 
master  to  whom  the  parish  sent  children  on  a  per  capita 
basis.  In  1750— i  ,^5  i8j.  was  paid  to  the  schoolmaster 
out  of  rents  from  the  Church  house  and  lands.*^  In 
I75i~2  £t^  ly.  lod.  was  paid  from  the  same  source 
for  alterations  'in  the  schoolroom',  it  being  stated  that 
'the  shelves  and  partition  was  put  up  by  the  parish  to 
be  left  when  the  tenant  goes  out'.*^  In  the  same  year 
Mr.  Lewthwaite  was  paid  £2  17/.  for  'schooling'  and 
from  then  until  1783,  if  not  later,  'children's  schooling' 
was  usually  the  main  item  of  expenditure  in  the  church- 
warden's annual  account  of  parish  property .*■♦  This 
item  varied  in  amount  from  year  to  year.  In  1752-3 
three  children  were  sent  to  school  at  a  total  cost  of 
1 2/.  6d'.*5  Usually,  however,  the  annual  cost  was  be- 
tween £2  and  ;^5.**  It  is  not  clear  what  arrangements 
were  made  for  educating  the  poor  children  of  Staple- 
ford Tawney  after  1783.  In  1818  it  was  stated  that 
there  was  no  school  of  any  kind  in  the  parish.*^    In 


*'  Account  of  the  origin  and  progress  of 
the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Industry  in 
the  Hundreds  of  Ongar  and  Harlow  and  the 
Half  Hundred  of  fValtham  in  the  County  of 
Euex  (1797). 

»'  He  was  also  responsible  for  relief 
during  the  scarlet  fever  epidemic,  1822. 

"  i.e.  A  man  with  a  wife  and  2  children 


received  is.  a  day  from  the  parish. 

*♦  This  voluntary  union  had  its  work- 
house at  Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.). 

55  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/8/1. 

5«  Ibid. 

57  Ibid. 

58  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  24.4-5(1835),  xxi(i). 


5»  Ibid. 

<">  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/8/1. 

6>  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

'5  Ibid.  <■♦  Ibid. 

«s  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

«7  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  271 
(i8r9),ix(i). 


238 


ONGAR  HUNDRED       stapleford  tawney 


1831  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  recommended  that  the 
rector  should  'allow  £\  per  annum  to  Samuel  Parish 
schoolmaster  being  the  rent  for  the  house  which  he  now 
lives  in  on  condition  that  he  continues  to  educate  the 
poor  children  on  the  Sundays'.**  In  1835  it  was  stated 
that  the  schoolhouse  built  at  Mrs.  Luther's  expense 
was  occupied  rent-free  by  a  schoolmaster  who  had 
been  placed  there  by  the  rector  and  who  had  30  fee- 
paying  pupils.*'  At  this  date  the  master  probably  still 
taught  the  poor  children  of  the  parish  on  Sundays  in 
return  for  his  rent-free  house.  The  schoolhouse  was 
still  occupied  rent-free  by  a  master  in  1 848  and  possibly 
in  1 861  but  probably  not  as  late  as  1863  and  almost 
certainly  not  as  late  as  1871.'° 

By  1839  the  poor  children  of  the  parish  were  attend- 
ing a  day  school  in  Theydon  Mount  (q.v.)."  In  1 871 
an  inspector  proposed  that  30  Stapleford  Tawney 
children  should  be  accommodated  at  Theydon  Mount 
and  that  the  remaining  16  in  need  of  elementary  school- 
ing should  be  found  places  at  Stapleford  Abbots. 
Churchmen  in  Stapleford  Tawney,  however,  decided 
to  found  their  own  school  on  land  given  by  the  lord  of 
the  manor  of  Stapleford  Tawney  (q.v.).72  A  deed  of 
1873  appointed  the  rector  and  churchwardens  as 
trustees  of  the  school  and  declared  that  the  religious 
teaching  should  be  according  to  Anglican  principles. '^ 
The  new  school,  with  accommodation  for  60,  was  built 
in  1873-4,  next  to  the  church.  A  teacher's  house  was 
attached.  The  school  was  opened  in  1874  under  a 
certificated  mistress'''  but,  despite  the  receipt  of  annual 
grants  from  1875  and  an  average  attendance  of  32  in 
that  year,  the  falling  population  of  the  parish  caused 
average  attendance  to  fall  to  15  in  1893.^5  In  1904 
there  were  30  pupils  on  the  roll  under  two  mistresses, 
one  of  them  certificated,  and  the  average  attendance 
was  25.'*  By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school 
passed  under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education 
Committee  as  a  non-provided  Church  school.  Average 
attendance  continued  to  be  low;  in  igio  it  was  19'' 
and  in  191 1  the  possibility  of  closure  was  discussed.'' 
Average  attendance  rose,  however,  to  23  in  1920 
and  to  32  in  1936.  After  the  reorganization  of  the 
school  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants  in  1936  the 
average  attendance  again  fell,  reaching  15  in  1938. 
In  1939,  in  view  of  the  low  number  of  pupils,  the 
school  was  closed."  The  building  is  now  used  for 
village  activities.  It  is  a  gabled  building  of  red  brick 
with  bands  of  blue.  The  gables  have  pierced  barge- 
boards. 


<■»  E.R.O.,  D/P  14.1/8/2. 

M  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Eisex),  H.C.  216, 
p.  245  (1835),  xxi  (i). 

■">  White  tDir.  Ellex  (1848),  p.  438; 
ibid.  (1863),  p.  746;  CoUer,  PeofU't  Hill. 
Essex,  490. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

'*  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/367. 

'3  Min.  of  Educ.  File  1 3/347. 

'*  Chelmsford  Chronicle,  9  Jan.  1874. 

'5  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  /S75 
[C.  1513-1],  p.  534.  H.C.  {1876),  xxiii; 
Retn.  of  Schs.  iggj  [C.  7529],  p.  716, 
H.C.  (1894),  Ixv. 


1904, 


216, 


•"  Essex 
p.  187. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/347. 

"  Essex  County  Chronicle,  i  Dec.  191 1 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/347. 

">  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C 
pp.  244-5  (1835),  xxi  (i). 

8'  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/8/1. 

"  Char.  Com.  files. 

83  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/8/1. 

8*  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/1/3. 

8s  Char.  Com.  files. 

8'  See  Manor  of  Suttons  above. 

8'  E.R.O.,    D/P    141/8/ii    Rep. 


There  is  no  record  of  the  origin  of  the  Church  lands, 
which  comprised  4  acres  of  arable  near 
CHARITIES  Colliers  Hatch.so  Their  rent  rose 
from  £2  I  OS.  in  the  l8th  century  to 
£6  los.  in  1834.8'  The  property  was  sold  in  1869  for 
;^495  which  was  invested  in  stock. **  Before  1750  the 
income  was  spent  chiefly  on  church  repairs  and,  from 
then  until  1783  at  least,  it  was  used  to  educate  the  poor 
children  of  the  parish. '^  It  was  apparently  applied  to 
the  poor  rates  until  1820  and  was  from  then  on 
generally  used  to  give  clothing  to  the  poor.**  In  1949 
the  income  of  j£i3  6s.  SJ.  was  spent  with  that  of  the 
other  charities  for  the  poor,  on  the  distribution  of  coal, 
bread,  and  clothes. '5 

Thomas  Luther  of  Suttons, '*  by  will  proved  1722, 
left  j^5  a  year  issuing  from  land  in  the  parish  to  the 
poor.*'  In  1726  the  vestry  decided  to  use  it  to  pay  the 
parish  schoolteacher.*'  This  practice  was  discontinued 
by  1750,*'  and  the  money  was  apparently  applied  to 
the  rates  until  1820  when  it  was  given  to  the  poor  with 
the  Church  lands  income.'"  About  1 861  there  was 
difficulty  in  securing  payment  as  the  land  was  in 
Chancery  and  in  1 869  half  the  charge  was  redeemed 
for  stock.  The  other  half  was  apparently  paid  until 
1949  when  only  £2  is.  SJ.  income  from  the  stock  was 
received.   It  was  spent  with  the  other  charities." 

Jane  Luther  of  Buttons,'^  by  will  proved  1745,  ^^f' 
^6  a  year,  issuing  out  of  an  estate  at  Little  Warley.'^ 
Of  this  sum  £2  1  is.  6d.  was  to  go  to  Kelvedon  Hatch 
(q.v.) ;  of  the  remainder,  5/.  was  to  be  paid  to  the  parish 
clerk  for  weeding  the  gravel  walk  from  the  road  to  the 
church  and  the  remaining  £2  ijs.  6ii.  was  to  be  given 
to  the  poor  in  bread.  In  1834  both  sums  were  paid  by 
the  owner  of  Suttons,  as  by  this  time  the  lands  actually 
charged  were  unknown.'*  Both  rent-charges  were 
redeemed  in  1950  for  ;^i  1 5  stock  for  the  poor  and  ^10 
for  the  clerk.'s 

The  charities  of  Sir  John  Smijth,  9th  Bt.,  and  the 
Revd.  Sir  Edward  BoviT^er  Smijth,  loth  Bt.,  called 
the  Hill  Hall  Charity,  were  founded  by  an  indenture 
of  1840.  There  were  in  1953  separate  endowments 
of  ;£i09  and  £\  19  stock  for  Stapleford  Tawney  and 
Theydon  Mount  respectively.  That  for  Theydon 
Mount  is  said  to  represent  legacies  of  £(,0  made 
under  each  of  the  two  benefactors'  wills  together  with 
;^io  accumulation  of  interest:  presumably  the  Staple- 
ford Tawney  stock  represents  similar  legacies.  Both 
charities  are  to  be  distributed  in  kind  and  were  used 
with  the  other  charities  for  the  poor  in  1949.'* 

Char.  {Essex),  pp.  244-5. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/P  141/8/1. 

8«  Ibid. 

»o  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  pp.  244-5. 

•'  Char.  Com.  files. 

*^  See  Manor  of  Suttons. 

"  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  pp.  244-5. 
It  has  been  suggested  that  Little  Warley 
is  a  mistake  for  Little  Warlow,  alleged  to 
have  been  an  estate  absorbed  in  Suttons 
by  the  19th  cent. 

»♦  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  pp.  244-5. 

»5  Char.  Com.  files. 

»'  Ibid. 


EJuc.    Cttee.    Handhk. 


Com. 


239 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


STONDON  MASSEY 


Stondon  Massey  is  about  2  miles  south-east  of 
Chipping  Ongar  and  4  miles  north-west  of  Brentwood." 
It  is  one  of  the  smallest  parishes  in  the  hundred,  having 
an  area  of  1,127  acres.  In  shape  it  is  roughly  hke  a 
reversed  L,  of  which  the  short  arm  lies  along  a  ridge 
about  300  ft.  high  above  the  Roding  and  the  long  arm 
extends  north-west  down  to  the  river,  containing  the 
valley  of  a  small  stream  which  flows  into  the  river  near 
Hallsford  Bridge,  and  also  a  spur  extending  north-west 
from  the  left  bank  of  the  stream.  The  scenery  is  varied. 
There  are  stretches  of  woodland  in  the  upland  areas, 
notably  Oak  Wood  and  the  park  at  Stondon  Place, 
both  on  the  main  ridge,  and  Church  Wood  on  the  sub- 
sidiary spur.  Along  parts  of  the  road  which  runs  north- 
west through  the  parish  to  Hallsford  Bridge  there  are 
high  hedges,  while  the  approach  east  from  Kelvedon 
Hatch  is  by  a  road  without  hedges  but  lined  with  tall 
trees.  From  the  higher  ground  at  Church  Hill  there 
are  good  views  across  to  Chipping  Ongar  and  also 
north-east  in  the  direction  of  Blackmore.  During  the 
past  30  years  the  parish  has  become  increasingly  sub- 
urbanized.  It  retains  several  farms  on  old  sites  but  the 
buildings  have  mostly  been  rebuilt  during  the  past  1 50 
years. 

Stondon  Massey  was  one  of  the  three  parishes  at  this 
end  of  Ongar  hundred  where  Roman  Catholic  worship 
was  maintained  through  the  years  of  persecution  in  the 
late  1 6th  and  early  17th  centuries.^  Another  point  of 
special  interest  in  the  history  of  the  parish  is  the  con- 
nexion with  Marks  Hall  in  Margaret  Roding  (Dunmow 
hundred). 3 

Stondon  means  'stone  hiU'.^  This  suggests  that  the 
oldest  Saxon  settlement  was  on  the  subsidiary  spur, 
where  there  are  still  gravel  pits,  and  it  is  there  that  the 
ancient  manor  house  of  Stondon  Hall  (now  a  farm)  is 
situated,  and  near  it  the  parish  church.  Most  of  the 
other  houses  in  the  parish,  old  and  new,  are  also  on  the 
higher  ground.  The  farms  include  Mellow  Purgess, 
Clapgates,  and  Chivers  in  the  west.  Soap  House  on  the 
Kelvedon  Hatch  road,  Brook  and  Cannon's  on  the 
main  road  in  the  centre  of  the  parish.  Little  Myles's  to 
the  west  of  the  church  and  Woolmongers  on  the  eastern 
boundary.  Bridge  Farm,  which  is  exceptional  in  its 
situation,  is  on  the  low  ground  just  east  of  Hallsford 
Bridge.  Stondon  Place  and  Stondon  House,  both  near 
Cannon's  Farm,  are  large  houses  each  of  which  in  turn 
succeeded  Stondon  Hall  as  the  residence  of  the  lord  of 
the  manor.  The  old  rectory,  now  Stondon  Massey 
House,  is  J  mile  south  of  the  church.  The  new  rectory 
is  farther  south  near  Cannon's.  The  'Bricklayers' 
Arms',  the  village  inn,  is  at  the  cross-roads  south  of 
Cannon's,  and  the  post-ofEce  is  near  the  inn.  Until 
recent  years  one  of  the  focal  points  of  the  village  was 
the  cross-roads  opposite  Stondon  Place.  Here  on  a 
small  green  are  the  remains  of  a  sign-post  to  which  are 
fixed  the  irons  formerly  belonging  to  the  parish 
whipping-post.  Immediately  north  of  this  green  is  the 
site  of  the  former  village  school  and  beyond  it  the 
village  hall,  now  little  used,  its  entrance  overgrown. 
Since  the  Second  World  War  the  parish  appears  to 

'  O.S.  aj  m.  Map,  sheets  52/50,  5 1 /59. 

•  See  also  Kelvedon  Hatch  and  Nave- 
Itock. 

'  See  below,  Manor,  Church. 

♦  P.N.  Eiux  (E.P.N.S.),  81. 
»  Ibid.  8 1-82.    For  the  history  of  the 

parish  farms  see  E.  H.  L.  Reeve,  History 


have  lost  some  of  its  corporate  life.  The  two  big  houses 
have  been  empty  (Stondon  House  now  has  a  tenant 
but  Stondon  Place  is  still  unoccupied),  there  is  now  no 
resident  rector  and  the  village  school  was  closed  in 

1953- 

The  medieval  settlement  of  the  parish  probably 
spread  south  from  Stondon  Hall.  Brook  Farm,  Wool- 
mongers,  and  several  other  farms  derive  their  names 
from  medieval  tenants.'  Apart  from  Stondon  Hall, 
part  of  which  may  date  from  the  15  th  century,*  none 
of  the  secular  buildings  which  now  survive  appears  to 
contain  medieval  work.  By  the  1 8th  century  there 
were  houses  on  most  of  the  present  farm  sites,  and  some 
of  the  existing  buildings  are  of  this  period  or  slightly 
earlier.  Brook  Farm  is  a  curious  looking  building  con- 
sisting of  two  wings  connected  by  a  narrow  covered 
passage.  It  is  said  to  have  been  rebuilt  about  1873' 
but  the  north  wing  is  certainly  older  than  this.  Heavy 
ceiling  beams  are  visible  on  the  ground  floor  and  this 
part  of  the  house  may  date  from  the  17th  century. 
Cannon's  Farm  opposite  is  a  small  two-story  house  with 
double-hung  sashes,  probably  built  in  the  i8th  century 
but  recently  modernized.  Little  Myles's  was  so  named 
to  distinguish  it  from  Great  Myles's  in  Kelvedon 
Hatch  (q.v.)  of  which  estate  it  formed  part.  In  about 
1700  there  was  a  very  small  house  there,  with  a  14- 
acre  holding  attached  to  it,  but  during  the  18th  century 
the  house  and  the  farm  were  both  greatly  enlarged.* 
The  present  building  is  of  two  stories,  roughcast,  with 
a  tiled  roof,  and  plain  brick  chimneys.  In  general 
appearance  it  is  of  the  1 8th  century  but  it  probably 
incorporates  parts  of  the  previous  building  at  the  back. 
Woolmongers  is  a  small  two-story  building,  timber- 
framed,  plastered  and  whitewashed  and  is  also  probably 
of  the  1 8th  century.  Cla^jgates,  which  took  its  name 
from  the  gates  which  formerly  stood  at  this  point  to 
prevent  cattle  straying  from  Kelvedon  Common,  was 
called  Stondon  Grove  in  1777.'  It  has  been  consider- 
ably modernized  but  may  date  from  the  i8th  century. 
At  Mellow  Purgess,  where  the  old  farm-house  was 
demolished  about  1850,  there  still  survives  a  small 
whitewashed  cottage  with  dormers  and  a  thatched  roof 
which  was  probably  that  shown  in  a  drawing  of  1789. >o 
Chivers  Farm  is  not  shown  on  the  1777  map  and  the 
present  house  is  in  any  case  a  rebuilding  of  1898." 
Soap  House,  which  took  its  name  from  the  soap  boiling 
carried  on  there  in  the  i8th  century,  was  rebuilt  about 
1902'^  but  may  contain  parts  of  an  i8th  century  or 
even  an  earlier  building.  Bridge  Farm  (otherwise  Halls- 
ford House)  was  demolished  in  1 899  and  replaced  by  a 
new  house  on  higher  ground.  A  photograph  of  the  old 
house  shows  an  H-shaped  plan,  suggesting  that  it  dated 
from  the  i6th  century  or  earlier.  One  of  the  beams 
removed  from  it  was  23  ft.  long  and  measured  a  foot 
square  in  cross-section. '3  Stondon  Place,  which  was  in 
existence  in  the  i6th  century,  was  rebuilt  about  1707 
and  again,  after  a  fire,  about  i88o.i'»  Stondon  House, 
which  was  probably  built  about  1740,  was  also  burnt 
down  in  the  19th  century  and  the  present  building  is 
of  about  1 870. '5  The  Giles  Almshouses,  at  the  south 


of  Stondon  Massey,  pt.  Ill,  ch.  iv. 

*  See  below,  Manor. 

'  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  123, 

8  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  Pi,  P6. 

'  Chapman  and  Andri,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xvii. 
">  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  126.   For  the 


curious  name  of  this  farm  see  P.N.  Essex, 
81. 

"  Reeve,  op.  cit.  124. 

"  Ibid.  152. 

*3  Ibid.  124,  1 19. 

'*  See  Manor. 

■5  Ibid. 


240 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STONDON  MASSEY 


entrance  to  the  village,  were  rebuilt  in  i860.  The 
original  cottages  were  of  the  i6th  century.'*  The 
'Bricklayers'  Arms'  is  a  late-igth-century  building  on 
the  site  of  a  tarred  weather-boarded  cottage  which  in 
the  early  19th  century  served  as  a  small  provision 
shop. '7 

Perhaps  the  most  impressive  building  in  the  parish 
is  the  former  rectory,  built  about  1800.''  Near  it  to 
the  south  is  Rectory  Cottage,  a  tiny  house  with  a  very 
tall  chimney,  a  high-pitched  roof,  and  round-arched 
central  door  between  two  similarly  arched  'Gothic' 
windows.  It  was  formerly  thatched  but  is  now  slated. 
Its  style  is  similar  to  that  of  some  other  cottages  in  the 
district,  for  example  the  gardener's  cottage  at  Marden 
Ash  in  High  Ongar  (q.v.)  and  is  of  the  early  19th 
century.  The  house  has  been  known  locally  as  the 
Doll's  House  and  is  said  to  have  been  built  by  the 
owner  of  Stondon  House  for  one  of  his  daughters." 
There  are  several  other  19th-century  houses  and  there 
has  been  considerable  development  since  the  First 
World  War,  mostly  along  the  road  to  Hallsford  Bridge. 
There  are  many  privately  built  houses,  including  some 
bungalows  and  a  number  of  council  houses  of  which 
the  most  interesting  are  nine  pairs  built  about  1947  in 
Reeve's  Close,  opposite  the  Giles  Almshouses.  Near 
Hallsford  Bridge  there  is  a  small  engineering  works, 
opened  about  1952. 

The  population  of  Stondon  Massey  was  200  in 
1801.^°  It  rose  to  a  peak  of  299  in  1 8  3 1  and  remained 
at  about  that  level  until  late  in  the  19th  century,  when 
it  declined  gradually  to  213  in  1921.^'  Since  then 
there  has  been  a  great  increase,  to  282  in  193 1  and 
489  in  195 1." 

The  road  system  of  the  parish  is  simple,  consisting 
only  of  the  Hallsford  Bridge  and  Ongar  road,  that  to 
Kelvedon  Hatch  and  Blackmore,  the  road  to  Paslow 
Wood  Common  and  Chelmsford,  and  the  loop  to  the 
farms  in  the  west  of  the  parish.  There  have  probably 
been  few  changes  since  the  Middle  Ages.  The  most 
important  was  the  building  of  Hallsford  Bridge  in  the 
late  1 8th  century  (see  below).  The  only  other  change 
that  has  been  noticed  was  the  disappearance  of  a  track 
leading  from  Mellow  Purgess  to  Kelvedon  Common. 
This  was  in  use  up  to  about  1550  but  soon  after  this 
the  right  of  way  was  barred  by  the  farmer  of  the 
neighbouring  land.  About  1604  the  rector,  John 
Nobbs,  sued  William  Byrd,  then  tenant  of  the  land, 
in  an  attempt  to  reopen  the  track,  but  he  was  evidently 
unsuccessful.^' 

No  mention  has  been  found  of  a  bridge  at  Hallsford 
before  the  1 8th  century.  The  map  of  1 777  shows  only 
'All  Ford'^  but  by  this  time  steps  had  been  taken  to 
build  a  bridge.  In  1775  a  petition  was  sent  to  Quarter 
Sessions  by  the  inhabitants  of  Stondon  and  others  com- 
plaining that  the  ford  was  dangerous.  They  asked  for 
a  bridge  to  be  built  and  this  was  done.^'  Hallsford 
Bridge  appears  in  the  lists  of  county  bridges  from  about 
1800.2*    jjj  1858  the  county  surveyor  reported  that 


the  bridge  was  a  recent  erection  in  timber.^'  The 
present  bridge  was  built  in  concrete  in  1934.2*  The 
building  of  a  bridge  at  Hallsford  greatly  improved 
communications  between  Stondon  and  Chipping 
Ongar,  but  the  parish  was  not  on  a  main  road  and  until 
the  coming  of  motor-buses  after  the  First  World  War 
there  was  no  public  transport  there.  There  are  now 
fairly  good  bus  services  to  Brentwood  and  via  Black- 
more  to  Ongar. 

Stondon  was  in  1852  being  served  by  a  postal  mes- 
senger from  Kelvedon  Hatch.^'  It  was  later  served 
through  Brentwood'o  and  it  was  not  until  1898  that 
it  had  its  own  post-office.^'  There  was  a  telephone 
service  by  1930.32  Water  is  supplied  to  the  parish  by 
the  Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.''  Electricity 
was  laid  on  in  June  \()jS.i*  There  is  no  gas  supply. 
The  village  hall  was  opened  in  1919."  The  Black- 
more,  Stondon  and  District  Ex-Servicemen's  Club, 
founded  in  1922,  is  just  outside  Stondon  parish,  at 
Tips  Cross  on  the  south.'*  A  branch  of  the  county 
library  was  opened  in  1927.'^ 

In  this  parish  as  elsewhere  in  the  hundred  mixed 
farming  is  carried  on.  In  1848  it  was  estimated  that 
there  were  some  600  acres  of  arable  in  the  parish  and 
400  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture.'*  In  1849  there 
were  10  farms  in  the  parish  of  over  40  acres  and  several 
smaller  holdings."  The  only  farms  of  over  100  acres 
were  Stondon  Hall  (231  acres),  Chivers  (127  acres), 
and  Little  Myles's  which  was  partly  in  Stondon  and 
partly  in  Kelvedon  Hatch.  In  general  therefore  this 
was  a  parish  of  small  farms,  and  it  appears  to  have  been 
so  for  centuries.*"  In  the  19th  century  the  ownership 
of  the  land  was  also  widely  distributed.  The  Stondon 
Place  estate  was  reduced  in  about  18 16.  In  1849  it 
contained  only  250  acres.*'  The  Revd.  G.  G.  Stone- 
street  then  owned  Stondon  Hall  farm  and  Wool- 
mongers  totalling  247  acres,  and  John  Fane  owned 
Little  Myles's  and  Clapgates,  totalling  138  acres.  No 
other  owners  had  as  much  as  100  acres.*^  During  the 
1850's  P.  H.  Meyer  increased  the  Stondon  Place 
estate  slightly  but  he  never  came  near  to  owning  the 
greater  part  of  the  parish  as  did  his  friend  Capt.  Bud- 
worth  in  Greenstead  (q-v.).  In  the  i8th  century,  how- 
ever, and  previously  in  the  1 6th  century  and  even  earlier 
the  lord  of  the  manor  had  owned  much  more  than  in 
Meyer's  time.  In  this  connexion  it  is  perhaps  significant 
that  there  was  never  more  than  one  manor  in  Stondon. 
From  the  i6th  century  at  least  the  lords  of  the  manor 
were  usually  resident  in  the  parish.  In  the  i8th  and 
19th  centuries  they  took  an  active  interest  in  the  life  of 
the  parish.  William  Taylor-How  (d.  1777)  left  a 
legacy  for  the  village  schoolmaster.*'  P.  H.  Meyer 
contributed  generously  to  the  village  school  and  the 
church  and  led  the  local  Volunteers.**  The  parish  was 
also  fortunate  in  having  a  succession  of  able  and  public- 
spirited  rectors  during  the  same  period.  The  agricul- 
tural depression  of  the  1870's  may  not  have  affected 
Stondon    quite    so    severely    as    some    neighbouring 


"  See  below,  Charities. 

"  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  49. 

"  See  below,  Church. 

">  But  cf.  Church.  If  this  is  the  former 
Bell  Rope  Cottage  it  is  of  c.  1842. 

***  For  census  figures  1801  — 1901  see 
y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

^^  Ibid.;  Census,  1911-21. 

^^  Census,  1931,  1951. 

^'  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  126. 

'*  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xvii. 


25  E.R.O.,  D/DFa  E43/36.  For  a  photo 
of  Hallsford  in  flood,  1903,  see  Reeve, 
Stondon  Massey,  162. 

2'  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  I,  2. 

"  E.R.O.,  2/ABz  3. 

*8  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Surveyor. 

"  P.M.G.  Mins.  1852,  vol.  127,  p.  281. 

3»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex,  1886,  &c. 

"  P.M.G.  Mins.  1898,  vol.  631,  min. 
8137,  vol.  640,  min.  14753. 

32  Brit.  Post.  Guide,  1930. 

"  Inf.    from    Herts.    &    Essex    Water- 


works Co. 

3*  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elecy.  Bd. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  C.  H.  Hackney. 

3'  Ibid.     "  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

38  E.R.O.,  D/CT  337.  39  Ibid. 

♦»  Cf.  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  pt.  Ill, 
ch.  iv. 

■"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  337.  And  see  below, 
Manor.   '  *»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  337. 

*3  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  47. 

♦«  Ibid.  50-51.  And  see  Church, 
Schools. 


241 


I  1 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


parishes  because  there  were  in  this  parish  several 
wealthy  famihes — notably  at  Stondon  Place,  Stondon 
House,  and  the  rectory — which  did  not  depend  wholly 
upon  farming  for  their  incomes,  and  which  brought 
money  into  the  parish.  An  example  of  the  way  in 
which  this  effect  may  have  been  produced  comes  from 
a  slightly  earlier  period:  the  prosperity  of  the  'Brick- 
layer's Arms'  was  built  up  partly  upon  the  liberality  of 
Miss  Hollingworth  of  Stondon  Place.'*'  The  depres- 
sion did,  however,  have  one  striking  result  in  the  parish. 
Stondon  Hall  farm,  which  in  1868  had  been  bought 
by  the  tenant,  James  French,  for  ,£11,000,  was  sold 
after  his  death  soon  afterwards  at  a  substantial  loss. 
The  purchaser  was  a  Welsh  cattle-dealer  who  turned 
the  whole  farm  over  to  pasture.^* 

There  have  been  few  occupations  in  the  parish  other 
than  those  connected  with  agriculture.  Gravel  digging 
has  probably  been  carried  on  in  a  small  way  for  cen- 
turies. One  gravel  pit,  to  the  north-east  of  the  church, 
was  opened  as  recently  as  i886.'"  Soap  House  per- 
petuates the  memory  of  a  local  industry  carried  on  in 
the  1 8th  century.  It  was  occupied  from  1696  to  1743 
by  Robert  Dennett,  a  soapboiler,  and  the  industry  is 
said  to  have  been  carried  on  there  until  about  i8oo.'*' 
The  new  engineering  works  near  Hallsford  Bridge 
deals  mainly  with  repairs  to  agricultural  machinery  and 
implements. 

By  far  the  most  eminent  of  Stondon's  worthies  was 
William  Byrd  (i  543-1623),  the  musi- 
fFORTHIES  cian,  who  lived  for  the  last  30  years 
of  his  life  at  Stondon  Place.*'  The 
history  of  his  residence  there  is  one  of  frequent  bicker- 
ing with  his  neighbours. 

Sir  John  Hende  (d.  141 8),  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Stondon,  was  Mayor  of  London  in  1391  and  1404.50 
His  two  sons,  both  named  John,  were  sheriffs  of  Essex, 
the  elder  in  1443  and  1447  and  the  younger  in  1456.51 
Walter  Wrytell,  son-in-law  of  the  elder  John  Hende, 
was  sheriff  in  1469  and  1471.52  Sir  Edward  Belknap 
(d.  1 521),  a  later  lord  of  the  manor,  accompanied 
Henry  VIII  to  the  French  war  in  15 13  and  was 
knighted  at  Tournai.  In  1 520  he  was  one  of  the  special 
commissioners  responsible  for  preparing  the  Field  of 
Cloth  of  Gold  and  received  a  letter  from  Wolsey 
instructing  him  to  ensure  that  the  cardinal's  tent  was 
pitched  in  a  dry  place. 53  Rainold  Hollingsworth  (d. 
I  573),  a  wealthy  resident  of  Stondon,  was  one  of  the 
royal  commissioners  for  dealing  with  church  goods 
under  Edward  VI.  His  brass  is  in  the  parish  church. 5* 
Sir  Nathaniel  Rich  (d.  1636),  another  lord  of  the 
manor,  was  a  Member  of  Parliament,  Merchant 
Adventurer  of  London,  and  a  Puritan  who  promoted 
colonial  enterprises  in  America. 55  His  nephew  and 
successor  Col.  Nathaniel  Rich  (d.  1701)  fought  for 
Parliament  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  a  close  friend  of 
Cromwell  but  eventually  quarrelled  with  him  and  was 
deprived  of  his  command. 5*  Nathaniel  Ward  (1578- 
1652),  Rector  of  Stondon  1623-33,  was  deprived  of 
the  living  by  Laud  for  nonconformity.    He  subse- 


quently emigrated  to  New  England  and  helped  to  draft 
the  1 64 1  Code  of  Laws  for  the  colony  of  Massachusetts. 
He  returned  to  England  in  1647  and  spent  the  last  four 
years  of  his  life  as  Rector  of  Shenfield.57 

The  Puritan  connexion  in  Stondon  represented  by 
the  Riches  and  Nathaniel  Ward  is  an  interesting 
parallel  to  the  Roman  Catholic  connexion.  Byrd  was 
a  Roman  Catholic  and  so  also  was  William  Shelley 
(d.  1597),  lord  of  the  manor  of  Stondon,  whose  reli- 
gion led  him  to  plot  against  Elizabeth  I  and  to  imprison- 
ment in  the  Tower. 58  William  was  the  grandson  of 
Sir  William  Shelley  (d.  1548),  a  justice  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  and  son-in-law  of  Sir  Edward  Belknap. 59 

Sir  John  Hende  and  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich  represent  a 
connexion  with  London  trade  which  was  shared  by 
several  other  men  of  less  individual  distinction.  These 
include  Andrew  Bridham  (d.  1442)  of  Stondon  and 
St.  Michael's,  Cornhill,  John  Wheler  (d.  1 521),  and 
George  Webb  (d.  1579).*°  Richard  Hall  (d.  1541), 
citizen  and  ironmonger  of  London,  lived  for  a  number 
of  years  in  Stondon  and  left  legacies  for  some  of  its 
people.*'  John  Carre  (d.  1 570),  whose  brass  is  in  the 
parish  church,  became  a  member  of  the  Ironmongers' 
Company  under  the  sponsorship  of  Hall,  whose  brother 
John  was  his  godfather.*^  Henry  Giles,  nephew  of 
Carre,  was  his  apprentice  and  duly  joined  him  in  the 
company.^3  He  inherited  a  large  sum  of  money  under 
Carre's  will  and  used  some  of  it  to  found  the  almshouses 
in  Stondon.** 

John  Oldham,  rector  from  1 79 1  until  his  death  in 
1 841,  had  studied  law  before  entering  the  church.  He 
was  for  many  years  a  county  magistrate  and  was  nick- 
named 'Chief  Justice  01dham'.*5  He  is  said  to  have 
designed  the  impressive  rectory  built  about  1800. 
Altogether  he  made  a  lasting  impression  in  this  part  of 
Essex  during  his  long  incumbency. 

From  1849  to  1936  the  rectory  was  held  in  succes- 
sion by  E.  J.  Reeve  (d.  1893)  and  his  son  Canon 
E.  H.  L.  Reeve  (d.  1936).  Both  were  good  friends  to 
the  parish  and  E.  H.  L.  Reeve  became  its  historian.** 

The  early  history  of  the  manor  of  STONDON 
M^SSET  has  not  been  traced  with  cer- 
MANOR  tainty.  Stondon  is  not  mentioned  in  Domes- 
day Book.  It  derived  the  suffix  Massey 
from  the  family  of  Marcy  and  it  has  been  suggested 
that  in  1086  it  formed  part  of  the  manor  of  Kelvedon 
Hatch  (q.v.)  then  held  by  Ralph  de  Marcy.*'  That 
manor  did  perhaps  include  some  land  in  Stondon,  but 
the  succession  to  Ralph's  Navestock  estate  (q-v.),  to 
which  his  Kelvedon  Hatch  estate  probably  became 
attached,  suggests  very  strongly  that  the  Marcys  who 
became  lords  of  Stondon  were  not  his  heirs.  In  the 
early  13th  century  the  heir  to  this  Navestock  estate,  in 
direct  succession  from  Ralph  (see  Magdalen  Laver), 
was  another  Ralph  de  Marcy;  this  last  Ralph  did  not 
inherit  Stondon. 

The  origins  of  the  manor  of  Stondon  are  probably 
to  be  found  not  in  Ralph  de  Marcy's  estate  in  Kelvedon 
Hatch  but  in  the  manor  held  in  1086  by  Serlode  Marcy 


**  Rccvc,  Stondon  Massey^  4.9. 
«*  Ibid.  120. 
"  Ibid.  4. 
**  Ibid.  124,  152. 

♦»  See  Manor,  below.  For  Byrd's  career 
»ee  E.  H.  Fellowes,  miliam  Byrd. 
***  See  Manor,  below. 
*'  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey^  19. 
"  Ibid.  20. 
"  Ibid.  23,  14.1. 
**  See  Church,  below;    Reeve,  Stondon 


Massey^  1 86. 

55  See  Manor,  below. 

56  Ibid.;  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey^  144-7. 

57  See  Church,  below;  D.N.B.;  Reeve, 
Stondon  Massey,  71—74,  141— 3. 

58  See  Manor,  below, 

59  See  Manor,  below. 

"•  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  23. 

"  Ibid.  24. 

"  Ibid. 

M  Ibid.  110. 


6*  See  Charities,  below. 

65  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  86-90  (with 
portrait). 

>'<'  E.  H.  L.  Reeve,  History  of  Stondon 
Massey  (c.  1900,  1902,  and  1914).  Second 
and  third  parts  printed  separately.  In 
some  editions  parts  1  and  2  are  bound  to- 
gether, but  part  3  is  usually  separate. 
Pagination  is  continuous  through  the 
three  parts. 

"  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  503a  and  note  i. 


242 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STONDON  MASSEY 


in  Margaret  Roding.**  This  manor,  which  was  held 
of  Hamon  dapifer  as  I  hide  and  1 5  acres  was  then 
worth  ^5.  Serlo  had  a  son  Hamon  living  in  iiji.*' 
In  the  early  13th  century,  and  probably  by  1197, 
another  Serlo  de  Marcy  held  the  manor  of  Stondon  as 
well  as  lands  in  Margaret  Roding  later  known  as 
Marks  Hall.  He  had  apparently  succeeded  a  Hamon 
de  Marcy.'"  The  manor  of  Marks  Hall  constituted  a 
chapelry  dependent  upon  the  rectory  of  Stondon 
Massey,  to  which  it  has  continued  to  pay  tithes  until 
the  present  day."  It  is  thus  probable  that  Stondon  as 
well  as  Margaret  Roding  was  held  from  the  nth 
century  by  the  first  Serlo  de  Marcy  and  his  descendants. 

In  1 2 10-12  Serlo  de  Marcy  held  \\  knight's  fee  in 
Roding  (i.e.  Marks  Hall)."  He  died  before  1244 
leaving  as  heirs  his  two  sisters,  Alice  wife  of  John  de 
Merk  and  Agnes,  wife  of  Nicholas  Spigurnel.  In  1244 
it  was  agreed  between  the  sisters  that  Agnes  and 
Nicholas  and  the  heirs  of  Agnes  should  hold  the  manor 
of  Stondon  of  Alice  and  John  and  the  heirs  of  Alice.'^ 
In  1296  and  1308  it  was  reported  that  the  manor  was 
held  of  Ralph  de  Merk  by  knight  service,  the  amount 
of  which  was  said  to  be  f  fee  in  1 296  and  \  fee  in 
I3o8.7*  In  1485  the  tenure  was  said  to  be  of  the  Duke 
of  Bedford  as  of  his  hundred  of  Ongar,  by  %d.  rent  for 
all  services.75 

Nicholas  Spigurnel  died  before  1275  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  Edmund.  In  1275  an  inquisition 
ad  quod  damnum  was  held  relating  to  Edmund's  pro- 
posed inclosure  of  his  wood  at  Stondon.  The  verdict 
was  that  grave  detriment  would  result  from  any  in- 
closure of  the  great  wood  but  none  from  inclosing  a 
wood  of  4  acres  adjoining  the  manor  house.''*  Edmund 
died  in  1 296  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  John 
who  died  in  1308."  John's  epitaph,  in  Norman 
French,  is  said  to  have  been  visible  in  the  parish  church 
as  late  as  1768.'^  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Edmund  who  died  in  13 16  leaving  as  heir  his  infant 
daughter  Joan,  later  wife  of  William  Gobyon."  Joan 
and  William  were  confirmed  in  their  possession  of  the 
manor  of  Stondon  in  1333.*°  She  was  still  living  in 
1385  but  by  1 391  the  lord  of  the  manor  was  John 
Gobyon,  perhaps  her  son.*'  John  was  still  living  in 
1396  but  was  succeeded  before  July  1410  by  William 
Gobyon. 82  By  1412;  if  not  earlier,  the  manor  had 
passed  to  Sir  John  Hende,  who  had  been  Mayor  of 
London  in  1391  and  1404.83  He  died  in  1418  leaving 
two  sons  both  named  John,  to  the  younger  of  whom  he 
devised  the  manor  of  Stondon.**  John  Hende  the 
younger  died  in  1464.85  He  had  devised  the  manor, 
in  default  of  his  issue,  to  Joan  daughter  of  his  elder 
brother  John  and  wife  of  Walter  Wrytell,  in  tail,  with 
remainder  to  Joan's  mother  Griselde,  wife  of  John 


Hende  the  elder  and  daughter  of  Hamon  Belknap,  and 
Griselde's  heirs. *'  Joan  Wrytell  died  before  her  uncle 
John  Hende  and  Stondon  descended  to  John  Wrytell 
her  son,  who  died  in  1485  leaving  as  his  heir  an  infant 
son  John. 8'  In  i486  the  king  committed  the  custody 
of  Stondon  during  John's  minority  to  Sir  Reynold 
Bray,  Sir  Edmund  Shaa  and  John  Shaa.'*  John 
Wrytell  died  in  1507  leaving  an  infant  daughter  and 
heir  Juhana  who  died  in  i  509.8'  The  manor  then 
passed,  according  to  the  entail  created  by  John  Hende 
the  younger,  to  Sir  Edward  Belknap  son  of  Sir  Henry 
Belknap  (d.  1487)  brother  of  Griselde  Hende.'"  Sir 
Edward  died  in  1 5  2 1  leaving  as  his  heirs  his  four  sisters. 
Stondon  fell  to  the  share  of  his  sister  Alice,  wife  of  Sir 
William  Shelley,  a  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas." 
Sir  William  died  in  1 548  having  devised  the  manor  to 
his  eldest  son  John.'^  In  1550  John  Shelley  died  leaving 
Stondon  to  his  younger  son  William,  then  a  minor.'s 
About  this  time  the  manor  may  have  been  leased  to 
Rainold  Hollingsworth  (d.  1573)  whose  brass  is  in  the 
parish  church.''' 

William,  son  of  John  Shelley,  was  an  active  Roman 
Catholic.  He  was  imprisoned  as  a  recusant  in  1580 
and  spent  most  of  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  con- 
finement. Between  1580  and  1584  he  was  released 
several  times  on  bail  and  during  one  of  his  periods  of 
freedom  he  appears  to  have  become  implicated  in  the 
Throgmorton  plot. '5  He  was  rearrested  in  1584  for 
treason  and  in  1586  pleaded  guilty  and  was  sentenced 
to  death.  He  was  subsequently  reprieved  but  his  estates 
were  declared  forfeit  and  he  remained  in  prison  until 
1596,  when  he  was  released  in  failing  health,  to  die 
early  in  1 597.'*  He  left  no  children  and  his  heir  was 
his  nephew  John  Shelley.  After  William's  death  his 
widow  Jane  tried  to  obtain  possession  of  Stondon  Place, 
which  was  part  of  the  estate  and  which  she  claimed  as 
part  of  his  marriage  jointure.  This  tenement  had  been 
leased  by  William  Shelley  in  1582  to  Lawrence  and 
William  HoDingsworth  for  21  years."  In  1589  the 
Hollingsworths  divided  the  property  between  them. 
Lawrence  died  soon  after,  leaving  his  share  to  his 
nephew  John  Hollingsworth,  who  sold  it  to  William 
Hollingsworth,  who  thus  became  sole  tenant  under  the 
Crown.  William  then  mortgaged  his  lease  to  William 
Chambers  and  in  1 593  he  and  Chambers  assigned  their 
interest  in  the  property  to  William  Byrd,  the  musician, 
for  y^3oo.  Stondon  Place  then  consisted  of  about  200 
acres.  Part  of  it  had  been  sub-let  to  Dennis  Lolly, 
whose  lease  expired  in  1 597. '8  In  1595  Byrd  secured 
a  Crown  lease  of  the  whole  of  Stondon  Place  for  the 
lives  of  his  three  children  successively.  His  position 
was  remarkable:  although  a  well-known  recusant  him- 
self, he  was  willing  to  profit  by  the  forfeiture  of  a  fellow 


**  Ibid.  501a  and  A,  note  4. 

'»  Tipe  R.  1130  (Rec.  Com.),  54,  59. 

">  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  10,  148  ;  ReJ  Bk. 
of  Exch.  (Rolls  Ser.),  505 ;  Pipe  R.  iigy 
(Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  viii),  74;  Pipe  R.  1201 
(Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  xiv),  70;  Pipe  R.  1202 
(Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  xv),  269 ;  Pipe  R.  1203 
(Pipe  R.  Soc.  N.s.  xvi),  133. 

'*  See  below,  Church. 

"  Red.  Bk.  of  Exch.  (RoUs  Ser.),  505. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \,  148.  Cf.  J.  H. 
Round,  'Stondon  Massey  and  its  Chapelry', 
E.A.T.  N.s.  IV,  148-52.  It  was  also 
agreed  in  1 244  that  Alice  and  John  de 
Merk  should  hold  Serlo's  land  in  Margaret 
Roding.  It  was  from  the  Merks  that 
Marks  Hall  took  its  name. 

'*  Cat.  Inq.p.m.  iii,  p.  197;  ibid,  v,  p.  43. 


'5  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  Vll,  i,  pp.  61-62. 

"  C 143/4/6. 

77  Cal.  Inq.p.m.  iii,  p.  1975  ibid,  v,  p.  43. 

'*  Morant,  Essex,  i,  187. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  v,  pp.  43,  278. 

80  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  28. 

8>  Newcourt,  Reperl.  ii,  545. 

81  Ibid. 

85  Feud.  Aids,  vi,  445;  A.  B.  Beaven, 
Aldermen  of  London,  i,  81,217. 

8*  Morant,  Essex,  i,  i88  j  Cal.  Inq.  p.m. 
(Rec.  Com.),  iv,  p.  37. 

85  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  (Rec.  Com.),  iv,  p.  323. 

8'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  i,  pp.  61-62. 

8'  Ibid. 

88  Mails.  Hist.  Reign  Hen.  VII  (Rolls 
Ser.),  i,  474. 

89  C142/21/2;  L.  &  P.  Hen.  VIII,  i. 


p.  103. 

9»  L.  &  P.  Hen.  VIII,  i,  p.  103. 

9"  C142/36/69. 

'^  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  31. 

"  C142/93/70. 

9*  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  30  5  see  below. 
Church. 

95  N.  &  g.  (ipth  ser.),  iii,  441-3; 
Conyers  Read,  Sir  Francis  ffalsingham,  ii, 
387. 

9*  N.  Sf  Q.  (loth  ser.),  iii,  441-3.  He 
had  lands  at  Michelgrove  (in  Clapham, 
Suss.)  ini  jure  uxoris  in  Herefordshire. 

97  Lawrence  and  William  were  cousins 
of  Rainold  Hollingsworth :  Reeve,  Stondon 
Massey,  30. 

98  E.  H.  Fellowes,  fVilliam  Byrd,  zo. 


243 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Roman  Catholic  and  was  allowed  by  the  Crown  to 
do  so.»» 

Jane  Shelley's  attempt  to  regain  her  husband's  pro- 
perty included  an  attempt  to  eject  Byrd  from  Stondon 
Place.  Her  petition  to  Elizabeth  I  was  unsuccessful 
but  in  1603  James  I  issued  letters  patent  securing  her 
title  to  Stondon  Place.'  She  then  resumed  her  efforts 
to  eject  Byrd,  but  although  she  had  been  recognized 
by  die  Crown  as  the  owner  of  the  property  his  lease 
remained  good  and  he  remained  at  Stondon  Place.* 
Meanwhile,  in  1604,  John  Shelley  had  regained  pos- 
session of  the  manor  of  Stondon,  paying  j^l  1,000  to 
the  Crown  for  this.  Of  that  sum  yTi.ooo  went  to  Lord 
Howard  of  Effingham,  who  had  been  negotiating  for  the 
purchase  of  the  manor,  by  way  of  compensation.  Jane 
Shelley  died  in  16 10  and  shortly  afterwards  John 
Shelley  sold  his  rights  in  Stondon  Place  to  William 
Byrd,  who  continued  to  live  there  until  his  death  in 
1623.3 

Stondon  Place  remained  in  the  possession  of  the 
Byrds  until  about  165 1  when  it  was  bought  by  Thomas 
Coffin.  From  about  1638,  however,  they  no  longer 
lived  there.  In  1653  John  Leech  bought  the  property 
from  Coffin  and  about  1655  Prosper  Nicholas  became 
the  owner .<  Nicholas  died  in  1689  and  Stondon  Place 
passed  to  his  eldest  daughter  Martha,  later  wife  of  Dr. 
Josiah  Woodward.  Soon  after  1700  she  sold  it  to 
Richard  How  of  Broxbourne  (Herts.).' 

John  Shelley  sold  the  manor  of  Stondon  in  about 
1610  to  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich.*  He  died  in  1636  leaving 
Stondon  to  his  nephew,  also  Nathaniel  Rich.'  He  died 
in  1 70 1  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Nathaniel, 
receiver-general  of  the  Land  Tax  for  Essex.*  In  1706 
an  Act  was  passed  enabling  the  latter  to  compound 
with  the  Lord  Treasurer  for  the  amount  which  he 
owed. 9  The  manor  of  Stondon  was  then  sold  to 
Richard  How,  already  the  owner  of  Stondon  Place. 
He  rebuilt  Stondon  Place,  which  was  henceforth  the 
manor  house.'" 

How  died  in  1708  and  was  succeeded  in  turn  by  his 
two  sons  Richard  (d.  1723)  and  John  (o.s.p.  1748)." 
John  left  Stondon  to  a  distant  relative,  William  Taylor 
of  Much  Hadham  (Herts.).  Taylor  died  in  1752  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  William,  who  in  accordance 
with  John  How's  will  assumed  the  additional  surname 
of  How.  William  Taylor-How  (d.  1777)  was  suc- 
ceeded in  turn  by  his  sisters  Jane  Taylor  (d.  1793)  and 
Ann.  In  18 16  Ann  Taylor  sold  the  manor,  including 
Stondon  Place,  to  Miss  Joanna  HoUingworth,  an  old 
friend.  Shortly  before  this  conveyance  took  place  part 
of  the  Taylor  estate  had  been  detached.  Cannon's 
Farm  was  sold  to  the  Society  of  Friends  and  old 
Stondon  Hall  and  its  farm  to  the  Revd.  G.  G.  Stone- 
street,  later  Prebendary  of  Lincoln.  Miss  HoUingworth 
died  in  1829.  During  the  last  few  years  of  her  life  she 
was  joined  at  Stondon  Place  by  Mrs.  Ann  Meyer,  the 
widow  of  a  wealthy  Hamburg  merchant  who  had  been 
a  cousin  of  Miss  HoUingworth.  After  the  death  of 
Miss  HoUingworth  Mrs.  Meyer  bought  the  manor 
from  the  executors,  the  purchase  money  being  divided 
under  the  terms  of  Miss  HoUingworth's  will  among 


Mrs.  Meyer's  son  and  grandchildren.  Mrs.  Meyer 
died  in  1841  leaving  her  estate  to  her  grandson  Philip 
Herman  Meyer.  P.  H.  Meyer  enlarged  the  estate  by 
the  purchase  of  Chivers  Farm  (i  842)  and  Gates  ( 1 848). 
In  1849  he  owned  land  in  the  parish  amounting  to 
some  250  acres,'*  and  in  1 8  50  he  further  acquired  Grove 
Farm,  of  33  acres,  which  had  belonged  to  the  estate 
before  18 14  and  in  1838-42.  He  was  not  resident  in 
the  parish  in  1849  but  in  1857  he  returned  to  live  at 
Stondon  Place.  In  1861  he  bought  Stondon  House 
and  went  to  live  there,  letting  Stondon  Place  to  Capt. 
James  Hastie.  In  1866  Stondon  House  was  burnt 
down;  many  manorial  documents  were  destroyed  with 
it.  The  house  was  rebuilt  and  Meyer  died  soon  after, 
in  1870.  The  manor  was  held  after  his  death  by  his 
widow,  who  in  1874  married  Col.  F.  J.  Baker.  A 
manor  court  was  held  at  Chivers  in  1897,  perhaps  for 
the  last  time.  Mrs.  Baker  was  succeeded  on  her  death 
in  1907  by  her  nephew  H.  J.  Meyer.  Before  this,  in 
1904,  Stondon  Place  and  about  75  acres  of  land  had 
been  sold  to  Tyndale  White,  who  had  been  the  tenant 
from  about  1885. '3  The  house  had  been  burnt  down 
in  1877  and  rebuilt  a  year  or  two  later.  White's  house 
was  thus  the  third  of  the  name.  H.  J.  Meyer  was  still 
stated  to  be  lord  of  the  manor  in  1917  but  by  1922  the 
manor  had  been  acquired  by  Mr.  A.  S.  Cochrane.'* 
No  substantial  estate  now  (1954)  remains  attached  to 
any  of  the  former  manor  houses. 

The  oldest  surviving  manor  house  is  Stondon  Hall, 
which  probably  stands  on  the  site  of  the  original  manor 
house's  It  has  for  250  years  been  merely  a  farm-house. 
The  building  is  of  two  stories  with  tiled  roofs,  possibly 
built  on  an  H-shaped  plan  but  altered  and  seemingly 
partly  rebuilt. 

The  principal  (west)  front  has  projecting  gabled 
wings,  the  northern  of  which  is  partly  timber-framed 
and  retains  some  external  plastering.  This  wing  is 
probably  the  oldest  part  of  the  present  building  and 
may  date  from  the  1 5th  century.  The  projecting  brick 
chimney  on  the  north  side  was  entirely  built  after  bomb 
damage  received  during  the  Second  World  War.  The 
southern  wing  dating  from  the  early  17th  century  is  of 
brick. 

Internally  there  are  beams,  panelling,  and  doors  of 
1 6th-  and  17th-century  types  and  on  the  first  floor  in 
the  north  wing  a  plaster  overmantel  with  twin  round- 
arched  recesses  and  surmounted  by  an  entablature.  The 
hall  is  now  divided  into  two  tenements.  Behind  it  to 
the  east  are  the  remains  of  a  moat  now  (1953)  in  course 
of  being  filled  in. 

The  second  manor  house,  Stondon  Place,  had  origin- 
ally been  a  farm-house  but  was  rebuilt  about  1707  (see 
above)  and  was  the  residence  of  the  lord  from  then 
until  1 861.  This  18th-century  house  was  completely 
destroyed  by  the  fire  of  1877.'*  A  new  building  was 
erected  on  the  same  site  a  year  or  two  later  and  this  still 
survives.  It  is  in  Georgian  style  of  two  stories  in  red 
brick  with  round  bays  at  each  end  of  the  main  front." 
It  has  a  small  lodge  by  the  main  entrance  and  extensive 
outbuildings.  It  is  now  untenanted  and  neglected  and 
overgrown  with  creeper. 


«  E.  H.  Fellowes,  ffilUam  Byrd,  20; 
and  cf.  38-48. 

'  Ibid.  23.  *  Ibid.  23,  30. 

»  Ibid.  23. 

<  Ibid.  33;  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey, 
41-42,  163. 

»  Reeve,  op.  cit.,  42-43. 

*  Ibid.  36.  See  above.  Worthies. 


'  Ibid. 

'  Morant,  £iJ«jf,  i,  188. 

'  c.y.  XV,  357. 

'0  Reeve,  op.  cit. 

"  The  following  descent  is  from  Reeve, 
op.  cit.  43-53,  iSi-3- 
>2  E.R.O,,  D/CT337. 
"  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  1923;  Kelly  s  Dir. 


Essex  {1886). 

*♦  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (19 17,  1922). 

^5  For  a  photograph  of  the  house  c.  1900 
see  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey^  38. 

'^  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  52. 

'7  Ibid.  It  was  evidently  rebuilt  on  the 
pattern  of  the  previous  house :  Reeve, 
Stondon  Massey,  lyx—i. 


244 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STONDON  MASSEY 


Stondon  House,  to  which  the  lord  of  the  manor 
moved  in  1861,  is  said  to  have  been  built  by  Richard 
Jordan  about  I740.'8  About  1824  it  was  leased  by  a 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Page  for  use  as  a  girls'  school.  P.  H. 
Meyer  had  lived  there  only  five  years  when  this  house 
was  burnt  down."  It  had  been  rebuilt  by  the  time  of 
Meyer's  death  in  1870.^  The  present  house  is  a  large 
building  of  brick  with  a  slate  roof  and  has  extensive  out- 
buildings. For  some  years  after  the  Second  World  War 
it  was  empty  and  neglected  but  it  is  now  occupied  and 
is  in  good  repair.^' 

The  advowson  of  Stondon  Massey  descended  along 
with  the  manor  until  the  17th  century." 
CHURCH  In  1660  Edward  Otway  was  presented  by 
Col.  Rich,  but  the  next  presentation,  in 
1691,  was  made  by  the  trustees  of  the  estate  of  Anthony 
Luther  of  Myles's  (in  Kelvedon  Hatch,  q.v.).^^  In 
1696  William  Kendall  of  Takeley  presented  James 
Crook.  The  new  rector  afterwards  acquired  the  advow- 
son, and  on  his  death  in  1707  left  it  to  his  widow  Mary. 
She  presented  Thomas  White,  who  resigned  the  living 
in  the  same  year,  and  then  Thomas  Smith,  whom  she 
later  married.  The  advowson, passed  on  her  death  in 
1728  to  her  husband.  He  died  in  1732  and  in  his  will 
directed  that  the  advowson  was  to  be  sold  and  the  pro- 
ceeds divided  among  his  family.  This  does  not  seem 
to  have  been  carried  out.  Smith's  eldest  son  Richard 
presented  the  next  rector  (1733)  and  in  1735  Richard's 
younger  brother  Thomas  was  presented  by  John  How, 
one  of  the  executors  of  Thomas  Smith  the  elder.  The 
younger  Thomas  Smith  held  the  rectory  for  no  fewer 
than  56  years,  dying  in  1 791.  The  advowson  had 
previously  been  acquired  by  John  Oldham,  who  pre- 
sented himself  and  was  rector  for  50  years.  Before  his 
death  in  1841  he  sold  the  advowson  to  John  Hubbard, 
of  Cornhill,  who  presented  his  son  Thomas.  In  1 849 
the  advowson  was  again  sold,  this  time  to  Edward 
Reeve,  who  presented  his  son  Edward  J.  Reeve.  The 
latter  died  in  1893  and  was  succeeded  as  patron  and 
rector  by  his  son  Edward  H.  L.  Reeve.  In  1936,  on 
the  death  of  E.  H.  L.  Reeve,  the  advowson  was  vested 
in  the  Bishop  of  Chelmsford. ^'^ 

The  rectory  of  Stondon  was  valued  at  7  marks  in 
about  1254,25  at  j^5  6s.  8a'.  in  I29i,2*andatj^i3  6^.  8d'. 
in  1535.2'  In  1849  the  tithes  were  commuted  for 
;^355  10J.28  The  connexion  between  this  rectory  and 
the  manor  of  Marks  Hall  in  Margaret  Roding  has  been 
described  above.^'  There  was  a  chapel  at  Marks  Hall 
in  1 37 1  and  14 10,  when  it  was  said  to  be  annexed  to 
the  rectory  of  Stondon.  The  chapel  was  'decayed'  by 
the  17th  century  but  tithes  from  Marks  Hall  continued 
to  be  paid  to  the  rector  of  Stondon.  An  undated  terrier, 
probably  of  the  early  17th  century,  stated  the  value  of 
those  tithes  to  be  ;^io  a  year.  Until  the  early  19th 
century  the  parishioners  of  Stondon  included  Marks 
Hall  in  the  annual  beating  of  their  bounds.  In  1845, 
when  the  tithes  of  Margaret  Roding  were  commuted, 
the  Marks  Hall  estate  comprised  317  acres,  of  which 


262  acres  paid  tithes  to  Stondon. ^o  These  last  were 
commuted  for  £9:0  los.  i>d.,  which  sum  was  not 
included  in  the  above  figure  for  the  commutation  of  the 
tithe  in  Stondon  itself.  The  tithe  rent  charge  from 
Marks  Hall  has  continued  to  be  paid  to  the  Rector  of 
Stondon  until  the  present  day. 3' 

Early  in  the  17th  century  it  was  stated  that  the 
rectory  house  of  Stondon  had  been  newly  built  and 
repaired  by  John  Nobbs,  then  rector.  There  were  also 
a  barn,  an  orchard,  and  60  acres  of  glebe.  The  rebuild- 
ing was  probably  to  provide  accommodation  for  Nobbs's 
family  of  ten  children. '^  His  house  remained  until 
about  1800  when  it  was  completely  demolished  and  a 
new  rectory  built.  A  drawing  of  the  17th-century 
house  and  a  description  of  it  were  contributed  to  the 
Gentleman's  Magazine  in  January  and  February  1805. 
It  was  a  large  irregular  house  with  many  gables,  timber- 
framed  and  weather-boarded  and  having  a  chimney- 
stack  with  grouped  diagonal  shafts.''  The  new  rectory 
was  sited  farther  from  the  road.  John  Oldham,  the 
rector  who  built  it,  is  said  to  have  been  his  own  archi- 
tect, and  to  have  evolved  the  plan  during  a  tour  in 
Switzerland. '♦  It  is  an  imposing  brick  mansion,  square 
and  compact  in  plan,  with  roof  pediments.  At  the 
time  of  the  rebuilding  the  grounds  were  laid  out  by  a 
landscape  gardener,  perhaps  an  associate  of 'Capability' 
Brown.35  In  1 8 1  o,  in  a  description  of  the  rectory  which 
he  sent  to  the  bishop,  Oldham  stated  that  it  had  been 
built  about  ten  years  earlier  and  that  it  had  in  addition 
to  the  living-quarters  a  stable,  barn,  granary,  cowhouse, 
and  brewing-house. 3*  A  cottage  with  a  thatched  roof 
which  still  adjoins  the  former  rectory  may  have  been 
one  of  the  outbuildings  mentioned  in  1 8 10.  It  was  at 
one  time  used  as  a  laundry.'^  Oldham's  house  remained 
in  use  as  the  rectory  until  about  1936.  It  is  now  a 
private  house  and  the  land  is  being  farmed.'*  The 
present  rectory,  built  about  1939,  is  a  large  red-brick 
house  of  irregular  plan  situated  near  Cannon's  Farm. 

The  church  of  ST.  PETER  AND  ST.  PAUL 
consists  of  nave,  chancel,  north  vestry,  organ  chamber 
and  chapel,  south  porch,  and  western  bell  turret  with 
spire.  The  nave  and  chancel  date  from  about  iioo, 
the  bell  turret  and  the  porch  were  added  in  the  15  th 
century  and  in  the  19th  century  the  vestry,  organ 
chamber  and  chapel  were  added  and  the  porch  rebuilt." 
The  walls  are  mainly  plastered  over  outside  but  where 
exposed  at  the  west  end  are  seen  to  be  of  neatly  coursed 
flints  with  lacing  courses  of  tiles,  possibly  Roman. 

Of  the  original  structure,  apart  from  the  walls,  there 
remain  two  characteristic  narrow  Norman  window 
openings  (one  now  blocked  externally)  in  the  north 
side  of  the  nave,  one  in  the  south  side  of  the  nave  and 
one  in  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel.  The  south  door- 
way is  also  of  that  period.  It  has  an  unornamented 
stone  surround  with  rough,  quoined  jambs  and  rudi- 
mentary impost  blocks.  A  north  doorway  of  similar 
date  was  in  use  until  1850  but  is  now  blocked  extern- 
ally.   Other  features  which  may  in  part  be  survivals 


'.'  Ibid.  4.5. 

>»  Ibid.  51. 

M  Ibid. 

"  Inf.  from  occupant. 

"  Newcourt,  Refer/,  ii,  54.5.  In  1558 
and  1563  the  advowsons  appears  to  have 
been  sold  pro  kac  vice. 

*3  Unless  otherwise  stated  the  authority 
for  statements  in  the  Church  section  is 
Reeve,  Stondon  Massey y  57-90. 

2*  Chel.Dioc.  rear  Bk.  1937. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  xviii,  19. 


"  Tar.  £■<:(:/.  (Rec.  Com.),  21*. 

2'  Val  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  337. 

"  See  Manor;  E.A.T.  n.s.  xv,  148-52; 
Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  544,  505. 

30  E.R.O.,  D/CT  298. 

3'  Inf.  from  University  Coll.,  Oxford. 
The  rent  charge  is  now  (1954)  ;^84  19J. 
and  is  paid  through  the  Church  Com- 
missioners. 

"  Newcourt,  Refert.  ii,  544;  Reeve, 
Stondon  Massey^  70. 


"  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey.,  70,  87; 
see  plate  facing  p.  1 3J5 . 

3«  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  86-88. 

"  Ibid.  86.  Brown  himself  died  in  1783 
and  therefore  could  not,  as  Reeve  states, 
have  designed  the  gardens. 

3*  Ibid.  88. 

3'  Inf.  from  occupier. 

38  Ibid.  ■ 

39  For  an  historical  description  of  the 
church  by  F.  Chancellor  (1898)  see  E.R. 
vii,  139  f. 


245 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


from  the  original  building  are  the  narrow  lancet- 
shaped  window  and  three  small  circular  openings  in 
the  western  gable  of  the  nave.  The  original  chancel 
was  probably  apse-ended. 

Late  in  the  1 4th  century  a  two-light  traceried  window 
was  added  to  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  and  a 
similar  window  of  three  lights  to  the  south  wall  of  the 
nave.  It  was  possibly  at  the  same  period  that  the 
chancel-arch  was  removed  and  the  apse  replaced  by 
a  square  end. 

Early  in  the  15  th  century  there  were  further  con- 
•iderable  alterations,  including  the  reconstruction  of 
the  roof,  the  addition  of  the  bell  turret  and  south  porch 
and  the  insertion  of  a  new  west  window.  The  roof 
(now  ceiled)  has  heavy  moulded  wall  plates  with  three 
king-post  trusses  over  the  nave  portion.  The  bell 
turret  rises  from  the  west  end  of  the  nave  and  is  carried 
on  stout  chamfered  corner  posts  from  the  ground  with 
ornamental  bracing  in  which  the  western-most  roof- 
truss  is  incorporated.  Externally  the  bell  turret  is 
rectangular  and  weather-boarded  with  a  short  octagonal 
broach  spire  covered  with  shingles.  It  was  rebuilt  in 
1 8  8  8  .■•"  The  west  window  is  of  two  lights  with  traceried 
head  within  a  four-centred  arch.  The  porch,  which 
was  reconstructed  in  the  19th  century,  retains  one 
original  cambered  beam  with  plate,  posts,  and  braces. 

The  chancel  screen  dates  from  the  late  1 5th  century. 
It  has  five  narrow  bays  with  traceried  ogee  arches  on 
each  side  of  a  wider  central  opening  with  a  four-centre 
arched  head.  It  has  been  much  restored,  especially  in 
the  lower  part. 

Extensive  alterations  and  repairs  were  begun  in 
1850,  soon  after  E.  J.  Reeve  became  rector.'"  The 
lord  of  the  manor,  P.  H.  Meyer,  and  the  patron, 
Edward  Reeve,  helped  in  the  work.  The  roofs  of  the 
nave  and  chancel  were  covered  with  tiles  in  place  of 
the  previous  slates.  A  vestry  was  added,  the  porch 
rebuilt,  the  north  doorway  walled  up,  a  new  priest's 
door  provided  in  the  chancel,  and  the  east  window, 
previously  a  makeshift  sash,  replaced  by  a  three-light 
traceried  window. 

Further  extensions  were  made  in  1873—4  as  a 
memorial  to  P.  H.  Meyer.''^  These  included  a  new 
vestry  with  heating  cellar  beneath,  an  organ  chamber, 
and  a  mortuary  chapel.  The  chapel  consists  of  two 
bays  vaulted  in  stone  in  Early  English  style,  with  lancet 
and  three-light  traceried  windows.  Externally  it  is 
faced  with  random  flint  work  with  stone  dressings  and 
has  a  gable  at  the  north  end  with  an  arched  doorway 
and  angle  buttresses.  The  chapel  is  entered  from  the 
nave,  from  which  it  is  divided  by  a  glazed  screen,  and 
the  organ  chamber  from  the  chancel,  both  through  wide 
arches  the  construction  of  which  occasioned  the 
removal  of  a  Norman  window  in  the  chancel.  The 
abutment  of  the  west  wall  of  the  chapej  against  the 
nave  caused  another  Norman  window  to  be  blocked  up. 

The  last  major  repairs  to  the  church  were  those  of 
1888,  when  the  bell-turret  and  spire  were  rebuilt. 

The  pulpit  is  octagonal  and  has  panelled  sides  with 
arabesque  ornament,  and  inside  it  is  '2  tim.  4.  2.'  The 
reading-desk,  also  panelled  and  carved  with  jewel  orna- 
ment, bears  the  date  1630.  The  pulpit  and  the  desk 

*>  Kelly's  Dir.  Eisex  (1906). 

<■  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  92.  For 
drawings  of  the  church  before  restoration 
jee  A.  Suckling,  Mems.  of  Essex,  1-3. 

«  Ibid.  96.  43  Ibid.  93. 

♦♦  Ibid.  91,  93. 

«>  Ibid.  93,  96. 


were  previously  combined  in  three-decker  fashion  but 
were  separated  during  the  restorations  of  1850.^3  A 
gallery  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  nave  by  Philip 
Hollingworth  in  1825  was  removed  in  1850.''^  The 
singers'  pew  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave  was  then 
enlarged  to  form  a  new  gallery  but  this  was  in  turn 
removed  in  i873-4.''5 

There  are  three  bells.'**  The  oldest,  which  was  no 
doubt  installed  when  the  belfry  was  built,  was  made 
by  John  Bird  early  in  the  15th  century:  this  is  the 
second  in  the  peal,  and  is  inscribed  'Johannes  Cristi 
Care  Dignare  Pro  Nobis  Orare'.  The  first  in  the  peal 
is  by  Robert  Mot,  1588,  and  the  third  by  Thomas 
Gardiner,  1737.  The  Bell  Rope  Charity,  of  unknown 
origin,  consisted  in  1834  of  a  cottage  and  I  acre  of  land, 
the  profits  of  which  were  intended  for  the  purchase  of 
bell  ropes.^'  At  that  date  the  rent  of  £2  2s.  was  carried 
to  the  churchwarden's  general  account.  In  1842  the 
parish  vestry  agreed  to  let  the  property  to  William 
Page  at  £^  a  year  on  a  21 -year  lease  on  condition  that 
he  rebuilt  the  cottage.  At  the  end  of  that  period  the 
lord  of  the  manor  obtained  the  lease  at  an  annual  rent 
of  ;^8,  renewable  each  year.  After  his  death  in  1870 
the  property  continued  to  be  rented  by  the  tenant  of 
Stondon  House.  By  a  Charity  Commission  Scheme  of 
1892  the  rector  and  churchwardens  were  made  trustees 
and  the  trusts  were  declared  to  be  the  maintenance  and 
repair  of  the  parish  church.  By  1933  the  cottage  was 
in  a  bad  state  of  repair  and  was  sold  with  the  land  for 
^£^260  which  was  invested  in  stock.  In  1952  the  income 
of  £8  14/.  6(2'.  was  paid  into  the  church  account.  The 
cottage  is  probably  that  now  known  as  Rectory  Cottage, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from  Stondon  House.** 

The  church  plate  consists  of  a  silver  cup  of  1564, 
another  of  1824  given  by  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Thomas 
Smith,  a  former  rector,  a  silver  paten  of  1905  given  by 
the  rector  E.  H.  L.  Reeve  in  1909  to  match  the  old 
cup,  an  undated  paten  of  silver  on  copper,  and  a  silver 
flagon  of  1885  given  by  Tyndale  White" 

The  font,  which  dates  from  the  15th  century,  is 
octagonal,  the  sides  of  the  bowl  being  panelled  with 
quatrefoils. 

The  monuments  include  two  notable  sets  of  brasses. 
The  first,  in  the  north-eastern  corner  of  the  chancel,  is 
to  John  Carre,  1570,  ironmonger  and  Merchant 
Adventurer  of  London,  and  shows  him  flanked  by  his 
two  wives,  with  the  shields  of  arms  of  the  City  of 
London,  the  Ironmongers'  Company  and  the  Merchant 
Adventurers,  and  Carre's  own  monogram. so  The 
second,  now  on  the  north  wall  of  the  nave,  was 
formerly  in  the  chancel:  it  is  to  Rainold  Hollingworth, 
1573,  and  shows  him  in  armour  with  his  wife  beside 
him.  This  is  a  palimpsest  on  earlier  Flemish  brasses, 
the  patterns  of  which  survive  on  the  backs  of  the 
figures. 5'  There  are  floor  slabs:  in  the  chancel  to  (i) 
John  Leigh  ( 1 6  5  o)  and  his  son  Thomas,  1 6 8  5 ,( 2)  James 
Crooke,  rector  (1707),  and  in  the  nave  (3)  to  Prosper 
Nicholas  (1689)  and  his  wife  Mary  (1702). s^  Other 
monuments  include  a  number  to  owners  of  Stondon 
Hall,  Stondon  Place,  and  Stondon  House. 53  One  of 
these,  a  slab  in  the  nave,  gives  details  concerning  the 
How  and  Taylor-How  families,  1708-1831.   Monu- 


4'  Ci.  Bells  Essex,  +03. 

47  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  245-6  (1835),  XX  (i);  Char.  Com. 
files;  Reeve,  Stondon,  116— 17. 

«»  Cf.  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet 
lix.  And  see  above,  p.  24.1. 

**  Church    Plate    Essex,     141;    Reeve, 

246 


Stondon,  67,  76,  84,  97,  203. 

5°  Described  by  Reeve,  Stondon,  246 
(iUus.)  and  in  E.R.  vii,  150. 

5'  Reeve,  Stondon,  30,  106  (illus.). 

"  Ibid.  105,  107. 

S3  Fully  Usted  ibid.  107-9,  '"<'  '"  ^•^• 
vii,  150-4. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STONDON  MASSEY 


ments  to  rectors  include  those  to  Thomas  Smith 
(1791),  E.J.  Reeve  (1893),  and  his  son  E.  H.  L.  Reeve 
(1936).  On  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  is  an  enriched 
stone  memorial  in  Jacobean  style  to  William  Byrd  the 
musician  (d.  1623).  It  was  erected  in  1923  to  mark 
the  tercentenary  of  his  death.  On  the  north  wall  of  the 
nave  is  an  oak  panel  in  memory  of  men  who  fell  in  the 
First  World  War. 

For  Canon  Reeve's  legacy  for  the  church  see  below, 
Charities. 

At  Stondon,  as  at  Navestock  and  Kelvedon  Hatch, 
some  of  the  gentry  re- 
ROMJN  CATHOLICISM  mained  Roman  Catho- 
lic after  the  Reforma- 
tion. William  Shelley,  lord  of  the  manor  in  the  late 
1 6th  century,  suffered  imprisonment  and  forfeiture  of 
his  estates  for  his  recusancy  and  for  his  part  in  Catholic 
plots. s-*  William  Byrd  the  musician,  of  Stondon  Place, 
was  also  a  Roman  Catholic.  In  1605  he  and  his  wife, 
son,  and  daughter-in-law  were  all  presented  to  the  arch- 
deacon for  their  recusancy  and  failure  to  attend  the 
parish  church.  Byrd  was  also  charged  with  having 
seduced  into  popery  John  Wright,  son  and  heir  of  John 
Wright  of  Kelvedon  Hatch. 55  In  1612  Byrd  was  pre- 
sented again,  this  time  for  failure  to  pay  a  church  rate. 5* 
Other  members  of  his  family  were  presented  as 
recusants  from  time  to  time  after  his  death. 57  No 
evidence  has  been  found  of  any  recusancy  in  the  parish 
after  they  ceased  to  live  there. 

Nathaniel  Ward,  Rector  of  Stondon  from  1626,  was 
deprived    of   the   living    by 
PROTESTANT  Laud     in     1632     for     dis- 

NONCONFORMITT  obedience  of  the  canons.ss 
He  had  probably  been  pre- 
sented to  Stondon  by  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich,  then  lord  of 
the  manor,  who  was  a  zealous  Puritan. 59  Nathaniel 
Rich  the  younger  was  also  a  Puritan.  His  religious 
view  did  not  change  in  old  age.  In  1684  the  church- 
wardens of  Stondon  presented  that  he  had  come  to 
church  only  once  in  the  past  fourteen  years,  and  that 
for  a  funeral.*"  His  will  provides  the  only  evidence  of 
organized  nonconformity  in  the  parish:  he  left  £\o  to 
a  Mr.  Paget  'minister  of  Stondon  meeting'.  This  meet- 
ing appears  to  have  been  short  lived.*' 

The  parish  book  for  Stondon  Massey  covers  the 

period      1711-1922.*^ 

PARISH  GOVERNMENT    Detailed  overseers'  ac- 

AND   POOR  RELIEF  count  books  also  survive 

for  1741-1801  and 
1821— 42.*3  The  parish  vestry  usually  met  only  on 
Easter  Monday,  for  the  annual  audit  of  accounts  and 
election  of  officers.  Before  1721  and  again  between 
1772  and  1793  the  minutes  were  not  signed.  Between 
1725  and  1743  John  How  of  Stondon  Place,  the  lord 
of  the  manor,  acted  as  chairman  whenever  he  was 
present.  Between  1743  and  1772  the  rector,  Thomas 
Smith,  usually  took  the  chair.  His  successor  John 
Oldham  was  chairman  from  1793  to  1821.  After 
1 8  2 1  Oldham  ceased  to  attend  and  there  was  no  regular 
chairman.  The  average  attendance  was  six  parishioners. 


including  parish  officers  and  the  chairman.  In  1737 
the  vestry  agreed  to  allow  the  parish  clerk,  who  was 
also  sexton,  \os.  a  year.  The  expenses  of  a  vestry 
dinner  were  regularly  included  in  the  overseers'  ac- 
counts during  the  second  half  of  the  i8th  century. 

Before  1795  a  distinction  was  usually  maintained 
between  the  expenses  of  the  church  and  those  relating 
to  poor  relief,  and  separate  rates  were  levied.  It  was 
recorded  in  1737,  however,  that  repairs  to  the  church- 
yard were  customarily  met  out  of  the  poor  rates.  From 
1795  the  churchwarden's  expenditure,  after  the  deduc- 
tion of  rent  received  for  the  parish  land,  was  usually 
carried  over  to  the  overseer's  account  and  paid  by  the 
latter  official  'with  the  consent  of  the  rector'.  A  rate  of 
IS.  in  £1  produced  £21  is.  in  1723.  By  the  end  of  the 
1 8th  century  it  produced  nearly X40-  New  assessments 
were  made  in  1822,  when  the  rateable  value  of  the 
parish  was  assessed  at  ^^i  ,42  5,  and  in  1 848  when  it  was 
raised  to  ;^i,836.*'* 

One  churchwarden,  one  constable,  and  usually  one 
overseer  were  appointed  each  year.  Until  about  1750 
each  overseer  usually  served  for  two  consecutive  years. 
On  the  rare  occasions  when  women  were  nominated 
for  this  office  they  served  by  deputy.  In  1798  it  was 
agreed  that  the  office  should  be  held  in  rotation  by  the 
owners  of  specific  properties,  and  the  rota  was  entered 
at  the  end  of  the  parish  book.  From  1 806  the  overseer 
was  allowed  a  salary  of  5  guineas  and  all  expenses  except 
those  for  making  rates  and  for  journeys  to  Ongar.  In 
1 799  William  King  was  paid  one  guinea  for  serving  as 
parish  constable. 

In  1749  the  constable  was  authorized  to  erect  stocks 
at  the  parish  expense.  These  probably  stood  at  the 
cross-roads  near  Stondon  Place,  where  the  ancient 
whipping-post  certainly  stood.*5  The  parish  pound 
was  a  few  yards  south  of  the  whipping-post.** 

Expenditure  on  poor  relief  was  srriall  in  the  early 
1 8th  century  and  did  not  exceed  ;^ioo  before  178 1. 
The  cost  of  medical  attention  for  the  poor  was  from  an 
early  date  a  prominent  item  in  the  annual  expenses. 
In  1 74 1,  the  first  year  for  which  detailed  accounts  sur- 
vive, it  amounted  to  £\  out  of  a  total  of  ;^2  5  14J.  In 
1746  it  was  decided  that  the  sanction  of  a  parish  officer 
or  four  other  parishioners  was  necessary  before  the 
surgeon  and  apothecary  could  be  summoned  to  attend 
the  poor.  From  about  1760  the  parish  doctor  received 
a  regular  salary.  In  1833  John  Potter,  who  had  been 
parish  doctor  at  least  since  1822,  agreed  to  a  contract 
giving  him  £12.  In  the  following  year  he  accepted  a 
less  favourable  contract  whereby  he  undertook  to 
attend  all  cases  (instead  of  three,  as  previously)  of  mid- 
wifery and  surgery  within  3  miles  of  the  parish,  the 
incorporated  workhouse  at  Stanford  Rivers  included, 
at  a  salary  of  ;^io. 

In  1794  expenditure  on  poor  relief  was  ;^I30.  In 
that  year  the  parish  subscribed  £\  6s.  to  the  poor  relief 
scheme  of  John  Conyers  of  Epping,  which  was 
designed  to  reward  children  for  knitting  or  spinning", 
and  parents  for  rearing  large  families  without  parish 
relief.*7   The  peak  of  expenditure  on  poor  relief  was 


**  Sec  above.  Manor. 

55  E.R.O.,  D/AEA  23.  And  cf.  Kelve- 
don Hatch. 

5«  E.  H.  L.  Reeve,  'WilUam  Byrd',  E.R. 
xxxii,  168. 

5'  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey^  37  and  n. 
For  Byrd's  Catholic  associations  see  E. 
Fellowes.  fViUiam  Byrd.,  chap.  iii. 

58  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey^  71-72.    And 


see  above,  Worthies. 

5'  Ibid.  37.   See  above,  Worthies. 

">  Ibid.  39.   See  above,  Worthies. 

«■  Ibid. 

'2  E.R.O.,  D/P  98/8.  Some  use  of  this 
book  was  made  by  E.  H.  L.  Reeve  in  his 
Hist.  Stondon  Massey ^  83  f.  and  his  Supple- 
mentary Notes,  200-3. 

63  E.R.O.,     D/P     98/12/1-7.      Unless 


otherwise  stated  all  the  following  informa- 
tion is  taken  from  these  account  books  and 
the  parish  book. 

<■♦  E.R.O.,  D/P  98/11/1-3:  Ratebooks 
1797-1850.  '5  See  above,  p.  240. 

<•<>  E.R.O.,  D/CT  337. 

6'  Acct.  of  Soc.  for  Promotion  of  Industry 
in  hundreds  of  Ongar  and  Harloiv  and  half- 
hundred of  IVahham  (1797). 


247 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


reached  in  1800-1,  when  it  was  over  ;^350.  In  1801 
29  persons  were  receiving  weekly  pensions  totalling 
£\  los.  <)J.  and  in  addition  20  of  these  were  receiving 
pickled  pork  and  potatoes  valued  at  £2  6s.  a  week. 
The  review  of  expenditure  that  produced  these  figures 
was  followed  by  economies.  Half  a  hundredweight  of 
rice  costing  i6j.  6J.  replaced  the  pork  and  potatoes  and 
general  expenditure  was  also  reduced,  its  average  for 
the  next  20  years  being  under  ;^25o.*8  In  1828  the 
parish  contained  12  permanent  and  67  occasional 
paupers  out  of  a  total  population  of  230.  A  parish 
poorhouse  had  existed  in  1793;  an  inventory  of  goods 
there  then  included  three  spinning-wheels.  The 
statistics  of  180 1  do  not  suggest  that  a  poorhouse  was 
then  in  use,  but  in  1834  the  parish  was  renting  two 
cottages,  divided  into  a  total  of  five  tenements,  from 
the  trustees  of  Giles's  Charity,  for  use  as  poorhouses.*" 

In  1829  Stondon  Massey  joined  the  voluntary  poor 
law  union  under  Gilbert's  Act  with  Stanford  Rivers 
and  other  neighbouring  parishes.'"  Thereafter  annual 
expenditure  on  poor  relief  in  Stondon  rose  by  about 
^50  above  the  average  of  the  four  years  previous  to  the 
union.  The  parish  guardian  of  the  poor  succeeded  to 
the  salary  previously  given  to  the  overseer.  In  1836 
the  parish  became  a  member  of  the  Ongar  Poor  Law 
Union. 

There  was  a  schoolmaster  in  Stondon  Massey  in 
1777,  but  his  school  had  been  closed  by 
SCHOOLS  1 79 1 ,  when  John  Oldham  became  rector. 
Oldham  was  a  subscriber  to  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  and  he  set  up  a 
day  school  in  the  parish  with  a  labourer's  wife  as  the 
mistress.  In  1 807  about  1 2  Stondon  children  attended 
and  possibly  others  from  outside  the  parish.  The 
curriculum  was  confined  to  reading,  sewing,  and  knitt- 
ing. Expenses  were  paid  by  the  rector."  In  1 8 1 8  this 
school,  still  kept  by  the  labourer's  wife,  remained  the 
only  one  in  the  parish.  The  mistress  taught  30  or  40 
pupils  to  read  but  sent  them  to  Chipping  Ongar  to 
learn  writing  and  arithmetic.'^  The  school  had  come 
into  union  with  the  National  Society  in  18 16,  and 
remained  so  at  least  until  1832.  During  that  period 
the  number  of  day  pupils  seems  to  have  been  kept  at 
34,  while  a  further  50  attended  the  Sunday  school  held 
in  connexion  with  the  day  school.'^  In  1833  the  day 
pupils  increased  considerably  in  numbers.  They  all 
paid  fees  except  6  whose  fees  were  paid  by  benefactors. 
There  were  some  dame  schools  and  there  was  a  girls' 
boarding-school  at  Stondon  House,  which  was  founded 
in  1824  and  which  by  1833  had  26  pupils.''* 

In  1844  the  lord  of  the  manor,  P.  H.  Meyer,  built 
a  parish  school  with  accommodation  for  48  pupils. 
The  trust  deed  of  that  year  placed  it  in  union  with  the 
National  Society,  required  that  the  religious  teaching 
should  be  in  accordance  with  Anglican  principles  and 
appointed  the  rector  and  churchwardens  as  trustees." 
In  1870  there  were  some  42  pupils,  and  in  1871  an 
inspector  reported  that  the  accommodation  was  suffi- 


cient for  the  needs  of  the  parish.'*  Some  years  passed 
before  the  school  received  a  government  grant  because 
the  rector  would  not  accept  a  conscience  clause  for  the 
benefit  of  nonconformist  children  on  the  ground  that 
the  founder  had  specifically  required  that  the  principles 
of  religious  teaching  should  be  Anglican.  When  the 
income  of  the  school  was  reduced  by  the  agricultural 
depression  that  began  about  1875,  and  the  rector  saw 
that  the  conscience  clause  had  been  accepted  in  other 
Church  schools,  he  also  accepted  the  clause."  The 
school  received  a  government  grant  of  ;^5i  in  1893 
and  one  of  ;^6o  in  1899.'*  Average  attendance  in  the 
i88o's  was  about  36."  The  school  was  enlarged  in 
1 89 1  for  70  children,  but  in  spite  of  this  there  was  little 
increase  in  the  attendance,  which  averaged  39  in 
1898.80 

By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee, Ongar  District,  as  a  non-provided  school.  In 
1904,  when  accommodation  was  estimated  at  75,  there 
were  45  pupils  and  2  teachers.*'  In  1910  the  average 
attendance  was  31  and  in  1920  it  was  36.  In  1930  the 
school  was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants. 
Attendance  subsequently  increased  and  in  1939  the 
infants  were  being  taught  in  the  adjacent  village  hall.'^ 
In  May  1952  there  were  47  pupils  and  2  teachers. 
The  school  was  closed  in  1953,  the  children  being 
transferred  to  that  at  Kelvedon  Hatch. '3  The  build- 
ing was  of  one  story,  of  red  brick  with  tiled  roof.  It 
was  inscribed  'Stondon  Massey  National  School,  built 
1 8  44,  enlarged  1 8  9 1 .'  1 1  was  demolished  in  July  1954. 

Henry  Giles,  by  deed  of  1 575,  left  two  cottages  and 
about  5  acres  of  land  on  the  west  of 
CHARITIES^  the  Ongar-Blackmore  road  in  trust 
for  an  annual  distribution  to  the  poor. 
In  1834  the  two  cottages  were  used  as  five  almshouses 
whose  inmates  were  appointed  by  the  overseer.*'  The 
parish  then  paid  no  rent  and  the  trustees  did  not  repair 
the  cottages.  The  land  was  let  for  £j  5/.,  which  was 
distributed  at  Christmas  in  shares  varying  from  y.  to 
5/.  according  to  the  size  of  families.  In  1841  the  lord 
of  the  manor  supplemented  the  endowment  by  a  small 
piece  of  waste  land  between  the  cottages  and  the  road. 
He  also  rebuilt  and  enlarged  the  cottages  in  i860.'* 
Part  of  the  property,  including  one  of  the  five  cottages, 
has  been  sold  since  1931.  In  195 1  the  stock  held  was 
;{^I55.  In  1952  the  total  rents  received  were  ^^2  8  is.  2J. 
Most  of  this  was  spent  on  repairs,  the  cottages  being  in 
poor  condition ;  ;^i  was  given  away  in  relief. 

Giles  Charity  Cottages  are  a  group  of  five  two-story 
houses  in  red  brick  with  pilasters  on  the  outer  angles, 
pantile  roofs,  pierced  ornamental  barge-boards  to  the 
end  gables  and  porches,  diagonal  chimney-stacks,  and 
'Gothic'  casements.  The  pantiles  were  substituted  for 
thatch  about  20  years  ago.*'  On  the  north-east  end 
wall  of  the  block  is  a  stone  slab  inscribed:  'The  gift  of 
Henry  Giles  to  Stondon  parish  1574.  Enlarged  and 
repaired  1 860.'  The  repairs  of  1 860  seem  to  have  con- 


"  Detailed  overseer's  accounts  for  this 
period  are  missing. 

"  See  below,  Charities. 

'»  See  Stanford  Rivers. 

"  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  47;  E.R.O., 
D/AEM  2/4. 

"  Retns.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  272 
(1819),  ix(i). 

"  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1816,  1818,  1828, 
1832. 

'♦  Educ.  Enquiry  Abstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  290 
(1835),  xli.    Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  95, 


49.  The  Stondon  House  school  closed 
before  1861. 

'5  Reeve,  op.  cit.  95—965  Min.  of  Educ. 
File  13/356. 

T>  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
112-13  (1871),  Iv;   Min.  of  Educ.  File 

'3/356- 

77  Reeve,  op.  cit.  95-96. 

"  Retns.  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  716, 
H.C.  {1894),  Ixv.;  ibid.  1899  [Cd-  315]. 
p.  74,  H.C.  (1900),  Ixv  (2). 

'»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1882,  1886,  1890). 

248 


8°  Ibid.  (1898). 

"  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  Handhk.  1904, 
p.  187. 

82  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/356. 

83  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

8-t  Rep.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  245-6  (1835),  xxi  (i);  Char.  Com. 
files  j  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey,  iio— 17. 

85  See  Parish  Government  and  Poor 
Relief. 

86  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1878). 
"  Inf.  from  an  occupant. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


STONDON  MASSEY 


stituted  an  almost  complete  rebuilding,  but  the  central 
cottage  is  said  to  contain  timbers  from  the  earlier  house. 
Before  i860  the  cottages  were  apparently  weather- 
boarded  and  tarred  buildings  and  known  as  Black 
Cottages.  There  is  some  doubt  whether  they  were  the 
original  cottages.** 

Before  1684  Mrs.  Alice  Thomlinson  left  £1  10s.  a 
year,  issuing  from  Braintrees  Farm  in  Hatfield  Broad 
Oak,  to  buy  waistcoats  for  six  poor  widows  of  Stondon 
Massey.  In  1834  the  churchwarden  gave  equal  shares 
of  money  to  all  the  poor  widows  each  March.  Under 


the  1 892  Scheme  which  was  framed  for  this  and  Giles's 
Charity  the  income  was  to  be  spent  on  relief  in  money. 
The  rent  was  not  paid  in  1952;  in  1951  the  whole 
amount  was  given  to  one  widow. 

The  Bell  Rope  Charity  is  described  above  (see 
Church). 

Canon  E.  H.  L.  Reeve,  formerly  rector,  by  will 
proved  1936  left  legacies  of  ;^6oo  and  £750,  subject 
to  two  life  interests,  for  the  repair  of  the  church  and 
for  the  immediate  repair  of  the  Giles  Almshouses. 
These  charities  had  not  yet  come  into  effect  in  1953. 


THEYDON  BOIS 


Theydon  Bois  is  2  miles  south  of  Eppingand  1 5  miles 
north-east  of  London.'  During  the  past  100  years  much 
building  has  taken  place  near  the  railway  station  and 
many  residents  travel  to  work  in  London.  In  spite  of 
this  the  parish  retains  a  number  of  rural  features.  The 
village  green  is  an  attractive  centre  and  part  of  the 
parish  lies  within  Epping  Forest.  Local  people  are 
proud  of  their  village  and  have  formed  the  Theydon 
Bois  Rural  Preservation  Society.^ 

The  ancient  parish  of  Theydon  Bois  contained  2,198 
acres. 3  In  1 896  those  parts  of  it  lying  within  the  Epping 
Special  Drainage  Area  were  transferred  for  civil  pur- 
poses to  the  newly  formed  Epping  Urban  District. 
This  affected  about  60  acres  in  the  north  of  the  parish.'* 
In  1934  a  small  part  of  Theydon  Bois  was  transferred 
to  Epping  Uplands  and  in  1946  there  were  further 
slight  adjustments  of  the  boundary  between  these  two 
parishes.* 

Theydon  Bois  is  the  most  westerly  of  the  three 
Theydon  parishes.  It  takes  its  distinctive  name  from 
the  family  of  Bois  (Je  Bosco)  which  held  the  manor  in 
the  1 2th  and  13th  centuries.'  The  parish  is  bounded 
on  the  south  by  the  River  Roding.  The  ground  rises 
from  about  75  ft.  above  sea-level  by  the  river  to  370  ft. 
in  the  north-west,  where  the  parish  includes  some  300 
acres  at  the  north  end  of  Epping  Forest.  The  road 
from  Abridge  (in  Lambourne,  q.v.)  enters  the  parish 
by  Abridge  Bridge  over  the  Roding  and  runs  north- 
west through  Theydon  Bois  to  the  'Wake  Arms'  in 
Epping  Forest,  where  it  meets  the  main  road  from 
London  to  Newmarket  and  Norwich.  At  Theydon 
Green  in  the  centre  of  the  parish  the  Abridge  road  is 
joined  by  those  going  north  to  Epping  and  south  to 
Loughton.  The  railway,  now  part  of  the  Central 
London  (Underground)  line,  runs  north  through  the 
parish  to  Epping.  Theydon  Bois  station,  on  this  line, 
is  J  mile  east  of  Theydon  Green.  Theydon  Green  has 
been  a  village  since  the  i8th  century  or  earlier  and 
retains  a  large  open  green  and  pond.  The  modern 
parish  church  and  the  village  school  are  on  the  north- 
west of  the  green  and  the  Baptist  church  is  on  the  south- 
west. Modern  development  has  been  mainly  to  the 
north,  south,  and  east  of  the  green.  There  is  a  small 
group  of  houses  at  Ivy  Chimneys,  in  the  north  of  the 
ancient  parish.    This  is  in  the  ecclesiastical  parish  of 


Theydon  Bois  and  includes  an  iron  mission  room,  but 
for  civil  purposes  it  is  in  Epping  Urban  District. 

Theydon  Hall,  which  is  on  the  site  of  the  ancient 
manor  house,  is  about  i  J  mile  south  of  the  green  on 
the  Abridge  road.  Beside  it  is  the  site  of  the  old  parish 
church,  demolished  in  1843.  Theydon  Hall  ceased 
to  be  the  manor  house  early  in  the  17th  century.  Its 
place  was  taken  by  Birch  Hall,  \  mile  west  of  Theydon 
Green.  The  present  Birch  Hall  is  a  19th-century 
house,  but  the  name  is  derived  from  a  medieval  family 
which  no  doubt  had  a  house  on  the  site.*  The  other 
old  manor  house  of  Gregories  was  probably  about 
f  mile  north-east  of  the  church,  where  there  is  still  a 
homestead  moat.  The  modern  Great  Gregories  Farm 
is  about  i  mile  north-west  of  the  moat.  Parsonage 
Farm  is  \  mile  east  of  the  railway  station."  It  probably 
dates  from  the  15  th  century.  The  parish  almshouses, 
dating  from  the  l8th  century,  are  in  Coppice  Row.'" 

In  the  Middle  Ages  Theydon  Bois  was  a  thinly 
populated  rural  parish.  In  1428  it  was  one  of  the  few 
parishes  in  the  hundred  which  were  exempted  from 
taxation  because  they  contained  fewer  than  lo  house- 
holds." In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned  there 
was  probably  a  medieval  house  to  the  north  of  Theydon 
Green  where  traces  of  a  rectangular  moat  could  still  be 
seen  at  the  end  of  the  19th  century."  Gaunts  Wood 
and  Redoak  Wood,  J  mile  south-west  of  Theydon 
Green,  take  their  names  from  medieval  tenants,  whose 
houses  may  have  been  in  the  neighbourhood." 

Chapman  and  Andre's  map  of  1777  shows  about  a 
dozen  houses  round  Theydon  Green  but  few  others 
in  the  parish  apart  from  those  above.'*  Blackacre  Farm 
is  shown,  \  mile  south  of  Theydon  Green.  It  is  a 
timber-framed  and  plastered  house  now  surrounded  by 
buildings  of  a  much  later  date.  Details  which  survive 
are  of  the  17th  century  but  subsequent  alterations  have 
made  it  impossible  to  trace  the  original  form  of  the 
house.  One  chimney  retains  parts  of  four  octagonal 
shafts  and  two  more,  which  originally  had  diagonal 
shafts,  have  moulded  brick  cappings  at  the  base.  Inter- 
nally there  is  a  17th-century  staircase  with  moulded 
newels  and  pendants  and  heavy  turned  balusters. 

In  general  there  are  few  buildings  in  the  parish  that 
are  earlier  than  the  19th  century.  At  Theydon  Green 
the  Bull  Inn,  part  of  it  of  the  17th  century,  still  stands. 


**  Reeve,  Stondon  Massey ^  113. 
'   O.S.2i  in.  Map,  sheets  51/4.9,  52/50. 

*  Sec  below,  p.  251. 

3  0,S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheets  Ivii, 
Iviii. 

*  Co.    of  Essex    {Epping    &c.),    Conf. 
Order,  i8g6. 

*  Essex  Renjieiv  Order,  ig34. 

'  Co.   of  Essex   [Rural  Parishes)   Conf 


Order,  ig46. 

7  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  82-83.  The 
explanation  of  the  name  Theydon  given 
there  has  been  withdrawn.  It  is  now 
thought  to  mean  'valley  where  thatch 
(material)  grows' :  F.N'.  IVilis.  (E.P.N.S.), 
xvi. 

8  P.N.  Essex,  %i.  For  the  manor  houses 
see  below,  Manors. 


'  Sec  below.  Church. 

'<*  See  below.  Charities. 

"  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  204.. 

'^  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  cdn.),  sheet  Iviii; 
cf.  E.R.O.,  D/DBxPi. 

■3  P.N:  Essex,  83. 

'♦  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
ly^y,  sheet  xvi. 


249 


Kk 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


A  smithy  and  wheelwright's  shop  stood  near  by  in 
i848.>5  Between  the  'Bull'  and  the  'Queen  Victoria' 
is  a  row  of  weather-boarded  cottages  probably  built 
early  in  the  i8th  century.  Facing  the  green  on  its  east 
side  are  a  few  scattered  cottages  which  may  date  from 
the  17th  century  or  earlier.  By  the  early  19th  century 
there  were  a  number  of  cottages  in  the  northern  part 
of  Coppice  Row.  There  were  also  some  in  the  north 
of  the  ancient  parish,  now  part  of  Epping  Urban 
District.'*  In  1801  the  population  of  Theydon  Bois 
was  334."  It  rose  to  676  in  1831  but  sank  to  538  in 
1841.  It  was  591  in  1851  and  610  in  1861. 

The  extension  of  the  railway  from  Loughton  to 
Epping  and  Ongar  in  1865  had  a  rapid  effect  on 
Theydon  Bois,  and  must  be  held  mainly  responsible 
for  building  development  there  during  the  later  19th 
century  and  after.  Building  had,  however,  started  a 
little  before  1865,  perhaps  in  anticipation  of  the  rail- 
way extension.  In  Theydon  Bois,  as  in  Loughton  (q.v.) 
and  the  other  forest  parishes,  there  was  a  strong  move- 
ment to  inclose  the  forest,  and  in  some  cases  to  clear  it 
for  building.'*  As  early  as  1848  the  sites  of  the  houses 
now  called  Manor  Villas  were  laid  out  on  newly 
inclosed  land  to  the  north  of  Theydon  Green."  The 
houses  themselves  were  built  between  1870  and  1872. 
Farther  north,  beyond  the  golf  course,  are  houses  of 
similar  character  standing  in  good  gardens.  The  most 
imposing  of  these  is  Theydon  Towers,  dating  from 
about  1880.  It  is  an  irregularly  shaped  house  of  brown 
brick  with  a  four-story  tower-like  feature  forming  part 
of  the  entrance  front.  In  this  area  there  are  also  some 
largish  houses  of  a  later  date.  Building  in  this  area  was, 
however,  checked  by  the  preservation  of  Epping 
Forest. 

Elsewhere  the  development,  although  extensive,  is 
composed  of  smaller  units.  Terrace  houses  on  the 
south-west  side  of  Theydon  Green  date  from  between 
1890  and  1910.  Theydon  Park  Road,  which  leaves 
the  Green  at  its  south  corner  and  finally  becomes  an 
unmade  track  parallel  to  the  railway,  is  built  up  with 
small  houses  and  bungalows.  Some  of  these  date  from 
the  late  19th  and  early  zoth  centuries  but  the  majority 
were  built  between  the  two  World  Wars.  Two  cul- 
de-sac  roads  on  its  west  side  are  of  similar  character. 
A  new  shopping  centre  has  been  formed  immediately 
west  of  the  station  and  a  large  new  residential  area 
is  under  construction  between  here  and  Piercing 
HiU. 

There  were  formerly  two  'Retreats'  in  Coppice  Row 
about  100  yards  west  of  the  parish  church.  Both  were 
destroyed  by  German  bombs  in  the  Second  World 
War^o  together  with  four  houses  on  the  north  side  of 
the  road. 

Red  Oaks  Mead  is  an  estate  on  the  north-west  side 
of  Loughton  Lane  consisting  of  ten  pairs  of  roughcast 
council  houses  built  before  the  Second  World  War. 
Opposite  this  a  post-war  layout  is  known  as  Graylands. 
Here  there  are  40  council  houses,  including  some  old 
people's  bungalows.  Green  Glade  and  Pakes  Way  are 

'»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  349.  16  Ibid. 

"  Census  figures  1801-1901  are  from 
KC.H.  E$tex,  ii,  350. 

"  For  the  forest  see  below. 

»  E.R.O.,  D/CT  349 ;  A.  A.  West,  MS. 
Hist.  Theydon  Bois. 

"   Theydon  Bois  Official  Guide,  p.  5. 

"  Ceniui  Reports,  igzi,  1931. 

"  Census  Report,  1 95 1. 

'1  B.  Winstone,  Epping  and  Ongar 
Highway  Trust,  9 1 . 


two  new  crescent-shaped  roads  on  the  east  side  of 
Theydon  Green.  They  form  a  large  council  housing 
estate,  recently  completed. 

The  population  of  Theydon  Bois  has  naturally 
reflected  these  developments.  It  increased  steadily  to 
1,257  in  1 90 1  and  then  remained  almost  stationary  for 
20  years.  There  was  an  increase  from  1,267  in  192 1 
to  1,504  in  1931.^'  The  population  in  1951  was 
2,665." 

Until  the  construction  of  the  new  road  between 
Loughton  and  Epping  early  in  the  17th  century  the 
main  road  from  London  to  Newmarket  and  Norwich 
was  via  Abridge  Bridge  and  Coopersale  (in  Theydon 
Garnon,  q.v.),  and  part  of  it  thus  ran  through  Theydon 
Bois.23  After  the  17th  century  the  parish  roads  were 
of  purely  local  importance.  There  was  a  full  report  on 
them  in  I720.^-*  When  the  railway  was  built  it  crossed 
the  Abridge  road  by  a  level  crossing.  This  was  replaced 
about  1940  by  a  bridge,  and  the  road  itself  was  trans- 
formed from  a  winding  country  lane  into  a  good  motor 
road. ^5 

The  bridge  between  Abridge  and  Theydon  Bois  has 
already  been  treated  under  Lambourne  (q.v.).  Theydon 
Bois  was  sometimes  held  responsible  for  the  foot-bridge 
which  lay  alongside  Abridge  Bridge.  In  1625  the 
inhabitants  were  indicted  because  of  its  ruined  condi- 
tion.^* In  1652  it  was  described  as  a  'long  footbridge' 
to  be  repaired  by  the  county.^'  In  1665  it  was  said  to 
be  impassable;  again  the  county  was  responsible.^* 

Until  the  coming  of  the  railway  Theydon  Bois  was 
dependent  for  communications  with  the  outside  world 
mainly  upon  coaches  and  other  horse  transport  using 
the  main  roads  via  Epping  and  Loughton,  to  north  and 
south,  and  via  Abridge  to  the  east.  Travel  to  the  west 
was  for  long  difficult  and  dangerous  because  of  the 
barrier  of  Epping  Forest.  There  was  indeed  a  road 
through  the  forest  from  Theydon  Bois  as  early  as 
1594,29  but  the  prevalence  of  highway  robbery  there, 
which  was  still  a  menace  in  the  late  i8th  century.'o 
must  have  deterred  travellers  from  using  this  route. 

The  branch  railway  line  from  London,  which  had 
been  carried  as  far  as  Loughton  (q.v.)  by  1856,  was 
extended  to  Epping  and  Ongar  in  1865,  and  Theydon 
Bois  station  on  this  line  was  opened  in  the  same  year." 
The  section  of  the  line  as  far  as  Epping  was  electrified 
in  1949,  and  became  part  of  the  Central  London 
Line.32 

In  1853  a  sub-postmaster  was  appointed  on  the 
understanding  that  his  wife  performed  the  duties.''  In 
1867  the  post-office  there  was  reorganized.'*  A  money- 
order  office  was  established  in  1886  and  a  telegraph 
extension  in  the  same  year.''  The  telephone  was  estab- 
lished by  192 1.3* 

Water  was  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.,  about  1884."  Main  drainage  presumably 
existed  before  1 896  in  the  parts  of  the  parish  which 
were  then  part  of  the  Epping  Special  Drainage  Area,'* 
and  there  is  now  drainage  in  most  of  Theydon  Bois." 
Gas  was   first  supplied   (from   Epping)   in    1872.*" 


2<  E.R.O.,  Q/SBb  75. 
^5  Theydon  Bois  Official  Guide,  p.  13. 
"  E.R.O.,  (2/CP  3,  p.  73;  cf.  E.R.O., 
e/SR  250/16. 
"  E.R.O.,  Q/CP  3,  p.  159. 
"  Ibid.,  p.  274;  cf.  E.R.O.,  e/SR  404/ 

20. 

"  Norden,  Map  of  Essex,  isg4. 

">  See  Loughton. 

"  Inf.  from  British  Rlys. 

^*  Inf.  from  London  Transport. 


"  P.M.G.  Mlns.  1853,  vol.  137,  p. 
405. 

"  Ibid.  1867,  vol.  61,  min.  4393. 

"  Ibid.  1886,  vol.  306,  min.  2612,  vol. 
313,  min.  7966,  vol.  314,  min.  8658. 

"  Brit.  Post.  Guide,  1 92 1. 

37  Inf.  from  Herts,  ic  Essex  Water- 
works Co. 

38  See  above. 

3'  Inf.  from  Vicar  of  Theydon  Bois. 
«  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Gas  Bd. 


250 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  BOIS 


Electricity  was  laid  on  in  1928/'  A  police  station  has 
existed  since  about  1886.*^  A  branch  of  the  county 
library  was  opened  in  I928/-'  There  are  two  public 
halls,  both  temporary  wooden  buildings  erected  since 
1946.+'  One  is  a  church  hall,  the  other  a  village  hall. 
There  are  many  village  organizations,  including  a 
branch  of  the  United  Nations  Association.  Most  of 
them  are  linked  by  the  Village  Association,  in  which  is 
vested  the  management  of  the  village  hall.^*  There  is  a 
playing-field  behind  the  hall.  The  Theydon  Bois  Rural 
Preservation  Society  was  formed  about  eight  years  ago 
'to  preserve  the  rural  character  of  the  countryside  in 
and  around  Theydon  Bois  as  an  appropriate  and  natural 
setting  to  Epping  Forest'.'**  It  has  helped  to  produce  a 
parish  guide,  issued  by  the  parish  council. 

Apart  from  the  distributive  trades  in  recent  times  no 
occupations  unconnected  with  the  land  have  been 
important  in  the  life  of  the  parish.  In  the  19th  century 
there  was  brickmaking  on  a  site  north  of  Birch  Hall 
Farm  now  occupied  by  Oakhill  Farm.*'  In  this 
parish,  as  elsewhere  in  the  district,  mixed  farming  is 
carried  on.  In  1849  it  was  estimated  that  there  were 
709  acres  of  arable,  956  acres  of  meadow  or  pasture, 
and  86  acres  of  woodland  in  Theydon  Bois.  This  was 
exclusive  of  345  acres  of  forest  waste  which  lay  within 
Epping  Forest.'**  At  the  same  date  there  were  some  1 5 
farms  in  the  parish  of  over  20  acres,  the  largest  of  which 
was  Theydon  Hall  Farm  with  261  acres.  About  8 
were  over  100  acres.*' 

Theydon  Bois  lay  only  partly  within  the  bounds  of 
the  royal  forest.  It  was  stated  in  1872  that  of  2,176 
acres  in  the  manor  of  Theydon  Bois  800  acres  lay  out- 
side the  forest.50  '7'Jie  movement  to  disafforest  and 
inclose  Epping  Forest  has  been  described  above  (see 
Loughton).  At  Theydon  Bois,  as  at  Loughton,  the 
Crown  was  negotiating,  during  the  1850's,  for  the  sale 
of  its  forestal  rights  to  the  lord  of  the  manor.  In  1857 
R.  W.  H.  Dare  bought  those  rights  for  the  area  of  his 
manor  at  a  cost  of  ;^l, 3 53.5'  Between  1857  and  1 871 
he  and  his  son  inclosed  over  300  acres  of  the  forest.^* 
Inclosure  was  halted  by  the  action  of  the  government 
in  the  first  Epping  Forest  Act.  As  a  result  of  the  Epping 
Forest  Act,  1878,  most  of  the  forest  area  in  Theydon 
Bois  was  again  thrown  open  and  became  subject  to  the 
provisions  of  the  Act  for  the  future  preservation  of  the 
forest.  At  Theydon  Bois  the  inhabitants  claimed  ancient 
rights  of  estovers,  exercised,  as  at  Loughton,  from  1 2 
November  in  each  year  to  the  following  23  April. 
These  rights  were  recognized  by  the  Act,  which  pro- 
vided for  their  extinguishment  in  return  for  com- 
pensation.53 

James  Theodore  Bent  (1852-97),  explorer  and 
archaeologist,  married  (1877)  a  daughter  of  R.  W.  H. 
Dare.  He  is  buried  at  Theydon  Bois.s*  Frances  Mary 
Buss  (d.  1894),  pioneer  of  education  for  women  at  her 
North  London  Collegiate  School,  is  also  buried 
there. 55  For  John  Strype  (1643-1737)  see  below, 
Church. 


In  1066  THETDON  BOIS  was  held  by  Hacun  as 
a  manor  and  as  3^  hides  and  80  acres.  In 
MANORS  1086  it  was  held  in  demesne  by  Peter  de 
Valognes.  An  additional  2  hides  and  ij 
virgate,  previously  held  by  7  freemen,  had  by  1086 
also  been  acquired  by  Peter,  who  claimed  to  hold  the 
property  by  exchange.  He  was  also  tenant  in  chief  of 
J  hide  and  40  acres,  which  had  formerly  belonged  to 
Ulwin.  Peter  had  it  in  mortgage  by  the  king's  per- 
mission. It  was  held  of  him  by  Walter. 56  The  tenancy 
in  chief  of  these  estates  descended  in  the  Valognes 
family  like  North  Weald  Basset  (q.v.)  until  the  death 
of  Gunnore,  whose  second  husband  was  Robert  Fitz 
Walter.  Fitz  Walter,  who  died  in  December  1235, 
appears  to  have  held  part  of  the  barony  of  Valognes, 
including  Theydon  Bois,  in  right  of  his  wife,  after  her 
death. 5'  He  also  outlived  their  daughter  and  heir 
Christine,  widow  of  William  de  Mandeville,  Earl  of 
Essex,  and  after  his  death  Theydon  Bois  evidently 
passed  to  Christine,  wife  of  Peter  de  Maule,  one  of  the 
coheirs  of  Christine  de  Mandeville. 58  As  the  tenant  in 
chief  of  the  manor  Christine  de  Maule  was  a  party  to 
its  conveyance  about  1288—97  to  Waltham  Abbey  (see 
below). 

In  1 166  Osbert  son  of  Ralph  de  Wetmere  held  I 
knight's  fee  in  Theydon  Bois  of  Geoffrey  de  Valognes, 
while  William  de  Bosco  held  i  fee  of  the  new  feofF- 
ment.59  The  subsequent  history  of  the  first  of  these 
fees  has  not  been  traced,  but  in  1235-6  a  William  de 
Bosco  was  holding  in  Theydon  Bois  what  was  variously 
described  as  i  fee  and  as  J  fee.*"  The  manor  must  have 
continued  in  the  same  family,  for  in  1248  Hugh  de 
Bosco  released  his  right  in  the  advowson  of  Theydon 
Bois  (see  Church)  and  the  manor  was  later  in  the  pos- 
session of  a  Henry  de  Bosco,  who  died  holding  it.*' 
Henry  was  succeeded  by  John,  son  of  Peter  de  Tany, 
a  nephew.  John  de  Tany  in  or  before  1289  enfeoffed 
Reynold,  Abbot  of  Waltham,  with  the  manor.*^  It  was 
then  agreed  that  Christine  de  Maule  was  to  receive  ^5 
from  the  abbey  after  the  death  or  removal  of  each 
abbot,  by  way  of  compensation  for  the  loss  of  the  feudal 
incidents  due  to  her  as  tenant  in  chief  This  transaction 
was  contrary  to  the  Statute  of  Mortmain  (1279).  The 
parties  evidently  realized  this  after  it  had  been  con- 
cluded and  took  steps  to  secure  the  abbey's  title.  It 
had  been  provided  by  the  statute  that  where  land  had 
been  alienated  to  a  religious  house  the  tenant  in  chief, 
if  he  acted  within  a  year,  might  occupy  the  property 
concerned.  Christine  de  Maule  therefore  pleaded  the 
statute  and  renounced  the  agreement  with  Waltham 
Abbey.  She  next  enfeoffed  Anthony  Bek,  Bishop  of  Dur- 
ham, and  Richard  de  Cokham,  Rector  of  Lambourne, 
Essex,  with  the  manor  of  Theydon  Bois.*3  In  1 297  Bek, 
Cokham,  and  Peter  de  Tany  all  released  their  rights 
in  the  manor  to  the  abbey,  and  the  king  confirmed 
their  grants.*'*  The  account  in  the  Waltham  Abbey 
cartulary  from  which  much  of  the  above  has  been  taken 
adds  that  Christine  had  excluded  her  son  and  hefr 


<■  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elec.  Bd. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886  f.). 

<3  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

*^  Inf.  from  Vicar  of  Theydon  Bois. 

*'   Theydon  Boh  Official  Guide,  p.  7. 

««  Ibid.,  p.  15. 

♦'  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  Pi  ;  O.S.  6  in.  Map 
(ist  edn.),  sheet  Iviii. 

■"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  349. 

♦9  Ibid. 

5°  Mins.  of  Epping  Forest  Comm.  p. 
426. 


"  W.     R.     Fisher,     Forest    of    Essex, 

352- 

52  Ibid.  357. 

53  Epping  Forest  Act,  1878  (41   &  42 
Vict.  c.  213,  sect.  6,  and  schedule  i). 

5*  D.N.B. 

5  5  See  below.  Church,  Charities. 

56  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  537*,  538a. 

57  Bk.  of  Fees,  574,  578. 

58  The  Ancestor,  xi,  1 3  3-4. 

59  Red  Bk.  of  Exch.  349. 
'0  £*.o/f«j,479,578. 


'■  B.M.  Cott.  MS.  Tib.  c.ix  f.  196^. 

^2  Ibid.  Reynold's  successor.  Abbot 
Robert,  was  elected  in  1289:  y.C.H. 
Essex,  ii,  171. 

"  B.M.  Cott.  MS.  Tib.  c.ix  f.  196^: 
'Processus  qualiter  Abbas  de  Waltham 
pcrquisivit  manerium  de  Theydon  Bois'. 

<>*  B.M.  Harl.  MS.  3739  ff.  267-72. 
The  grants  included  the  reversion  of  land 
held  in  dower  by  Maud,  widow  of  Richard 
de  Bosco. 


251 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


William  from  the  manor  and  assigned  it  to  William's 
son  Henry,  but  that  in  spite  of  this  assignment  Henry 
was  never  seised  of  any  service  from  the  manor,  in 
whose  time  there  were  three  abbots,  Reynold,  Robert, 
and  John  (elected  1302,  died  1307).  Henry  assigned 
his  right  in  the  manor  to  Agnes  de  Valence,  but  this 
was  void  since  he  was  not  legally  seised.*s  Some  light 
is  throwTi  on  this  statement  by  the  history  of  the  manor 
of  Gregories  (see  below).  The  abbey  certainly  seems 
to  have  successfully  resisted  any  claims  by  Henry  de 
Maule  or  Agnes  de  Valence. 

Meanwhile,  in  1293,  Henry,  son  of  the  previous 
owner  Henry  de  Bosco,  had  arraigned  an  assize  against 
Peter  de  Tany,  alleging  unlawful  disseisin  of  the  manor 
by  Tany  and  others.**  Tany's  counsel  stated  that  Henry 
was  illegitimate,  having  been  born  while  his  father  was 
in  deacon's  orders.  The  jurors  found  that  Henry  was 
indeed  illegitimate  but  on  the  ground  that  his  parents 
had  not  been  married  at  the  time  of  his  birth.  The  title 
to  the  manor  was  again  challenged  in  1 3 1 3  and  on  this 
occasion  a  charter  of  1308  was  produced  whereby 
Lawrence  de  Theydon  Bois  acknowledged  that  he  had 
released  his  right  in  the  manor,  which  had  been  of 
Henry  du  Boys  his  father.*' 

Theydon  Bois  was  retained  by  Waltham  until  the 
dissolution  of  the  abbey  in  1 540.  The  manor  there- 
upon passed  to  the  Crown  and  in  May  1540  was 
granted  for  life,  together  with  other  manors  formerly 
belonging  to  the  abbey,  to  Robert  Fuller,  the  last 
abbot.*'  He  died  later  in  1 540,*'  and  the  manor  was 
again  vested  in  the  Crown  until  July  1543,  when  it 
was  granted  for  life  to  John  Soda,  the  king's  servant, 
presumably  that  John  Soda  whose  will  was  proved  in 
November  1551.'"  In  his  will,  dated  1545,  Soda 
described  himself  as  born  in  Catalonia,  but  dwelling  at 
that  time  in  the  City  of  London  in  the  service  of  the 
Lady  Mary,  the  king's  daughter.  In  December  1 5  5 1 
Theydon  Bois  was  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Wroth,  one 
of  the  four  principal  gentlemen  of  the  Privy  Chamber, 
for  which  he  was  to  pay  36/.  a  year  in  respect  of  the 
knight  service  due  from  the  manor  and  also  ^^5  1 8/.  3  Ji/. 
a  year  at  the  Court  of  Augmentations." 

Wroth  died  in  1573,  leaving  Theydon  Bois  to  his 
son  Robert,  who  held  it  until  his  death  in  1606.  His 
son,  another  Sir  Robert,  died  in  1614.  James,  son  of 
the  last  Sir  Robert,  was  an  infant  at  his  facher's  death, 
and  died  in  1616.'^  In  his  will  Sir  Robert  provided 
that  Theydon  Bois  and  other  estates  should  be  vested 
in  his  uncle,  brother,  and  cousin,  all  named  John 
Wroth,  to  be  sold  as  they  thought  fit  to  pay  off  his  large 
debts."  In  161 6  the  manor  was  accordingly  conveyed 
to  Edward  Elrington,  the  owner  of  the  impropriate 
rectory  and  the  advowson.'* 

Elrington  died  in  161 8.  His  heir  was  his  son, 
another  Edward."  An  Edward  Elrington  was  hold- 
ing the  manor  in  1652  but  by  March  1657  John  Smart 
and  two  others  were  being  named  as  lords.'*  This  con- 
firms Morant's  statement  that  Elrington  sold  the  manor 


to  John  Smart  about  1656."  In  1670  Smart  bought 
out  the  fee  farm  rent  of  j^5  18/.  ^^J.  reserved  in  the 
royal  grant  of  155 1  for  a  payment  of  ^^115  6s.  9</.'' 
What  happened  to  the  other  rent  of  36/.  is  not  clear. 
Since  it  had  been  connected  with  the  knight  service 
due  from  the  manor  it  may  have  lapsed  with  the  aboli- 
tion of  feudal  tenures. 

There  is  no  reference  to  Theydon  Bois  in  John 
Smart's  will,  which  was  proved  in  1679,"  but  the 
manor  seems  to  have  passed  to  his  son  John  Smart  who 
must  have  died  shortly  afterwards,  for  Benjamin  Smart, 
brother  of  the  younger  John,  in  his  wiO  proved  in 
1684,  stated  that  he  and  his  other  brother  Joseph 
acquired  the  manor  under  the  will  of  John  Smart  their 
brother.*"  Benjamin  left  his  moiety  to  Joseph,  who 
thus  held  the  whole  of  the  manor,  apparently  until  his 
death  in  1702.*'  Joseph's  son  and  successor  Benjamin 
was  still  lord  of  the  manor  in  1753.*^  In  1762  the  lord 
of  the  manor  was  John  Hopkins,  who  was  dead  by 
1773,  when  his  trustees  Benjamin  Bond  and  William 
Jacomb  were  named  as  lords. '^  The  manor  was  held 
in  1783  by  Elizabeth  Bond,  widow,  and  in  1789  by 
John  Hopkins  Dare,  then  an  infant.** 

J.  H.  Dare  died  in  1805,  leaving  his  estate  in  trust 
for  his  mother  Elizabeth,  then  wife  of  John  Marma- 
duke  Grafton,  and  his  half-sister  Elizabeth  Grafton, 
who  were  to  take  the  name  and  arms  of  Dare.  Grafton 
did  so  in  the  same  year  and  died  in  18 10.  His  widow 
died  in  1823  and  was  succeeded  by  her  daughter,  the 
above  Elizabeth,  then  wife  of  Robert  Westley  Hall. 
R.  W.  Hall  took  the  name  and  arms  of  Dare  and  died 
in  1836,  being  survived  for  some  years  by  his  widow. 
Their  son  and  successor,  Robert  Westley  Hall  Dare,  in 
1853  obtained  a  private  Act  of  Parliament  authorizing 
the  sale  of  parts  of  his  estate,  in  order  that  he  might 
settle  in  Ireland,  his  wife's  country.*'  Theydon  Bois, 
however,  remained  in  the  family.  R.  W.  H.  Dare  died 
in  1866  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert  Westley 
Hall  Dare  who  in  1901  sold  Theydon  Bois  to  Gerald 
Buxton.  Buxton  was  succeeded  on  his  death  in  1928 
by  his  son  Lt.-Col.  Edward  North  Buxton.**  In 
1 8  50-1  the  Hall  Dare  estate  included  781  acres  in 
Theydon  Bois  and  47  acres  in  Loughton.*' 

The  Elrington  family  was  settled  at  Birch  Hall  in 
Theydon  Bois  before  they  acquired  the  manor  in  1616 
(see  above)  and  from  that  date  Birch  Hall  was  the 
manor  house.  In  1633  Edward  Elrington  sold 
Theydon  Hall,  which  must  previously  have  been  the 
manor  house,  to  Frances  Muscott,  by  the  name  of  the 
site  of  the  manor  of  Theydon  Bois.**  This  conveyance 
was  accompanied  by  litigation,  as  Thomas  Smith 
claimed  that  Elrington  had  concluded  a  bargain  with 
him.*'  In  1644  Frances  Muscott  settled  Theydon 
Hall  upon  her  daughter  Charity,  wife  of  George 
Duncombe.'o  The  estate  was  subsequently  owned  by 
George  Meggott,  certainly  by  1680  when  he  claimed 
tithe  from  certain  properties  in  the  parish."  His  son 
Robert  Meggott  married  Anne  daughter  of  Gervase 


«'  B.M.  Cott.  MS.  Tib.  c.Ix  f.  196". 

w  J.I.  1/1298,  m.  66j,  </. 

"  J.I.  1/1352,11).  2l(l)</. 

"  L.  Sf  P.  Hen.  VUl,  xvi,  p.  7 1 5. 

««  E.  A.  Webb,  Rect.  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Priory  &c.  i,  259. 

'»  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Vlll,  xix  (i),  p.  6+4; 
P.C.C.  34  Bucke. 

"  Ca}.  Pat.  1550-3,  188-90. 

"  For  the  Wroths  see  also  Loughton. 

"  P.C.C.  60  Lawe. 

1*  CP25(2)/295  Mich.  14  Jas.  I. 


"  C142/369/168. 
■">  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  M2. 
"  Morant,  Eaex,  i,  162. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  Ti. 
"  P.C.C.  49  King. 
80  P.C.C.  81  Hare. 
8'  Morant,  Essex^  i,  162. 
»2  E.R.O.,   (2/RSg    3;   and    see    below, 
Charities. 
«3  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  M7. 
8«  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  M7. 
»5  Hall  Dare's  Estate  Act  16  &  17  Vict. 


(1853),  c.  8  (priv.  act).  All  the  above 
details  in  this  paragraph  are  from  the  pre- 
amble to  the  Act,  or  from  Burke,  Land. 
Gent.  (1871),  564-5. 

86  Burke,  LanJ.  Gent.  (1937),  2568; 
Burke,  Peerage  (193 1),  435;  St.  Mary's, 
Theydon  Bois  (pamphlet). 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  349,  225. 

«8  CP25(2)/4i6  Mich.  9  Chas.  I. 

8»  C2  Chas.  I,  S.  100/36,  37. 

«»  C142/777/96. 

«'  Ei 34/30  Chas.  II  East.  8. 


252 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  BOIS 


Elwes.  Their  son  John,  born  in  17 14,  was  heir  to  his 
uncle  Sir  Hervey  Elwes  and  took  the  name  and  arms 
of  Elwes  in  175 1,  succeeding  to  Sir  Hervey's  estates 
on  his  death  in  1763.9^  Both  Sir  Hervey  and  John 
Elwes  were  notorious  misers.  John  disposed  in  his  will 
(dated  1786)  of  property  worth  about  ^^500,000.  He 
had  inherited  property  in  London  about  the  Hay- 
market  and  built  Portland  Place,  Portman  Square,  and 
much  of  Marylebone.  He  died  in  1789  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  grand-nephew  John  Timms,  who  took 
the  name  and  arms  of  Hervey-Elwes  in  1793. '3  The 
descendants  of  John  Hervey-Elwes  owned  Theydon 
Hall  until  191 9. «♦  The  property  has  since  been 
broken  up.  The  house  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Gordon 
Norton  and  the  farm-yard  by  Mr.  Webster  of  Parsonage 
Farm. 95 

In  1850  the  Theydon  Hall  estate  consisted  of  425 
acres  in  Theydon  Bois."*  It  also  included  149  acres 
in  Theydon  Garnon  when  the  tithes  of  that  parish 
were  commuted  in  1840."  The  owner  of  the  estate 
also  owned  part  of  the  tithes  on  his  property.'* 

The  front  range  of  the  present  Theydon  Hall  was 
rebuilt  or  added  during  the  last  quarter  of  the  1 8th 
century.  It  consists  of  a  main  two-story  block  of  yellow 
brick  flanked  by  single-story  wings.  The  round-headed 
doorway  has  fluted  pilasters  and  a  good  semicircular 
lead  fanlight.  To  the  left  of  the  doorway  the  frontage 
breaks  forward  to  form  a  two-story  bay.  The  marble 
fireplaces,  cornices,  and  doorcases  of  the  principal 
rooms  have  ornament  of  the  Adam  type.  The  style  is 
reminiscent  of  the  great  building  schemes  which  were 
being  carried  out  in  London  at  this  period  and  this 
part  of  the  house  may  well  be  the  work  of  John  Elwes. 
At  the  back  is  a  timber-framed  structure  which  is 
thought  to  be  the  earlier  house.  It  appears  to  date  from 
the  second  half  of  the  17th  century.   It  is  now  derelict. 

The  former  manor  house  of  Birch  Hall  lay  between 
Birch  Hall  Farm  and  the  present  mansion.  By  the  end 
of  the  1 8th  century  it  had  been  demolished  and  in 
1848  the  site  was  known  as  'Old  House  Ground'." 
The  present  house  is  of  red  brick.  It  was  built  in  1 892.' 
The  two  lodges  and  several  of  the  cottages  in  Coppice 
Row  appear  to  be  of  the  same  period. 

The  manor  of  GREGORIES  occupied  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  parish  and  probably  took  its  name 
from  Gregory  son  of  Ralph  who  held  J  knight's  fee  in 
Theydon  of  the  barony  of  Valognes  in  1235-6.^  This 
Gregory  may  be  identical  with  the  Gregory  de 
Theydon  who  was  a  verderer  of  the  Forest  of  Essex  in 
1250.3  The  manor  was  originally  known  as  that  of 
Theydon  Bois,  without  anything  to  distinguish  it  in 
name  from  the  capital  manor.  On  one  occasion  during 
the  15  th  century  it  was  actually  found  necessary  to 
show  that  the  two  manors  were  distinct.* 

A  document  drawn  up  in  a  15th-century  lawsuit 
traces  the  history  of  the  manor  from  Amy,  wife  of 
Henry  Boys,  who  alienated  a  tenement  and  lands  in 
Theydon  Bois  to  her  son  Harry.  He  conveyed  to 
Stephen  Morice,  who  in  turn  conveyed  to  Gilbert  son 


of  Gregory  de  Theydon.'  The  difficulty  in  accepting 
this  descent  is  that  the  property  could  not  have  been 
held  by  Gregory,  from  whom  the  manor  was  probably 
named.  Perhaps,  however,  the  tenement  referred  to 
in  the  15th-century  descent  was  added  to  an  earlier 
holding  which  was  already  in  the  possession  of  Gregory 
in  1235-6.  In  I  591  an  estate  that  was  probably  the 
manor  of  Gregories  was  said  to  be  held  of  the  manor  of 
Theydon  Bois  by  knight  service.*  This  and  the  other 
evidence  strongly  suggests  that  Gregories  was  origin- 
ally part  of  the  capital  manor  of  Theydon  Bois. 

A  Gilbert  de  Theydon  was  holding  lands  in  Essex 
in  I29i7andin  1299  the  homage  and  service  of  Gilbert 
de  Theydon  from  his  tenement  in  Theydon  Bois  were 
conveyed  with  the  manor  of  Hertingfordbury  (Herts.) 
by  Henry  de  Maule  to  Agnes  de  Valence.'  This  con- 
veyance is  probably  that  mentioned  in  the  Waltham 
Abbey  cartulary  as  being  without  legal  force  (see 
above).  Gilbert  de  Theydon  was  dead  by  1299." 
His  heir  was  his  son  Gilbert,  then  a  minor.  Agnes  de 
Valence  claimed  the  right  of  wardship  and  seized  the 
estates  of  Gilbert.'"  Before  January  1301,  however, 
Walter  de  Huntyngfeld  appears  to  have  acquired  the 
custody  of  the  lands,  and  to  have  forfeited  it  to  the  king 
for  his  default  before  the  justices  of  the  Bench  against 
Henry  de  Enefeld  who  vouched  him  to  warranty 
against  Rose,  Gilbert's  widow."  Agnes  de  Valence 
died  in  1308.  The  inquisition  taken  after  her  death 
makes  no  mention  of  any  rights  in  Theydon  Bois.'^ 
Later  in  the  Middle  Ages  Waltham  Abbey  appears  to 
have  been  exercising  rights  of  overlordship  over 
Gregories.'^ 

In  1323  Gilbert  son  of  Gilbert  de  Theydon,  for  a 
consideration  of  40  marks,  conveyed  to  William  de 
Clyf,  clerk,  the  manor  of  Theydon  Bois  (i.e.  Gregories) 
and  60  acres  of  land  in  Theydon  Garnon  and  Epping 
Heath,  of  which  property  one-third  was  in  reversion 
only,  it  being  held  by  Thomas  de  Chetingdon  of 
London  and  his  wife  Joan,  in  dower.'*  In  1324  there 
is  the  note  of  a  final  concord  (which  may  not  actually 
have  been  levied)  by  which  William  de  Clyf  conveyed 
the  same  property  to  Robert  Spynay  and  his  heirs.' s 
In  1 326  the  property,  apparently  without  any  part  then 
in  reversion,  was  conveyed  by  Richard  de  Clyf  to 
Alice  Spynay,  to  hold  for  her  life  with  successive 
remainders  to  her  son  William  and  his  heirs,  and  then 
to  James,  his  brother,  and  his  heirs.'* 

In  1 340  John  de  Goldingham  and  three  others,  pre- 
sumably feolTees,  conveyed  the  manors  of  Theydon 
Garnon  (q.v.)  and  Theydon  Bois  (i.e.  Gregories)  to 
William  Gernon  and  Isabel  his  wife,  with  remainder 
to  their  son  Thomas  and  his  heirs.  The  fine  is  endorsed 
with  the  claim  of  Gilbert,  son  and  heir  of  Gilbert  de 
Theydon."  From  1340  until  the  death  of  Elizabeth 
Hampden  in  1538  the  manor  of  Gregories  descended 
along  with  that  of  Theydon  Garnon. 

By  a  fine  levied  in   1345  John  Colepepir  granted 
Gregories  to  Walter  Colepepir  for  life  with  remainder  " 
to  Thomas  son  of  William  Gernon,  Lucy  his  wife,  and 


«2  r.C.H.  NortAanH.  Geneal.  Vol.  68- 
6<);D.N.B.]ohn  Elwes. 

"  D.N.B.  John  Elwes. 

«♦  E.R.O.,  5j/eCa/.  B.  615. 

"  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Norton. 

»'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  34.9. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 

»«  See  below.  Church. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/DBi  Pi  (Estate  Map, 
1799);  E.R.O.,  D/CT  3+9. 


'  The  house  was  built  by  Gerald 
Buxton :  A.  A.  West,  MS.  Hist.  Theydon 
Bois. 

'  Bi.  of  Fees,  578. 

3  W.  R.  Fisher,  Forest  of  Essex,  374. 

■♦  E.A.T.  N.s.v,zz. 

5  Ibid.  8. 

^  See  below. 

'  Cal.  Close,  1288-96,  191. 

'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  86. 


«  £.^.r.  N.s.  V,  2<r3  n. 

'»  Ibid. 

■'  Cal.  Close,  1 296-1 302,  474-5. 

'2  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  v,  p.  105. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  V,  22. 

■♦  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  ii,  207. 

■5  Ibid.  242. 

'6  Ibid.  225. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  Hi,  ^^. 


253 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Thomas's  heirs.  On  this  occasion  Alice  Spynay  put  in 
her  claim.'*  It  will  be  seen  that  this  fine  differed  in 
detail  from  that  concerning  Theydon  Garnon  levied 
at  the  same  time.  In  1450-1  Simon  Wythiale  alleged 
that  one  Tylby,  a  clerk,  had  enfeoffed  John  Wythiale, 
citizen  and  goldsmith  of  London,  and  his  heirs  of  the 
manor  of  Gregories  and  that  Simon  Wythiale  his  son, 
entering  the  property  after  his  father's  death,  had  been 
disseised  by  John  Prince.  Prince,  however,  won  the 
case,  the  jury  finding  that  Wythiale  had  not  been  so  dis- 
seised." About  20  years  later  John  son  of  the  above 
John  Prince  was  defendant  in  a  suit  brought  by  William 
Floure,  which  was  apparently  an  echo  of  the  above.  In 
1472  Floure  granted  to  Richard,  Duke  of  Gloucester, 
and  two  others  the  manor  of  Gregories,  which  he 
claimed  to  have  held  jointly  with  John  Kilpek,  also 
a  goldsmith  of  London,  by  feoffment  of  Thomas 
Wythiale,  another  goldsmith.^o  Floure  entered  the 
lands  and  when  Prince  re-entered  upon  them  brought 
an  action  against  him  and  John  Jenyn,  the  farmer  of 
the  manor.  The  evidence  suggests  that  an  attorney  had 
delivered  seisin  of  the  manor  to  Thomas  Averry  by 
virtue  of  an  alleged  feoffment  from  Floure  to  Richard, 
Duke  of  Gloucester,  Averry,  Thomas  Wythiale,  and 
another.  Averry  was  a  violent  man  and  three  times 
attacked  Prince,  once  actually  within  Theydon  Garnon 
church.  Prince  finally  appealed  to  the  mother  of  the 
Duke  of  Gloucester  (who  was  also  the  mother  of  the 
king)  and  she  wrote  to  the  duke,  whose  men  had 
participated  in  these  assaults.  It  was  then  agreed  that 
the  matter  should  be  submitted  to  arbitration.  The 
details  of  the  settlement  have  not  been  discovered,  but 
they  were  clearly  in  Prince's  favour.^'  It  was  during 
this  dispute  that  the  documents  proving  the  separate 
identities  of  the  manors  of  Theydon  Bois  and  Theydon 
Bois  alias  Gregories  and  setting  out  the  early  descent 
of  Gregories  were  drawn  up. 

On  the  division  of  Elizabeth  Hampden's  estate 
Gregories  passed  to  Christopher  Carleton  in  right  of 
his  wife  Jane.  He  died  in  1 549  or  1550  and  Jane  later 
married  Francis  Michell."  In  1591  it  was  presented 
at  the  manor  court  of  Theydon  Bois  that  Jane  Michell 
had  died  holding  200  acres  of  the  manor  by  knight 
service.  This  was  almost  certainly  Gregories.  Her 
heir  was  found  to  be  John  Carleton,  a  son  by  her  first 
husband.  The  jury  added  that  part  of  the  land,  the 
exact  quantity  being  unknown,  had  been  conveyed  to 
the  use  of  Francis  MicheU.^'  In  1638  Gregories  was 
held  by  George  Carleton  and  was  settled  upon  him 
and  his  wife  Olive  for  their  lives  with  remainder  to  Sir 
Ralph  Freeman,  who  paid  ^^1,000  to  Alexander 
Carleton.^  In  May  1643  Freeman  convenanted  to 
stand  seised  of  the  manor  of  Gregories  for  life,  with 
remainder  to  his  youngest  son  George.  George 
Carleton  may  have  been  dead  by  this  time;  he  was 
certainly  dead  by  April  1644,  when  his  will  was 
proved.^5  In  1649  the  settlement  of  1643  was  revoked 
and  the  property,  subject  apparently  to  the  life  interest 


of  Olive,  now  the  wife  of  John  Rivers,  was  sold  to 
Fulk  Wormlayton  of  Wapping  (Mdx.)  distiller,  and 
William  Hiccocks  of  Southwark,  brewer,  for  jri,690. 
It  was  agreed  between  Wormlayton  and  Hiccocks  that 
each  should  enjoy  half  the  property  with  no  right  of 
survivorship  and  that  within  30  days  after  the  death  of 
Olive  Rivers  the  property  should  be  divided  between 
them  according  to  the  disposition  of  four  arbitrators. 
It  was  further  covenanted  that  neither  party  should 
attempt  to  buy  out  Olive's  life  interest.^*  In  1650  John 
and  Olive  Rivers  leased  to  Wormlayton  for  Olive's  life 
and  for  ^^240  certain  rooms,  including  the  hall,  the 
great  parlour  with  the  larders  or  butteries  adjoining, 
two  cellars,  and  three  chambers,  part  of  the  house  called 
Gregories,  with  other  buildings  and  about  200  acres 
at  an  annual  rent  of  j^6o.  In  1652,  presumably  on  the 
death  of  Olive  Rivers,  the  property  was  divided, 
Wormlayton  taking  the  lands  included  in  his  lease  and 
Hiccocks  the  remainder,  together  with  the  manorial 
rights. 

Fulk  Wormlayton  was  dead  by  1676  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  John  (d.  ante  Sept.  1680)"  and  grand- 
son of  the  same  name  who  in  1727  sold  the  property  to 
Jacob  Houblon  of  Bobbingworth  for  ^^3,000.  During 
the  lives  of  the  two  John  Wormlaytons  mortgages 
were  often  raised  on  the  property.  In  1735  ^^ 
property  was  settled  upon  the  marriage  of  Jacob 
Houblon  with  Mary  Cotton,  becoming  subsequently 
absorbed  in  the  Coopersale  estate  in  Theydon  Garnon 

(q.V.).^8 

The  other  half  of  Gregories,  including  the  manorial 
rights,  descended  from  William  Hiccocks  (d.  1674) 
to  his  grandson  of  the  same  name.'"  In  1 709  it  was 
conveyed  by  a  John  Hiccocks  to  John  Hyett,  who  died 
in  17 19  leaving  it  to  his  grandson  John,  son  of  his 
deceased  son  Thomas.^o  In  his  will  John  Hyett  the 
elder  provided  that  the  manor  should  be  charged  with 
an  annuity  for  apprenticing  poor  boys.^'  The  manor 
was  still  held  by  the  Hyetts  in  1759,  when  Elizabeth 
Hyett  was  party  to  a  conveyance,  but  by  1777  it  was 
apparently  owned  by  the  Crewe  family.s^  In  1783  it 
was  sold  by  John  Crewe  of  Bolesworth  Castle  (Chesh.) 
to  John  Tysoe  Read  of  London,  banker,  whose  assigns 
sold  it  in  1785  to  Daniel  Giles  of  London. '3  Giles 
died  in  1800  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Daniel 
Giles  of  Youngsbury  (Herts.).3<  In  1849  the  manor 
was  owned  by  Lady  Louisa  Giles  Puller  of  Youngs- 
bury.35  It  had  presumably  descended  with  the  manor 
of  North  Weald  (q.v.).  In  1850  Lady  PuDer's  estate 
consisted  of  i  59  acres  in  Theydon  Bois,  then  occupied 
by  Thomas  Mills.s* 

About  600  yds.  east  of  the  end  of  Gregories  Lane 
is  a  rectangular  moat  which  probably  represents  the 
site  of  the  medieval  manor  house  of  Gregories.  A 
field  beyond  the  end  of  the  lane  was  known  in  1 848  as 
'Gregory's  Garden'.''  The  present  farm  of  Great 
Gregories  was  in  existence  in  1 848  but  the  farm-house 
appears  to  have  been  rebuilt  early  in  the  20th  century. 


'•  feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  78.      ' 

>•  E..4.T.K.t.v,7. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1468-76,  259. 

"  E.^.T.K.t.v,  7-17. 

"  Carleton 's  will  was  dated  June  1549 
and  proved  Jan.  1550:  P.C.C.  i  Coodc. 
For  the  litigation  in  connexion  with  the 
ettates  after  Elizabeth  Hampden's  death 
see  Theydon  Garnon. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  Mi. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T91.  This  large 
bundle   of  deeds    relating    to    Gregories 


covers  the  period  1638-1735.  These 
deeds,  and  the  single  deed  D/DB  T86, 
have  been  abstracted  in  E.R.O.,  D/DWv 
T51.  Unless  otherwise  stated  the  follow- 
ing descent  is  derived  from  D/DB  T91. 

"  Archd.  Essex  139  Whitehead. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T86. 

"  Arch.  Essex  Act  Bk.  51. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DWVT51. 

"  P.C.C.  107  Bunce. 

30  CP25{2)/9Z3  East.  8  Anne;  P.C.C. 
184  Browning. 


3*  See  Charities,  below. 

32  CP43/704;  CP25(2)/i3o8  Mich.  18 
Geo.  in.  Evidently  they  acquired  it  by 
marriage :  Complete  Peerage,  v,  247— 
8. 

33  E.  Ogborne,  Hisl.  Essex,  260. 

3<  F.C.H.  Herts,  iii,  358;  Ogborne,  Hht. 
Essex,  260. 
35  E.R.O.,  D/DTc  T7. 
3'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  349. 
3'  Ibid. 


254 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  BOIS 


A  farm  in  Gregories  Lane  was  known  in  the  19th 
century  as  Little  Gregories.'* 

There  was  a  church  at  Theydon  Bois  in  the  12th 
century  and  perhaps  earlier.'"  The 
CHURCH  advowson  was  originally  held  by  the  lord 
of  the  capital  manor.  William  de  Bosco 
granted  the  church  to  the  priory  of  St.  Bartholomew, 
Smithfield.  This  was  confirmed  by  Henry  II  in  11 87*" 
and  in  1 248  Hugh  de  Bosco  quitclaimed  the  advowson 
to  the  prior.'"  The  priory  retained  the  advowson  until 
its  dissolution  in  1539.  It  presented  rectors  until  1335 
when  the  rectory  was  appropriated  to  the  priory.** 
No  vicarage  was  instituted  and  the  church  was  thence- 
forth a  curacy  or  donative.  In  1 540  the  rectory  and 
advowson  were  granted  by  the  Crown  for  life  to  Robert 
Fuller,  who  had  been  the  last  Abbot  of  Waltham,  and 
who  was  also  granted  the  manor  of  Theydon  Bois.*' 
He  died  in  the  same  year**  and  the  rectory  and  advow- 
son reverted  to  the  Crown,  which  granted  them  in 
1 544  to  Edward  Elrington,  the  last  lessee  of  the  rectory 
under  the  priory .*s  He  died  in  1559.**  His  son  and 
heir  Edward  Elrington  died  in  1578  and  was  succeeded 
by  a  son  of  the  same  name.*'  It  was  the  third  Edward 
Elrington  who  in  16 16  acquired  the  manor  of  Theydon 
Bois,  and  the  manor,  rectory,  and  advowson  subse- 
quently descended  together. 

The  rectory  of  Theydon  Bois  was  valued  in  about 
I2  54at^4  i3i.4d'.,*8at£5  in  I257,*9andat^4  13^.4^'. 
again  in  1291.5°  Before  1306  it  was  customary  for  the 
priory  to  receive  2  marks  a  year  from  the  glebe  lands, 
but  a  rental  of  that  year  stated  that  those  lands  had  long 
been  uncultivated  and  it  was  therefore  agreed  between 
the  priory  and  the  then  rector  that  only  i  mark  should 
be  paid  until  the  land  had  been  brought  into  cultiva- 
tion. This  rent  was  received  by  the  cellarer  of  the 
priory.  In  the  same  document  the  church  was  said  to 
be  taxed  at  ^5  6s.  8</.  and  to  be  worth  Cio.^^  In  1 5 26 
the  priory  leased  the  rectory  to  Juliana  Fenrother  at  an 
annual  rent  of  £,^,  and  in  the  following  year  she  was 
granted  leave  to  cut  down  and  retain  all  wood  on  the 
property,  except  great  trees,  and  provided  that  she  did 
not  damage  the  young  springs,  for  the  payment  of  ^2. 
As  security  against  damage  she  had  to  deposit  ^^4.'* 
She  died  in  1536,  leaving  the  lease  of  the  rectory  to 
Edward  Elderton  alias  Elrington,  grandson  of  her  late 
husband."  In  1538  it  was  leased  to  Elrington  by  the 
priory,  still  at  an  annual  rent  of  ;^4.5* 

The  tithes  of  Theydon  Bois  were  commuted  in  1850 
for  ^^463  19/.,  of  which  ;^I93  i^s.  was  payable  to  the 
owTiers  of  Theydon  Bois  manor  (the  Hall  Dares), 
^103  15/.  to  Henry  Elwes,  owner  of  Theydon  Hall, 
and  ;^i66  9/.  to  the  curate. ''  The  tithes  payable  to 
Elwes  were  those  arising  from  his  own  estate.  At  the 
time  of  the  commutation  the  curate  had  glebe  amount- 
ing to  8  acres. 

The  curate's  income  was  very  small.  In  1604  it  was 
estimated  at  only  £13  6s.  SJ.^^  In  1650  the  cure  was 

3'  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Iviii. 

3^  See  below. 

♦"  E.  A.  Webb,  Red.  of  St.  Bartkohmm)': 
Priory,  i,  481. 

*'  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  i,  172. 

♦'  E.R.  liv,  35;  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii, 
;SijCa!.Pal.  1334-8,  173. 

"  L.  &  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xvi,  pp.  715-16. 

"  Webb,  Recs.  of  St.  Bartholomezu's 
Priory,  i,  259. 

*5  L.  &  P.  Hen.  nil,  xix  (l),  p.  278. 

♦«  C142/118/52. 

*'  C142/1  80/47. 

*'  Lunt,  P^al.  of  Noriuich,  336. 


*»  Cal.  Papal  Letters,  \,  347. 

50  Tax.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  21  A. 

5*  Webb,  Recs.  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Priory,  \,  382,  440. 

s^  Ibid,  i,  333.  Her  husband  Robert 
Fenrother  had  died  in  1524  leaving  her 
lands  in  Theydon  Bois:  P.C.C.  19 
Bodfeldc.  'J  P.C.C.  37  Hogen. 

54  Webb,  Recs.  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Priory,[,  333,  384. 

55  E.R.O.,  D/CT  349.  For  these  owners 
see  above,  Manors. 

51s  H.  Smith,  Eccl.  Hist.  Essex,  17. 

57  y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  64;  H.  Smith,  Ecc. 


said  to  be  destitute,  there  being  not  more  than  £20  a 
year  assigned  for  a  minister,  so  that  'no  godly  able 
minister  will  accept  of  it'.''  The  tithe  commutation 
figures  show,  however,  that  by  1 848  there  had  been  an 
endowment  of  the  curacy  with  some  tithes  and  a  small 
amount  of  glebe. 58  The  living  was  also  augmented 
out  of  Queen  Anne's  Bounty  and  in  1870  the  incum- 
bent, the  Revd.  George  Hambleton,  set  out  to  raise 
j{^300  by  private  subscription  to  increase  the  stipend 
and  so  qualify  for  further  assistance.59  Under  the 
Incumbents  Act  (1868)  the  curacy  became  a  titular 
vicarage.*" 

It  seems  from  Chapman  and  Andre's  map  of  1777 
that  the  present  Parsonage  Farm  was  then  the  residence 
of  the  curate.*'  In  estate  maps  of  1799  and  about 
1800,  however,  it  was  called  Theydon  Manor  Farm 
and  was  occupied  by  a  tenant  of  John  H.  Dare.**  It 
is  a  timber-framed  house  probably  dating  from  the 
15  th  century.  In  its  original  form  it  was  a  well- 
recognized  type  of  late  medieval  'hall'  house  of  which 
Bridge  Farm,  Theydon  Garnon  (q.v.),  is  another 
example.  In  1920  its  medieval  origin  was  confirmed 
by  the  architect  in  charge  of  restoration  work,  who 
reported  the  existence  of  an  open  hearth  on  the  floor 
of  the  hall.*'  This  hall,  in  the  centre  of  the  main  block, 
was  originally  open  to  the  roof  while  the  side  wings 
were  of  two  stories.  All  three  sections  were  combined 
under  a  single  roof,  gabled  at  the  ends.  At  the  front  of 
the  house  the  side  wings  oversailed  at  first-floor  level 
but  the  wall  of  the  hall  was  vertical.  Large  curved 
braces,  one  of  which  can  still  be  seen,  helped  to  support 
the  deeply  overhanging  eaves  of  the  central  section  and 
originally  stood  clear  of  the  wall.  In  the  1 6th  or  early 
17th  century  the  hall  was  divided  into  two  stories  and 
the  upper  part  of  the  front  wall  was  built  out  to  incor- 
porate the  curved  braces.  A  slight  break  in  the  moulded 
bressummers  which  cover  the  joist  ends  makes  it  clear  that 
the  central  overhanging  section  is  a  later  insertion.  The 
large  brick  chimney  would  be  contemporary  with  the 
division  of  the  hall,  but  the  two  bay  windows  at  the 
front  of  the  house  are  modern.  One  of  the  projecting 
wings  at  the  back  was  open  to  the  roof  within  living 
memory  and  may  have  formed  part  of  the  medieval 
house.  There  have  been  further  additions  to  the  house 
in  recent  times  and  the  timber-framing  has  been  ex- 
posed both  inside  and  out.  Internally  there  is  a  door- 
way with  moulded  jambs  and  a  four-centred  head  and  a 
window  with  square  mullions  set  diagonally.  Parts  of 
the  entrance  door  also  appear  to  be  ancient. 

In  1832  the  Dares  as  lord  and  lady  of  Theydon 
Bois  manor  and  patrons  successfully  applied  to  the 
Treasury  for  5  acres  of  the  manorial  waste  in  the  forest 
as  the  site  of  a  house,  with  glebe,  for  the  incumbent  of 
Theydon  Bois.**  Failure  to  build  within  the  stipulated 
period  of  one  year  vacated  the  grant,  but  a  fresh  grant 
was  made  in  1838  to  trustees  on  the  application  of 
Elizabeth  Dare,  now  a  widow.*'  The  house  was  duly 

Hist.  Essex,  273. 

58  The  endowment  was  much  better 
than  that  of  the  curacy  of  Norton  Mande- 
viUe  (q.v.)  at  the  same  period. 

59  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  Fi. 
*°  31  &  32  Vict.  c.  117. 
6'  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 

1777,  sheet  xvi. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  Pi,  2. 

"  V..V..O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  821. 

***  The  application  was  made  under  the 
Crown  Lands  Act,  10  Geo.  IV,  c.  50 
(.829). 

«5  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  T2. 


255 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


built  in  1 839  at  the  south  end  of  Piercing  Hill  opposite 
the  entrance  to  the  churchyard.  It  is  a  square  house  of 
gault  brick  with  the  date  inscribed  on  a  stone  near  the 
front  door. 

John  Strype  (1643-1737),  ecclesiastical  historian 
and  biographer,  was  curate  of  Theydon  Bois  in 
1669-70.** 

In  1349  St.  Bartholomew's  Priory  acquired  from 
Edmund  de  Grymesby,  king's  clerk,  30  acres  of  land 
and  3  acres  of  wood  in  Theydon  Bois,  with  certain 
lands  in  Middlesex,  to  find  a  chaplain  to  celebrate  in 
the  conventual  church  every  year  on  Edmund's  anni- 
versary for  his  soul,  and  to  feed  five  poor  persons  on  the 
same  day  for  ever.*^  The  lands  in  Theydon  were  held 
of  Waltham  Abbey  and  were  worth  only  2 Jd'.  an  acre 
because  they  were  sterile  and  rocky.  The  woodland 
was  worth  only  3</.  an  acre  because  it  was  devastated.** 
In  1359  ^^^  priory  further  acquired  from  Master 
Richard  de  Shamelesford  a  messuage,  a  toft,  and  91 
acres  of  land,  a  lane  called  Pakeswey,  and  2s.  6J.  rent 
in  Theydon  Bois  and  Theydon  Garnon,  in  satisfaction 
of  £6  out  of  ;£20  a  year  of  land  and  rent  which  it  had 
royal  licence  to  acquire.*'  These  lands,  lying  partly 
within  the  forest,  were  worth  only  27/.  a  year.'" 

The  old  parish  church  of  ST.  MART,  which  may 
earlier  have  been  dedicated  to  ST.  BOTOLPHp^ 
stood  next  to  Theydon  Hall,  about  J  mile  north  of 
Abridge  Bridge.  An  engraving  of  18 14  shows  a  view 
of  the  church  from  the  south. '^  It  was  a  small  build- 
ing with  nave,  chancel,  south  porch,  and  wooden  bell- 
turret  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave.  In  the  chancel  was 
a  single-light  window  and  door.  In  the  nave  were  two 
single-light  windows  and  two  blocked  openings.  The 
building  may  well  have  been  of  the  12th  century, 
though  the  drawing  is  too  crude  to  prove  it.'^  In 
about  1770  there  was  said  to  be  neither  monument 
nor  inscription  in  the  church,'*  and  in  1819  'neither 
monument  nor  inscription  of  note','5  but  two  monu- 
ments from  the  old  church  are  in  fact  preserved  in  the 
present  building. 

In  1843  the  parish  vestry  resolved  to  build  a  new 
church  in  a  more  central  situation,  and  a  faculty  was 
accordingly  obtained.  The  old  church  was  pulled 
down,  the  materials  being  sold  for  ^^78  and  the  barrel 
organ  for  ,{^20.'*  The  site  is  now  marked  only  by  a 
few  tombstones  overgrown  with  grass  and  young  trees. 

The  new  church  was  erected  at  Theydon  Green  at 
a  total  cost  of  ^^2,231.  Among  the  subscribers  was 
Queen  Adelaide,  who  gave  {jio.""  The  curate,  George 
Hambleton,  published  a  poem  of  418  lines  'to  seek 
agreeably  to  delineate  to  those  who  have  kindly  helped 
forward  the  cause  of  Theydon  Bois  new  church,  the 
extreme  desirableness  of  this  erection'.  A  further  £^\  20 
then  (1843)  remained  to  be  raised.  To  the  poem  was 
prefixed  a  view  and  plan  of  the  new  building,  by 
Abbott  and  Habersham,  architects,  St.  Neots.  The 
church  consisted  of  chancel,  nave  and  west  tower. 


The  accommodation  was  for  360  and  the  value  of  the 
contract  ^1,458.'*  The  church  was  consecrated  in 
1844,  but  owing  to  faulty  construction  it  had  to  be 
taken  down  in  1850  and  the  present  church  was  then 
built  in  its  place. 

The  present  church  of  St.  Mary,  the  third  to  bear 
this  dedication  and  the  second  on  the  present  site,  was 
designed  by  Sydney  Smirke  and  consecrated  in  1 8  5 1 ." 
The  cost  was  about  ^^2,000;  the  curate  paid  half  this 
amount  and  the  other  half  was  provided  by  the  archi- 
tects of  the  previous  church.*"  The  church  consists  of 
a  nave,  chancel,  north  vestry,  and  large  western  tower 
with  spire.  The  belfry  stage  of  the  tower  and  the  tall 
spire  are  octagonal.  The  building  is  of  red  brick  with 
stone  dressings.  Internal  repairs  were  carried  out  in 
1887,  1901,  and  1906.  The  spire  was  covered  with 
copper  in  1920.*' 

There  are  three  bells,  two  of  which  came  from  the 
medieval  church.  The  first  was  recast  in  1843  by 
Thomas  Mears.  The  second  was  cast  about  1460  by 
John  Danyell  and  is  inscribed  Sancta  Margareta  Ora 
Pro  Nobis.  The  third,  dated  1567,  was  probably  by 
Robert  Dodds.  There  were  three  bells  in  the  church 
in  1552.  The  bell  frame  is  dated  1727.*^  Owing  to 
its  condition  the  bells  have  not  been  rung  for  about 
100  years,  but  are  only  chimed. *3 

No  plate  survives  from  the  earliest  church.  The 
oldest  existing  piece  is  a  paten  of  1 804,  given  in  1 844 
by  Sir  Edward  Bowyer-Smijth.'* 

The  pulpit,  which  is  of  walnut,  was  given  in  1900 
as  a  memorial  to  the  Revd.  C.  E.  Campbell,  formerly 
vicar.  It  was  designed  by  Paul  Waterhouse.*'  New 
oak  benches  for  the  choir  and  other  furnishings  have 
been  installed  within  the  past  five  years. 

The  royal  coat-of-arms  of  James  I  hangs  over  the 
west  door.**  There  are  six  other  hatchments,  four  of 
the  Wild  family  of  Theydon  Hall  and  two  of  the  Dares. 
There  is  also  a  monument  to  the  Dare  family,  dated 
1 8 10,  and  below  the  chancel  is  their  vault,  containing 
thirteen  coffins,  at  least  seven  of  which  must  have  been 
brought  from  the  medieval  church.*'  On  the  south  side 
of  the  nave  is  a  wall  monument  to  Samuel  Wild  (1817) 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth  (1844).  Below  this  a  marble 
tablet  and  a  painted  inscription  set  out  Elizabeth  Wild's 
charitable  bequests.  Among  the  later  monuments  is 
one  to  George  Hambleton  (1874),  vicar  for  34  years. 
The  stained  glass  in  the  east  window  was  also  given  in 
his  memory.  Another  stained  window  is  a  recent 
memorial  to  the  Buxton  family,  patrons  of  the  vicarage, 
and  there  is  also  one  to  Frances  Mary  Buss,  who  is 
buried  in  the  churchyard. 

For  several  years  about  1885  occasional  services  and 
Sunday  schools  were  held  in  a  mission  hut  at  Ivy 
Chimneys.  In  1895  a  second-hand  'iron  room'  was 
bought  for  ^84  and  erected  on  a  site  in  Theydon  Road 
at  the  branch  road  to  Great  Gregories  and  opposite 
Delaford  Cottage.    The  total  cost  with  fittings  was 


"  D.N.B. 

«'  Cal.Pat.  1348-50,270. 

"  C143/294/6. 

M  Cal.   Pat.    1358-61,    185;    cf.    ibid. 

1334-8,  542-  \ 

'»  Webb,  Rtcs.  of  St.  Bartholomeiv'i 
Priory,;,  jji. 

■"  P.N.  Euex  (E.P.N.S.),  82-83. 

"  E.  Ogborne,  Hist.  Etsex,  257. 

"  If  the  earlier  dedication  to  St.  Botolph 
i»  accepted  there  may  have  been  a  Saxon 
church  on  the  same  site. 

'♦  Hitt.  Esux  ty  Gent,  iii,  411. 


'5  Excursions  in  Essex,  n,  48. 

'*  St.  Mary's,  Theydon  Bois  (pamphlet  on 
sale  in  church);  Theydon  Bois  Official 
Guide  (2nd  edn.),  10. 

77  St.  Mary's,  Theydon  Bois. 

"  C.  Hambleton,  Picture  of  Theydon 
5ok(i843). 

"  St.  Mary's,  Theydon  Bois;  Pevsner, 
Buildings  of  England,  Essex,  351.  Smirke 
had  designed  St.  John's  Church,  Loughton 
(q.v.),  a  few  years  earlier. 

«»  Ibid. 


256 


*'  Kelly's  Dir. Essex  {Kj^y).  Forarecent 
photograph  of  the  church  see  plate  facing 
p.  270. 

*'  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  410— II. 

*3  St.  Mary's,  Theydon  Bait. 

8*  Ibid.;  Ch.  Plate  Essex,  104. 

85  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1937). 

^  St.  Mary's,  Theydon  Bois,  mentions 
other  James  I  royal  arms,  which  are  rare, 
at  Blisland  in  Cornwall,  Winsford  in 
Somerset,  and  Marham  in  Norfolk. 

8'  Inf.  from  Mr.  A.  E.  B.  Williams. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  BOIS 


about  ^165.  A  bell  and  turret  and  two  rooms  at  the 
rear  were  added  later.  ^^  In  191 3  the  iron  room  was 
moved  to  a  new  site  on  the  south  side  of  Ivy  Chimneys 
Road  about  100  yds.  east  of  the  junction  with  Theydon 
Road.  At  present  (1954)  there  is  a  flourishing  Sunday 
school  here,  and  evensong  is  held  every  Sunday.  The 
building  is  not  consecrated.*' 

Roman  Catholic  services  have  been  held  at  Theydon 

Bois  since  1927.    They 

ROMAN  CATHOLICISM    are  at  present  conducted 

in  the  village  hall  by  the 
priest  from  Epping.'" 

In  1834  the  house  of  James  CaviU  at  Theydon  Bois 
was  hcensed  for  the  worship 
PROTESTANT  of  Protestant  dissenters.'" 

NONCONFORMITY  A  Baptist  church  was 
founded  here  about  1885.92 
In  1900  it  had  20  members  and  60  Sunday  school 
children. '3  The  membership  rose  steadily  to  85  in 
195 1,  when  there  were  135  children  in  the  Sunday 
school;  the  church  then  had  a  resident  minister.'*  The 
present  building,  of  brown  brick  with  round-headed 
windows,  stands  on  the  south-west  side  of  Theydon 
Green.  It  is  dated  1894'^  and  seems  to  have  been 
altered  and  restored  later. 

No  local  records  are  known  to  survive  of  the  parish 
government  and  poor  relief  in 
POOR  RELIEF  Theydon  Bois  before  1832.'* 
Returns  made  to  parliamentary 
inquiries  provide  details  of  the  cost  of  poor  relief  for 
some  years  in  the  late  i8th  and  early  19th  centuries. 
In  1776  the  parish  spent  £100  on  relief"  In  the  three 
years  1783—5  the  average  sum  was  ^£166.''  In  1801 
it  had  risen  to  ;^534."  Between  that  date  and  1820 
it  fluctuated  considerably,  the  highest  figure  being 
^592  (in  1820)  and  the  lowest  £28^  (1803).'  For 
the  years  1803—9  it  never  exceeded  ^^350.  After  1809 
it  was  never  under  ;^4oo  except  in  1 8 1 5  when  it  was 
£360.  A  parish  poor  house  existed  in  about  1800.2  j^ 
1836  Theydon  Bois  became  part  of  the  Epping  Poor. 
Law  Union. 

Despite  a  rapidly  increasing  population  there  was 
little  educational  provision  in  Theydon 
SCHOOLS  Bois  in  the  early  19th  century,  possibly 
because  of  the  absence  of  a  resident 
clergyman  or  landlord  and  the  poverty  of  the  inhabi- 
tants.3  In  1807  and  181 8  there  was  no  school  in  the 
parish.*  In  1822  a  small  school  was  set  up  in  union 
with  the  National  Society,  but  in  1828  it  had  only  8 
pupils  and  in  1833  only  12,  all  of  whom  paid  fees.s 
This  was  probably  the  school  which  in  1839  had  14 
pupils  and  was  administered  in  connexion  with  a 
Sunday  school.  Conditions  were  by  then  more  favour- 
able to  the  establishment  of  a  proper  school.   Both  the 


Sunday  school  and  a  dame  school  in  the  village  were 
well  attended,  an  adult  school  existed  and  it  was 
thought  that  there  would  be  local  support  for  a  new 
school.*  In  1840  the  curate  organized  the  building 
of  a  schoolroom  for  60  children  on  a  freehold  site 
given  by  the  patron  of  the  curacy,  Mrs.  Dare.  The 
National  Society  gave  j^3o  towards  the  building,  the 
government  £^^2,  and  Mrs.  Dare  apparently  ;^loo. 
The  total  cost  was  ^^3°°  *nd  the  deficit  was  met  by 
other  local  subscribers.  The  school  was  affiliated  to 
the  National  Society.  The  trustees  were  to  be  the 
curate  and  churchwardens.  They  and  12  parish 
representatives  were  to  act  as  managers.  It  was  pro- 
posed that  the  school  should  be  financed  partly  by 
annual  subscriptions  and  partly  by  fees  of  2/  a  week 
for  each  child.' 

The  school  seems  to  have  made  progress  from  the 
start.  In  1846-7  it  had  40  children  under  a  mistress 
and  2  monitors  who  between  them  were  paid  £3$  a 
year. 8  In  185 1-2  an  inspector  found  the  schoolroom 
attractive  and  the  children  neatly  dressed.  The  mistress, 
he  reported,  was  untrained,  but  seemed  'well  adapted 
by  character  for  such  a  school,  where  no  great  amount 
of  intellect  is  required  and  where  the  attainments  are 
necessarily  confined'.  'Arithmetic',  he  added,  'moderate. 
Geography  etc.,  mere  names.''  Attendance  probably 
increased  at  this  time  and  in  i860  the  building  was 
enlarged  at  considerable  cost,  the  government  granting 
j^ioo  and  local  subscribers  making  large  donations.'" 
In  1 87 1  there  was  estimated  to  be  accommodation  for 
112  children,  not  quite  sufficient  to  ensure  universal 
elementary  education  in  the  parish."  The  population 
continued  to  grow  and  in  1894  the  school  was  enlarged 
to  provide  places  for  Z2J.'^  In  1898  the  average  atten- 
dance was  given  as  87. '^  In  1900  it  was  109,  and  in 
1903  the  school  was  again  enlarged  to  provide  188 
places.'*  Local  subscribers  contributed  generously  to 
the  school:  in  1900  66  were  giving  2S.  bd.  a  year  or 
more. '5  The  government  grant  was  ,^45  in  1893  and 
^i  17  in  1902.'* 

By  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the  school  passed 
under  the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee, Epping  District,  as  a  non-provided  school.  In 
1906  the  average  attendance  was  150."  In  19 12  the 
school  was  transferred  to  the  Essex  Education  Com- 
mittee and  became  a  provided  council  school.  In  1929 
the  average  attendance  was  144.  In  1932  the  school 
was  reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants.  In 
1948,  owing  to  increased  attendance,  temporary 
accommodation  was  hired  at  the  local  telephone 
exchange.'*  In  May  1952  there  were  6  teachers  and 
206  children."  The  original  school  is  a  one-story 
building  of  brown  brick  with  a  slate  roof,  bearing  the 
inscription  'Theydon   Bois   School    1840'.     It  stands 


««  A.  A.  West,  MS.  Hist  Theydon  Bois 
(per  Mr.  A.  E.  B.  Williams). 

«»  Inf.  from  Mr.  A.  E.  B.  Williams. 

«»  Brent-wood  (R.C.)  Dioc.  Year  Bk. 
1953.  <"  E.R.O.,  Q/RRw  I. 

»2  Kelly'!  Dir.  Essex  (1886);  Char.  Com. 
files. 

"  Baptist  Handhk.  1900. 

'*  Ibid.  1901  f.,  194.0,  1951. 

»5  Cf.  E.R.  iii,  157. 

«'  Vestry  Min.  Bks.  survive  for  1832- 
99:  inf.  from  Mr.  A.  E.  B.  Williams, 
churchwarden.  These  are  not  noted  in 
Essex  Par.  Recs. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  i/i.  «8  Ibid. 

''  Figures  for  1801  — 16  are  from  E.R.O., 
C/CR  1/9. 


■  Figs,  for  1817-20  are  from  E.R.O., 
Q/CR  1/12.         2  E.R.O.,  D/DBx  P2. 

J  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19;  inf.  from 
Nat.  Soc. 

4  E.R.O.,  D/AEM  2/4;  Reins.  Educ. 
Poor.,  H.C.  224,  p.  273  (1819),  ix  (l). 

5  Nat.  Soc.  Rep.  1828,  p.  83;  Educ. 
Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  291  (i835),xli. 

*  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19;  inf.  from 
Nat.  Soc. 

7  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 
1846—7,  pp.  18-19;  Min.  of  Educ.  File 
13/365;  Mins.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council, 
1857  [2380],  p.  96,  H.C.  (1857-8),  xlv; 
inf.  from  Nat.  Soc. 

8  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  18-19. 


»  Mins.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1 85  I 
[1480],  p.  286,  H.C.  (1852),  xli. 

'»  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1863 
[3349].  P- +39.  H.C.  (1864),  xlv. 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/365. 

'2  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.    1902  [Cd. 
1490],  p.  74,  H.C.  (1903),  H. 

'3  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex- {\%cj%). 

'■•  Min.   of  Educ.   File    13/365;   Educ. 
Cttee.  Handbk.  1904,  p.  151. 

's  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/365. 

'<■  Retns.  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529] 
H.C.  (1894),  Ixv;  Schs.  under 
Educ.  1902. 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1906). 

'*  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/365. 

'»  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 


p.  716, 
Bd.   of 


257 


l1 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


beside  the  parish  church.    There  are  later  additions, 
including  a  large  classroom  dated  1903. 

An  unknown  donor  before  1786  gave  a  rent-charge 
for  the  benefit  of  eight  old  poor  people 
CH^RITIES^"  of  the  parish  not  receiving  poor  relief. 
In  1834  theland  charged  wasTheydon 
Hall  and  the  money  was  distributed  at  Christmas  in 
shares  of  2S.  i>d.  each  to  poor  people,  most  of  whom 
were  in  fact  receiving  parish  relief. 

The  Poor's  Land  comprised  two  small  pieces  of 
pasture  in  Theydon  Mead.  The  rent  of  30/.  a  year 
was  said  in  1835  to  have  been  paid  until  1833  into  the 
poor  rate,  and  after  that  into  a  fund  made  up  of 
voluntary  contributions,  which  was  used  to  buy  bread 
and  clothes  for  the  poor.  The  land  was  sold  in  1921 
for  ^^40  which  was  invested  in  stock. 

The  almshouses  were  established  under  a  deed  of 
1753  by  which  Benjamin  Smart,  then  lord  of  the 
manor,  gave  a  small  piece  of  land  in  trust  for  the  build- 
ing of  cottages  for  poor  old  people  receiving  parish 
rehef.'  Some  cottages  seem  to  have  been  built  soon 
after.  There  was  no  mention  of  the  almshouses  in  the . 
1835  Report.  In  1905  they  were  four  in  number,  in 
one  block,  each  consisting  of  two  rooms;  they  had  been 
renovated  two  years  earlier  by  the  lord  of  the  manor. 
Their  use  was  limited  by  lack  of  endowment  and 
though  stipends  were  paid  to  the  inmates  from  1907 
out  of  Elizabeth  Wild's  Charity  (see  below),  by  195 1 
only  two  of  the  cottages  were  occupied  and  all  were  in 
very  bad  repair.  In  1953  part  of  the  site  was  sold  for 
^^580  and  the  almshouses  were  repaired  and  converted 
into  two  cottages.  By  a  scheme  of  that  date  all  the  exist- 
ing parish  charities  are  managed  together  under  the 
name  of  the  United  Charities  and  all  their  incomes, 
which  had  been  unspent  for  several  years,  are  applicable 
to  the  upkeep  of  the  almshouses,  after  the  payments  for 
Elizabeth  Wild's  tomb  and  memorial  tablet.  The 
almshouses  are  on  the  north  side  of  Coppice  Row  op- 
posite Birch  Hall.  They  consist  of  a  single-story  range. 


rough-cast  with  a  tiled  roof.  The  mullioned  windows 
have  four-centred  heads  to  the  lights.  There  are  three 
gabled  porches  to  the  front,  the  large  central  porch 
containing  two  doorways. 

Elizabeth  Wild,  by  will  proved  1844,  left  ;^i,ooo 
to  be  invested  for  the  maintenance  of  her  vault  and  a 
tablet  reciting  the  terms  of  her  bequest,  and  subject 
thereto  for  the  payment  of  ;^lo  each  Christmas  to  poor 
parishioners  chosen  by  the  trustees.  The  surplus  was 
to  be  given  to  four  poor  widows  resident  in  the  parish 
for  20  years  before,  or  if  there  were  none,  to  the  poor 
in  general.  By  a  Scheme  of  1907  the  income  after  the 
expenses  of  the  vault  and  tablet  was  to  be  used  in  the 
payment  of  stipends  to  the  almspeople.  In  1950  the 
payment  of  stipends  was  stopped;  part  of  the  income  of 
j^24  14-f.  \d.  was  spent  on  repairs  to  the  almshouses. 

Louisa  Elizabeth  Young,  by  will  proved  i8gi,  left 
^^489  16/.  stock  of  which  half  was  to  go  to  the  National 
School  and  half  to  support  a  clothing  club,  and  if  this 
was  discontinued,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  the 
parish  in  general.  In  fact  the  stock  received  by  each 
beneficiary  was  only  ^^169  8/.  <)d.  The  clothing  club 
was  still  in  existence  in  1905.  In  1950  the  income  was 

£.\  9- 

Frances  Mary  Buss,  by  deed  of  1897,  gave  ^100  in 
trust  for  the  benefit  of  poor  members  of  the  Church  of 
England  or  for  purposes  connected  with  it.  There  was 
a  gift  over  to  the  Memorial  Scholarship  Fund  on  failure 
to  keep  her  grave  in  repair.  In  1950  the  income  was 
£,z  \6s.  \od. 

John  Hyett,  by  will  proved  1719,  left  ^^5  a  year  for 
the  apprenticing  of  poor  boys,  preferably  resident  in 
the  manor  of  Gregories  (see  above.  Manors).  The 
sum  was  charged  on  the  manor  and  was  apparently  paid 
in  1721.^'  In  about  18 14  it  had  not  been  received  for 
some  years^^  and  there  is  no  later  record  of  it. 

The  Theydon  Bois  Nursing  Association  was  left 
with  a  balance  of  jC5°°  when  it  was  wound  up  in 
1949. 


THEYDON  GARNON 


Theydon  Garnon  adjoins  Epping  to  the  east.'  The 
ancient  parish  boundary  was  a  little  to  the  east  of 
Epping  High  Street,  so  that  Theydon  Garnon  formerly 
included  much  of  the  town.^  In  1840  the  area  of  the 
parish  was  3,161  acres.'  In  1896  the  part  of  Theydon 
Garnon  lying  within  the  Epping  Special  Drainage 
Area  was  included  in  the  newly  formed  Epping  Urban 
District.*  The  area  affected  comprised  about  770  acres 
in  the  north-west  of  the  parish,  containing  about  three- 
quarters  of  the  population.  This  reduced  Theydon 
Garnon  to  a  completely  rural  parish.  There  were 
further  transfers  of  small  areas  from  Theydon  Garnon 
to  Epping  Urban  District  in  1934'  and  to  Epping 
Upland  in  1946.*  In  1948  it  was  proposed  by  the 
county  council  that  Theydon  Garnon  should  be 
abolished  as  a  civil  parish  by  adding  the  part  north  of 
the  railway  to  North  Weald  and  incorporating  the  rest 
m  Theydon  Bois.^   The  main  proposal  was  not  ap- 


proved by  the  Minister  of  Health.  Theydon  Garnon 
remained  a  parish  and  there  were  only  minor  boundary 
changes:  the  part  of  this  parish  north  of  the  railway  was 
transferred  to  North  Weald  (q.v.)  and  the  parts  of 
North  Weald  and  Epping  Upland  to  the  south  of  the 
railway  were  added  to  Theydon  Garnon.*  In  1953 
the  area  of  Theydon  Garnon  was  2,342  acres.' 

Most  of  the  sections  of  this  article  relate  to  the  whole 
ancient  parish.  The  architectural  descriptions,  how- 
ever, of  those  parts  of  the  ancient  parish  which  lie  in 
Epping  town  and  its  suburbs  to  the  east  of  the  railway, 
and  the  history  of  nonconformist  churches  and  of  any 
industry  in  the  Epping  town  portion  of  the  ancient 
parish  are  reserved  for  treatment  under  Epping. 

Theydon  Garnon,  the  largest  of  the  three  Theydons, 
takes  its  distinctive  name  from  the  family  of  Gernon 
which  held  the  capital  manor  from  the  13th  century."* 
From  at  least  the  late  i6th  century,  and  especially  in 


"  Rtf.  Com.  Char.  (Estex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  246-7  (1835),  xxi  (i);  Char.  Com. 
files. 
"  E.  Ogborne,  Hitt.  Ettex,  260. 
"  Ibid. 
'  O.S.  3\  in.  Map,  tfaeets^i/49,  52/40- 
'  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheets  1, 
Iviii. 

'  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 


*  Co.  of  Essex  (Epping  &c.),  Conf. 
Order,  i8g6. 

5  Essex  Revienv  Order,  ig34. 

<>  Co.  of  Essex  (Rural  Parishes)  Conf. 
Order,  1^46. 

'  Co.  of  Essex  {Alteration  of  Rural 
Parishes)  (No.  2),  Order,  ig48. 

'  Co.  of  Essex  (Alteration  of  Rural 
Parishes)  Confirmation  Order  No.  2,  ig4g. 

258 


0  Inf.  from  Essex  Co.  Council. 
■0  See  below,  Manors  j  P.N.  Essex 
(E.P.N.S.),  83.  Dr.  keaney  errs  in 
identifying  Theydon  Garnon  with  Theydon 
Paulyn;  the  latter  was  in  fact  identical 
with  Theydon  Mount  (q.v.).  For  a  note 
on  the  meaning  of  Theydon  see  under 
Theydon  Bois. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


the  1 8th  and  early  19th  centuries,  the  parish  was 
known  also  as  Coopersale,"  but  this  name  was  subse- 
quently restricted  to  that  northern  part  of  the  ancient 
parish  served  by  the  district  church  of  St.  Alban, 
Coopersale,  consecrated  in  1852." 

The  southern  boundary  of  Theydon  Garnon  is  the 
River  Roding.  A  stream  which  rises  in  the  centre  of 
the  parish  flows  south  to  join  the  river  near  the  eastern 
boundary.  The  ground  rises  from  about  100  ft.  above 
sea-level  by  the  river  to  3  50  ft.  in  the  north  of  the  parish. 
The  extreme  north-east  is  well  wooded  and  includes 
Gernon  Bushes,  about  100  acres  of  ancient  forest 
waste.  The  road  from  Passingford  Bridge  to  Theydon 
Bois  passes  through  the  southern  tip  of  the  parish  about 
J  mile  north  of  the  Roding.  From  this  a  road  runs 
north  and  west  through  Hobbs  Cross,  and  over  the 
stream  at  Mason's  Bridge  to  Fiddlers  Hamlet,  Cooper- 
sale  Street,  and  Epping.  From  Hobbs  Cross  a  lane  goes 
north-east  to  Toot  Hill  in  Stanford  Rivers.  From 
Fiddlers  Hamlet  roads  run  east  to  Theydon  Mount 
and  west  to  Steward's  Green  and  Ivy  Chimneys.  From 
Coopersale  Street  a  road  runs  north  to  Coopersale 
Common.  Fiddlers  Hamlet,  which  takes  its  name  from 
the  Merry  Fiddlers  Inn,  has  been  a  centre  of  popula- 
tion at  least  since  the  17th  century.  Coopersale  Street 
has  been  a  considerable  hamlet  since  the  i8th  century 
or  earlier.  The  village  of  Coopersale  Common  has 
developed  mainly  during  the  past  century.  The 
Epping— Ongar  railway  runs  through  the  west  and 
north  of  the  ancient  parish. 

Garnish  Hall,  which  stands  on  the  site  of  the  ancient 
manor  house,  is  I  mile  south-west  of  Fiddlers  Hamlet. 
Near  it  to  the  south  are  the  parish  church  and  the  former 
rectory,  now  called  Theydon  Priory.  Gaynes  Park,  a 
igth-century  mansion  J  mile  east  of  Coopersale  Street, 
stands  in  a  wooded  park  near  the  site  of  the  ancient 
manor  house  of  Gaynes  Park  Hall.  The  third  old 
manor  house  of  the  parish  was  Hemnalls.  The  site  of 
this  is  not  precisely  known.  It  was  in  the  north-west 
of  Theydon  Garnon,  probably  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  modern  Hemnall  Street,  Epping.  Coopersale 
House,  formerly  the  centre  of  an  estate  owned  by  the 
Archer-Houblon  family,  lies  to  the  west  of  the  road 
between  Coopersale  Street  and  Coopersale  Common. 
The  parish  school  is  on  the  road  north  of  Fiddlers 
Hamlet.  At  Hobbs  Cross  are  the  former  Fitzwilliam 
almshouses.'-' 

In  the  Middle  Ages,  before  the  development  of 
Epping  town,  Theydon  Garnon  was  an  ordinary  rural 
parish,  probably  consisting  of  scattered  farms  and 
cottages.  In  addition  to  the  three  manor  houses'^  there 
are  known  to  have  been  medieval  houses  at  Masons 
(now  Bridge  Farm),' 5  Gardners,  Little  Thornhall, 
Hydes,  Stonards,  and  Peak's  Farm.'*  Bridge  Farm 
stands  south-east  of  Mason's  Bridge.  It  is  a  late  medieval 
timber  house  of  a  type  which  was  formerly  thought  to 
be  peculiar  to  Kent  and  Sussex  but  which  has  in  fact  a 
much  wider  distribution.  In  its  original  form  it  had 
an  open  hall  in  the  centre,  flanked  by  cross-wings  of 
two  stories.  Instead  of  having  the  usual  gabled  fronts 
these  wings  are  combined  with  the  hall  under  a  single 


roof,  the  line  of  the  eaves  being  continuous  along  the 
front  of  the  house.  The  side  wings  oversail  at  first  floor 
level,  but  the  central  portion,  having  no  upper  floor,  is 
in  the  same  plane  from  ground  to  eaves.  The  wall- 
plate  at  eaves  level  is  carried  across  in  front  of  this 
recessed  portion  and  in  an  unaltered  example  there 
would  be  two  large  curved  braces  springing  from  the 
angle-posts  of  the  side  wings  to  support  the  plate." 
At  Bridge  Farm  the  hall  was  subsequently  divided  into 
two  stories  and  at  the  front  the  upper  floor  now  oversails 
almost  in  line  with  the  floors  of  the  side  wings.  Probably 
at  the  same  time  a  chimney  was  inserted  in  the  north  bay 
of  the  hall.  That  these  features  are  later  alterations  is 
clear  from  the  survival  of  the  original  roof  timbers, 
including  the  main  open  truss  with  its  arched  braces, 
king-post,  and  four-way  struts.  These  timbers  are  all 
blackened  with  smoke  from  an  open  hearth  on  the  floor 
of  the  hall.  A  small  section  of  the  original  front  wall  of 
the  upper  part  of  the  hall  still  exists,  together  with  the 
coved  plaster  of  the  former  eaves. 

The  i6th-  or  early  17th-century  fireplace  in  the 
central  ground-floor  room  has  a  long  oak  lintel,  form- 
ing a  four-centred  arch.  One  spandrel  is  carved  with  a 
shield  and  foliage;  on  the  other  side  the  carving  has  been 
cut  away.  At  the  south-east  corner  of  the  house  is  a 
slightly  lower  projecting  wing,  also  probably  of 
medieval  origin.  There  is  some  evidence  that  here  also 
the  upper  floor  was  inserted  at  a  later  date. 

Gardners,  J  mile  south-west  of  Fiddlers  Hamlet,  is  a 
timber-framed  house,  part  of  which  may  date  from  the 
15th  century.  The  remains  of  a  king-post  roof-truss 
were  recorded  here  in  1920.'*  The  main  roof  is  prob- 
ably of  the  1 6th  century  and  has  curved  wind-braces 
and  queen-post  trusses.  On  the  ground  floor  an  original 
window,  now  blocked,  has  moulded  muUions.  There 
is  an  altered  17th-century  staircase  with  heavy  turned 
balusters  and  some  16th-century  panelling. 

Hydes  probably  dates  in  its  present  form  from  the 
l6th  century.  External  weather-boarding  has  recently 
been  removed  and  much  of  the  original  timbering 
exposed.  The  front  has  two  gables  and  a  central 
gabled  porch  of  two  stories.  The  house  is  J  mile  south 
of  the  parish  church. 

Stonards  is  a  timber-framed  house  probably  dating 
from  the  17th  or  early  iSthcentury,  though  on  the  site  of 
a  medieval  house.  One  end  of  it  has  been  refaced  in  red 
brick.  It  is  near  the  railway  J  mile  west  of  Coopersale 
Street ;  the  road  formerly  passed  the  farm,'  'but  was  evi- 
dently straightened  when  the  railway  bridge  was  built. 

About  200  yds.  south  of  the  present  Peak's  Farm 
part  of  a  rectangular  moat  survives.  In  1838  there  was 
a  farm-house  on  this  site,  the  property  of  the  Bowyer- 
Smijths  of  Hill  Hall  in  Theydon  Mount  (q.v.).*" 
Peak's  Farm,  a  timber-framed  house  mostly  dating 
from  the  i8th  century,  formerly  had  a  gabled  wing  of 
the  1 6th  century  or  earlier.^'  In  1930  this  was  demo- 
lished and  the  present  red  brick  wing  was  built.^^  The 
farm  is  in  the  extreme  east  of  the  parish,  adjoining  Hill 
Hall  park. 

By  the  middle  of  the  17th  century  the  construction 
of  the  new  road  to  Newmarket  Via  Loughton  and 


"  P.N.  Essex,  z-}. 

'*  See  below,  Church. 

^^  See  below,  Charities. 

'*  See  below,  Manors. 

"  E.R.  XXXV,  igS  j  Chapman  and  Andre, 
AIaf>  of  Essex,  lyyy,  sheet  xvi. 

"  T'.N.  Essex,  23,  84-85  gives  references 
to  medieval  tenants. 


"  Cf.  house  at  Little  Waltham :  Hist. 
Mon.  Com.  Essex,  W,  plate  p.  96,  and  Monks 
Barn,  Newport,  ibid,  i,  p.  204.  See  also 
Parsonage  Farm,  Theydon  Bois.  Bridge 
Farm  differs  from  these  examples  in  having 
a  hipped  roof.  Another  unusual  feature  is 
the  incorporation  of  the  screens  passage 
in  the  north  wing  instead  of  in  the  hall 


itself. 

'^  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  233. 

■'  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex, 
i-jjj,  sheet  xvi. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 

^^  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  233. 

^^  Inf.  from  present  occupier. 


259 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Epping'5  was  probably  causing  increased  building 
development  in  the  Epping  town  part  of  Theydon 
Garnon.  As  early  as  1613  and  163 1  parishioners  pre- 
sented in  the  archdeacon's  court  for  not  attending 
church  replied  that  they  attended  service  in  Epping, 
since  it  was  nearer.^  This  is  a  good  indication  that  the 
people  on  the  western  boundary  of  Theydon  Garnon 
regarded  themselves  as  belonging  to  Epping.^s  By  this 
time  also  there  was  a  small  hamlet  at  the  cross-roads  to 
the  north  of  Mason's  Bridge.  The  name  Fiddlers 
Hamlet  for  this  part  of  the  parish  is  of  much  later 
origin,  but  it  is  possible  that  the  'Merry  Fiddlers'  was 
already  the  focus  of  settlement  in  the  17th  century. 
The  inn  itself  probably  incorporates  part  of  a  17th- 
century  building.  Another  building  which  is  known 
to  have  been  erected  in  the  17th  century  is  the  block 
of  almshouses  at  Hobbs  Cross  founded  by  Lady  Fltz- 
william.  Hill  Farm,  in  the  extreme  south  of  the  parish, 
is  a  timber-framed  farm-house  which  may  date  from  the 
i6th  century  or  even  earlier.  It  consists  of  a  central 
block  flanked  by  gabled  cross-wings.  In  modern  times 
timbering  has  been  applied  as  a  decorative  feature. 
The  dentilled  barge-boards  to  the  gables  are  original. 

A  large  timber-framed  house  at  Coopersale  Street, 
formerly  a  farm,  probably  dates  from  the  late  1 6th 
century.  The  front  has  two  gables,  the  attic  window 
on  one  side  being  original.  A  17th-century  addition 
to  the  south-west  was  once  known  as  the  brewhouse. 
The  pedimented  doorcase  and  the  sash  windows  are 
18th-century  insertions.  The  annexe  to  the  house  is 
now  the  post-office. 

Jacksons  Farm,  which  formerly  stood  beside  the 
Roding  near  Hill  Farm,  appears  to  have  been  on  or 
near  the  site  of  the  ancient  Garnish  Mill,  and  was 
known  until  about  100  years  ago  as  Gernon  Mill 
Farm.^*  It  was  demolished  about  1950."  In  1920  the 
building  was  described  as  two  tenements,  probably  of 
the  17th  century,  partly  refaced  with  modern  brick. 
A  document  temp.  Henry  VIII  refers  to  a  'costlewe 
byldyng  at  a  ferme  caUyd  Garnouns  myll,  new  bylded'.^^ 

Chapman  and  Andre's  map  of  1777  shows  hamlets 
at  Fiddlers  and  Coopersale  Street  and  also  a  line  of 
houses  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  to  the  north  of 
Hobbs  Cross.^'  Development  on  the  Epping  side  was 
continuing.  Houses  which  probably  date  from  the 
1 8th  century  are  the  Home  Farm  and  Elms  at  Fiddlers 
Hamlet,  and  Coopersale  Lodge,  about  100  yds.  south- 
east of  the  post-office  at  Coopersale  Street.  All  are 
timber-framed  houses.  The  Elms  has  a  modern  red- 
brick front. 

In  1 80 1  Theydon  Garnon  had  a  population  of  517.^" 
There  was  a  steady  increase  to  1,237  in  1851.  There 
was  a  slight  decrease  in  185 1-6 1  but  this  was  subse- 
quently arrested,  probably  by  the  extension  of  the  rail- 
way from  Loughton  to  Epping  and  Ongar  in  1865.3' 
Epping  station,  on  the  new  line,  was  built  about  |  mile 
north-west  of  Fiddlers  Hamlet,  within  Theydon 
Garnon  parish,  and  North  Weald  station   \\  mile 


north-east  of  Coopersale  Common.  The  population 
rose  to  1,371  in  1891.  This  was  the  last  census  before 
the  ancient  parish  was  dismembered.  Much  of  the 
19th-century  increase  was  due  to  the  development  of 
Epping  town.  At  the  1901  census  the  reduced  parish 
of  Theydon  Garnon  had  only  317  inhabitants^^  but 
there  were  1,746  in  the  area  of  the  ancient  parish.^' 
It  should  also  be  noted,  however,  that  the  part  trans- 
ferred to  Epping  Urban  District  included  Coopersale 
Common,  Coopersale  Street,  and  Fiddlers  Hamlet.  At 
Coopersale  Common  there  had  been  considerable 
development  during  the  second  half  of  the  19th  century. 
This  included  the  district  church  of  St.  Alban,  built  to 
meet  the  needs  of  this  end  of  the  parish.  Other  larger 
buildings  dating  from  the  1 9th  century  include  Theydon 
Bower,  Gaynes  Park,  and  Hobbs  Cross  Farm.  Theydon 
Bower,  near  Epping  railway  station,  is  a  large  house 
standing  on  a  hill.  It  is  thought  to  have  been  built 
about  18003*  but  there  have  been  later  additions  at 
various  times.  It  is  of  brown  brick,  partly  roughcast. 
The  style  is  consciously  romantic;  there  is  a  castellated 
parapet  and  mullioned  windows.  Hobbs  Cross  Farm 
was  built  in  the  middle  of  the  century  by  Sir  William 
Bowyer-Smijth  of  Hill  Hall  to  replace  one  nearer  to 
Hill  Hall  which  he  demolished."  Coopersale  Hall, 
which  dates  mainly  from  the  19th  century,  may  in- 
corporate parts  of  an  earlier  building.  In  the  17th  and 
1 8th  centuries  it  was  the  home  of  the  Chevely  family.'* 
A  bell-cote  on  the  roof  contains  a  bell  dated  l8l6.37 
The  entrance  front  is  of  this  period. 

During  the  present  century  there  has  been  much 
development  at  Coopersale  Common,  which  appears 
to  be  something  of  a  unit  on  its  own,  unlike  the  eastern 
parts  of  Epping  that  were  also  formerly  in  Theydon 
Garnon  parish.  St.  Albans  Road  and  Labumam  Road 
form  a  new  layout  north  of  the  church  and  are  entirely 
built  up.  Opposite  the  post-office  are  two  pairs  of 
council  houses.  The  Coopersale  Institute  is  a  brick  and 
roughcast  building  in  St.  Albans  Road.  On  the  east 
side  of  the  main  road  there  is  a  cricket  ground. 

This  development  within  Epping  Urban  District  is 
not  paralleled  by  any  increase  of  population  in  the 
present  civil  parish  of  Theydon  Garnon.  Since  1 90 1 
the  population  of  the  parish  has  declined  and  in  195 1 
was  only  176.3* 

The  road  from  Hobbs  Cross  to  Toot  Hill  was  prob- 
ably part  of  the  Roman  road  running  south  from 
Dunmow.  In  1594,  and  probably  for  many  years  be- 
fore this,  the  main  road  from  London  to  Newmarket 
ran  through  Theydon  Bois  and  Theydon  Garnon  via 
Abridge  Bridge. 39  Early  in  the  17th  century  a  new 
road  was  built  through  Epping  Forest  between 
Loughton  and  Epping  and  this  took  the  place  of  the 
longer  Abridge  section  of  the  route.*"  After  that  date 
none  of  the  roads  in  Theydon  Garnon  seems  to  have 
been  of  more  than  local  importance.  Among  the  parish 
books  are  constable's  accounts  17 19-1868  with  details 
of  the  constables'  work  in  connexion  with  the  parish 


'*  Sec  Loughton. 

M  E.R.O.,  D/AEA  27,  f.  273;  ibid.  38, 
f.  199. 

"  Their  legal  obligation  to  pay  Theydon 
Garnon  parish  rates  was  of  course  un- 
affected I 

"  O.S.  I  in.  Map  (ist  edn.  1805) 
quoted  in  E.A.T.  n.s.  xvii,  172;  O.S. 
6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Iviii. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  Padfield,  present 
owner. 

»•  f.yJ.r.  N.S.  V,  28. 


"  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xvi. 

3°  For  census  figures  1801— 1901  see 
y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

3'  The  opening  of  the  railway  had  a 
similar  effect  on  the  population  of  North 
Weald  (q.v.). 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1906). 

"  y.C.H.Essex,\\,-iSo. 

'*  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Bell,  present  occupier. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  built  by  Lord 
Frankfort. 


35  Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mount, 
p.  X. 

36  E.R.  XXXV,  198 ;  Chapman  and  Andr^, 
Map  of  Essex,  1777,  sheet  xvi.  It  has  been 
suggested  that  it  was  formerly  known  as 
Little  Gregories. 

3'  Inf.  from  present  occupier. 
3*  Census,  191 1— 51. 
30  Norden,  Map  of  Essex,  1594. 
*°  For  the  new  road  see  Loughton. 


260 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


roads,  and  surveyors'  accounts  1810—36.'"  In  1581 
the  surveyors  reported  on  those  defaulting  in  their  road 
service.^^  An  interesting  dispute  over  the  number  of 
days' work  due  from  parishioners  on  the  roads  was  heard 
in  1684.  Andrew  Partridge  of  Theydon  Garnon 
declared  that  36  years  earlier  he  was  hired  to  do  two 
days'  work  in  Waltham  Lane,  and  he  believed  that  two 
days  was  the  rule  for  the  parish.''^ 

Theydon  Bridge,  alias  Mason's  Bridge,  was  described 
in  1 64 1  as  a  cart  bridge  and  the  feoffees  of  Stonards 
were  said  to  be  responsible  for  its  repair.'**  In  about 
1800  and  1835  it  was  listed  as  a  county  bridge.+s  In 
1858,  however,  the  county  surveyor  reported  that 
after  careful  inquiries  from  local  inhabitants  he  was 
unable  to  identify  a  bridge  of  this  name,  and  he  sug- 
gested Coopersale  Bridge  (although  that  had  been 
repaired  by  the  parish)  or  Daws  Bridge.**  In  1866  the 
county  surveyor  had  identified  the  bridge  correctly  but 
there  was  some  doubt  whether  the  parish  was  not 
responsible  for  its  upkeep.*^  In  his  report  of  1866-7, 
however.  Mason's  Bridge  was  accepted  by  the  county 
and  by  1869  it  had  been  rebuilt.'** 

A  new  brick  bridge  called  Brook  House  Bridge  was 
described  by  the  county  surveyor  in  1858.  It  had  been 
built  since  1836.*' 

For  communications  in  general  Theydon  Gamon 
has  relied  mainly  on  Epping.  In  the  1 8th  and  early 
1 9th  centuries  there  were  coach  services  running  through 
Epping  along  the  London— Norwich  road.  The  exten- 
sion of  the  railway  to  Epping  and  Ongar  (1865)  has 
been  mentioned  above.  In  1949  this  line  was  electrified 
as  far  as  Epping.^o 

As  late  as  1 894  there  was  no  post-office  in  Theydon 
Garnon. 5'  By  1898  one  had  been  set  up  at  Coopersale 
Street,  though  it  had  no  telegraph  or  facilities  for  deal- 
ing with  money  orders.s^  There  are  now  post-offices 
at  both  Coopersale  Street  and  Coopersale  Common. 

The  public  services  provided  for  Epping  have  in 
general  been  available  for  the  urban  part  of  the  ancient 
parish  of  Theydon  Garnon.  By  1886  the  town  had 
piped  water,  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Water- 
works Co.,  and  main  drainage.53  The  water-supply 
was  extended  to  the  rural  part  of  Theydon  Garnon  by 
the  same  company  in  1898.5*  The  Epping  Special 
Drainage  Area,  which  in  1 896  became  Epping  Urban 
District,  included  Coopersale  Common,  Coopersale 
Street,  and  Fiddlers  Hamlet. ss  There  is  now  main 
drainage  also  in  the  present  civil  parish  of  Theydon 
Garnon. 56  Gas  was  first  supplied  in  1865  or  1 866,57 
and  electricity  by  1933-5'  Electricity  was  extended  to 
the  rural  parts  of  Theydon  Garnon  in  1950.5' 

Many  of  the  landowners  of  the  parish  have  been 
resident  and  have  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs. 
So  far  as  can  be  judged  the  lords  of  Theydon  Garnon 
manor  were  resident  for  much  of  the  13  th  to  15  th 
centuries.  The  lords  of  Gaynes  Park  lived  on  their 
manor  for  part  of  the  14th  century  and  probably  at 


other  periods  in  the  Middle  Ages;  in  the  i6th  century 
the  Fitzwilliams  were  probably  resident  there.  The 
Archers  (later  Archer-Houblons)  of  Coopersale  were 
probably  resident  continuously  from  the  i6th  century 
to  the  19th.  Lady  Fitzwilliam  of  Gaynes  Park  endowed 
the  almshouses.  Henry  Archer  of  Coopersale  founded 
another  charity.  Thomas  Abdy,  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Theydon  Garnon,  granted  land  for  use  as  a  potato 
ground  for  the  poor  and  later  substituted  a  voluntary 
free  gift  of  bread.  In  general  this  parish  is  exceptionally 
well  provided  with  charities  endowed  by  the  local 
landowners  and  resident  gentry.*"  In  the  19th  century 
Miss  Archer-Houblon  built  the  village  school,  St. 
Alban's  church,  and  the  vicarage  at  Coopersale.*' 

In  the  Middle  Ages  the  capital  manor  of  Theydon 
Garnon  was  probably  much  larger  than  any  other 
estate  in  the  parish.  This  was,  however,  divided  in  the 
1 6th  century  and  from  the  17th  century  Gaynes  Park 
and  Coopersale  both  increased.  In  1840  the  Garnish 
Hall  property  consisted  only  of  228  acres,  while  Gaynes 
Park  and  Coopersale  each  contained  over  700  acres.*^ 
In  the  same  year  there  were  19  farms  in  the  parish 
containing  more  than  50  acres,  7  of  over  100  acres  and 
I  over  200  acres.*3 

In  Theydon  Garnon,  as  elsewhere  in  the  hundred, 
inclosure  took  place  at  an  early  date,  and  details  of  the 
process  are  lacking.  One  exception  was  Gernon 
Bushes,  Coopersale  Common.  Some  inclosure  of  forest 
waste  appears  to  have  taken  place  there  between  1777 
and  1838,*'*  but  a  substantial  part  still  remains.  Mixed 
farming  is  carried  on  in  the  rural  part  of  the  parish.  In 
1838  there  were  estimated  to  be  some  770  acres  of 
arable,  1,740  acres  of  meadow  or  pasture,  264  acres  of 
wood,  and  100  acres  of  common  (most  of  which  was 
in  fact  woodland)  .*5 

A  small  mound  just  north  of  the  railway  near 
Stonards  Farm  is  marked  on  the  map  of  I777  as  Mill 
Hill.  There  was  no  mill  there  then,  but  a  windmill  is 
shown  on  the  map  about  J  mile  farther  north. 
Garnish  Mill,  on  the  Roding,  has  already  been  men- 
tioned above.  It  was  no  longer  operating  in  1777. 
It  may  have  been  the  mill  on  the  manor  of  William 
son  of  Constantine  in  1086.** 

In  1305  the  king  granted  to  Hugh  Gernon  a  weekly 
market  and  an  annual  fair  at  his  manor  of  Theydon 
Garnon.*''  In  1872  a  fair  formerly  held  at  Fiddlers 
Hamlet  on  20  July  was  abolished  at  the  petition  of  its 
owner,  T.  C.  Chisenhale-Marsh.*' 

Robert  Fabyan  (d.  15 13),  chronicler,  acquired 
Halsteads  in  Theydon  Garnon  on  his  marriage.*'  Sir 
Daniel  Dun  or  Donne  (d.  1617),  M.P.  for  Oxford 
1604  and  1614,  an  authority  on  marriage  law,  was  lord 
of  the  manor  of  Theydon  Garnon.^"  Sir  John  Archer 
(l  598-1682),  a  justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  lived  at 
Coopersale  House."  Thomas  Dimsdale  (1712-1800), 
physician,  who  inoculated  the  Empress  Catherine  of 
Russia  against  smallpox,  was  born  at  Theydon  Garnon.''^ 


«■  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/10/1,  152/21/1. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  78/28. 

*3  Ibid.  4.46/93. 

«  Ibid.  312/25. 

"  E.R.O.,  e/ABz  2;  ibid.  Q/ABz  i. 

*'  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

<'  E.R.O.,  Q/ABp  46. 

«»  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3. 

«  Ibid. 

*°  Inf.  from  London  Transport. 

5'  Kelly i  Dir.  Eatx  (1894). 

52  Ibid.  (1898). 

"  Ibid.  (1886). 


s«  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Water- 
works Co. 

5  5  See  above. 

5'  Inf.  from  Rector  of  Theydon  Garnon. 

5'  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Gas  Bd. 

5»  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 

5'  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elec.  Bd. 

***  See  below,  Charities. 

6*  See  below.  Church,  School. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350.  "  Ibid. 

'*  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xvi;  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 

<'5  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 

261 


"  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
1777,  sheet  xvi;  V.C.H.  Essex,  i,  563a. 

*'  Cal.  dart.  R.  1300-26,62. 

"  iMnJ.  Gaz.  9  July  1872,  p.  3106. 

<">  D.N.B.;  E.H.R.  iii,  318-21.  For  his 
will,  with  many  references  to  Theydon 
Garnon,  see  Nem  Chrons.  of  Eng.  and 
France  (ed.  Ellis,  181 1),  iii-xiii. 

">  D.N.B.   See  below  Manors,  Church. 

■"  D.N.B. ;  E.R.  xxxi,  160-73,  '79-94- 

"  D.N.B.  He  was  perhaps  the  doctor 
mentioned  below.  Parish  Govt,  and  Poor 
Relief,  or  a  relative  of  that  doctor. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Thomas  C.  Chisenhale-Marsh  (i 8 11-75)  of  Gaynes 
Park  published  an  edition  and  translation  of  the  Essex 
portion  of  Domesday  Book,  f'or  John  Molyns  (d. 
1591)  see  below.  Church. 

In  1086  a  manor  of  THETDON,  assessed  at  i  hide 
and  40  acres,  was  held  in  demesne  by  Eudo 
MANORS  daplfer.  Before  the  Conquest  it  had  be- 
longed to  Ulmar.'s  Another  manor  of 
Theydon,  held  in  1066  by  Suen,  was  held  in  demesne 
in  1086  by  William  son  of  Constantine.  This  manor 
was  assessed  at  2  hides  and  40  acres.^^  It  is  probable 
that  both  these  Domesday  manors  were  in  Theydon 
Garnon.  It  appears  that  they  continued  to  have 
separate  tenants  in  chief  but  that  during  the  12th 
century  they  came  to  be  held  by  a  single  tenant  in 
demesne,  whose  manor  later  became  known  as  that  of 
THETDON  GARNON. 

Eudo  dapifer  died  in  1 1 20  and  his  honor  escheated 
to  the  Crown.'s  Part  of  it,  including  Theydon 
Garnon,  was  granted  by  Henry  II  soon  after  his 
accession  to  his  chamberlain  Warin  Fitz  Ceroid.  He 
died  in  about  11 59  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 
Henry  Fitz  Ceroid  (d.  1174  or  1175).  Henry's  son 
and  successor,  Warin  Fitz  Ceroid,  held  the  honor  until 
his  death  in  12 16.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter 
Margery,  who  married  Baldwin  de  Rivers.  She  died 
in  1252,  leaving  as  her  heir  her  grandson  Baldwin  de 
Rivers,  Earl  of  Devon,  who  died  without  issue  in  1262 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  sister  Isabel,  who  married 
William  de  Forz.  Isabel  died  in  1293.  One  of  her 
heirs  was  Warin  de  Lisle,  great-grandson  of  Henry 
Fitz  Ceroid,  brother  of  Warin  Fitz  Ceroid  (d.  1 216).'* 
Warin  succeeded  to  the  part  of  Eudo's  honor  that  had 
been  held  by  Isabel  and  that  included  Theydon 
Garnon,  and  from  this  time  the  part  of  the  manor  of 
Theydon  Garnon  held  in  1086  by  Eudo  was  held  by 
the  tenants  in  demesne  as  of  the  honor  of  Lisle,  which 
came  to  the  Crown  in  1368  and  was  later  merged  in 
the  Duchy  of  Lancaster.'^  In  1368  the  tenant  of 
Theydon  Garnon  had  suit  at  the  two  courts  of  the 
honor,  at  Walbrook  (London)  and  Arkesden  (Essex), 
every  three  weeks.^s  In  1821  the  Duchy  still  claimed 
the  right  to  exclude  county  coroners  from  the  parish, 
on  the  ground  that  it  was  parcel  of  the  Duchy  liberties.^' 

The  descent  of  the  tenancy  in  chief  of  the  manor 
held  in  1086  by  William  son  of  Constantine  is  not 
certain,  but  it  is  likely  that  it  passed  in  the  12th  century 
to  the  Munchensy  family,  who  during  the  same  period 
became  tenants  in  chief  of  William  son  of  Constan  tine's 
other  manor  of  Southcote  in  Stone  (Bucks.).*"  In 
1258  the  tenant  in  demesne  of  the  manor  of  Theydon 
Garnon  was  found  to  hold  \  knight's  fee  of  Denise  de 
Munchensy,  widow  of  Warin  de  Munchensy. *>  This 
fee  descended  to  her  granddaughter  Denise  de 
Munchensy  who  died  in  1 3 1 3  leaving  as  her  heir  her 
cousin  Aymer  de  Valence,  Earl  of  Pembroke.  ^^  He 
died  in  1324,  holding  \\  knights'  fees  in  Theydon, 


Leighs,  and  Latchingdon,  for  which  he  was  owed 
service  by  William  Gernon,  and  also  \  fee  held  by  'the 
lady  of  Theydon'.  83  In  1325  the  escheator  was  directed 
to  deliver  this  \  fee,  valued  at  60/.  a  year,  and  the 
4|  fees,  valued  at  ;^30,  to  Aymer's  widow,  Mary,  in 
dower.  ^  Aymer's  lands  were  divided  among  coheirs, 
one  of  whom  was  Lawrence,  Lord  de  Hastinges  (d. 
1348),  later  Earl  of  Pembroke,  and  it  is  evident  that 
the  \  fee  with  the  4}  fees  fell  to  John  de  Hastinges, 
Earl  of  Pembroke,  who  died  seised  of  them  in  1375. '^ 
In  1435  4J  fees  in  Theydon  Garnon,  Leighs  and 
Latchingdon  and  also  the  \  fee  were  held,  presumably 
in  dower,  by  Joan  (who  died  in  that  year),  widow  of 
William  de  Beauchamp,  Lord  Bergavenny,**  who  had 
been  one  of  the  heirs  of  John  de  Hastinges  (d.  1389) 
Earl  of  Pembroke. 8'  These  fees  passed  to  Joan's 
grandson  Edward  Neville,  Lord  Bergavenny,  who  died 
in  1476.88 

In  1 166  Ralph  son  of  Peter  son  of  Constantine  held 
2  knights'  fees  of  Henry  Fitz  Ceroid  as  of  the  fees  late 
of  Eudo  Japifer.^9  Ralph  was  probably  but  not  certainly 
related  to  the  Domesday  tenant  William  son  of 
Constantine.  In  1200  Ralph  son  of  Peter  granted  to 
Ralph  Gernon  for  life  a  marsh  in  Theydon  and  other 
property,  to  hold  for  is.  \d.  at  a  scutage  of  20.^.'°  In 
1207  the  king  confirmed  to  Gernon  the  hundred  of 
Lexden  and  the  gift  which  Ralph  son  of  Peter  made  to 
him  of  all  his  land  in  Theydon,  in  exchange  for  Ralph's 
land  in  Fowlmere  (Cambs.)."  In  1220  Cecily,  widow 
of  Richard  son  of  Ralph,  released  to  Ralph  Gernon  all 
claim  to  the  property  in  Theydon  which  she  held  in 
dower,  as  Gernon  had  granted  her  J  of  all  her  husband's 
land  in  Fowlmere  for  her  dower  and  also  the  custody 
of  the  other  f  until  her  sons  in  Gernon's  custody  came 
of  age. '^  In  1224  the  sheriff  of  Essex  was  directed  to 
let  Ralph  Gernon  have  his  scutage  of  2  knights'  fees 
of  the  fee  late  of  Warin  Fitz  Ceroid. '^  In  1235—6 
Gernon  held  of  Margery  de  Rivers  2  knights'  fees  in 
Theydon  and  elsewhere.'*  He  died  in  1247  leaving 
his  son  William  as  heir.  Part  of  the  manor  was  said  to 
be  held  for  \  knight's  fee  of  the  heirs  of  Ongar  (i.e.  the 
Rivers  family  of  Stanford  Rivers  and  Chipping  Ongar, 
q.v.).  It  is  not  clear  how  this  tenure  had  become  asso- 
ciated with  Theydon  Garnon. '5  In  1212  Gernon  had 
held  6  fees  of  the  honor  of  Ongar.'*  There  is  apparently 
no  later  evidence  of  a  connexion  between  Theydon 
Garnon  and  the  honor  of  Ongar  than  that  of  1 265  (see 
below)  when  the  connexion  appears  to  have  been 
successfully  denied  by  the  tenant  of  Theydon  Garnon. 
Most  of  the  manor  was  in  1245  held  of  Margery  de 
Rivers;  there  was  then  no  mention  of  the  tenure  of  the 
Munchensy  family.  The  demesne  of  the  manor  was 
said  to  be  worth  j^4  i  is.  a  year,  the  rents  of  assize 
fj]  19/.  \\d.,  the  customary  services  37/.  4^.,  pasture 
and  meadow  £t.  i6i.  2d.,  and  a  mill  30/.  The  total 
annual  value  was  thus  ^18  19/.  \o\d.'>'' 

William  Gernon  died  in  1258  holding  part  of  the 


"  y.C.}i.  Essex,  i,  49+A. 

'<  Ibid.  563a. 

"  For  the  Honor  of  Eudo  dapifer  see 
W.  Farrer,  Honors  and  Knights'  Fees,  iii, 
165-74,  upo"  which  the  account  of  the 
tenancy  in  chief  of  this  part  of  Theydon 
Garnon  is  based. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  iv,  316-23,  viii, 
48—49;  Cai.  In^.  p.m.  iii,  pp.  98—99. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  viii,  71-77;  W. 
Hardy,  Charts,  of  Duchy  of  Lanes.  26—31. 

"  Cat.  Close,  1364-9,  494-5. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P152/18/14. 


8°  For  Southcote  see  F.C.H.  Bucks,  n, 
308-9.  For  the  Munchensys  see  Ger- 
mains  in  Kclvedon  Hatch. 

"   Cat.  Inq.  p.m.  i,  p.  121. 

8^  Complete  Peerage,  ix,  424;  Cal.  Inq. 
p.m.  V,  p.  268. 

*3  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  p.  332. 

**  Cal.  Close,  1  323-7,  267. 

*5  Complete  Peerage,  X,  393;  Cal.  Inq. 
p.m.  ix,  p.  118. 

86  C. 39/76/35. 

8'  Complete  Peerage,  i,  24. 

88  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  (Rec.  Com.),  v,  p.  379. 

262 


89  Red  Bk.  of  Exch.  355;  cf.  Farrer, 
Hons.  and  Knights'  Fees,  iii,  202. 

•">  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \,  23. 

»'  Rot.  Chart.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  171*; 
Farrer,  Feud.  Cambs.  217-18. 

92  Cur.Reg.R.\m,T,n.%. 

93  Rot.  Litt.  Claus.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  618, 
643. 

9<  Bk.  of  Fees,  477,  cf.  608. 
95  Cal.  Inq. p.m.  l,  p.  292. 
«'  Red.  Bk.  of  Exch.  612. 
"  Ci 32/44/3. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


r 


THEYDON  GARNON 


manor  of  Denise  de  Munchensy  and  part  of  it  of 
Baldwin  de  Lisle.  His  heir  was  his  son  Ralph."*  Ralph 
Gernon  was  an  adherent  of  Simon  de  Montfort  and 
in  1265  his  estates  were  consequently  seized  by  the 
Crown.  Theydon  Garnon  was  valued  at  £\6  and 
John  de  Rivers,  the  lord  of  the  honor  of  Ongar,  had 
received  the  Michaelmas  rent  of  ;^4  9/.  i\J.  because 
Ralph  had  denied  service  and  did  not  claim  to  hold  the 
manor  of  him."  Ralph  was  pardoned  in  1267  and  in 
1 271,  three  years  before  his  death,  he  subinfeudated  the 
manor  for  one  knight's  fee  to  his  youngest  son  John, 
who  was  to  pay  an  annual  rent  of  ;^4o  during  his 
father's  lifetime.'  Ralph  died  in  1274.*  John,  who  was 
described  in  1293  as  one  of  the  four  nephews  and 
coheirs  of  Nicholas  Tregoz  of  Tolleshunt  Darcy,  the 
husband  of  Eve  de  Valeynes,'  was  probably  the  John 
Gernon  who  died  in  1 3  2 1  .*  Long  before  this,  however, 
he  must  have  alienated  the  manor,  for  in  1305  it  was 
held  by  Hugh  Gernon,  apparently  the  son  of  William, 
who  was  the  heir  of  the  last-named  Ralph  Gernon.'  The 
mesne  tenancy  created  by  the  conveyance  of  1 27 1  thus 
appears  to  have  been  extinguished.  In  1309  Hugh 
Gernon  granted  to  William  Deen  the  reversion  of  the 
manor,  then  said  to  be  held  for  life  by  William  Gernon 
and  his  wife  Isabel,  of  Hugh's  inheritance.*  In  1 3 1 1 
Deen,  then  a  knight,  released  to  William  and  Isabel  and 
the  heirs  of  William  his  rights  in  the  manor,  which 
rights  had  previously  been  recognized  by  Hugh 
Gernon,  son  of  William.^ 

In  1320  William  Gernon  the  elder  granted  to  his 
son  William  the  reversion  of  the  manor,  then  held  for 
life  by  Richard  de  Teye,  parson  of  Theydon  Garnon; 
Ralph,  brother  of  the  younger  William,  was  to  have 
remainder  after  him.*  The  elder  William  died  in 
1327  and  Richard  de  Teye  in  1329.'  In  1339  John, 
son  and  heir  of  Sir  John  Gernon,  brother  of  the  elder 
William,  released  to  the  younger  William  his  right  in 
the  manor,  to  which  he  claimed  to  have  the  reversion 
after  the  younger  William  and  his  heirs.'"  In  1 340  the 
manor  was  conveyed  by  John  de  Goldingham  and 
others,  no  doubt  feoffees,  to  William  Gernon  and  his 
wife  Isabel  and  the  heirs  of  William,  with  remainder 
to  their  son  Thomas."  William  must  have  died  shortly 
after,  for  later  in  the  same  year  Isabel  was  a  widow.'^ 
In  1 345  the  manor  was  conveyed  by  John  Colepepir  to 
Thomas  son  of  William  Gernon  and  Lucy  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Maud  de  Whetynton.  Theydon  Garnon 
was  then  said  to  be  held  by  Walter  Colepepir  as  security 
for  a  debt  of  j^ioo  owing  to  him."  In  1346  John,  son 
and  heir  of  Sir  John  Gernon,  again  released  his  rights 
in  the  manor.'* 

Thomas  Gernon  was  living  in  1354  but  was  ap- 
parently dead  by  1361,  when  Lucy  Gernon  was  said 
to  be  one  of  the  lords  of  whom  the  manor  of  Gaynes 
Park  (see  below)  was  held. '5  About  this  time  the  manor 


of  Theydon  Garnon  was  evidently  acquired  by  John 
Stokes,  who  presented  to  the  rectory  in  1367  and  1368 
and  was  described  as  lord  of  the  'town'.'*  He  was 
probably  identical  with  John  de  Stokesby  who  with 
his  wife  was  holding  2  fees  in  Theydon  and  elsewhere 
when  the  honor  of  Lisle  was  given  to  the  king  in  1 368. '^ 
He  was  still  alive  and  living  at  Theydon  Garnon  in 
1 37 1.'*  It  is  possible  that  he  had  married  Lucy 
Gernon  and  held  the  manor  in  her  right.  By  1375, 
however,  Lucy  had  married  Thomas  Lampet,  for  in 
that  year  Sir  Thomas  Colepepir  released  to  Thomas 
and  Lucy  all  his  interest  in  the  manor  for  the  term  of 
her  life.' 9  Lucy  died  soon  after  this,  leaving  her  son 
Thomas  Gernon  still  under  age.^"  In  1379,  having 
presumably  attained  his  majority,  Thomas  leased  the 
manor  for  three  years  to  his  stepfather  Lampet,  at  an 
annual  rent  of  3  ;  marks.^' 

In  1407  Lampet  released  to  Thomas  Gernon  his 
right  in  the  manor,  which  he  held  as  a  feoffee,  and  next 
day  directed  the  delivery  of  seisin  to  Gernon  and  three 
others,  to  the  use  of  Gernon  and  of  Robert  Prince  who 
was  said  to  be  the  tenant  in  tail.^^  Robert  was  son  of 
Gilbert  Prince  and  Elizabeth,  sister  of  Thomas 
Gernon.23  By  1428-9  Gernon  was  dead  and  Robert 
Prince  had  been  put  in  possession  of  the  manor.  In 
that  year  Prince  enfeoffed  Thomas  Morsted  and 
Adam  May  in  all  the  lands  which  came  to  him  after 
the  death  of  his  uncle,  and  the  feoffees  permitted  the 
profits  to  be  taken  by  Elizabeth,  widow  of  William 
Massey,  one  of  the  feoffees  of  1407.^'*  On  Prince's 
death  Morsted  as  surviving  feoffee  released  his  right  to 
Elizabeth,  now  the  wife  of  Sir  Thomas  Cobham,  and 
she  and  her  husband  continued  to  take  the  profits.^' 
Cobham  presented  to  the  rectory  in  1442.^*  In  1444, 
however,  John  Prince,  nephew  of  Robert,  took  pro- 
ceedings against  Morsted  as  tenant  of  the  freehold  by 
Robert's  feoffment.  Morsted  allowed  him  to  recover 
seisin  by  default,  but  the  Cobhams  remained  in  pos- 
session until  Prince  tortiously  entered  the  lands.  Judge- 
ment was  given  in  his  favour  in  1446,  but  the  verdict 
was  impugned  by  the  Cobhams. ^^  The  matter  seems 
to  have  been  decided  by  arbitration  in  1448—9,  Prince 
being  confirmed  in  the  manor.^*  He  had  held  his  first 
court  there  in  1447.2"  In  1467  he  and  his  wife  had 
licence  from  the  Pope  to  have  a  portable  altar.^"  His 
will  was  dated  1470  and  he  was  dead  by  February 
1471.31  Under  the  will  his  wife  Joan  should  have 
inherited  the  manor  absolutely,  but  a  dispute  arose 
over  the  will  and  eventually  it  was  settled  by  arbitra- 
tion that  Joan  should  receive  10  marks  a  year  in  com- 
pensation for  her  dower  and  her  rights  in  the  manors  of 
Theydon  Garnon  and  Gregories  in  Theydon  Bois. 
This  was  confirmed  by  John  Prince  son  of  Joan.  He 
was  to  receive  £20  at  the  sealing  of  this  deed,  with  all 
the  goods  left  by  Joan  at  both  manors.'^ 


'*  Cai.  Inq.  p.m.  i,  p.  1 2 1 . 
"  Cal.  Inf.  Misc.  i,  p.  200. 
■  Cal.  Pat.    1266-72,   150,    153;   Fett 
of  F.  Essex,  i,  273. 

*  Cal,  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  44. 
3  Ibid,  iii,  p.  91).. 

*  Ibid,  vi,  pp.  174—5. 

5  Cal.    Chan.    1300-26,    62;    E.A.T. 

N.S.  V,  26. 

'  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  1 26. 
'  E.A.T.  N.8.  vi,  114. 

*  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  194. 

»  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  478-9;  New- 
court,  Repert.  ii,  583. 
">  E.A.T.  N.S.  vi,  114. 
"  Ibid,  vi,  120.    For  John  de  Golding- 


ham see  the  manor  of  Chigwell. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1339-41,489.  A  William 
Gernon,  coroner  of  Essex,  was  dead  by 
26  May  1340  :  ibid.  412. 

"  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  77. 

■4  E.A.T.  N.S.  vi,  115. 

■5  Cal.  Close,  1354-60,  80;  Cal.  Inq. 
p.m.  x\,  p.  287. 

>*  Reg.   Sudbury  (Cant.  &  York  Soc), 

253.  ^59- 
"  Cal.  Close,  1364-8,495. 
'*  Cat.  And.  D.  iv,  A.  9131. 
'»  E.A.T.  N.S.  v,  23. 
"  Ibid.  22. 
2'  Ibid.  223-4. 
22  E.A.T.  N.S.  V,  4,  vi,  116. 

263 


"  Ibid.  V,  24. 

2«  Ibid.  4. 

^5  Ibid.  William  Massey  had  died* 
shortly  before  Oct.  1428 :  Cal.  Fine  R. 
XV,  235.  Elizabeth  married  secondly, 
Walter  Lord  Fitz  Walter  (d.  1431).  She 
married  Cobham,  her  3rd  husband,  before 
Nov.  1438  :  Complete  Peerage,  v,  483-4. 

26  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  584. 

"  E.A.T.  N.S.  V,  4-5. 

2'  Ibid.  V,  206. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  M21. 

3»  Cal.  Pap.  Lett,  xii,  611. 

"  E.A.T.  N.S.  V,  222;  Cal.  Fine  R.  xx, 
268. 

31  E.A.T.  N.S.  V,  206. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


In  1474  the  last  named  John  Prince  made  a  con- 
veyance of  the  manors  for  the  surety  of  his  wife's 
jointure  and  of  their  children,  and  in  1482  Theydon 
Garnon  and  Gregories  were  settled  upon  John  and 
Lucy  his  wife  for  hfe.33  In  1497  John  and  Lucy  leased 
the  manor  house  of  Gamons  Hall,  except  the  parlour 
and  three  rooms  over  it  at  the  upper  end  of  the  high 
dais  of  the  hall,  with  access  thereto  through  the  garden 
on  the  south  side,  to  John  Wylkinson  of  Epping,  malt- 
man,  for  10  years  at  an  annual  rent  of  £SM  Prince 
was  living  at  Waltham  Holy  Cross  at  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1499.  In  his  will,  proved  in  the  same  year,  he 
left  all  his  properties  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth  and  her 
husband  William  Sparowe,  subject  to  an  annuity  of 
;^i  5  to  be  paid  to  Lucy  for  her  life  out  of  Theydon 
Garnon  and  Gregories. 's 

Early  in  1499,  however,  shortly  before  making  his 
win.  Prince  had  sold  to  Humphrey  Coningsby  for  300 
marks  the  reversion  upon  his  death  of  Theydon  Garnon 
and  Gregories,  saving  the  life  interests  of  Lucy  and  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  Sparowe  in  certain  lands. 
Prince  had  agreed  to  deliver  up  his  evidences  before 
Whitsun  1499,  but  although  he  was  still  alive  in  July 
1499,  for  he  then  made  his  will,  he  had  failed  to  do  so 
and  the  bargain  remained  uncompleted  at  his  death.^* 
Sparowe  refused  to  surrender  the  evidences  and 
Coningsby  took  the  matter  to  law,  claiming  ^{^400 
damages.  In  1 500  Sparowe  and  his  wife  agreed  with 
Sir  Thomas  Tyrell  to  settle  Theydon  Garnon  and 
Gregories  and  a  messuage  in  Theydon  Garnon  called 
Garnish  Mill  on  themselves  and  Elizabeth's  heirs  with 
remainder  to  Tyrell  who  covenanted  to  bear  the  cost 
of  the  actions  between  the  Sparowes  and  Coningsby.37 
In  1 501  Sparowe  bound  himself  and  his  wife  in  the 
sum  of  ;£6oo  to  obey  an  award  of  arbitration,  and  to 
make  no  default  in  an  assize  of  novel  disseisin  arraigned 
by  Sir  Reynold  Bray,  one  of  Coningsby's  feoffees. '^ 
In  the  same  year  Sparowe  died  and  Elizabeth  married 
Francis  Hampden,  who  was  then  named  with  her  as 
defendant  in  the  suit.  In  1 502  he,  with  Sir  John 
Hampden  and  another,  entered  into  reciprocal  bonds 
with  Coningsby  to  accept  arbitration. ''  The  dispute, 
however,  went  on.  Francis  and  Elizabeth  evidently 
remained  in  possession  of  the  properties  and  in  1504 
leased  to  Robert  Pecok  for  nine  years  at  an  annual  rent 
of  £7  1 3/.  4^'.  what  was  described  as  the  site  of  the 
manor  of  Theydon  Garnon  being  the  outer  court, 
without  the  moat,  and  all  the  housing  in  that  court 
except  the  Long  House.^" 

Hugh  Oldham,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  who  was  the  last 
survivor  of  the  feoffees  created  by  Coningsby,  died  in 
1 5 19.  It  was  subsequently  claimed  that  the  legal  estate 
in  the  manor  of  Theydon  Garnon  passed  to  Oldham's 
heir  Adam  Travers,  Archdeacon  of  Exeter.  Travers 
seems  to  have  enfeoffed  a  certain  Nowcrs,  but  when 
Nowers  and  others  brought  an  action  against  Francis 
and  Elizabeth  Hampden  the  plaintiffs  claimed  to  hold 
under  a  previous  feoffment.'*'  In  1523  there  was  a 
further  appointment  of  feoffees,  and  in  1 527  Coningsby 


entered  into  another  bond  of  ;{^6oo  to  abide  by  the 
award  of  three  justices  of  the  Common  Pleas.  A 
settlement  was  at  last  reached  and  later  in  1527 
Coningsby,  Nowers,  and  the  other  feoffees  released 
their  right  in  Theydon  Garnon  and  Gregories  to 
Francis  and  Elizabeth  Hampden  and  Elizabeth's  heirs. 
Francis  and  Elizabeth  were  to  pay  350  marks  to 
Coningsby,  who  was  to  deliver  up  his  evidences.  In 
1529  Francis  and  Elizabeth  made  a  conveyance  of  the 
two  manors  to  Thomas  Tyrell  and  others,  no  doubt  in 
connexion  with  the  agreement  of  1 500.^^  Before  the 
final  settlement  of  the  dispute,  in  1525,  they  had  settled 
one-third  of  their  lands  upon  Margery  their  eldest 
daughter  and  her  husband  John  Shirley .^3  In  1538 
the  third  part  of  the  manor  of  Theydon  Garnon  was 
leased  to  John  ap  Rice  of  London  for  ^90  a  year.** 

Elizabeth  Hampden  died,  a  widow,  in  1538,  leaving 
three  daughters  and  coheirs,  the  above  Margery 
Shirley,  Jane  wife  of  Christopher  Carleton,  and  EUen, 
later  wife  of  John  Branch.  Shortly  after  Elizabeth's 
death  Carleton  instituted  proceedings  in  Chancery 
which  seem  to  have  resulted  in  the  transfer  to  him  of 
Gregories  manor  and  a  rent  of  30/.,  while  Branch  was 
given  Garnish  Mill  farm  and  a  rent  of  j^io,  and 
Margery  (now  Edward  Bishop's  wife)  retained 
Theydon  Garnon  manor.  This  new  arrangement  was 
confirmed  in  the  Common  Pleas  in  1 544  and  it  was 
then  also  provided  that  the  common  and  waste  and 
Gamons  Wood  should  be  divided  into  three.  Pre- 
sentations to  Theydon  Garnon  rectory,  as  already 
arranged,  were  to  be  made  in  turn,  the  first  vacancy  to 
be  filled  by  Margery,  the  second  by  Carleton,  and  the 
third  by  Branch.^s 

Margery  Bishop  died  in  1545,  leaving  an  infant  son 
Edward  .■<*  He  evidently  died  soon  after,  for  on  the 
death  in  1553  of  Margery's  husband  Edward  Bishop, 
who  had  held  Theydon  Garnon  for  life,  the  manor 
passed  to  her  two  sisters.*^  In  1556  the  manor  was 
allotted  to  John  and  Ellen  Branch,  together  with 
Margery's  turn  in  the  advowson.  Jane,  formerly  wife 
of  Christopher  Carleton  (d.  c.  1  549)  and  now  of  Francis 
Michell,  received  two  parts  of  the  wood  upon  the 
common  and  the  waste  lands.''*  Further  disputes  oc- 
curred and  in  1 562  there  was  another  settlement  which 
confirmed  the  manor  to  John  and  Ellen  Branch,  settled 
the  advowson  upon  them  in  reversion  after  the  death 
of  Jane,  divided  the  freehold  lands  between  the  sisters 
but  gave  to  John  and  Ellen  all  Margery's  share  in  the 
waste  grounds  of  Gamons  Wood.*' 

Ellen  Branch  had  died  in  1 567.50  John  Branch  held 
the  manor  for  life  after  her  death.  In  i  568  he  married 
Ellen  Minors,^'  said  elsewhere  to  be  daughter  of 
William  Nicolson.52  j^g  vvas  Lord  Mayor  of  London 
1580— I  and  was  knighted  in  that  year.''  In  1587  he 
settled  the  reversion  of  the  manor  after  the  deaths  of 
himself  and  his  wife  on  his  nephew  Sir  Daniel  Dun.'* 
Branch  died  soon  after  this  and  in  1589  his  widow  re- 
leased to  Dun  her  life  interest  in  the  manor.''  At  some 
time  after  this,  and  before  1672,  Garnish  Mill  farm 


"  E.A.T.  N.5.  vi,  119. 

"  Ibid.  V,  213. 

"  Ibid.  223. 

J«  Ibid.  V,  223,  18-19. 

"  Ibid,  vi,  120.  This  agreement  also 
refcr«  to  the  manor  of  Theydon  Mount, 
but  this  was  presumably  an  error. 

3*  Ibid.  V,  19, 

»  Ibid.  217. 

«  Ibid.  213. 

«'  Ibid.  19-20.   For  Bishop  Oldham  see 


D.N.B. 

*^  Ibid.  217-19. 

«  Ibid.  21. 

■•«  Ibid.  219. 

«5  CP40/1121  m.  34.1.  For  the  plead- 
ings see  C 1/967/3,  4.. 

*<■  C.42/73/63. 

■"  P.C.C.  14  Tashe;  C78/50,  No.  20. 

"8  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T13;  for  Carlcton's 
will  (pr.  1550)  see  P.C.C.  i  Coode. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T13. 

264 


5°  M.I.   in   Theydon   Garnon    church. 

SI  W.  H.  Challen,  'St.  Mary  Abchurch, 
London,  Transcription  of  Marriages 
1558-1736'  (typescript  1927),  2. 

5^  Fisit.  of  Lond.  1568,  i,  13. 

S3  A.  B.  Beaven,  Aldermen  of  London,  ii, 

39- 
5<  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T13. 

5S   Ibid. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


was  separated  from  Theydon  Garnon  manor  and 
became  part  of  the  Suttons  estate  (see  Stapleford 
Tawney).56  In  1605  George  Carleton  grandson  of 
the  above  Christopher  Carleton,  sold  his  rights  in 
Garnons  Wood  to  Dun  for  ;^3o.57 

Sir  Daniel  died  in  1617.58  His  sons  John  (d.  1620) 
and  Caesar  (d.  1636)  both  predeceased  their  mother, 
Joan  Dun,  who  held  the  manor  in  dower  until  her 
death  in  1640.59  She  was  succeeded  by  Daniel  Dun, 
son  of  the  above  Caesar,  who  in  1652  sold  the  manor  of 
Theydon  Garnon  with  the  advowson  to  Robert  Abdy 
of  London  for  ;^3,8oo.*''  Two  years  later  Abdy 
acquired  the  manor  of  Albyns  in  Stapleford  Abbots 
(q.v.)  and  Theydon  Garnon  descended  along  with 
Albyns  until  1858  when  Sir  Thomas  Abdy,  Bt.,  con- 
veyed Theydon  Garnon  to  Thomas  C.  Chisenhale- 
Marsh  of  Gaynes  Park*'  (see  below)  who  in  1867 
succeeded  his  father  as  lord  of  the  manors  of  Gaynes 
Park  and  Hemnalls  (see  below).  Since  1 867  the  manors 
of  Theydon  Garnon  and  Hemnalls  have  had  the  same 
descent  as  Gaynes  Park.  In  1650  Garnish  Hall  farm 
comprised  220  acres  and  was  valued  at  ^ijS  a  year 
when  leased:  this  figure  included  ;^I2  for  quit  rents.*^ 
In  1840  John  R.  Hatch  Abdy  owned  a  total  of  228 
acres  in  the  parish.  Of  this  196  acres  formed  Garnish 
Hall  farm,  then  let  to  Thomas  Mills.^3 

Some  references  to  the  manor  house  about  1 500  have 
been  given  above.  In  about  1650  it  was  described  as  a 
timber  house  with  a  court  and  two  gardens  lying  within 
a  moat,  with  two  drawbridges  and  containing  two 
kitchens,  two  halls,  two  'very  fair  parlours',  and  several 
other  rooms  and  offices.  A  map  of  the  estate  made  in 
1652  has  as  an  inset  a  large  scale  drawing  of  the  south 
front  of  the  house.*''  It  shows  a  timber-framed  building 
about  90  ft.  long  with  a  central  entrance  flanked  by 
several  gabled  wings.  Immediately  east  of  the  entrance 
are  a  clock  turret  and  a  bell  hanging  in  a  domed  cupola. 
The  irregular  spacing  of  the  windows  and  general  lack 
of  symmetry  suggest  that  the  structure  was  of  medieval 
origin  with  later  alterations.  The  house  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  square  moat  with  bridges  to  the  south 
and  west.  Beyond  this  the  stream  on  the  south  side 
and  ditches  to  the  north  and  east  may  have  formed  an 
outer  defence.  The  map  shows  several  ponds,  complete 
with  their  sluices,  including  those  in  the  strip  of  wood- 
land south-west  of  the  house.  This  is  still  known  as 
Fiveponds  Wood. 

The  original  house  with  its  inner  moat  disappeared 
completely  during  the  next  hundred  years.  In  the 
middle  of  the  1 8th  century  the  present  farm-house  was 
built  on  the  same  site,*5  probably  with  timber  from  the 
earlier  Hall.  It  is  a  square  structure,  partly  plastered 
and  partly  weather-boarded,  with  a  symmetrical  red- 
brick front.  Internally  a  considerable  amount  of  l6th- 
or  early-i7th-century  panelling  has  been  reused  and 
there  is  a  carved  overmantel  of  about  1650.  A  16th- 
century  stained  glass  quarry  in  the  staircase  window 
has  a  heart-shaped  device  and  the  initials  i.  and  t.  b. 

The  manor  of  GATNES  PARK  appears  to  have 
originated  in  the  1 3  th  century.  Previously  it  had  prob- 


ably formed  part  of  the  manor  of  Theydon  Garnon. 
Until  about  1400  it  was  known  also  as  the  manor  of 
Theydon  Garnon,  and  this  ambiguity  has  caused  much 
confusion  in  accounts  of  its  history.**  In  1 274  the  king 
ordered  the  escheator  to  deliver  the  manor  of  'Tayden 
Garnet'  to  John  Engaine  and  his  wife  Joan  daughter 
of  Joyce  de  Montfichet,  as  it  had  been  found  that  Joyce 
held  nothing  in  chief  at  her  death  and  that  the  manor 
was  held  of  William  de  Lambourne.*'  William  was 
lord  of  the  manor  of  Lambourne  (q.v.).  It  is  probable 
from  subsequent  statements  that  Gaynes  Park  was  in 
fact  held  as  of  the  capital  manor  of  Theydon  Garnon. 
It  is  possible  that  Joyce  had  held  a  part  of  her  land  of 
the  manor  of  Lambourne,  but  there  is  no  further 
evidence  even  of  this.  Joyce  had  married  as  her  first 
husband  Sir  Gilbert  de  Greinville,  who  was  the  father 
of  her  daughter  Joan.  After  Gilbert's  death  Joyce 
married  Richard  de  Montfichet  who  in  1253  had 
licence  to  inclose  his  wood  in  Theydon  with  a  low 
hedge  and  ditch,  so  that  the  king's  deer  could  go  in 
and  out,  and  to  assart  a  hay  called  Ruhedon.*^ 

It  was  no  doubt  from  John  Engaine  that  Gaynes 
Park  derived  its  name.  In  1287  he  and  his  wife 
granted  the  manor  for  life  to  Robert  Fitz  Walter,  to 
hold  of  them  at  an  annual  rent  of  id.  After  his  death 
it  was  to  be  held  by  Walter,  son  of  Robert  and  his  wife 
Joan,  who  was  daughter  of  John  and  Joan  Engaine, 
and  her  heirs.*'  In  1294  Robert  Fitz  Walter,  then 
about  to  depart  for  Gascony,  had  licence  to  lease  the 
manor,  said  to  be  held  in  chief,  to  Nicholas  de  Barring- 
ton  and  Eustace  de  Masshebury  for  two  years.'"  In 
1298  the  king  confirmed  a  grant  of  the  manor  for  life 
made  by  Fitz  Walter  to  Walter  de  Langton,  Bishop  of 
Coventry,  promising  that  if  Robert  should  die  leaving 
an  heir  under  age  he  would  take  nothing  in  the  manor 
as  a  custody,  nor  distrain  therein  for  any  debts  that 
Robert  might  owe  to  him.'"  Two  years  later  the  bishop 
had  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  his  demesne  lands  in 
Theydon.72  Langton,  who  was  Treasurer  under 
Edward  I,  was  arrested  on  the  accession  of  Edward  IF^ 
but  in  1308  the  Sheriff  of  Essex  was  ordered  to  value 
the  corn  and  other  goods  in  the  manor  of  'Theydon 
Mountfichet'  and  deliver  them  to  the  bishop  along 
with  the  manor,  after  taking'  security  from  him  for 
rendering  thereof  at  the  king's  will.'''  In  1309,  how- 
ever, Langton  petitioned  the  king  to  restore  three  little 
manors,  one  of  which  was  Theydon  Mountfichet,  be- 
cause he  had  had  no  restitution  of  his  property  other 
than  the  bishopric.''5  No  further  reference  has  been 
found  to  Langton  at  Theydon,  but  since  he  was  eventu- 
ally released  from  prison  and  reinstated  as  Treasurer 
it  is  possible  that  he  recovered  the  manor  and  held  it 
to  his  death  in  1 321,  at  which  time,  if  not  before,  it 
would  have  reverted  to  Fitz  Walter. 

Robert  Fitz  Walter  died  in  1326;  he  had  outlived 
both  his  son  Walter  and  Joan,  wife  of  Walter,  and  the 
manor  passed  under  the  settlement  of  1287  to  Adam, 
Lord  de  Welle,  son  of  Joan  by  her  second  husband" 
Adam,  Lord  de  Welle  (d.  131 1).''*  An  inquisition  of 
1326,  nominally  on  the  death  of  Joan  (d.  1315),  found 


'<■  E.R.O.,  D/DSd  Ti,  D/CT  350. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DDaTi3. 

5«  D.ti.B.  s.v.  Donne. 

"  Ci42/38+/i4i;Ci42/54i/93. 

«"  E.R.O.,  D/DDaTi3. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DTc  M12,  p.  316. 

«2  E.R.O.,  D/DB  Mi  19. 

«5  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 

«*  E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/1124. 

's  It  is  shown  on  an  estate  map  of  1772; 

ES.  IV 


E.R.O.,  D/DC  27/1 1 19. 

^*  e.g.  Salmon,  Hht.  Essex^  48  j  Morant, 
Essex,  i,  1 59.  About  i  300  Gaynes  Park 
was  sometimes  called  Theydon  Mount- 
fichet :  see  below. 

*'  Cal.  Close,  1272-9,  74. 

*'  Cal.  Chart.  1226-57,  433;  Complete 
Peerage,  v,  72. 

**9  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  59 ;  Complete 
Peerage,  v,  475. 


265 


'»  Cal.  Pal.  1292-1301,  84-85.  For 
Nicholas  de  Harrington  see  Harringtons  in 
Chigwell. 

"  Ibid.  389. 

^^  Cal.  Chart.  1 257-1 300,  481. 

'3  D.N.B. 

■?♦  Cal.  Fine  R.u,  33. 

■"  Cal.  Close,  1307-13,  89. 

76  Complete  Peerage,  V,  474—5. 


Mm 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


that  the  manor  contained  a  capital  messuage,  a  park, 
and  loo  acres  of  land  held  of  William  Gernon  by  ser- 
vice of  6/.,  a  pair  of  gilt  spurs,  and  i  lb.  pepper,  40  acres 
of  land  held  of  John  de  Sutton  by  service  of  i  id.  and 
I  lb.  cummin,  2  acres  held  of  Richard  de  Teye  by 
service  of  1 2</.,  and  %  acres  held  of  Richard  de  Ston- 
hurst.7'  According  to  a  valuation  of  the  manor  made 
a  few  weeks  later  the  capital  messuage  within  the  park 
was  ruinous  and  worth  nothing,  there  was  an  unsound 
(debilt)  dovecote  worth  \2d.,  no  acres  of  arable  of 
which  40  acres  were  worth  in  all  1 3/.  4^2'.  and  70  acres 
were  worth  i  \s.  8a'.  a  year,  10  acres  of  meadow  worth 
20/.  in  all,  a  park  with  wild  beasts,  the  grass  in  which 
was  worth  1 3/.  (>d.  a  year  beyond  what  was  necessary 
to  feed  the  beasts,  and  the  underwood  \s. ;  the  rents  of 
assize  of  the  free  tenants  were  Ij  \os.  a  year  and  there 
were  5  8  acres  of  arable  called  le  Fermelond,  worth  in 
all  9^.  %d.  The  profits  of  the  court  were  said  to  be 
worth  I  T.d.  a  year  and  the  total  annual  value  of  the 
manor  was  thus  £\  i  4-r.  2d.  The  details  of  tenure  were 
repeated,  the  service  due  to  Richard  de  Stonhurst 
being  given  as  i  ;</.,  while  each  of  the  tenements  held 
of  Stonhurst  and  Richard  de  Teye  was  said  to  have  a 
marl  pit.'* 

Adam  de  Welle  was  a  minor  at  the  time  of  these 
inquisitions,  but  later  in  1326  he  did  homage  and 
received  his  lands."  In  1333  the  keeper  of  the  royal 
forests  south  of  the  Trent  was  ordered  to  cause  the 
park  of  Adam  de  Welle  of  Theydon,  which  adjoined 
the  forest  and  was  taken  into  the  king's  hand  for  defect 
of  the  inclosure,  to  be  replevied  until  the  coming  of  the 
justices  of  the  forest  so  that  it  could  be  sufficiently 
inclosed  meanwhile.*"  About  the  same  time  Adam 
granted  to  Alma  de  Furnyvall  an  annual  rent  of  £,zb 
from  his  manors  of  Theydon  Garnon  (i.e.  Gaynes 
Park),  Hemnalls  (see  below),  and  Madells  in  Epping.*' 
Adam  died  in  1 345.*^  Before  his  death  he  had  granted 
Gaynes  Park,  together  with  properties  in  the  counties 
of  Northampton  and  Lincoln,  to  his  son  John  and  Maud 
his  wife. '3  Adam  was  said  to  have  held  the  manor  of 
Thomas  Gernon,  who  was  lord  of  the  capital  manor  of 
Theydon  Garnon,  by  service  of  7/.  and  I  lb.  pepper 
annually.** 

John,  Lord  de  Welles  (as  the  name  was  subsequently 
spelt)  died  in  1361,  holding  jointly  with  his  wife  the 
manor,  a  messuage,  and  lands  in  Theydon  Garnon, 
Epping  and  Theydon  Bois,  said  to  be  held  of  the  Earl 
of  Stafford,  the  Abbot  of  Waltham,  Reynold  Malyns, 
and  Lucy  Gernon.  The  jury  did  not  specify  of  which 
of  these  lords  the  manor  itself  was  held.  John's  heir 
was  his  son  John,  then  a  child. *s  In  1362  the  king 
ordered  his  escheator  not  to  meddle  further  with  the 
properties  since  they  had  not  been  held  in  chief,  but 
held  by  John  jointly  with  Maud  his  wife,  by  gift  of 
his  father.**  In  1387  Maud  granted  Gaynes  Park, 
Hemnalls,  and  Madells  to  Sir  William  de  Skipwith 


and  others,  presumably  feoffees,*'  and  three  days  later 
they  leased  the  manors  to  Sir  Richard  and  Sir  Stephen 
Scrope,  Thomas  Lampet  and  Robert  Marschall  for 
their  lives.**  Maud  died  in  1388,  and  was  presumably 
succeeded  by  her  son  John.*'  In  the  same  year  he  was 
summoned  to  take  his  place  in  Parliament  as  Lord  de 
Welles,  and  reproved  for  his  previous  excuses.*"  On 
his  death  in  142 1  he  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson 
Lionel  de  Welles,  whose  father  Eudo  had  predeceased 
him.9' 

Lionel,  Lord  de  Welles,  married  first  (1417)  Joan 
Waterton  and  secondly  (1447)  Margaret,  widow  of 
John  Beaufort,  Duke  of  Somerset.'^  In  1447  he 
settled  his  Essex  manors  upon  himself  and  Margaret 
for  their  lives,  and  in  his  will,  dated  1457,  he  left  the 
properties  after  Margaret's  death  to  John  de  Welles, 
his  son  by  her,  and  his  heirs  male  and  then  to  his  own 
right  heirs."  Lionel  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Towton 
in  1461.  Hewassubsequently  said  to  have  held  Gaynes 
Park  of  the  hundred  of  Ongar.'*  His  heir  was  Sir 
Richard  de  Welles,  his  son  by  his  first  wife,  who  had 
married  Joan,  daughter  of  Robert  (d.  1452),  Lord 
Willoughby  de  Eresby,  and  had  been  summoned  to 
Parliament  from  1464  in  right  of  his  wife  as  Lord 
Willoughby. '5  Lionel  de  Welles  was  included  in  the 
Act  of  attainder  passed  in  1461,'*  and  in  1462  the  king 
granted  the  reversion  of  Gaynes  Park,  Hemnalls,  and 
Madells  after  the  death  of  Lionel's  widow  Margaret 
to  Thomas  Colt  and  his  heirs  male."  The  grant  was 
repeated  in  1464,'*  but  in  that  year  Richard  de  Welles, 
Lord  Willoughly,  had  a  grant  of  all  his  father's  goods," 
and  in  1468  he  obtained  a  full  restitution  of  blood  and 
honours  as  Lord  Welles.'  The  three  Essex  manors 
continued  in  Margaret's  possession.^  In  1469  Richard 
was  taken  prisoner  as  a  Lancastrian  and  executed.  His 
son  Sir  Robert  de  Welles  was  captured  soon  after  and 
was  also  executed,  and  in  1475  an  Act  of  attainder  was 
passed  against  them  both.3  In  that  year  the  reversion 
to  Gaynes  Park  after  Margaret's  death  was  granted  to 
Richard,  Duke  of  York,  the  king's  son.''  Hemnalls  and 
Madells  were  not  mentioned  in  this  grant.  Margaret 
died  in  1482.5  In  April  1485  Richard  III  granted 
Gaynes  Park,  valued  at  £t.(>  \y.  \d.  a  year,  to  Sir 
John  Pykeryng  and  his  son  Hugh  and  Hugh's  heirs 
male  for  good  service  against  the  rebels,  to  hold  by 
knight  service  and  an  annual  rent  of  40/.  There  was 
again  no  reference  to  Hemnalls  and  Madells.* 

After  the  accession  of  Henry  VII  John,  son  of  the 
above  Lionel,  Lord  de  Welles,  and  Margaret  his  second 
wife,  obtained  restitution  of  the  family  estates.'  In 
1487  he  was  created  Viscount  Welles  and  in  the  same 
year  married  Cecily  daughter  of  Edward  IV.*  In 
1491  the  estates  were  settled  upon  him  and  his  wife 
and  their  heirs  by  Act  of  Parliament.'  He  died  in 
1499,  his  two  daughters  having  died  in  infancy.'" 
Another  Act  of  Parliament  in  1503  provided  for  the 


"  Ca].  Inq.  p.m.  vi,  pp.  453-4.  The 
service  owed  to  Stonhurst  is  now  illegible 
in  the  MS. 

'«  C145/102/8. 

"  Cal.  Fine  R.  iii,  410;  Cal.  Close, 
1323-7,  606-7.  For  his  pedigree  see 
Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  76,  and 
S.  N.  Smith,  'Welle  or  Welles,  Barons 
Welle',  Mite.  Gen.  et  Herald.  (5th  ser.), 
ii,  44-48. 

»»  Cal.  Close,  1333-7,  i8^. 

«'  Earl  FitzwiUiam  (Milton)  Deed  1680. 

"  Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  76. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  79. 

•♦  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  viii,  p.  433. 


85  Ibid,  xi,  p.  187. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1360-4,  305. 

8'  Earl  FitzwiUiam  (Milton)  Deed  1683. 

88  Ibid.  1684. 

8'  C136/57/17. 

»»  Cal.  Close,  1385-9,478. 

9'  Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  77. 

»2  Misc.  Gen.  et  Herald {^th.  ser.),  ix,  46 ; 
Complete  Peerage,  xii  (l),  48. 

"  C140/3/32. 

»«  Ibid. 

'5  Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  77, 
143. 

«'  Rot.  Pari.  (Rec.  Com.),  v,  480. 

«'  Cal.  Pat.  1461-7,  116. 

266 


98 

99 

1 

78. 

2 
3 

Rot. 

4 
5 

6 

7 
8 
9 

562 


Ibid.  356. 
Ibid.  357. 
Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  77— 

Cal.  Close,  1468-76,  13. 

Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  78 ; 

Pari.  (Rec.  Com.),  vi,  144-5. 

Cal.  Pat.  1467-77,  508. 

Complete  Peerage,  xii  (l),  48. 

Cal.  Pat.  1476-85,  532. 

Rot.  Pari.  (Rec.  Com.),  vi,  286-7. 

Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  79. 

Statutes  of  the  Realm  (Rec.  Com.),  ii. 

Complete  Peerage  (orig.  ed.),  viii,  79. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


disposal  of  his  estates  after  Cecily's  death.  Gaynes 
Park,  Hemnalls,  and  Madells  were  to  pass  to  the  king 
for  ten  years,  and  then  to  William,  Lord  Willoughby, 
and  his  heirs  for  his  purparty  as  one  of  the  heirs  of 
Lionel,  Lord  Welles."  Cecily  died  in  1507,  holding 
the  manor  of  Gaynes  Park  of  the  manor  of  Theydon 
Garnon  by  fealty,  a  rent  of  6/.,  and  i  lb.  pepper. 
Gaynes  Park  was  then  said  to  contain  3  messuages, 
200  acres  of  land,  40  acres  of  meadow,  350  acres  of 
pasture,  250  acres  of  wood,  and  j^^io  i6s.  6\d.  rent  in 
Theydon  Garnon  and  6  acres  of  meadow  in  Theydon 
Bois,  valued  at  a  total  of  ^^14  14/.  30'.'^ 

In  April  1 508  Lord  Willoughby  sold  Gaynes  Park, 
Hemnalls,  and  Madells  to  William  Fitzwilliam, 
alderman  of  London,  at  the  same  time  covenanting  that 
he  would  prosecute  the  manors  out  of  the  king's  hands 
and  that  he  would  acquit  the  king  of  the  interest  which 
he  had  in  them  under  the  Act  of  1503.  In  default  he 
was  to  allow  Fitzwilliam  a  rebate  of  50  marks  for  each 
year  that  the  properties  remained  in  the  king's  hands. 
In  June  1 508  the  parties  agreed  that  Fitzwilliam  should 
undertake  these  proceedings  in  return  for  an  abatement 
of  460  marks  in  the  purchase  money.'3  In  September 
1508  the  king  released  his  interest  in  the  properties  to 
Lord  Willoughby  and  licensed  him  to  enter  upon  them 
without  proof  of  age.''*  The  conveyance  to  Fitzwilliam 
presumably  became  effective  at  once. 

Sir  William  Fitzwilliam  died  in  1534  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Sir  William  his  eldest  son. "5  In  1543 
Gaynes  Park,  Hemnalls,  and  Madells,  together  with 
Marshalls  in  North  Weald  (q.v.)  were  settled  on  Anne, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Sidney,  at  her  marriage  with 
Sir  William  Fitzwilliam's  son,  another  William.'* 
This  William  succeeded  his  father  in  1576'''  and  in 
1596  settled  his  Essex  estates  on  his  wife  for  life  with 
remainder  to  his  younger  son  John  and  his  heirs 
male.''  Sir  William  died  in  ijgg,"  and  his  wife  in 
1602.20 

The  last  named  Sir  William  Fitzwilliam  had  held 
the  office  of  vice-treasurer  and  treasurer  at  wars  in 
Ireland  from  1559  to  1573,  and  as  such  had  incurred 
debts  to  the  queen  amounting  to  ^3,964.  In  1572  he 
was  pardoned  ^^1,000,  but  by  his  death  only  ;^i,l85 
of  the  residue  had  been  paid.^'  After  his  widow's 
death  their  elder  son  William  became  responsible  for 
the  debt  and  this  led  to  a  dispute  over  the  ownership 
of  Gaynes  Park.  By  the  settlement  of  1596  William's 
younger  brother  John  was  heir  to  Gaynes  Park  but  in 
1602,  soon  after  Lady  Fitzwilliam's  death,  William 
seized  some  of  the  furnishings  and  other  goods  at 
Gaynes  Park  and  challenged  John's  title  to  the  manor, 
going  so  far  as  to  mortgage  the  estate  to  the  queen, 
presumably  as  a  means  of  repaying  the  debt  to  her. 
William  and  John  brought  countercharges  against  each 
other  for  wrongful  entry  into  Gaynes  Park  and  the  dis- 


pute was  finally  brought  before  the  Court  of  Exchequer. 
Precise  details  of  the  result  have  not  been  found,  but 
John  certainly  gained  possession  of  the  Essex  estates.^^ 

In  1609  John  Fitzwilliam  entailed  Gaynes  Park 
upon  himself,  with  remainder  to  his  executor  for  ten 
years  after  his  death  for  such  purposes  as  should  be 
declared  in  his  will,  or  if  he  left  no  such  declaration, 
then  to  the  use  of  Sir  Richard  Wingfield,  son  of  his 
father's  sister  Christiana.  At  the  end  of  the  ten-year 
period  the  property  was  to  pass  to  Sir  Richard  and  his 
heirs  male,  with  reversion  to  Nicholas,  second  son  of 
Sir  John  Byron  of  Newstead  (Notts.)  by  his  wife 
Margaret,  sister  of  John.  In  the  deed  of  settlement 
John  mentioned  the  dispute  with  his  brother  and  also 
the  support  which  he  had  received  from  Sir  Richard 
Wingfield.23  In  the  following  year  John  Fitzwilliam 
made  a  new  settlement  in  which  he  repeated  the  above 
provisions,  altering  only  some  later  remainders.^ 

Fitzwilliam  died  without  issue  in  161 2.^'  In  his 
will  he  confirmed  the  settlement  of  16 10,  with  the 
additional  clause  that  if  Sir  Richard  Wingfield  or  who- 
ever should  then  be  next  in  tail  would  undertake  to  pay 
his  debts  and  legacies  then  he  should  have  immediate 
possession  of  the  properties. 2*  Wingfield  took  advantage 
of  this  clause,  taking  a  lease  from  the  executors  for  the 
ten  years,  and  settled  the  manor  upon  himself  and  his 
wife  and  their  heirs  male,  with  remainder  to  the  above 
Nicholas  Byron.^^  Wingfield  was  created  Viscount 
Powerscourt  in  161 8  and  died  without  issue  in  1634, 
having  outlived  his  wife.^s 

Gaynes  Park  passed  to  Sir  Nicholas  Byron.  In  1637 
he  agreed  with  John  and  Margaret  Harrison  that  the 
manor  should  be  settled  in  trust  for  the  use  of  Harrison 
but  that  if  Byron  paid  ,^4,400  at  any  time  within  the 
next  seven  years  the  manor  was  thereafter  to  be  held 
for  his  use.  In  addition  Byron  was  to  pay  ^^800,  to 
settle  a  quarter  of  the  manor  of  South  Stoke  (Lines.) 
on  Harrison  and  to  release  to  Harrison  two  annuities 
charged  upon  Gaynes  Park  for  the  lives  of  Byron,  his 
wife  and  their  eldest  son  William.^'  A  month  after 
this  agreement  Byron  mortgaged  the  estate  for  ^^300 
to  John  Fountaine.3o  In  1639  he  raised  a  further 
mortgage  of  ^200  from  Fountaine  and  in  1642  pledged 
an  annuity  of  ^^20  out  of  the  estate  to  secure  payment 
of  ;^300  to  Anne  Beverley.s'  He  died  in  1648,  leaving 
Gaynes  Park  to  his  widow  Sophia  for  life,  with  suc- 
cessive remainders  to  his  sons  William  and  Ernestus.^^ 
In  1657,  after  the  death  of  Sophia  and  William, 
Ernestus  Byron  sold  the  estate  to  William  Turner  for 
X;3,ooo.33 

The  next  knowTi  owner  of  Gaynes  Park  was  the 
Earl  of  Anglesey  (d.  1686),  who  was  holding  it  in 
1662.34  It  is  possible  that  Turner  was  acting  on  his 
behalf  in  the  above  conveyance.  The  manor  ap- 
parently descended  with  the  earldom  of  Anglesey  until 


"  Rot.  Pari.  (Rec.  Com.),  vi,  542-4; 
Statutes  of  the  Realm  (Rec.  Com.),  ii, 
683-4. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  hen.  VII.,  iii,  p.  270. 

"  B.M.  Harl.  Chart.  55  H.  28; 
Winstonc,  Epfing  and  Ongar  Highway 
Trust,  287-8. 

'<  Cal.  Pat.  1494— I J09,  606.  Gaynes 
Park  is  wrongly  indexed  in  this  Cal.  under 
Upminstcr. 

**  Burke's  Peerage  &c.,  Fitzwilliam. 

"  L.  &■  P.  Hen.  Fill,  xviii  (i),  p.  46. 

"  Burke's  Peerage  fe^c,  Fitzwilliam. 

"  Earl  Fitzwilliam  (Milton)  Deed  1731. 

"  Burke's  Peerage  &c.,  Fitzwilliam; 
P.C.C.  63  Kidd. 


*"  M.I.  in  Theydon  Garnon  church. 

**  C66/1627.  For  Sir  William  see  also 
p.  289. 

"  E134/2  Jas.  I  Mich.  3i,cf.  Ei  33/10/ 
1 51 3;  Earl  Fitzwilliam  (Milton)  Deeds 
1734,  1738,  1745;  E.R.O.,Q/SR  'S8/38. 
55  and  160/147. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T90. 

"  Ibid. 

"  Burke's  Peerage  &c,,  Fitzwilliam. 

J«  P.C.C.  50  Fenner;  cf.  E.R.O.,  D/DB 
T90. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T90. 

^8  Complete  Peerage,  x,  636. 

"  Contemporary  MS.  vol.  in  possession 
of  Mrs.  A.  D.  Bell.    Complete  Peerage,  v. 


520,  describes  Lord  Fitzwilliam  (d.  1644) 
as  of  Gaynes  Park,  and  states  that  he  sold" 
the  manor  in  1636.  This  is  probably  a 
false  conclusion  drawn  from  a  final  con- 
cord of  1636  by  which  he  released  his 
right  in  the  manor  to- John  and  Margaret 
Harrison:  CP25(2)/4i7  East.  12  Chas.  I. 
Fitzwilliam  was  the  son  of  William  Fitz- 
william who  had  tried  to  seize  Gaynes 
Park  in  1602. 

3"  MS.  vol.  in  poss.  Mrs.  A.  D.  Bell. 

3>  Ibid. 

"  P.C.C.  176  Essex. 

"  MS.  vol.  in  poss.  Mrs.  A.  D.  Bell. 

"  E.R.O.,  S/RTh  I. 


267 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


1761."  It  then  passed  to  Arthur,  son  of  the  6th  earl, 
who  was  held  to  have  succeeded  to  the  family's  tide 
of  Viscount  Valentia  although  he  failed  to  secure 
recognition  as  Earl  of  Anglesey .3*  In  a  1 7th-century 
document  the  total  rents  from  the  Gaynes  Park  estates 
(including  Hemnalls)  were  stated  to  be  ^^251." 

Valentia  retained  Gaynes  Park  until  about  1792.38 
He  sold  it  to  Sir  Thomas  Coxhead,  who  died  in  1 8 1 1 
leaving  it  to  William  Coxhead  Marsh,  described  as  the 
natural  son  of  Sarah  Marsh  late  of  Ashwell  (Herts.).^' 
Marsh  had  been  living  at  Gaynes  Park  from  about 
I  Sod.*"  From  181 1  Gaynes  Park  descended  in  the 
Marsh  (later  Chisenhale-Marsh)  family.  The  present 
owner  is  Mr.  Hugo  Chisenhale-Marsh.'"  In  1840 
W.  C.  Marsh  owned  718  acres  in  Theydon  Garnon, 
of  which  497  acres  were  in  his  own  occupation.*^  He 
also  owned  18  acres  in  Theydon  Mount.*'  In  1873 
Thomas  Coxhead  Chisenhale-Marsh  owned  a  total  of 
1,361  acres  in  Essex,  with  an  estimated  gross  rental  of 
^2,357.'"  Part  of  the  increase,  but  not  all  of  it,  is 
accounted  for  by  the  acquisition  of  the  manor  of 
Theydon  Garnon  (see  above)  in  1858. 

In  the  1 7th  century  Gaynes  Park  Hall  was  described 
as  a  well-built  brick  house  with  gardens,  orchards, 
yards,  stables,  and  outhouses,  enclosed  with  brick  walls 
and  fish  ponds,  and  it  was  said  to  have  cost  j^8,ooo  to 
build.*'  This  house  existed  in  1696  but  had  been 
demolished  by  about  1740.**  By  1777  a  new  house 
had  been  built  about  J  mile  farther  north.*'  This  was 
usually  known  as  Park  Hall.  A  print  of  1 8 1 8  shows  a 
long  white  front  of  two  stories  having  a  central  bay 
flanked  by  Venetian  windows.**  After  the  middle  of 
the  19th  century  Thomas  Coxhead  Chisenhale-Marsh 
incorporated  this  building  in  a  large  stone  mansion  of 
Kentish  rag  which  he  completed  in  1 870.*'  The  house 
is  in  Tudor  style  with  a  pierced  parapet  and  many 
gables. 

The  manor  of  HEMNALLS  seems  to  have  com- 
prised the  north-west  corner  of  the  ancient  parish  of 
Theydon  Garnon.  The  modern  Hemnall  Street  in 
Epping,  which  runs  parallel  with  High  Street  to  the 
south-east,  was  formerly  just  within  the  boundary  of 
Theydon  Garnon.  The  name  probably  derives  from 
the  family  of  Henry  de  Emhal'  {c.  1 248)  and  Roger  de 
Hemenhal  {c.  1254)  who  may  have  come  from 
Hempnall  (Norf.).5o 

Hemnalls  is  first  referred  to  as  a  manor  in  about 
1340,  when  Adam  de  Welle  granted  a  rent  which 
issued  partly  from  it  (see  Gaynes  Park,  above).  At 
the  inquisition  made  after  Adam's  death  in  1345 
Hemnalls  was  described  as  a  tenement  in  Theydon 
Garnon  and  Theydon  Bois,  held  of  John  Fitz  Walter 
by  service  of  26/.  a  year.   The  jurors  did  not  know 


whether  it  was  held  by  knight  service  or  by  socage."  It 
was  referred  to  again  as  a  manor  in  1387  and  was 
always  subsequently  so  termed.'^  In  1461  it  was  said 
tobeamember  of  Gaynes  Park'3  but  in  1507  and  161 2 
to  be  held  of  the  manor  of  Hubbards  Hall  in  Harlow 
at  a  rent  of  26/." 

From  about  1 340  to  1 8 1 1  the  tenancy  in  demesne 
descended  with  the  manor  of  Gaynes  Park,  except  for 
two  brief  periods  when  that  manor  appears  to  have 
been  granted  separately  (1475  and  1485).  On  the 
death  in  1 8 1 1  of  Sir  Thomas  Coxhead  Hemnalls 
passed  under  his  will  to  his  widow  Deborah  for  life, 
with  remainder  to  Thomas  Coxhead  Marsh  of  Union 
Wharf,  Wapping  (Mdx.),  who  was  also  the  natural 
son  of  Sarah  Marsh  of  Ashwell  (Herts.).55  T.  C. 
Marsh  died,  apparently  without  children,  in  1 847,  and 
Hemnalls  passed  under  the  terms  of  Sir  Thomas  Cox- 
head's  will  to  W.  G.  Marsh  of  Gaynes  Park.s^  T.  C. 
Marsh  appears  to  have  spent  his  later  life  in  Paris, 
where  he  had  a  hotel. 5'  He  owmed  no  land  in  the 
parish  of  Theydon  Garnon  in  1840,5*  so  that  by  that 
time,  if  not  earlier,  his  interest  in  Hemnalls  consisted 
only  of  the  manorial  rights,  if  any.  Since  1847  Hemnalls 
has  once  again  descended  along  with  Gaynes  Park. 
The  site  of  the  ancient  manor  house  is  not  known. 

COOPERS  ALE  HOUSE  was  formerly  the  seat  of 
the  Archer  family  and  subsequently  one  of  the  resi- 
dences of  the  Archer- Houblon  family.  Although  never 
styled  a  manor  it  was  the  centre  of  one  of  the  largest 
estates  in  Theydon  Garnon. 

References  to  the  Archers  are  found  very  early  in 
the  history  of  Theydon  Garnon,  but  the  first  of  them 
to  become  important  was  Henry  Archer  who  on  his 
death  in  1616  held  a  capital  messuage  of  the  manor  of 
Hemnalls.s'  His  successor  was  his  son  Sir  John  Archer 
(d.  1682), a  justice  of  the  Common  Pleas.  John  Archer, 
son  and  heir  of  Sir  John,  died  without  issue  in  1707, 
leaving  the  estate  to  William  Eyre  of  Gray's  Inn  on 
condition  that  he  should  adopt  the  name  of  Archer  and 
marry  Eleanor  Wrottesly,  John  Archer's  niece.  Eleanor 
died  without  issue  and  William  Eyre  (now  William 
Eyre  Archer)  later  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Newton,  Bt.  Their  son  John  Archer  succeeded 
to  the  estate  in  1739  although  he  had  no  connexion  by 
blood  with  the  original  family  of  Archer.'"  He  died  in 
1800,  leaving  as  his  heir  his  daughter  Susanna,  who 
in  1770  had  married  Jacob  Houblon  (d.  1783)  of 
HaUingbury  Place.*'  She  went  to  live  at  Coopersale 
at  her  father's  death.  The  house  had  been  unoccupied 
since  her  mother's  death  in  1776.*^  In  18 19  Susanna 
adopted  the  name  of  Mrs.  Houblon  Newton. *3  She 
died  in  1837,  the  estate  passing  to  her  grandson  John 
Archer-Houblon.**  In  1838-40 he  owned  703  acres  in 


"  Complete  Peerage,  i,  i  34.  It  is  possible 
that  the  5th  Earl  held  Gaynes  Park  in 
1707,  3  years  before  succeeding  to  the 
title:  E.R.O.,  Q/RSg  i. 

"  Complete  Peerage,  i,  138. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DAc  228. 

'»  CP43/837  M  271-3;  E.R.O.,Q/RPI 
697. 

3»  P.C.C.  525  Crickitt. 

♦0  E.R.O.,  Q/RPI  711,  D/P  152/11/3, 

G/RSg4. 

*'  For  the  pedigree  see  Burke's  L.G. 
(1952  edn.),  8.V.  Marsh,  also  J.  J.  Howard 
and  F.  A.  Crisp,  Visit,  of  Eng.  and  fVales, 
iv,  5-8. 

*>  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 

♦'  Ibid.  351. 

♦♦  Retnl.    of    Owners    of   Land,     1873 


[C.  1097],  Essex,  p.  29,  H.C.  (1874), 
Ixxii  (i). 

*5  E.R.O.,  D/DAc  228. 

*'  Oliver,  Map  of  Essex,  1696;  N. 
Salmon,  Hist.  Essex,  48. 

*'  It  is  shown  in  this  position  by  Chap- 
man and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex,  lyyy,  sheet 
xvi. 

*'  E.R.O.,  Prints,  Theydon  Garnon. 

■*^  The  date  appears  on  a  gable. 

5»  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  23. 

5*  Cat.  Inq.p.m.  viii,  p.  433. 

5^  Earl  Fitzwilliam  (Milton)  Deed 
1683. 

"  C140/3/32. 

'♦  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  iii,  p.  270;  C 
142/665/50. 

55  P.C.C.  525  Crickitt.    ■ 

268 


56  For  T.  C.  Marsh's  will  see  P.C.C. 
340,  1847. 

5'  Ibid. 

58  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 

5«  C 1 42/3  59/ 1 39.  For  Henry  Archer's 
Charity  see  below,  Charities. 

*"  E.R.  xxxi,  165;  Lady  Alice  Archer- 
Houblon,  Houblon  Family,  its  story  and 
times,  ii,  306,  323.  For  Sir  John  Archer 
and  his  heirs  see  p.  289, 

"  Lady  Alice  Archer-Houblon,  Houblon 
Family,  ii,  279,  322.  For  the  marriage 
settlement  see  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T120. 

62  Houblon  Family,  ii,  279-80. 

'3  Ibid.  274.  She  was  heir  to  the 
Newton  family  as  well  as  those  of  Archer 
and  Houblon. 

'*  Ibid.  293. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


Theydon  Garnon  and  1 8  acres  in  Theydon  Mount.*' 
He  was  also  owner  of  82  acres  in  Theydon  Bois  when 
the  tithes  of  that  parish  were  commuted  in  1850.** 

After  1837  the  Coopersale  estate  descended  along 
with  Hallingbury  Place  in  the  Archer-Houblon 
family.  Coopersale  House  was  successively  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Mary  Anne  Archer-Houblon  (d.  1 865), 
widow  of  John  Archer  Houblon  (d.  1831),  Miss 
Harriet  Archer-Houblon  (d.  1896),  and  Mrs.  Eyre.^7 
It  then  remained  for  some  years  unoccupied.**  The 
contents  of  the  mansion  were  sold  in  1908,  and  the 
whole  Coopersale  estate  in  1914.*'  Coopersale  House 
was  then  bought  for  a  religious  order  which  occupied 
it  during  the  First  World  War.  In  1920  it  was  sold  to 
Mr.  E.  Camps.  From  1936  to  about  1944  it  belonged 
to  Mr.  Dudley  Ward  who  sold  it  to  Countess  Howe. 
It  was  bought  in  1946  by  Major  Jocelyn  Hambro, 
who  is  the  present  owner.'"' 

In  1920  the  house  was  a  large  three-storied  mansion, 
roughly  L-shaped  on  plan."  It  contained  fittings  dating 
from  the  early  17th  century  but  the  structure  itself  had 
been  altered  and  enlarged  at  subsequent  periods.  The 
north-east  wing,  which  had  mullioned  and  transomed 
windows,  was  probably  built  about  1670—80.  The 
principal  block  had  a  Georgian  front  of  nine  bays  and 
a  modillion  eaves  cornice  with  a  central  pediment. 
The  sash  windows  and  other  details  were  of  the  1 8  th 
and  early  19th  centuries,  but  some  older  carved 
chimney-pieces  had  been  preserved  internally.  At  the 
back  of  the  house  two  grotesque  brackets  of  the  17th 
century  had  been  incorporated  in  a  Georgian  door- 
case. The  ground-floor  room  on  the  left  of  the  entrance 
hall  was  of  two  stories  and  may  have  represented  the 
great  hall  of  the  original  house.  At  a  later  date  it  was 
used  as  a  chapel  and  had  a  painted  ceihng  thought  to 
represent  William  III  casting  out  popery.  Two  semi- 
circular bays  on  the  south  front  were  probably  part  of 
the  improvements  made  by  Mrs.  Susannah  Houblon 
Newton  after  1800.'^  At  some  period  panelling  and 
a  carved  overmantel  were  removed  to  Hallingbury 
Place." 

Immediately  after  1920  the  house  was  greatly 
reduced  in  size.  The  second  story  of  the  principal 
block  was  removed  and  most  of  the  north-east  wing 
demolished.  The  sash  windows  were  replaced  by 
mullioned  and  transomed  casements  of  17th-century 
design.  Panelling  and  carved  chimney-pieces  from  the 
demolished  rooms  were  reused  and  the  principal  stair- 
case was  reconstructed  with  balustrades  from  the  north- 
east wing.''*  In  recent  years  some  of  the  panelling  has 
been  taken  out  and  three  of  the  17th-century  chimney- 
pieces  are  missing. 

A  gateway  north  of  the  house  has  a  four-centred 
brick  arch  of  the  17th  century.    The  lake  below  the 
house  on  the  south  is  probably  the  work  of  John  Archer 
between  1739  and  '^ll^- 
65  E.R.O.,  0/0X350,351. 

"  Ibid.  349. 

"  Houblm  Family,  ii,  312,  297,  314; 
Kelly* i  Dir.  Esux  (1902,  1906). 

*'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1912,  1914). 

69  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  B.  130,  A.  1045. 

7°  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  53;  inf.  from 
Mrs.  E.  Camps  and  Mrs.  Hambro. 

"  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  61  and  Hist. 
Mon.  Com.  MS.  Rccs.  Most  of  the 
following  details  are  from  this  source. 

72  Houblon  Family,  ii,  279—80. 

"  Nat.  Bdgs.  Rec.  Coll.  Measured 
drawing.  Hallingbury  Place  has  since 
been  demolished.  A  16th-century  painted 


door,  formerly  in  Coopersale  House,  is 
now  in  the  Victoria  and  Albert  Museum. 

'♦  Details  from  Mrs.  E.  Camps. 

'5  Lunt,  Fal.  of  Noriuich,  336;  New- 
court,  Repert.  ii,  583-4. 

'*  London  Gait.  28  Dec.  1945,  p. 
6286. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DDa  T13;  P.C.C.  223 
Arden. 

'*  Lunt,  yal.  of  Norwich,  336;  Tax 
Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.)  zih. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  vi,  1 09-1 1. 

8»  Falor  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

*'  H.  Smith,  Eccl.  Hist.  Essex,  273. 

82  E.R.O.,  D/CT  350. 


The  advowson  of  Theydon  Garnon  was  appurtenant 
to  the  manor  and  descended  along  with  it 
CHURCH  until  1858.  Presentations  pro  hac  vice 
were  sometimes  granted  by  the  lords  of 
the  manor  to  others. '5  When  Sir  Thomas  Abdy,  Bt., 
sold  the  manor  in  1858  he  retained  the  advowson  and 
this  descended  with  the  baronetcy  until  1945,  when  it 
was  vested  in  the  Bishop  of  Chelmsford.'*  In  1834  the 
advowson,  with  other  properties,  was  mortgaged  by 
John  R.  H.  Abdy  to  Charles  G.  Parker  of  Springfield 
Place.  On  his  death  in  1 840  Abdy  allowed  his  trustees 
to  sell  the  next  presentation  and  to  apply  the  proceeds 
towards  the  redemption  of  the  mortgage,  or  if  this  had 
already  been  redeemed,  on  the  purchase  of  free- 
holds." 

In  about  1254  the  rectory  of  Theydon  Garnon  was 
valued  at  1 5  marks,  and  the  same  valuation  was  given 
in  1 291. '8  In  1507  the  rector  leased  the  church  and 
parsonage  with  the  tithes  to  William  Hyll,  chaplain, 
and  Francis  Hampden  for  three  years  at  an  annual 
rent  of  ^£8,  reserving  the  lodging  by  the  gate  (see 
below).'9  In  1535  the  rectory  was  valued  at  £17.^° 
In  1650  the'improved' value  was  j^i  74,  of  which  ;£i  24 
represented  composition  in  lieu  of  tithes.*'  The  tithes 
were  finally  commuted  in  1840  for  ;£650.  There  were 
then  71  acres  of  glebe.  *^ 

A  terrier  of  1610  mentions  the  parsonage  house  with 
glebe  and  outbuildings  including  a  cottage  called  the 
Gatehouse.*'  The  former  rectory  house,  now  known 
as  Theydon  Priory,  was  sold  to  the  Revd.  C.  G.  B. 
Hotham  after  his  retirement  in  1893.  The  present 
owner  (1954)  is  Mr.  W.  J.  Keswick.*^  The  house  is 
about  300  yds.  south  of  the  church.  The  rectory  was 
certainly  on  this  site  in  1648*5  and  the  core  of  Theydon 
Priory,  consisting  of  the  south  range  and  west  wing, 
may  represent  the  house  of  1 6 10.  The  building  was 
largely  reconstructed  in  the  i8th  century,  when  the 
south  side  was  given  a  symmetrical  front  of  red  brick 
with  sash  windows  and  a  pedimented  doorcase.  Until 
recently  the  main  entrance  was  at  this  side.  Additions 
made  later  in  the  i8th  century  include  a  large  room 
with  a  splayed  bay  on  the  north  side,  now  the  entrance 
hall.  Interior  fittings  date  from  about  1700  and  later. 
In  the  present  century  additions  were  made  to  the  east 
and  west.  The  entrance  porch  is  also  modern. 

The  present  red-brick  gabled  rectory,  which  is 
immediately  south  of  the  church,  was  built  in  1895-6 
at  a  cost  of  j^3,300.** 

John  Molyns  (d.  1 591),  who  was  Rector  of  Theydon 
Garnon  from  1561  until  his  death,  had  been  among 
the  Puritan  clergy  who  emigrated  to  Frankfurt-am- 
Main  under  Mary  I.  He  became  Canon  of  St.  Paul's 
and  Archdeacon  of  London  in  1559.*'  Samuel  Searle, 
who  became  rector  in  1609,  was  a  turbulent  man 
whose  offences  appear  to  have  included  manslaughter 
and  brawling  in  church.**  In  1622-3  he  was  suspected 

*3  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  583.  A  terrier 
of  1 62 1  gives  similar,  though  not  identical 
details :  ibid.  Cf.  the  Gatehouse  with  the 
Priest's  House,  below. 

8*  Essex  in  the  20th  century  (Pike's  New 
Century  Ser.  No.  27),  49;  inf.  from  Mrs. 
W.  J.  Keswick.  Hotham  was  Rector  of 
Theydon  Garnon  1887—93. 

85  E.R.O.,D/DC  27/1 123. 

8'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  {ii()%).  A  new  rec- 
tory is  now  (1955)  being  built. 

8'  D.N.B. 

88  E.R.O.,  D/AEA  30  fo.  107";  St.  Ch. 
8/275/4- 


269 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


of  being  an  accessory  to  murder,  and  in  1624  he  was 
deprived  of  his  benefice.*' 

At  the  Dissolution  of  the  Chantries  in  1 548  there 
were  found  to  be  obits  in  the  church  of  Theydon 
Garnon  supported  by  annual  rents  of  8/.  \d.,  6s.  3J., 
and  6s.  %J.,  charged  on  the  lands  of  John  Rogers, 
Richard  Archer,  and  John  Archer  respectively.'"  The 
rents  were  granted  in  1 549  to  Robert  Woode  of  the 
Inner  Temple." 

The  church  oi  ALL  SALNTS  consists  of  nave  and 
chancel,  north  aisle,  north  porch,  south  porch,  north 
vestry,  and  west  tower.  The  walls  of  nave  and  chancel 
are  of  flint  rubble  and  those  of  the  tower,  aisle,  and  north 
porch  are  of  brick.  The  chancel  probably  dates  from 
the  13th  century.  The  nave  appears  to  have  been  re- 
built in  the  15th  century.  The  tower  was  built  about 
1520.  In  1644  the  north  aisle  and  north  porch  were 
added  and  a  north  arcade  of  timber  built.  The  south 
porch  was  built  in  the  18th  century,  and  in  the  19th 
century  there  were  numerous  alterations  including  the 
addition  of  a  north  vestry  and  organ  chamber.  The 
church  is  of  special  interest  from  its  dated  tower  of 
1 5  20  and  dated  north  aisle  of  1644. 

The  chancel,  which  was  probably  built  in  the  13  th 
century,  has  in  its  south  wall  a  13th  century  lancet 
window,  and  on  the  north  side  a  niche  of  uncertain  date. 
There  is  no  structural  division  between  chancel  and  nave. 

In  the  1 5th  century  the  nave  was  probably  rebuilt. 
In  the  south  wall  there  is  a  I  jth-century  window  of 
three  cinquefoiled  lights  in  a  segmental-pointed  head, 
with  moulded  label  and  the  arms  of  Gernon.'^  Also 
in  the  south  wall  is  a  15th-century  doorway  with 
moulded  jambs  and  a  two-centred  arch  under  a  square 
moulded  label  with  traceried  spandrels.  The  east 
window  in  the  chancel  is  also  of  the  15th  century.  It 
has  four  cinquefoiled  lights  with  vertical  tracery  in  a 
two-centred  head. 

About  1 520  the  west  tower  was  added.  It  is  of  red 
brick,  with  some  blue  brick,  of  three  stages  with  an 
embattled  parapet.  The  date  is  recorded  on  a  stone 
panel  on  the  outside  of  the  south  wall,  where  it  is  stated 
that  Sir  John  Crosbe,  late  alderman  and  grocer  of 
London,  and  his  wives  Anne  and  Annes  gave  ^^50  to- 
wards the  building  of  the  tower. '^ 

The  north  aisle  and  porch  were  built  in  1644.  They 
are  of  red  brick  which  it  is  interesting  to  compare  with 
the  earlier  brick  of  the  tower.  The  date  is  picked  out 
in  dark  brick  on  a  panel  on  the  outside  of  the  east  wall 
of  the  aisle.  A  corresponding  panel  on  the  outside  of 
the  west  wall  has  the  letters  i.  h.  The  timber  arcade 
which  divides  the  nave  from  the  aisle  also  dates  from 
1644.  It  consists  of  five  bays  with  octagonal  oak 
columns  and  semi-octagonal  oak  responds.  The  oak 
arches  are  roughly  three-centred  to  the  east  bays  and 
semicircular  to  the  west  bays  and  have  a  horizontal 
moulded  fascia  above  them  mitred  down  in  the  middle 
of  each  arch  to  form  a  key  block.  The  nave  roof  was 
probably  reconstructed  at  this  time  but  retains  several 
rebated    king-posts  of  the  15th  century.  Along  the 

»9  Ad!  ofP.C.  1 62 1-3,  44.2;  Cal.  S.P. 
Dom.  1623-5,  285;  ibid.  1625-6,482. 

'»  £301/30/74;  E.  Ogborne,  Hist. 
Ettex,  261. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  1549-51,96. 

9*  Thomas  Gcrnon,  last  of  his  name  to 
hold  the  manor  of  Theydon  Garnon,  was 
dead  by  1428—9:  see  Manors,  above. 

*3  Crosbe's  connexion  with  Theydon 
Garnon  has  not  been  discovered.  The 
mention  of  his  two  wives  suggests  that 


south  side  of  the  nave  are  two  gabled  dormer  windows. 
These  were  largely  remodelled  in  the  19th  century  but 
the  frames  probably  date  from  1 644. 

During  the  17th  century  several  other  new  windows 
were  added.  In  the  chancel  are  two  windows,  one  on 
the  north  wall  and  one  on  the  south,  both  having  two 
pointed  lights,  and  the  west  window  of  the  tower  is  also 
probably  of  the  same  century. 

In  1762  repairs  were  carried  out  on  the  church  cost- 
ing over  ;^loo.  The  largest  part  of  this  sum,  £6j,  was 
for  carpenter's  work,  including  roof  repairs.'*  In  1770 
there  is  said  to  have  been  a  gallery  in  the  north  aisle." 
It  is  not  clear  what  form  this  then  took.  In  1774  the 
parish  vestry  released  to  John  Deakins  and  the  future 
occupiers  of  his  dwelling  the  seat  where  the  psalm 
singers  used  to  sit  on  the  north  side  of  the  church,  in 
return  for  15  guineas  towards  the  building  of  a  singers' 
gallery.'*  The  balance  of  the  carpenter's  bill  towards 
the  building  of  the  gallery  was  paid  in  December 
1774."  The  restoration  of  the  north  porch  and  the 
insertion  of  the  west  doorway  in  the  tower  also  took 
place  in  the  i8th  century. 

The  Revd.  Sir  Cavendish  Foster,  Bt.,  rector  from 
1843  to  1887,  substantially  altered  the  church.  In 
1 863  the  gallery  was  removed '*  and  five  new  windows 
inserted  in  the  aisle,  three  in  the  north,  one  in  the  east, 
and  one  in  the  west  wall."  The  previous  north  wall 
windows  are  said  to  have  been  wide  and  square  with 
wooden  frames  and  the  previous  east  window  small 
and  square."  The  east  window  has  now  been  blocked. 
Further  restorations  appear  to  have  been  carried  out 
during  Foster's  incumbency.^  The  vestry  and  organ 
chamber  were  added  in  1892  at  the  expense  of  the 
Revd.  C.  G.  B.  Hotham,  Foster's  successor  as  rector, 
and  W.  S.  Chisenhale-Marsh  of  Gaynes  Park. 3  A  new 
heating  apparatus  was  installed  in  1899  at  the  expense 
of  the  Kemsley  family .t 

A  glazed  screen  between  the  west  end  of  the  nave 
and  the  tower  was  erected  by  the  Chisenhale-Marsh 
family  as  a  memorial  to  those  who  fell  in  the  First 
World  War.  In  1934  general  repairs  to  the  church 
were  carried  out  and  the  lancet  window  in  the  south 
wall  of  the  chancel,  which  had  been  blocked  for  several 
centuries,  was  opened  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  Hugh 
Kemsley. 5  Further  repairs  have  been  done  during  the 
past  ten  years. 

The  communion  rails  were  set  up  in  1683-4  at  a 
cost  of  £'^.,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  archdeacon 
at  his  visitation  of  1683.*  The  pulpit  is  a  'two-decker' 
and  has  a  large  sounding-board  of  the  early  i8th 
century.  There  are  three  chairs  of  the  same  period  in 
the  chancel.  Some  16th-century  seats  formerly  in  the 
nave  were  removed  about  1920. ^  There  is  16th- 
century  panelling  on  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  and 
some  of  about  1 700  in  the  tower.  In  the  vestry  is  a 
large  oak  chest  with  iron  bands  given  in  1668  by  Sir 
John  Archer. 8  In  it  are  some  manorial  records.'  At 
the  west  end  of  the  nave  is  an  oak  door-frame  taken 
from  the  Priest's  House  (see  below). 


the  building  of  the  tower  took  a  consider- 
able time,  but  was  completed  about  1520. 
«♦  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/5/3. 
"  Hist.  Essex  by  Gent,  iii,  405. 
9'  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 52/8/1. 
«'  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/12/5. 
"  E.R.  XXXV,  196. 
99  Ibid.  200. 
■  Ibid. 

»  Kelly  s  Dir.  Essex  (1870  f.). 
J  Ibid.  (1906). 


*  Ibid.  Joseph  Kemsley,  church- 
warden, had  died  in  1897  :  see  below. 

5  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1937). 

«  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 52/5/1  i  E.A.T.  N.s. 
xix,  273. 

'  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  233. 

8  H.  W.  Lewer  and  J.  C.  Wall,  Ckurch 
Chests  dJ  Essex ^  206—8. 

9  W.  C.  Waller,  'An  old  church  chest', 
E.A.T.  N.s.  V,  1-32,  200. 


270 


Kelvedon  Hatch  Old  Church,  built  1750-3 


Theydon  Bois  Church,  built  1850  Theydon  Mount  Church,  built  1611-14 

Post-Reformation  Churches 


The  Church  and  Priest's  House,  Theydon  Garnon,  in  i8i8 


Stondon  AIassev  Church  in  1833 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


There  are  five  bells.  The  first  four  were  cast  by 
Miles  Graye  in  1628  and  the  fifth  by  Robert  Phelps 
in  1732.  In  1733  the  parish  vestry  agreed  to  borrow 
^22  at  5  per  cent,  interest  to  pay  for  the  casting  and 
hanging  of  this  last  beU.'"  The  church  plate  consists 
of  a  cup  and  paten  cover  of  1 562;  two  flagons  of  1650, 
given  in  1 671  by  the  rector  James  Meggs;  a  paten  of 
1702  given  by  John  Baker  and  an  undated  almsdish 
also  bearing  Baker's  name  and  probably  of  1702;  and 
an  almsdish  of  1 89  5 .  All  the  pieces  are  silver.  In  1 8 1 6 
all  the  then  existing  plate  was  repaired  at  a  cost  of  ^3." 

On  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  brass  to  William 
Kirkeby,  rector,  1458  with  a  figure  of  a  priest  in  cope 
with  shield  of  arms.  This  was  formerly  in  the  nave  and 
was  set  up  in  its  present  position  with  a  modern  inscrip- 
tion between  1812  and  1835.'^  Also  in  the  chancel  are 
a  brass  to  Ellen  (Hampden),  wife  of  John  Branch, 
I  567,  and  monuments  to  Lady  Anne  (Sidney),  wife 
of  Sir  WiOiam  FitzwiDiam,  1602;  Sir  Daniel  Dun, 
1617  and  his  wife  Joan,  1640;  James  Meggs,  rector, 
1672;  Sir  John  Archer,  1681;  and  Sir  William  Eyre 
.Archer,  1739.  '^'^^  '^^'  '*  ^  large  standing  wall  monu- 
ment with  grey  sarcophagus  and  obelisk  and  medallion 
of  the  deceased  flanked  by  three  cherubs.  Set  into  the 
north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  grey  marble  altar-tomb 
with  a  flat-arched  canopy  resting  on  small  side-shafts 
and  having  a  frieze  of  quatrefoil  panels.  At  the  back  of 
the  recess  is  a  brass  of  a  kneeling  man  in  armour,  his 
wife,  two  sons,  and  three  daughters,  with  indents  of 
two  inscription  plates,  two  shields,  a  Trinity  and 
another  group,  of  about  1520.  Opposite  is  another 
similar  altar-tomb  of  slightly  later  date  with  the  canopy 
set  on  twisted  shafts,  also  with  indents  for  brasses  at  the 
back  of  the  recess.  There  are  floor  slabs  in  the  chancel 
to  Henry  and  Thomas  Meggs,  1670,  Margaret  wife 
of  James  Meggs,  1681,  and  Richard  Butler,  1688. 

In  the  nave  is  a  wall  monument  to  Denton  Nicholas, 
M.D.,  1714,  moved  there  from  the  chancel  in  1934. 
There  is  a  floor  slab  in  the  nave  to  Jane,  widow  of 
John  Wormlayton,  1725,  and  their  daughters  Jane, 
1705,  and  .4nne,  1712.  Other  later  monuments  include 
plaques  to  Charles  B.  Abdy,  1843,  Joseph  Kemsley, 
churchwarden,  1897,  and  William  S.  Chisenhale- 
Marsh,  1929.  There  is  a  stained-glass  window  in 
memory  of  the  Revd.  Sir  Cavendish  Foster,  Bt.  (see 
above). 

A  few  yards  west  of  the  church  there  stood  until 
recently  a  cottage  called  the  Priests'  House.  It  was  of 
two  stories,  the  upper  projecting  on  the  east  front  with 
exposed  joists  and  curved  brackets.  It  was  apparently 
built  in  the  late  15th  century.'^  It  may  have  been 
identical  with  the  Gatehouse  (see  above)  of  1507  and 
1610.  If  so  it  consisted  in  1507  of  a  parlour,  with  a 
chimney  and  larder  at  one  end  and  two  chambers; 
above  were  a  study  and  'wyddraughte',  i.e.  a  sink  or 
drain. ■<  In  1624  there  was  an  alehouse  in  the  church- 
yard;'5  this  may  well  have  been  the  same  house  since 
a  map  of  1648  shows  no  other  buildings  iii  the  church- 
yard.'* The  Priests'  House  has  now  been  destroyed 
except  for  a  door-frame  (see  above).   An  engraving  of 


the  church  published  in  18 10  shows  in  the  distance  a 
small  part  of  the  house. '^  Another  of  1 8 1 8  by  the  same 
hand  shows  the  whole  house.'* 

The  small  brick  building  outside  the  churchyard  has 
been  used  as  a  Sunday  school."  It  probably  dates  from 
the  late  19th  or  early  20th  century.  An  avenue  of 
limes  and  chestnuts  leading  from  the  south  side  of  the 
churchyard  to  the  former  rectory  is  now  known  as  the 
Monks'  Walk. 

The  church  of  ST.  ALB  AN,  Coopersale,  was  built 
at  the  expense  of  Miss  Archer-Houblon  in  1852.^"  It 
was  consecrated  in  the  same  year  and  a  particular 
district  assigned  to  it.^'  The  advowson  was  vested  in 
Miss  Archer-Houblon  and  it  remained  in  her  family 
until  1914  when  it  was  transferred  to  the  Bishop  of 
Chelmsford.^^  The  building  is  of  flint  and  consists  of 
chancel,  nave,  south  porch,  and  north  vestry  with  bell- 
cote  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave.  The  vicarage  was  also 
built  at  Miss  Archer-Houblon's  expense.  It  stands  to 
the  north  of  the  church  and  is  a  gabled  house  of  varie- 
gated brickwork.  Opposite  the  church  is  the  Parish 
Room,  a  single-story  building  dating  from  about  1865, 
of  brown  brick  with  dressings  of  red  and  black. 

For  charities  relating  to  the  church  see  Charities, 
below. 

Only  one  volume  of  vestry  minutes^' — from  1754 

to  1827 — survives  for 
PARISH  GOVERNMENT  Theydon  Garnon  and 
AND  POOR  RELIEF  this  contains  little  more 

than  the  annual  appoint- 
ment of  parish  officers  and  summarized  details  of  the 
parish  accounts.  Other  vestry  resolutions  have  been 
entered  elsewhere,  in  the  overseers'  rate  and  account 
books,  but  even  so  it  is  impossible  to  put  together  a 
comprehensive  picture  of  the  parish  government,  and 
for  many  details  it  is  necessary  to  rely  on  entries  of 
payments  in  the  account  books,  which  cover  the  periods 
1715-1817  and  1826-36.2-* 

The  Easter  vestry  was  usually  attended  by  some  6 
to  10  persons;  at  such  other  vestry  meetings  of  which 
records  survive  it  apparently  varied  between  3  and  24. 
Between  1780  and  1796  the  rector  usually  presided  at 
the  Easter  vestry.  In  1729  the  vestry  resolved  that 
every  officer  not  attending  the  public  vestry  on  the 
first  Saturday  in  every  month  should  be  fined  6J.,  and 
that  every  other  parishioner  not  attending  every 
quarterly  vestry  should  be  fined  ^J.,  but  in  1737  it  was 
resolved  that  the  vestry  should  meet  no  more  than  once 
in  every  three  months,  and  in  1780  that  the  vestry 
should  be  held  in  the  church  on  the  first  Saturday  in 
the  month.  In  1774  a  vestry  clerk,  to  attend  the  vestry 
each  month,  was  appointed  at  a  salary  of  6  guineas. 
He  was  discharged,  however,  in  1780  and  the  office 
abolished. 

In  the  second  half  of  the  i8th  century  there  were 
always  two  persons  in  each  of  the  parish  offices.  The 
overseers  nearly  always  served  for  one  year  only.  A 
woman  was  occasionally  appointed  to  the  office.  The 
churchwardens  and  constables  usually  remained  in, 
office  for  at  least  two  years  and  often  for  much  longer 


'0  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/12/2. 

■'  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/5/3.  The  repairs 
were  done  by  Thomas  and  Storrs,  1 6 
Mincing  Lane,  London. 

"  Ogborne,  Hist.  Essex,  266 ;  T.  Wright, 
Hist.  Esfex,  ii,  380. 

'3  H.  H.  Collett,  'The  churchyard 
cottage  at  Theydon  Garnon*,  E.R.  xvii, 
18—21  ;  Hist.  Mon.  Cofn.  Essex,  ii,  233. 


■♦  E.A.T.  N.s.  vi,  no. 
15  E.R.O.,  D/AED  10  f.  25^ 
'6  E.R.O.,  D/DC  23/1123. 
■'  Gents.    Mag.    Ixxx    (ii),    601;    E.R. 
xxxi,  186. 
"  See  plate  facing  p.  271. 
'»  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (3rd  edn.),  sheet  Ixi. 
"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1933). 
"  London    Gaz.    22    Oct.     1852,    pp. 


2758-9. 

^^  Ibid.  13  Nov.  I9"I4,  p.  9259. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/8/1. 

^*  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/12/1-10.  Unless 
otherwise  stated  all  the  following  informa- 
tion is  derived  from  these  account  books 
and  from  the  minute-book  referred  to 
above. 


271 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


periods.  From  1756  until  1781  the  surveyors  usually 
served  for  i  or  2  years  consecutively  but  the  Revd. 
T.  A.  Abdy  and  John  Palmer  served  in  the  office 
throughout  the  period  1781-1792.  In  1780  it  was 
resolved  to  appoint  an  assistant  to  the  overseer  at  a 
salary  of  6  guineas;  by  April  18 14  the  salary  was  £20. 
In  1792  among  the  parish  officers  appointed  was  a 
'reive  of  the  waste.' 

Between  17 15  and  18 17  all  bills  of  the  church- 
wardens and  constables,  and  of  the  parochial  charities 
were  paid  out  of  one  account — that  of  the  overseers. 
There  was  also  a  single  and  undifferentiated  rate.  A 
iJ.  rate  in  1683-4  produced  £%  p.  4^.^^  and  it  does 
not  appear  that  this  assessment  was  altered.  In  1783 
a  resolution  to  do  so  was  defeated.^* 

The  vestry  appears  to  have  been  watchful  of  the 
general  interests  of  the  inhabitants.  In  1776,  for 
example,  the  vestry  agreed  to  prosecute  Richard  Palmer 
of  Epping  should  he  complete  the  building  of  cottages 
for  the  habitation  of  poor  persons  within  the  parish 
without  intending  to  lay  4  acres  of  land,  which  it  was 
deemed  would  bring  great  charge  to  the  parish.  Palmer, 
who  was  present,  agreed  not  to  go  on  with  the  building. 
In  1 78 1  the  vestry  adjourned  to  supervise  the  over- 
throw of  fences  on  illegal  encroachments  made  by  the 
people  of  Epping  upon  the  waste  of  the  manor  of 
HemnaUs,  and  in  1797  it  was  agreed  that  a  gate  should 
be  erected  to  keep  off  forest  cattle.  One  scandal  occurs 
in  the  parish  records.  In  1774  it  was  reported  that 
William  Le  Cocq,  one  of  the  overseers,  and  then  in 
Chelmsford  Gaol,  had  not  delivered  in  his  account,  and 
the  vestry  ordered  the  parish  officers  to  borrow  ;^ioo 
to  pay  off  his  debts. 

Most  of  the  parish  business  naturally  concerned  poor 
relief.  When  the  parish  accounts  begin  it  appears  that 
the  policy  was  one  of  out  relief  only.  In  171 5  there 
was  a  payment  of  £3  for  badges  for  paupers.  There 
were  similar  payments  for  badges  in  1729  and  in  1746 
it  was  ordered  that  badges  should  be  worn  by  all  those 
receiving  weekly  doles.  In  1728  there  were  19  people 
receiving  doles;  in  1732  16  people,  and  in  1733  13 
people,  were  receiving  doles  totalling  respectively 
£1  13/.  jJ.  and  £1  6s.  ^J.  a  week.  There  were  also 
frequent  payments  for  the  provision  of  clothing,  for 
nursing  at  home,  and  for  rents.  Occasionally,  at  least, 
paupers'  children  were  bound  out  as  apprentices.  In 
June  1 78  5  it  was  decided  to  advertise  in  the  Chelmsford 
papers  in  order  to  get  3  or  4  boys  placed  as  apprentices ; 
in  the  following  month  one  was  apprenticed  to  a  baker 
at  Henham. 

There  is  a  reference  to  a  parish  house  in  1714,^'  but 
this  may  have  been  only  a  pest  house,  which  is  men- 
tioned in  August  1766.  In  August  1729,  however,  the 
vestry  resolved  that  the  churchwardens  and  overseers 
should  look  for  a  convenient  place  and  house  for  a  work- 
house, and  in  September  of  that  year  it  was  resolved 
to  provide  a  workhouse.  In  March  1730  it  was  again 
resolved  that  the  parish  officers  should  look  for  a  work- 
house with  all  speed,  but  there  does  not  appear  to  be 
any  evidence  of  one  until  1 742  when  it  was  agreed  to 
take  Mr.  Rogers's  house  for  three  years  at  £8  a  year. 
In  1746  the  vestry  agreed  to  take  the  house  on  a  yearly 


tenancy  at  a  rent  oC  £j.^^  Subsequent  entries  for  the 
payment  of  the  rent  make  it  clear  that  this  was  being 
used  as  a  workhouse,  and  sometimes  describe  it  as  in 
'The  Street',  presumably  Coopersale  Street.  The  parish 
appears  to  have  let  an  orchard  attached  to  this  building 
to  John  Palmer  at  an  annual  rent  of  los.    By  April 

1774  the  parish  had  leased  another  house,  Mr. 
Bishop's,  at  a  rent  of  £9.  Rogers's  house,  which  in  June 

1775  was  described  as  'the  old  workhouse',  was  still  in 
use  until  June  1776,  when  the  parish  accounts  record 
a  payment  for  beer  when  the  people  were  carried  out 
of 'the  old  workhouse.'  In  1782  the  vestry  agreed  that 
a  house  called  Newmans,  belonging  to  John  Palmer,^' 
should  be  leased  for  2 1  years  and  converted  into  a  work- 
house. In  1805  the  parish  was  given  notice  to  quit 
both  Palmer's  and  Bishop's  houses.^"  By  June  1793 
the  parish  had  leased  a  cottage  on  the  common  from 
the  lord  of  the  manor  at  a  rent  of  £1  10/.;  the  parish 
was  given  notice  to  quit  this  house  in  1807.3'  In  1829 
the  parish  held  a  house  at  Coopersale  Common;  it  was 
then  occupied  by  William  Brown,  a  'poor  person',  who 
in  November  of  that  year  was  given  notice  to  quit.^^ 

In  February  1774  Edward  Robinson  was  appointed 
master  of  the  workhouse,  in  succession  to  the  'late  Mr. 
Jepp',  at  a  salary  of  1 3  guineas.  He  was  also  allowed 
one  pint  of  ale  a  day,  but  was  not  permitted  to  charge 
for  tea  and  sugar  brought  in.  In  June  1775  Giles 
Ashby  of  Halstead  was  appointed  'to  be  the  master  and 
mistress  of  the  workhouse'  at  a  salary  of  1 2  guineas, 
with  an  allowance  of  i  guinea  for  tea.'^  In  1803  the 
parish  made  an  agreement  with  Thomas  Finch  for  the 
farm  of  the  poor.  He  was  to  be  allowed  3/.  a  head 
weekly  whilst  flour  should  remain  under  y.  a  peck, 
and  to  be  allowed  a  surplus  according  to  the  exact  con- 
sumption in  the  house  to  be  proved  by  the  bills  of 
parcels.  He  was  to  provide  three  meals  daily,  to  include 
'hot  meat  dinner'  on  Sundays,  Tuesdays,  and  Thursdays. 
He  was  also  to  be  allowed  the  benefit  of  all  the  work'* 
produced  by  the  poor  in  the  house,  an  extra  guinea  for 
every  lying  in  with  p.  a  week  for  the  child  at  one 
month  old,  4J.  for  every  pauper  dying  in  the  house  (the 
parish,  however,  paying  the  cost  of  burial),  i  guinea 
for  loss  of  time  and  trouble  for  every  pauper  laid  up 
with  a  broken  or  fractured  limb,  and  2J  guineas  for 
shaving  the  paupers  once  a  week  and  for  sweeping  the 
chimneys. 35  In  18 16  the  parish  contracted  with 
William  Nutt  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  in  the 
workhouse  for  one  year;  the  contract  was  renewed  in 
1817,  Nutt  being  allowed  5X.  a  head  weekly.36  There 
is  in  the  records  one  undated  proposal,  from  John 
Stubbs  of  Orsett  workhouse,  for  undertaking  to  main- 
tain the  poor  at  5^.  a  head,  with  an  allowance  of  ij 
chaldron  of  coal.''  In  1828  the  parish  seems  to  have 
found  some  difficulty  in  arranging  a  price  per  head  for 
the  workhouse,  and  two  letters  survive  from  people 
willing  to  enter  into  a  contract.' 8 

At  first  it  seems  that  the  parish  tried  to  get  all  its 
poor  into  the  workhouse,  and  the  weekly  doles  ceased 
in  1762.  It  was,  however,  found  necessary  to  reintro- 
duce them  during  the  worst  period  of  the  depression 
at  the  end  of  the  century,  and  in  November  1799  it 
was  resolved  that  every  family  should  be  allowed  i^. 


"  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/5/1. 
2«  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/11/3. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/18/11. 
2»  Ibid. 

^'  The    house    was    described    as    'late 
Rogers's.* 
»  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/18/10. 


"  Ibid. 
"  Ibid. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/18/7. 
^*  In    1804.  spinning-wheels   were  pur- 
chased for  the  workhouse. 
"  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 52/ 1 8/7. 
36  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 52/1 1/4. 


3'  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/18/7. 

38  E.R.O,,  D/P  152/18/14.  Several 
inventories  of  the  workhouse  (1792— 
1 8 19)  survive  as  also  do  regulations  for  the 
workhouse  diet  (1803):  E.R.O.,  D/P 
152/15/8;  ibid.  D/P  152/18/4. 


272 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


a  week  for  every  child  above  the  number  of  two  under 
the  age  of  lo.  There  were  37  people  in  the  workhouse 
in  1793  and  30  in  1805.  In  181 1  the  house  was 
enlarged. 3' 

In  1796  the  lord  of  the  manor  granted  the  parish 
2j  acres  of  waste  upon  condition  that  2  acres  be  planted 
with  potatoes  for  eventual  sale  to  the  poor  inhabitants. 
Payment  for  digging  potatoes  on  the  common  piece  is 
recorded  in  the  account  books  in  October  1 797  and  in 
March  1798  there  were  two  entries  of  money  received 
for  'taters'. 

The  parish  always  seems  to  have  given  much  atten- 
tion to  the  relief  of  the  sick  poor.  The  first  mention  of 
a  parish  doctor  occurs  in  172 1  when  Dr.  Dimsdale's 
bill  for  £^  for  treating  a  pauper  was  settled,  and  there 
are  other  references  to  the  settling  of  apparently  casual 
bills,  but  this  method  seems  to  have  caused  some  alarm, 
for  in  1729  the  vestry,  after  approving  Dimsdale's  bill, 
ordered  that  for  the  future  no  bill  was  to  be  allowed, 
unless  those  afflicted  had  procured  an  order  in  writing 
from  a  churchwarden  or  overseer,  except  in  an  emer- 
gency. This  order  was  repeated  in  1737.  The  last 
payment  to  Dimsdale  was  in  January  1742.  In  April 
1743  the  parish  settled  a  bill  of  Dr.  Davies  for  ^^lo 
and  there  is  at  least  one  other  similar  payment,  in 
March  1 744,  but  these  may  have  been  casual  payments 
and  need  not  imply  a  definite  contract.  The  first 
definite  reference  to  a  salaried  doctor  occurs  in  1749 
when  Thomas  Fletcher  agreed  to  take  care  of  the  poor 
of  the  parish  in  pharmacy  and  surgery  at  an  annual 
salary  of  8  guineas;  in  1756  Francis  Mitten  agreed  to 
take  the  poor  under  his  care  and  to  supply  them  with 
physic  and  attend  in  all  cases  of  surgery  at  a  salary  of 
8  guineas,  and  also  to  attend  every  maternity  case  at 
J  guinea  a  case.^"  On  one  occasion,  in  June  1764,  the 
parish  resolved  to  pay  Mitten  6  guineas  for  curing  a 
broken  leg;  he  was  then  described  as  surgeon  at  Epping. 
In  1777,  however,  Richard  Boodle  was  appointed  to 
attend  the  poor  when  necessary  and  all  cases  of  surgery, 
midwifery,  and  inoculation  at  a  salary  of  10  guineas. . 
The  vestry  ordered  that  one  of  the  overseers  should 
wait  on  Mitten,  who  was  on  this  occasion  merely 
described  as  an  apothecary,  to  pay  his  salary,  to  return 
the  thanks  of  the  parish  for  what  he  had  done  for  the 
poor,  and  to  inform  him  that  his  future  attendance  was 
no  longer  required,  as  Mr.  Boodle  was  chosen  in  his 
place,  the  parish  not  thinking  'the  parish  business  an 
object  worth  his  notice'.  Boodle's  appointment  was  to 
date  from  Easter  1777,  but  these  arrangements  were 
apparently  abortive,  since  Mitten  received  salary  to 
Easter  1778,  and  Boodle  was  appointed  as  surgeon, 
apothecary,  and  man  midwife  at  a  salary  of  10  guineas 
at  the  Easter  vestry  meeting  of  that  year.  In  1788 
William  Stewart  was  appointed  apothecary  and  man 
midwife  at  a  salary  of  12  guineas;  his  duties  were  to 
include  inoculation,  and  he  was  to  attend  accidents  to 
parishioners  even  if  they  occurred  outside  the  parish. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1790  by  C.  C.  Stuart  who  held 
the  position,  on  the  same  terms  as  his  predecessor,  at 
least  until  April  1 806. 


In  161 3-14  the  cost  of  poor  rehef  was  ;^8.'"  In 
1776  it  was  ^{^355.'*^  In  1783-5  expenditure  averaged 
;^295  a  year.«  In  1800-1  it  reached  £1,152.*^  In 
1 801-2  the  cost  was  jC94I  ^^'^  '"  1802-3  {jdT..^^ 
Between  1803  and  1809  it  was  much  lower,  being 
always  between  ;^55o  and  ^^600  a  year.**  In  1809—10 
the  cost  rose  to  ^^725  and  from  then  until  18 17  it 
ranged  between  £fi'^o  and  ;^850  a  year,  being  highest 
in  I8I2-I3.+7 

In  1 8  36  Theydon  Gamon  became  part  of  the  Epping 
Poor  Law  Union. 

In  1 8 1 8  the  parish  clerk  and  his  wife  kept  a  school 
at  Theydon  Gamon,  which  was  attended 
SCHOOL  by  20  boys  and  26  girls.  Six  of  these 
children  attended  as  the  result  of  a  grant 
from  Baker's  Charity  (see  Charities,  below)  and  the 
fees  of  seventeen  others  were  paid  by  benevolent  per- 
sons.''* This  was  still  the  only  day  school  in  the  parish 
in  1839,  when  I2  boys  and  14  girls  attended  it.  The 
decline  in  attendance  was  probably  due  to  increased 
educational  provision  at  Theydon  Mount  and  Epping. 
By  that  time  there  was  also  a  Sunday  school  at  Theydon 
Gamon.'*'  In  1846-7  there  were  15  boys  and  15  girls 
at  the  parish  clerk's  school.  He  and  an  assistant  mistress 
received  ,^27  a  year  between  them. 5° 

In  1850  Harriet  Archer-Houblon  of  Coopersale 
House  (see  above)  built  a  National  School  and  teacher's 
house  at  Coopersale.  During  the  following  years  she 
contributed  much  of  the  school's  income  and  took  a 
personal  interest  in  its  work.s'  The  Vicar  of  Coopersale 
also  supervised  the  school  and  local  Anglicans  con- 
tributed to  its  support.5^  The  school  was  immediately 
successful.  In  1858-9  it  had  an  average  attendance  of 
88  and  was  described  by  an  inspector  as  'a  fair  village 
school'. 53  By  1 87 1  attendance  was  over  100. 54  It 
continued  to  rise  and  in  1879  Miss  Archer-Houblon 
enlarged  the  school  at  a  cost  of  ^^300  to  provide  total 
accommodation  for  180  pupils.  In  1880  average  atten- 
dance was  117.55  The  annual  government  grant  rose 
from  j^37  in  1873  to  £128  in  1902. 5* 

In  1 89 1  the  school  was  placed  under  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Rector  and  churchwardens  of  Theydon 
Gamon,  the  Vicar  and  churchwardens  of  Coopersale, 
and  three  subscribers  belonging  to  the  Church  of 
England,  and  the  National  Society  became  the  owner 
in  trust,  the  deed  requiring  that  religious  teaching 
should  be  according  to  Anglican  principles. 5'  By  the 
Education  Act,  1902,  the  school  passed  under  the 
administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Epping  District,  as  a  non-pr6vided  school.  Attendance 
was  1 55  in  1904,  and  there  was  a  staff  of  4  teachers,  a 
probationer,  and  a  monitress.ss  In  19 10  the  school  was 
further  enlarged,  but  by  1926  average  attendance  had 
fallen  to  100.  There  was  a  further  decrease  after  the 
school  had  been  reorganized  in  1932  for  mixed  juniors 
and  infants. 59  In  1938  there  were  only  67  pupils  but 
in  1942  the  children  from  Theydon  Mount  were 
transferred  to  Theydon  Gamon  after  the  closure  of 
their  school.  In  May  1952  there  were  157  pupils  and 
4  teachers  at  Theydon  Gamon.    In  view  of  financial 


39  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/18/5. 

«»  Ibid.  41  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 

42  E.R.O.,  e/CR  i/i.  43  Ibid. 

44  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  1/9. 

45  Ibid.  46   Ibid.  47   Ibid. 

4'  Reins.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  273 
(.8.9),  ix(.). 

49  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

so  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs.  I  84.6- 
7,  pp.  18-19. 


5'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899). 
5^  Inf.  from  Mr.  Temple,  Headmaster 
of  the  school;  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870). 

53  Reps,  on  Scks.  in  Norfolk.,  Suffolk  and 
Essex,  1858-9,  p.  19  (in  Min.  of  Educ. 
Libr.). 

54  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
iio-i  I  {1871),  Iv. 

55  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1899);  Ref>.  of 
Educ.  Ctlee.  of  Council,  1880  [C.  294.8-1], 


p.  579,  H.C.  (i88i),-)cxxii. 

56  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1873 
[C.  1019],  p.  325,  H.C.  (1874),  xviii; 
Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.  1902  [Cd.  1490], 
p.  74,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 

5'  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/366. 

58  Essex  -  Educ.  Cttee.  Handbk.  1 904, 
p.  151. 

59  Min.  of  Educ.  File  1 3/366 ;  Kelly's  Dir. 
Essex  (1922). 

Nn 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


difBculties  the  managers  have  applied  for  controlled 
status.*"  The  school  is  single-storied,  of  red  brick  with 
a  tile  roof  It  bears  the  date  1850.  A  two-storied 
teacher's  house  is  attached.  In  the  playground  is  a  pre- 
fabricated building  added  in  1948.*' 

In  1 861  the  Charity  Commission  held  an  inquiry  into 
the  complex  affairs  of  the  charities 
CHJRITIES^^  of  Epping  and  Theydon  Garnon. 
This  revealed  that  six  of  the  eleven 
existing  charities  were  in  practice  managed  together. 
Two  schemes  were  made  following  this  inquiry,  which 
were  designed  to  give  legal  sanction  to  this  arrangement 
and  to  make  it  more  efficient.  The  first  scheme,  made 
in  1863,  dealt  with  Baker's  and  Reynolds's  Charities. 
A  year  later  another  scheme  was  made  for  Archer's, 
Winstanley's,  Mrs.  Kirwan's,  and  Lady  Fitzwilliam's 
Charities.  Both  these  schemes  dealt  only  with  the 
appointment,  &c.,  of  trustees,  leaving  the  trusts  un- 
changed. In  1898  the  separation  of  the  ecclesiastical 
and  non-ecclesiastical  charities  under  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Act  of  1894  created  three  new  charities:  John 
Baker's,  John  Reynolds's,  and  Elizabeth  Cain's  eccle- 
siastical charities.  There  were  already  two  other 
ecclesiastical  charities,  Rogers's  and  Black's.  Another 
scheme  of  190 1  provided  for  the  management  of  all  the 
charities  except  Baker's  and  Reynolds's  church  charities 
and  Black's  Charity.  It  regulated  the  use  of  all  funds 
applicable  to  the  benefit  of  the  poor:  other  purposes 
were  left  untouched.  Money  for  the  poor  was  to 
be  spent  on  stipends  for  inmates  of  Lady  Fitzwilliam's 
almshouses,  the  support  of  coal  or  clothing  clubs 
or  other  institutions  for  the  benefit  of  the  industrious 
poor  of  the  parish,  or  in  gifts  in  kind  to  the  poor.  The 
income  of  Winstanley's,  Archer's,  Lady  Fitzwilliam's, 
Mrs.  Kirwan's,  and  Hylard's  Charities,  Elizabeth 
Cain's  non-ecclesiastical  charity,  and  half  the  income 
of  Baker's  and  Reynolds's  non-ecclesiastical  charities, 
amounting  in  all  to  ;£i  1 5  3/.  id.,  was  spent  in  1952  as 
follows:  after  the  payment  of  expenses  ;^8  was  given  to 
the  provident  club  and  £6  to  the  school  boot  club; 
;^42  was  spent  on  Christmas  presents,  and  ^^44  4^.  loj. 
was  given  to  Baker's  Educational  Foundation. 

According  to  an  inscription  in  the  church  John 
Hylard,  alderman  of  London,  gave  ^50  at  an  un- 
known date  to  the  poor  of  Theydon  Garnon.  The 
money  was  used  to  buy  two  houses.  In  1834  the 
original  property  was  supposed  to  have  been  sold  and 
replaced  by  two  cottages  inhabited  by  paupers  put 
there  by  the  parish  overseer.  In  1862  the  cottages 
were  in  bad  repair;  they  had  no  endowment  and  were 
occupied  rent  free.  The  parish  successfully  resisted 
attempts  to  include  this  charity  in  the  scheme  made  in 
1864.  In  1898  the  cottages  were  occupied  by  two 
widows  and  an  annual  donation  was  received  from 
Baker's  Charity.  After  the  sale  of  Lady  Fitzwilliam's 
almshouses  (see  below)  in  1904  their  endowment  was 
to  be  applied  to  the  support  of  Hylard's  Charity.  In 
1947  the  property,  which  was  in  Coopersale  Street, 
was  sold  for  jf  5  5 .  The  income  from  this  is  spent  with 
that  of  the  other  charities  for  the  poor. 

Baker's  or  Stonard's  Charity  was  founded  by  the  will 
of  John  Baker  of  Epping,  dated  15 18.  He  directed 
that  the  profits  of  his  lands  called  Stonard's  were  to  be 
used  for  the  care  of  the  highways  between  Harlow  and 
London  and  for  other  charitable  works.    The  profits 

'»  Inf.  from  Essex  Educ.  Cttee.  {Essex),  H.C.   216, 

»■  Inf.  from  Mr.  Temple.  (1835),  xxi  (i),  and  Char.  Com.  files. 
'*  Unless  otherwise  stated  all  informa-  63  E.R.O.,  D/P  152/25/2. 

tion  in  this  section  is  from  Rej>.  Com.  Char.  '•»  E.R.O.,  D/P  1 52/25/1. 


PP 


of  the  wood  from  part  of  the  property  were  to  be  given 
alternately  for  the  use  of  the  churches  of  Epping  and 
Theydon  Garnon.  Part  of  the  property  was  sold  in 
1 864-5  f°''  ;^3>347  ^""i  other  small  pieces  of  land  were 
sold  at  various  times  so  that  by  195 1  the  endowment 
consisted  of  ,^2, 145  in  stock  as  well  as  Stonard's  Farm 
in  Theydon  Garnon  and  Epping. 

In  1637  a  decree  was  made  by  the  Commissioners 
of  Charitable  Uses  regulating  the  charity,  which  had 
apparently  been  mismanaged.  A  Chancery  decree  was 
also  made  concerning  it  before  165 1.  Between  18 14 
and  1 842  the  income  was  spent  on  bread  and  meat  for 
the  poor,  which  was  distributed  on  the  Sunday  before 
Christmas.*^  In  1834  the  income  from  rents  was  £ioj, 
of  which  Theydon  Garnon  received  ^i  5  1 5X.  In 
addition  £300  stock  was  held  at  that  time  for  Theydon 
Garnon,  chiefly  comprising  profits  from  wood.  The 
income  from  this  was  used  to  apprentice  the  sons  of 
parishioners.  Other  profits  from  wood  were  received 
in  1805,  1806,  and  1822  and  were  spent  on  repairing 
and  beautifying  the  church.  In  1861  a  donation  was 
given  to  the  parish  school  and  the  gifts  for  apprenticing 
had  been  abandoned.  In  1952  the  Theydon  Garnon 
moiety  of  the  charity's  income  from  rents  and  dividends 
was  ;^68  16/.  6J. 

When  the  ecclesiastical  portion  of  the  charity  was 
split  off",  the  stock  held  in  respect  of  it  was  divided  be- 
tween the  two  parishes.  The  Theydon  Garnon  hold- 
ing is  now  ;^793  1 5^.  jd.  which  is  paid  into  the  church 
expenses  account. 

Thomas  Winstanley,  by  will  dated  1 570,  left  all  his 
lands  in  North  Weald  Basse tt  in  trust  to  pay  4.0s.  a 
year  to  the  poor  of  Theydon  Garnon.  The  property 
consisted  of  a  house  and  small  pasture  called  Baker's 
(later  Bulk's).  In  1923-4  it  was  sold  for  ;^3 10,  which 
was  invested  in  stock. 

Between  1570  and  1834  the  rent  rose  from  £2  to 
j£l2.  It  was  generally  distributed  to  the  poor  in  small 
sums,*^  apparently  of  cash,  until  1834  when  it  was 
spent  on  food  with  Baker's  Charity.  In  1952  the 
income  was  ^£12  5/.  loJ.,  which  was  spent  with  that 
of  the  other  charities  for  the  poor. 

In  1834  a  tablet  in  the  church  recorded  a  gift  made 
in  1 584  by  Henry  Archer,  who  gave  to  the  poor  a  rent 
charge  of  ;^2  to  be  distributed  every  Whit-Sunday.  It 
issued  from  the  Coopersale  House  estate  (see  above. 
Manors)  and  in  1834  was  distributed  with  Baker's 
Charity.  The  charge  was  redeemed  in  191 1  for  ^^80 
stock  which  in  1952  produced  £2. 

Anne  Sidney,  Lady  Fitzwilliam,  by  will  proved 
1602,  directed  that  an  almshouse  should  be  built  in 
Theydon  Garnon  and  a  rent  charge  purchased  to  give 
four  poor  widows  1 21/.  a  week  each.  The  almshouses 
were  duly  built  and  an  annuity  of  ^{^12  bought  which 
issued  from  an  estate  in  Stoke  Doyle  (Northants.).*' 
In  1834  the  almshouses  were  in  good  repair  and  were 
occupied  by  four  old  widows  who  received,  in  addi- 
tion to  their  stipends,  i  guinea  every  Christmas.  In 
1862  three  out  of  the  four  inmates  received  poor  relief. 
By  1895  it  was  becoming  difficult  to  find  occupants 
because  of  the  dilapidated  condition  of  the  almshouses 
and  their  distance  from  the  village.  Eventually  in  1923 
the  land  and  buildings,  then  rented  as  two  cottages, 
were  sold  for  ;£3io  which  was  invested  and  produced 
an  income  of  j^io  10/.  Sd.  in  1952.   The  almshouse 

247-50,  253-5, 


65  For  copies  of  demand  notes  sent  to 
the  owners  of  the  estate  c.  1780  see 
E.R.O.,  D/P  152/12/6  and  152/8/1. 


274 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  GARNON 


building,  which  still  survives,  is  a  low  red-brick  range 
dating  from  the  17th  century.  The  original  four 
dwellings  each  consisted  of  one  ground-floor  room  and 
a  small  attic.  There  are  now  only  two  doorways  to  the 
front.  The  brass  plates  on  the  doors  are  comparatively 
modern.  The  attics  are  lighted  by  casements  in  the 
gable-ends  and  by  two  small  dormers  at  the  back.  There 
are  two  cruciform  chimneys,  set  diagonally.  The 
brickwork  has  been  much  patched  and  the  woodwork 
in  general  has  been  renewed. 

John  Reynolds,  by  deed  dated  1647,  left  land  in 
Theydon  Garnon  in  trust  for  the  benefit  of  Epping 
and  Theydon  Garnon.  For  Theydon  Garnon  £\  a 
year  was  to  be  paid  to  the  best-behaved  poor,  20s.  to 
the  preacher  of  a  sermon  on  3  November,  and  5/.  to 
the  sexton.  The  surplus  was  to  be  shared  between  the 
poor  of  the  two  parishes.  In  1861  the  property  was 
sold  for  ^^840,  which  was  invested  in  stock.  In  1 8  34  the 
Theydon  Garnon  share  of  the  £1 5  rent  was  spent  with 
Baker's  Charity.  In  1861  £1  and  5^.  went  to  the 
sermon  and  the  sexton  and  ^j  1 5/.  to  the  poor  in 
bread  and  money.  In  1952  the  Theydon  Garnon 
moiety  of  the  income  was  ^^lo  5^.  iJ. 

In  1898  the  ecclesiastical  part  of  the  charity  was 
separated  from  the  rest  and  was  to  receive  ;^i  5/.  a 
year  from  the  Baker  and  Reynolds  non-ecclesiastical 
charities,  to  be  spent  as  before.  In  1952  the  payments 
were  duly  made. 

Richard  Rogers,  by  will  proved  1794,  left  £100  in 
trust  to  repair  his  family  vault  and  tomb  in  the  church. 
The  charity  was  not  mentioned  in  the  1835  Report, 
but  in  1862  the  dividend  of  j^3  was  spent  in  accordance 
with  the  trusts.  The  dividends  were  not  received  for 
some  years  in  the  late  19th  century.  In  1933  the  income 
of  ^3  was  spent  on  the  maintenance  of  the  tomb  and 
vault. 


Elizabeth  Cain,  by  codicil  to  her  will  proved  1835, 
left  ;^ioo  for  the  repair  and  painting  of  her  tomb;  any 
surplus  was  to  go  to  poor  widows  in  the  parish.  It  was 
said  in  1862  that  the  tomb  was  repaired  and  painted 
every  three  or  four  years  and  that  the  surplus  was  dis- 
tributed. The  stock  was  held  with  that  of  Rogers's 
Charity  and  the  dividends  were  similarly  lost  for  some 
years  before  1898.  In  1952  the  whole  income  of 
£■2.  I  OS.  was  spent  on  the  poor,  since  the  tomb,  the  care 
of  which  is  now  a  separate  ecclesiastical  charity,  was 
in  good  repair. 

Mrs.  Kirwan,  by  will  proved  in  or  after  1 847,  left 
;^20o  free  of  legacy  duty  in  trust  for  a  yearly  distribu- 
tion to  the  poor  of  Coopersale.  It  was  apparently 
originally  the  gift  of  her  husband,  Clement  Kirwan. 
In  1862  the  income  was  spent  with  that  of  Baker's 
Charity.   In  1952  the  income  was  £y  is. 

In  1790  the  Revd.  Thomas  Abdy,  the  lord  of  the 
manor,  provided  2|  acres  of  waste  of  the  manor  on 
which  the  parish  officers  were  to  grow  potatoes  to  be 
sold  to  the  poor  at  a  price  sufficient  to  cover  the  costs. 
The  parishioners  were  to  maintain  the  land  as  a  garden 
for  the  use  of  the  poor.  The  arrangement  was,  how- 
ever, found  burdensome  to  the  parish  and  Abdy  sub- 
stituted a  yearly  gift  of  100  loaves  of  bread,  and,  later, 
of  £2  in  cash.  The  charity  lapsed,  however,  after  his 
death. 

William  Black,  by  deed  of  1793,  gave  an  annuity  of 
40;.  issuing  from  his  house.  The  Grove,  to  be  dis- 
tributed on  Sundays  to  communicants.  In  1834  the 
payment  was  made  at  Christmas,  but  from  1904  the 
rector  declined  to  distribute  the  charity  money,  since 
he  looked  upon  it  as  a  bribe  to  take  the  sacrament. 
Instead  the  money  was  given  away  to  the  poor  in  tea 
and  beef.  The  annuity  has  not  apparently  been  receiv 
since  191 5  and  is  now  presumed  to  be  lost. 


THEYDON  MOUNT 


Theydon  Mount,  the  most  easterly  of  the  three 
Theydon  parishes,  lies  between  Theydon  Garnon  and 
Stapleford  Tawney  at  a  distance  of  3  miles  from  Epping 
and  1 5  miles  from  London."  The  second  part  of  its 
name  is  derived  from  the  hill  near  its  centre  upon 
which  stand  the  church  and  Hill  Hall.  It  has  also  been 
called  in  the  past  Theydon  Paulyn,  Theydon  Lessing- 
ton,  and  Theydon  Briwes,  from  the  names  of  former 
lords  of  the  manor.  The  form  Theydon  Parva  (Little 
Theydon)  has  also  been  used.^  Theydon  Mount  is  a 
small  rural  parish  that  has  been  dominated  for  four 
centuries  by  the  great  mansion  of  Hill  Hall,  formerly 
the  seat  of  the  Bowyer-Smijth  family,  and  now  an 
open  prison  for  women.  Although  so  near  to  London 
the  parish  remains  entirely  rural,  and  sparsely  populated. 
The  area  was  given  in  1838  as  1,500  acres.3  Later 
calculations  put  it  as  1,564  acres.*  In  1086  there  were 
I  villein  tenant  and  17  bordars  in  the  manor  of 
Theydon  Mount.'  In  1428  the  parish  appears  to  have 
had  a  smaller  population  than  at  Domesday:  it  was 
specially  exempted  from  taxation  because  there  were 
less  than  10  households.*  The  population  was  193  in 
1 80 1.'    It  rose  to  a  peak  of  249  in   1 83 1  and  then 


declined  steadily  to  123  in  1901.  The  populatiori  in 
1951  was  162.* 

The  parish  is  long  and  narrow,  running  from  north 
to  south  for  over  3  miles  with  an  average  width  of  less 
than  ^  mile.  The  Roding  forms  the  southern  boundary. 
From  there  the  land  rises  steeply  to  a  height  of  over 
250  ft.  at  Hill  Hall,  which  stands  in  a  large  park.  The 
parish  church,  J  mile  south-east  of  the  Hall,  adjoins 
the  park.  Farther  north  the  ground  falls  away  but 
rises  again  to  300  ft.  at  Mount  End  and  over  350  ft. 
near  the  North  Weald  boundary.  There  are  several 
patches  of  woodland  in  the  north  of  which  the  largest 
is  Beechet  Wood.  Apart  from  Hill  Hall  with  its' 
prisoners  the  main  centres  of  population  are  at  Mount 
End,  which  contains  the  former  parish  school,  now 
used  as  a  village  hall,  and  on  Mount  Hill.  A  map  of 
1777  shows  a  few  houses  at  Mount  End.'  Some  of  the- 
surviving  houses  there  appear  to  date  from  the  first  half 
of  the  1 8th  century. 

From  Mount  End  roads  run  north-east  to  Stanford 
Rivers,  east  to  Stapleford  Tawney,  south-east  to  the 
church,  south-west  to  Hobbs  Cross  in  Theydon 
Garnon  (a  farm  lane),  and  west  to  Coopersale  and 


'  O.S.  2j  in.  Map,  sheets  5 1  j^q,  52/40. 

2  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  82-83,  85, 
which,  however,  wrongly  assigns  the  form 
Theydon  Paulyn  to  Theydon  Garnon. 
For  the  meaning  of  Theydon  see  Theydon 


Bois. 

3  E.R.O.,  D/CT  351. 

♦  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheets  1, 
Iviii.  '  f^.C.H.  Essex,  i,  490^. 

'  FeuJ.  Aids,  ii,  205. 


'  For  census  figures  1801—1901  see 
V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

8  Census,  1 95 1. 

'  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex, 
lyyy,  sheet  xvi. 


275 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Epping.  The  approach  to  Hill  Hall  is  by  a  drive  off  the 
Stapleford  Tawney  road.'"  North  Farm,  at  the  Mount 
End  cross-roads,  appears  to  date  from  the  first  half  of 
the  1 8th  century.  Tarlings,  nearly  opposite  the  north 
lodge  of  Hill  Hall,  was  formerly  a  smithy."  About  J 
mile  south-east  of  North  Farm  is  the  site  of  a  former 
brick  and  tile  works.  The  new  rectory  has  recently 
been  built  here."  Near  the  rectory,  in  the  lane  leading 
to  Beechet  Wood,  are  two  pairs  of  council  houses. 
Coleman's  Farm,  J  mile  east  of  Hill  Hall,  is  about  50 
years  old.  There  was  a  building  on  this  site  in  1777, 
then  called  Cotes. '^  Near  Coleman's,  on  the  edge  of 
Hill  Hall  park,  is  Icehouse  Plantation,  which  probably 
takes  its  name  from  the  former  icehouse  of  Hill  Hall. 
This  may  have  dated  from  the  17th  or  i8th  century.'* 
In  the  extreme  south  of  the  parish  is  Skinners,  a  timber- 
framed  house  to  which  a  gabled  brick  front  was  added 
late  in  the,  19th  century.  In  the  dairy  is  the  three- 
centred  arch  of  a  former  oak  doorway  in  which  a 
mullioned  window  has  been  inserted.  This  suggests 
that  the  house  dates  from  the  i6th  century  or  earlier. 
Brook  House,  ^  mile  west  of  Skinners,  probably  dates 
from  the  early  1 8th  century." 

The  lane  from  Mount  End  to  Hobbs  Cross  and  part 
of  the  road  from  Mount  End  to  Stanford  Rivers  follow 
the  line  of  a  Roman  road.  Roman  remains  were 
found  in  this  area  in  the  19th  century.'*  The  Hobbs 
Cross  road  was  presented  at  Quarter  Sessions  in  1582-3 
as  a  'noisome  way'."  The  road  to  Coopersale,  which 
now  passes  to  the  north  of  North  Farm,  is  shown  on 
the  1777  map  as  farther  south.' *  Between  1777  and 
about  1800  HiU  Hall  park  was  extended  to  the  east. 
This  involved  the  diversion  of  the  road  so  as  to  bring 
the  church  within  the  park,  from  which  it  was  fenced 
off  in  1953-4."  About  this  time  the  old  rectory  near 
the  church  was  demolished^"  and  (perhaps  somewhat 
later)  the  former  manor  house  of  Mount  Hall  was  also 
taken  down.^' 

For  transport  and  postal  services  Theydon  Mount 
has  depended  upon  Epping  and  Romford.  Piped  water 
is  supplied  by  the  Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.^^ 
but  there  is  no  main  drainage. ^^  Electricity  was  supplied 
by  the  Eastern  Electricity  Board  in  1950.^*  A  branch 
of  the  county  library  was  opened  in  1935.^'  The 
village  hall  is  the  former  school. 

From  the  15th  century  until  the  20th  most  of  the 
and  in  the  parish  was  in  the  hands  of  a  single  owner. 
With  the  building  of  Hill  Hall  in  the  i6th  century  the 
parish  became  more  than  ever  dominated  by  the  manor 
house.  In  1838  Sir  John  Smijth  owned  all  but  some 
70  acres  of  the  parish.^*  The  Hill  Hall  esute  had 
increased  in  size  since  1700,  when  three  other  owners 
had  land  in  the  parish.^^  During  its  four  centuries  as 


a  private  house  Hill  Hall  must  have  provided  sub- 
stantial opportunities  for  local  employment.  Those  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  parish  not  employed  there  were 
mainly  engaged  in  agriculture.  There  has  been  very 
little  industry  in  Theydon  Mount.  The  market  and 
fair  granted  to  Paulinus  de  Theydon  in  1225  (see 
below,  Manor)  did  not  survive  into  modern  times. 
One  industry,  brick-  and  tile-making,  appears  to  have 
gone  on  (perhaps  intermittently)  from  the  i6th  century 
to  the  20th.  The  brick-works  to  the  north  of  Hill  Hall 
was  still  in  operation  in  19 14.**  It  was  perhaps  the 
successor  of  the  works  from  which  bricks  were  pro- 
vided about  1580  for  the  completion  of  Hill  Hall 
itself,^'  and  of  the  brick  kiln  'on  the  top  of  Mount 
Hill' in  1655.30 

Before  1066  THEYDON  MOUNT  was  held  by 

Godric  as  a  manor  and  as  3  hides  and  80 
MANORS   acres.  After  the  Conquest  it  was  given  by 

William  I  to  Robert  Fitz  Wimarc,  who 
was  still  alive  in  1069  but  had  been  succeeded  in  or 
before  1075  by  his  son  Swein.  Robert  was  Sheriff  of 
Essex  and  the  office  was  later  held  by  Swein.3'  Swein 
made  his  castle  at  Rayleigh,  which  became  the  head  of 
his  honor  and  from  that  time  the  manor  of  Theydon 
Mount  was  always  held  of  the  Honor  of  Rayleigh.'^ 
In  1086  the  manor  was  held  of  Swein  by  one  Robertas 
Swein  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert  of  Essex,  the 
founder  of  Prittlewell  Priory,  and  Robert  of  Essex  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Henry  of  Essex.''* 

In  1 163  Henry  of  Essex,  then  Constable  of  England, 
failed  to  clear  himself  of  a  charge  of  cowardice  during 
a  war  against  the  Welsh,  and  was  deprived  of  all  his 
lands.35  Henry  II  appears  to  have  granted  3  knight's 
fees  in  the  Honor  of  Rayleigh  to  one  William,  there- 
after known  as  William  de  Theydon.  This  William 
was  apparently  alive  in  1194.3*  Upon  his  death  these 
lands  passed  to  Robert  de  Theydon,  probably  his  son. 
Robert  or  a  namesake  had  had  the  wood  at  Theydon 
as  early  as  1 163  and  when  this  property  was  taken  by 
the  king  he  received  compensation  of  20s.  a  year.'' 
Robert  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Henry  de  Theydon 
who  seems  to  have  been  in  possession  of  Theydon 
Mount  early  in  the  reign  of  John.  In  1 2 1 5  Henry  was 
one  of  the  garrison  of  Rochester  castle  when  it  sur- 
rendered to  the  king.38  His  lands  were  undoubtedly 
taken  into  the  king's  hands  but  in  12 17  Henry's  son 
Paulinus  de  Theydon  was  granted  the  lands  formerly 
held  by  his  father  in  Gloucestershire''  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  he  received  Theydon  Mount  at  the  same 
time.  Paulinus  certainly  held  Theydon  by  1225  when 
he  was  given  licence  to  hold  a  weekly  market  and  an 
annual  fair  there.*°  In  1227  he  was  also  granted  deer 
for  the  park.'*'    He  died  in  or  shortly  before  January 


•»  For  Hill  Hall  see  Manors,  below. 

"  0.5.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  Iviii. 

"  See  Churches,  below. 

"  Chapman  and  Andri,  Map  of  Eisex, 
ITJT,  sheet  xvi. 

'*  Cf.  Icehouse  Wood  near  the  site  of 
Bellhousc  in  Stanford  Rivers. 

**  'Brock  House',  mentioned  1600 
(E.R.O.,  Q/SR  149/43),  "'y  have  been 
on  this  site. 

■'  Troc.  Soc.  Antiq.  {2nd  «er.),  ii,  1 84-6 ; 
iv,  446. 

"  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  84/24. 

"  Chapman  and  Andr<!,  Map  of  Eiux, 
1777,  sheet  xvi. 

'»  Ibid.  Cf.  0.5.  I  in.  Map  (ist  edn.). 

*®  See  Churches,  below. 

"  In  1838  there  was  only  a  cottage  on 
the  Mount  Hall  site:  E.R.O.,  D/CT  351 ; 


and  see  below,  Manors. 

^^  Inf.  from  Herts.  &  Essex  Water- 
works Co.  About  1900  Mount  End  was 
supplied  with  piped  water  from  a  well  dug 
by  Sir  William  Bowyer-Smijth:  Howard 
and  Burke,  Theydon  Mounts  xi. 

"  Inf.  from  Rev.  E.  B.  Rces. 

^*  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elcc.  Bd. 

'5  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  351. 

"  J.  J.  Howard  and  H.  F.  Burke,  Theydon 
Mounts  xi. 

"»  Kelly'!  Dir.  Essex  (1914). 

»  See  Hill  Hall. 

30  E.R.O.,  D/DSh  T2. 

"  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  490*.  For  the  date 
of  Robert's  death  see:  H.  W.  C.  Davis, 
Regesta  Regum  Angh-Normannorum,  22 ; 
J.    H.    Round,    Cal.    Docs.    France,    2 1 ; 


Freeman,  Norman  Conquest,  iv,  736. 

32  Cf.  Wards  ^l^lii-O]  (Feodary  Survey 
Apr.  1632). 

33  y.C.H.  Essex,  \,  490*. 

3*  J.  H.  Round,  Geoffrey  de  MandeviUe^ 
391. 

35  This  paragraph  is  based  on  A.  L. 
Browne,  'The  de  Theydon  Family', 
E.A.  T.  N.s.  xxi,  84-88  and  J.  H.  Round, 
'The  Manor  of  Theydon  Mount',  ibid, 
xii,  198-202.  For  Henry  de  Essex  sec  p. 
287. 

36  Rot.  Cur.  Reg.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  122. 
3'  Pipe  R.  1163  (Pipe  R.  Soc.  vi),  22, 

and  later  Pipe  Rolls. 
38  Rot.  Lit.  Pat.  l^k. 
30  Rot.  Lit.  Claus.  i,  320. 
*°  Ibid,  ii,  62. 
'•■  Ibid.  180. 


276 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  MOUNT 


1233,  when  Walter  de  Evermue  was  granted  the 
custody  of  the  daughter  and  heir  of  Paulinus.'*^  Paulinus 
had  held  3  knights'  fees  in  Theydon  and  Little 
Wakering.'ts 

Beatrice  de  Theydon,  daughter  of  Paulinus,  married 
before  1236  Robert  de  Briwes.^  In  1239  Robert  and 
Beatrice  were  granted  a  weekly  market  and  annual  fair 
in  their  manor  of  Theydon/'  In  1 248  the  manor  and 
the  advowson  of  the  rectory  were  sub-infeudated  for 
100  marks  to  John  de  Lessington,  to  hold  of  Robert 
and  Beatrice  and  the  heirs  of  the  latter,  doing  service 
of  2  knights'  fees  at  the  court  of  the  Honor  of  Ray- 
leigh.-**  An  inspeximus  of  the  accompanying  charter 
gives  the  consideration  as  1,000  marks  and  the  object 
to  acquit  Robert  and  Beatrice  of  what  they  owed  to 
the  king  as  executors  of  the  will  of  Hubert  de  Burgh 
and  of  their  debts  to  the  Jews  for  themselves  and  for 
Walter  de  Evermue  their  ancestor.""  In  1250  John 
de  Lessington  had  licence  to  keep  inclosed,  with  a 
hedge  and  ditch,  the  close  which  he  had  made  in  the 
wood  of  his  manor  of  Theydon,  but  so  that  the  deer 
could  have  ingress  and  egress/'  He  died  in  1257  hold- 
ing the  manor,  which  contained  3  carucates  of  land,  of 
Robert  de  Briwes  for  the  service  of  2  knights'  fees.  His 
heir  was  his  brother,  Henry  de  Lessington,  Bishop  of 
Lincoln.*'  The  bishop  died  in  1258,  being  succeeded 
by  his  two  nephews  Wilham,  son  of  Roland  de  Sutton, 
and  Richard  de  Markham.'"  They  divided  this  inheri- 
tance (which  lay  in  several  counties)  between  them  in 
1259,  Theydon  Mount  falling  to  Sutton's  share.'' 

William  de  Sutton  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert, 
who  was  a  supporter  of  Simon  de  Montfort  and  for- 
feited his  property  to  the  king  after  the  battle  of 
Evesham. 52  The  township  of  Theydon  Mount  was 
valued  at  £,\o  and  in  1265  Richard  de  Tany  the 
younger  received  the  Michaelmas  rent  of  40/.S3  In 
October  of  the  same  year  the  king  granted  the  manor  to 
Robert  de  Briwes,  presumably  the  same  man  who  had 
sub-infeudated  to  John  de  Lessington  in  1248.  But 
Richard  de  Tany,  who  was  lord  of  the  adjacent  manor 
of  Stapleford  Tawney,  coveted  Theydon  Mount,  put 
out  de  Briwes,  and  in  support  of  his  action  produced  a 
charter  dated  three  days  earlier  than  that  of  de  Briwes 
and  contrived  to  have  it  entered  on  the  Charter  Roll. 
De  Briwes  declared  de  Tany's  charter  to  be  a  forgery 
and  upon  investigation  by  the  justices  coram  Rege  this 
was  proved  to  be  the  case.  The  chancery  official  who 
had  the  Chancellor's  list  of  grants  admitted  that  de 
Tany  had  said  to  him  'Theydon  is  a  pretty  manor  and 
lies  next  to  mine  at  Stapleford;  it  would  just  do  for 
me',  and  had  clearly  responded  to  the  hint.'* 

In  1269  Beatrice  daughter  of  Henry  de  Terays 
released  to  Sir  Robert  de  Briwes  all  her  right  in  the 
manors  of  Theydon  and  Wakering  and  in  all  the  lands 
late  of  Paulinus  de  Theydon  and  the  said  Henry''  and 
when  Robert  went  on  pilgrimage  to  Pontigny  in  1273 


he  appointed  William  and  Richard  del  Jardyn  to 
prosecute  his  right  to  the  custody  of  Theydon  Mount.'* 

The  manor  must,  however,  have  been  restored  to 
Robert  de  Sutton,  possibly  as  a  result  of  the  Ban  of 
Kenilworth,  for  on  his  death  in  1274  he  was  found  to 
hold  in  Theydon  Mount  a  messuage,  200  acres  of 
arable,  21  acres  of  meadow,  51  acres  of  pasture,  a 
windmill,  foreign  wood,  and  ^^4  '^s.  6J</.  rent  of  assize, 
&c.,  of  the  Honor  of  Rayleigh  by  service  of  suit  at  the 
court  of  the  honor,a  gilt  spur  or  6d.  yearly,  and  scutage 
for  2  knights.   His  heir  was  his  son  Richard,  aged  8." 

Robert  de  Briwes,  the  former  mesne  lord,  died  in 
1276,  leaving  his  son  John  as  his  heir.''  No  further 
references  have  been  found  to  their  lordship,  the 
tenants  in  demesne  thenceforth  always  holding  im- 
mediately of  the  Honor  of  Rayleigh. 

In  1282  a  commission  of  oyer  and  terminer  was 
issued  touching  the  persons  who  felled  and  carried 
away  trees  in  the  wood  of  'Theydon  Lessington'  late 
of  Robert  de  Sutton  the  younger,  while  in  the  hands 
of  Oliver  de  Sutton,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  who  had 
custody  of  the  land  and  heir."  In  1303  Richard  de 
Sutton  was  returned  as  holding  \  fee  of  the  king  of  the 
Honor  of  Rayleigh.*"  In  1308  he  had  licence  to  grant 
the  manor  of  Theydon  Mount  in  fee  to  his  son  John 
de  Sutton  and  Margaret  his  wife.*' 

In  1322  John  de  Sutton  leased  the  manor  for  twelve 
years  to  Henry  de  Malyns  and  in  the  following  year 
released  to  him  all  his  right  in  the  property.  Malyns 
must  have  died  soon  after,  for  in  1324  John  de  Sutton 
released  his  right  in  the  manor  to  Edmund  de  Malyns, 
Henry's  son  and  heir.*^  In  1326  Edmund  was  par- 
doned for  acquiring  in  fee  this  property  which  was 
held  in  chief  of  the  Honor  of  Rayleigh  and  entering 
upon  it  without  hcence.*-'  In  1346  he  held  \  knight's 
fee  in  Theydon  Mount.** 

Sir  John  de  Sutton  of  Dudley  (Wore.),  son  of  the 
above  John  and  Margaret  de  Sutton,  disputed  de 
Malyns'  title  to  the  manor,  claiming  that  it  descended 
to  him  after  the  death  of  his  parents.  In  1 348  and 
again  in  1350  the  matter  was  heard  before  the  court  of 
Common  Pleas,  but  Malyns  evidently  won  his  case.*' 
He  was  apparently  alive  in  1357  but  had  been  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  Reynold  Malyns  before  December 
1 361,  when  the  latter  presented  to  the  rectory  of 
Theydon  Mount.**  Sir  Reynold  died  in  1384  holding 
the  manor  jointly  with  his  wife  Florence.  His  son  and 
heir  was  Edmund  Malyns.*'  Florence  was  still  holding 
the  manor  in  1390.*'  In  1400  the  manor  was  con- 
veyed by  Thomas  Waller  and  two  others,  presumably 
feoffees,  to  Reynold  Malyns  and  his  wife  Alice  and  the 
heirs  of  Reynold.*'  In  141 8  Reynold  and  Alice  con- 
veyed the  manor  of  Theydon  Mount  and  Hill  Hall 
(see  below)  to  feoffees  to  hold  of  the  chief  lords  with 
successive  remainders  to  the  heirs  of  Reynold  and  then 
to   Edmund    Hampden   and   his   heirs.'"     In    1428 


«»  Cal.  Close,  1231-4,  185;  cf.  Cal  Tat. 

«"S-32.  334- 

«  Bk.ofFitt,  14.63. 

♦*  The  following  paragraph  is  based  on 
E.A.T.  N.s.  xii,  198-202. 

«  Cal.  Chart.  1226-57,  244. 

<'  Fret  of  F.  Essex,  i,  179. 

♦'  C14.6/9852.  This  is  the  original 
inspeximus  and  fills  the  gaps  given  in  Cal. 
Chart.  1226—57,  346. 

*»  Cal.  Pat.  1247-58,6+.. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  i,  pp.  102-3. 

">  Ibid.,  p.  109. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  \,  232-3. 


52  A  William  de  Sutton  died  in  1268. 
If  this  was  the  lord  of  Theydon  Mount  he 
must  have  made  over  the  manor  to  his  son 
before  his  death:  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  \,  p.  215. 

"  Cal.  Inq.  Misc.  i,  200. 

5*  E.  F.  Jacob,  Baronial  Reform  and 
Rebellion,  199-201,  376-8;  Cal.  Chart. 
1257-1300,  57;  E.A.T.  N.s.  XX,  164-5. 

"  Cal.  Chart.  1 257-1  300,  123. 

5'  Cal.  Close,  1272-9,  50. 

5'  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  43. 

5'  Ibid.,  p.  119. 

«>  Cal.  Pat.  1281-92,  92. 

«o  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  136. 


"  Cal.  Pat.  1 307-1 3,  69. 

''  Cal.  Close,  1330-3,  290—1. 

M  Cal.  Pat.  1324-7,  251. 

'<  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  1 60. 

'5  CP40/356  m.  323;  CP40/362  m. 
zod. 

"  Cal.  Close,  1354-60,  316;  Newcourt, 
Repert.  ii,  585.  "  Cl  36/36/9. 

"  C143/409/7. 

M  Cat.  Anct.  D.  vi,  C.  4794. 

'0  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  267.  The 
Hampden  and  Malyns  families  were 
related  by  marriage:  Lipscomb,  Hist. 
Bucks,  ii,  302. 


277 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Reynold  was  found  to  hold  J  fee  in  Theydon  Mount 
formerly  held  by  Richard  de  Sutton.^'  He  died  in 
143 1.  There  is  no  specific  reference  to  Theydon 
Mount  in  his  will,  nor  any  mention  of  children,'^  and 
in  1434  Alice  his  widow  released  her  right  in  the  manor 
to  Sir  Hugh  Halsham,  kt.,  and  others  who  held  it  by 
her  feoffment." 

Thomas  Hampden  died  holding  the  manor  in 
i486.'*  He  was  the  grandson  of  an  Edmund  Hampden 
who  died  in  1 420^5  and  who  was  probably  the  man 
upon  whom  the  remainder  of  the  manor  had  been 
settled  in  141 8.  If  this  identification  is  correct  the 
manor  had  probably  passed  after  the  death  of  Alice 
Malyns  to  John  Hampden  (d.  1450-1),  son  and  heir 
of  Edmund  and  father  of  the  above  Thomas.  Thomas's 
heir  was  his  son  John,  but  Theydon  Mount  was  left 
to  his  widow  Margery.'*  She  appears  to  have  held  it" 
until  her  death  in  1 506,  as  her  will  refers  to  her  pro- 
perty at  Hill  Hall."  The  manor  then  seems  to  have 
passed  to  her  grandson  (Sir)  John  Hampden,  son  of 
John  Hampden.  In  1532  Sir  John  settled  it,  except- 
ing chief  rents,  for  the  jointure  of  his  wife  Philippa, 
daughter  of  William  Wylford  of  London,  merchant.'* 
In  1548  he  further  settled  the  manor  upon  himself  and 
his  wife  for  their  lives,  with  remainder  to  Edward 
Ferrers  son  of  one  of  Sir  John's  daughters,  and  his  wife 
Bridget,  daughter  of  William,  Lord  Windsor,  in  tail.'' 
Sir  John  Hampden  died  in  1553  and  in  the  following 
year  his  widow  married  Sir  Thomas  Smyth,  son  of 
John  Smyth  of  Saffi-on  Walden.*"  Sir  Thomas  (l  5 1 3- 
77)  Secretary  of  State  under  Edward  VI  and  Elizabeth 
I,  Ambassador  to  France  1562—6,  and  author  of  De 
Republica  Anglorum,  lived  at  Theydon  Mount  and 
started  building  the  present  Hill  Hall.*'  In  1556  he 
purchased  from  Ferrers  and  his  wife  their  reversionary 
interest  in  the  manor  in  return  for  an  annuity  of 
j^3  6/.  %d.  payable  during  the  life  of  Philippa  and  of 
;^30  thereafter.  In  1 559— 60  Ferrers  released  to  Smyth 
all  his  interest  in  these  annuities,  binding  himself  in  the 
sum  of  ;^400  to  join  with  his  wife  in  a  final  concord  to 
extinguish  her  rights  therein.  Ferrers,  however,  never 
carried  out  this  obligation  and  Smyth  brought  an  action 
in  Chancery,  complaining  that  Ferrers  had  died  leaving 
neither  goods  nor  lands  in  fee  simple,  whereby  he 
might  have  execution  of  the  recognizance,  and  that 
Bridget,  who  had  later  married  Andrew  Ognall,  had 
refused  to  make  her  release,  so  that  Smyth  still  remained 
charged  with  the  payment  of  the  rents.  It  was  also 
alleged  that  just  before  the  conveyance  of  1 5  56  Ferrers 
had  leased  the  manor  in  two  parts,  one  part  with  the 
mansion  house  of  Mount  Hall  to  Robert  Fynchfe  for  an 
annual  rent  of  {jio,  the  other  part  called  Hill  Hall  to 
Thomas  Luther  and  his  mother  for  £10  a  year,  so  that 
Philippa  lost  her  jointure.  In  consequence  of  this, 
according  to  Smyth's  statement,  her  brother  John 
Wylford  had  put  into  execution  a  bond  under  which 
Ferrers  was  obliged  to  maintain  the  jointure,  and  it 
was  for  this  reason,  among  others,  that  Ferrers  had 
sought  financial  help  from  Sir  Thomas  in  return  for 
the  sale  of  his  reversionary  interest  in  the  manor.   In 


1576  the  case  was  decided  in  Sir  Thomas's 
favour.*^ 

During  Sir  Thomas  Smyth's  tenure  of  the  manor  it 
was  said  to  be  held  of  the  Honor  of  Rayleigh  at  an 
annual  rent  of  3;.  %d.^^  He  died  in  1 577  and  his  wife 
in  1578.  The  manor  then  passed  under  a  settlement 
made  by  Sir  Thomas  shortly  before  his  death  to  his 
natural  brother  George  Smyth.  George  died  in  1584 
and  the  manor  passed  successively  to  his  son  (d.  1626) 
and  grandson  (d.  1632),  both  named  Sir  William 
Smyth.  Edward,  son  and  heir  of  the  second  Sir  William, 
died  in  1652,  being  succeeded  by  Thomas,  brother  of 
that  Sir  William,  who  was  created  a  baronet  in  1661. 
The  manor  subsequently  descended  with  the  baronetcy 
of  Smyth  (later  Bowyer-Smijth)  until  1916,  when  the 
1 2th  baronet.  Sir  William  Bowyer-Smijth,  died  un- 
married.** The  baronetcy  then  passed  to  a  cousin  of 
the  1 2th  baronet,  but  the  manorial  rights  of  Theydon 
Mount  seem  to  have  passed  to  his  sisters,  Mrs.  Battye 
and  Mrs.  Northcote.*'  In  the  later  title  deeds  of  the 
manor  it  is  always  called  Mount  Hall. 

For  the  manor  houses  of  Mount  Hall  and  Hill  Hall 
see  below.  Hill  Hall. 

The  manor  of  HILL  HALL  was  held  of  that  of 
Theydon  Mount.  In  1373  Richard  de  Northampton, 
herald,  and  Katherine  his  wife  made  conveyance  of  a 
messuage,  210  acres  of  land,  28  acres  of  meadow,  4 
acres  of  wood,  and  %d.  rent  in  Theydon  Mount  and 
Theydon  Garnon,  and  properties  in  Hertfordshire.** 
In  1384  they  conveyed  the  same  properties  to  John 
Cokyng,  Robert  Somerset,  and  Thomas  de  Kent,  pre- 
sumably as  feofi^ees.*'  In  his  will,  proved  in  1389, 
Northampton  left  the  'manor  of  Theydon  Mount'  to 
his  wife  Joan  to  support  a  chaplain  in  the  church  of 
Theydon.**  Soon  after  the  probate  Cokyng,  Somerset, 
and  Kent  granted  an  annual  rent  of  10  marks  to  John 
Hemersthorp  and  others  from  the  manor  of  Hill  Hall 
and  a  few  days  later  they  conveyed  to  Nicholas  Exton, 
alderman  of  London  and  Joan  his  wife  all  the  pro- 
perties conveyed  to  them  in  1384.*'  In  1390  they 
received  the  royal  licence  to  found  a  chantry  in  the 
church  of  Theydon  Mount  and  endow  it  with  \  acre 
of  land  and  10  marks  rent  from  the  manor  of  Hill  Hall. 
The  manor  was  then  said  to  be  held  of  Florence 
Malyns  as  of  her  manor  of  Theydon  Mount  by  knight 
service  and  an  annual  rent  of  1 5/.  7a'.,  i  lb.  wax,  I  lb. 
pepper,  and  2  capons,  and  besides  the  above  land  and 
rent  Hill  Hall  was  worth  40/. »o  In  1391  it  was  found 
that  the  licence  was  not  valid  as  Hill  Hall  was  not  a 
manor,  and  a  new  licence  was  issued  in  which  the 
phrase  'issuing  from  their  messuage,  210  acres  of  land, 
28  acres  of  meadow,  and  4  acres  of  wood'  was  sub- 
stituted for  'issuing  from  the  manor  called  Hill  Hall'."' 
In  1 397  Walter  Pynchon  of  London  and  Joan  his  wife 
quitclaimed  to  William  Gascoigne  and  four  others 
properties  described  in  the  same  terms  as  in  the  con- 
veyances of  1373  and  1384.9^  This  suggests  that  Joan 
Pynchon  was  formerly  Joan  Exton,  and  she  may  also 
have  been  identical  with  Joan  widow  of  Richard  de 
Northampton. 


"  Tend.  Aids,  ii,  222. 

"  Reg.  of  lien.  ChicheU,  Ahp.  Cant. 
(1414-43),  ed.  E.  F.  Jacob,  ii,  453-4. 

"  Cat.  Ana.  D.  vi,  C.  5547. 

'*  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  VII,  i,  p.  50. 

"  Lipscomb,  Hist.  Bucks,  ii,  232-3. 

«  P.C.C.  27  Logge. 

"  P.C.C.  I  Adeane.  After  Hampden's 
death  she  had  m.  Ricd.  Godfrey. 

'»  C54/426,  No.  34. 


'^  Shakespeare's  Birthplace,  Stratford- 
upon-Avon,  Baddesley  Clinton  Deed  313. 

80  Fisits.  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  loi. 

"  For  his  career  see  D.N.B. 

0^  C78/47/28. 

83  E.R.O.,  D/DU  40/78. 

«♦  C142/180/36;  G.E.C.  Complete 
Baronetage,  iii,  234-7;  'he  form  Smijth 
was  adopted  in  the  i8th  cent,  and  the 
additional  name  of  Bowyer  in  1839. 

278 


8s  Keliys  Dir.  Essex  (1937).    Inf.  from 
the  Revd.  E.  B.  Rees. 
8*  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  170. 
8'  Ibid.  202. 

88  Commissary  of  London  185:  Court- 
ney. 

89  Cal.  Close,  1389-92,60. 

•">  Ci43/409/7iC<i/.  Paf.  1388-92,203, 
224.  »■  Cal.  Pat.  1388-92,  290. 

92  Feet  ofF.  Essex,  iii,  228. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  MOUNT 


In  and  after  141 2  Hill  Hall  descended  along  with 
the  main  manor  of  Theydon  Mount,  and  was  some- 
times styled  a  manor.  The  above  account  suggests  that 
Hill  Hall  may  originally  have  formed  the  demesne  of 
the  manor  of  Theydon  Mount.  From  the  i6th  century 
onwards  the  mansion  of  Hill  Hall  was  the  seat  of  the 
lords  of  the  manor  of  Theydon  Mount.  It  remained  so 
until  towards  the  end  of  the  19th  century,  when  it  was 
for  some  time  unoccupied. '3  From  about  1900  to 
1908  it  was  let  to  an  eccentric  who  called  himself  the 
Duke  de  Moto.^*  Soon  after  1908  Charles  Hunter 
became  the  tenant.''  Mrs.  Charles  Hunter  left  the 
house  in  1925  and  in  the  same  year  it  was  bought  by 
Sir  Robert  Hudson.'*  It  was  subsequently  the  resi- 
dence of  Lady  Edward  Hay,  was  later  acquired  by  the 
Prison  Commissioners,  and  in  1952  was  opened  as  an 
open  prison  for  women." 

When  Sir  Thomas  Smyth  acquired  Theydon  Mount 
on  his  marriage  to  Sir  John  Hampden's  widow  there 
were  two  houses  there.  These  were  known  as  Mount 
Hall  and  Hill  Hall,'*  and  probably  represented  a 
survival  from  the  time  when  the  two  manors  were  in 
separate  ownership.  Mount  Hall  is  thought  to  have 
stood  about  100  yds.  north  of  the  church  and  to  have 
survived  as  a  farm-house  until  the  19th  century."  It 
then  disappeared  during  improvements  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  Hill  Hall  park.'  The  position  of  the 
original  Hill  Hall  is  not  known.  The  present  brick 
mansion,  which  stands  on  a  commanding  site  about 
450  yds.  north-west  of  the  church,  was  largely  the 
work  of  Sir  Thomas  Smyth  himself.  If  in  the  first 
instance  he  made  additions  to  an  existing  medieval 
structure,  all  trace  of  this  has  now  vanished.  It  is  true 
that  some  features  of  the  present  Hill  Hall  are  slightly 
earlier  in  style  than  the  rest  of  the  house  but  these  are 
unhkely  to  date  from  before  the  middle  of  the  i6th 
century.  Even  at  this  period  the  use  of  brick  in  a  richly 
timbered  area  was  an  innovation. 

Evidence  concerning  the  exact  dates  of  Sir  Thomas 
Smyth's  work  at  Hill  Hall  is  conflicting.  According  to 
Strype  the  shell  of  the  house  was  finished  in  1 568.2  Ju 
Smyth's  own  diary  (not  used  by  Strype)  the  following 
entries  occur: 

1557  Montaulam  aedificavi. 

1558  Aedificavi  adhuc  Montisaulam. 

1 568  Coepi  aedificare  fortius  et  splendidius  partes 
boreales  et  occidentales  Montisaulae. 

1 569  Hoc  anno  perfeci.3 

It  has  been  suggested  that  these  entries  may  refer  to 
Mount  Hall,  and  that  Smyth  did  not  start  work  on 
Hill  Hall  until  some  years  later.*  Certainly  much  still 
remained  to  be  done  at  Hill  Hall  at  Smyth's  death  in 
1577,  and  he  made  provision  in  his  will  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  house.  He  left  £20  to  his  chief  architect' 
Richard  Kirby,  to  be  paid  when  the  building  was  tiled, 
and  j^io  to  his  steward  to  oversee  the  workmen.*   In 

"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (iggs)- 
«*  Ibid.  (1902);  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cal.  A.  6b. 
»5  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (191 2). 
9'  E.R.O.,  Sale  Cat.  A.  6;  E.A.T.  N.s. 
xix,  74. 

»'  E.R.  xliii,    117.    Inf.  from  Min.  of 
Works. 
"  C2./S3/5. 
»'  See  above,  p.  276. 
>  Ibid. 

»  J.   Strype,  Life  of  Sir   TAos.   Smytk 
(orig.  1698;  1820  edn.),  173. 

3  j^rcheologia^  xxxviii,  119  (orig.  B.M. 
Add.  MS.  325). 

*  This  is  the  view  of  Mrs.  M.  Dcwar 


August  1577  Philippa,  Sir  Thomas's  widow,  agreed 
with  his  executors  to  allow  them  the  materials  from 
'within  the  ground  of  Hill  HaD  or  Mount  Hall'  to 
make  150,000  bricks  and  'sufficient  wood  and  straw 
for  two  years  as  shall  suffice  for  the  covering  and 
furnishing  of  the  said  new  building'.^  Four  years  after 
Smyth's  death  £800  had  already  been  spent  by  his 
executors  and  the  house  was  still  unfinished."  It  was 
then  expUcitly  stated  that  'some  few  years'  before  his 
death  Smyth  had  'laid  the  plot  of  a  fair  and  goodly 
house  of  brick'.'  At  the  time  of  his  death  Smyth  had 
had  personal  possessions  at  both  Hill  Hall  and  Mount 
Hall.'o  From  1554,  when  he  married  Philippa,  until 
at  least  1557  he  appears  to  have  lived  at  Hill  Hall, 
while  Thomas  Luther  lived  at  Mount  Hall."  In 
several  documents  relating  to  Theydon  Mount  at  this 
period  there  is  confusion  of  nomenclature  between 
Hill  Hall  and  Mount  Hall."  On  the  whole,  however, 
it  seems  probable  that  the  building  of  the  present  Hill 
Hall  was  carried  out  in  two  stages,  the  first  being  finished 
in  1569  and  the  second,  more  ambitious  stage  being 
started  some  time  later,  during  the  last  years  of  Sir 
Thomas's  life. 

The  courtyard  plan  on  which  Hill  Hall  is  built 
follows  the  usual  arrangement  of  the  Tudor  period, 
but  the  special  architectural  interest  of  the  house  lies 
in  its  early  use  of  renaissance  detail,  in  particular  the 
application  of  classical  orders  to  the  external  walls. 
These  are  carried  out  in  plaster,  intended  to  simulate 
stone.  The  fact  that  much  of  the  plaster  was  replaced 
by  cement  in  the  19th  century  has  led  some  authorities 
to  suppose  that  the  external  orders  were  applied  at  that 
time. '3  There  is  ample  evidence,  however,  that  they 
were  part  of  the  original  design.  Sir  Thomas  Smyth 
was  one  of  a  group  of  notable  men  who  had  been 
associated  with  the  Protector  Somerset  when  old 
Somerset  House,  probably  the  first  building  in  the 
country  to  use  classical  detail  on  an  extensive  scale,  was 
being  constructed.  The  influence  of  Somerset  House 
is  seen  in  the  subsequent  building  activities  of  other 
members  of  the  group  including  Sir  John  Thynne  and 
William  Cecil,  later  Lord  Burghley.'''  Sir  William 
Smyth's  own  interest  in  architecture  is  proved  by  the 
existence  in  his  library  of  several  editions  of  Vitruvius." 
The  early  renaissance  style  in  this  country  owes  more 
to  French  than  to  Italian  influence  and  Sir  Thomas  had 
special  opportunities  of  observing  the  architecture  of 
France  during  his  embassies  abroad.  The  details  in  the 
courtyard  at  Hill  Hall  have  been  compared  with  those 
at  the  chateau  of  Bournazel  near  Toulouse.'*  Smyth 
stayed  at  Toulouse  in  1565  and  again  in  I57i.'7  The 
external  columns  at  Hill  Hall  are  known  to  have  been 
in  existence  in  the  17th  and  i8th  centuries  and  to 
have  been  accepted  then  as  the  work  of  Sir  Thomas 
Smyth.18 

Another  outstanding  feature  of  Hill  Hall  is  the  set  of 


who  is  now  preparing  a  biography  of  Sir 
Thomas  Smyth. 

5  In  the  sense,  then  current,  of  a  senior 
artificer  who  sometimes,  but  not  always, 
made  the  original  drawings  for  a  building. 
In  this  case  it  seems  clear  that  the  design 
was  by  Sir  Thomas  Smyth  himself. 
^  Strvpe,  op.  cit.  171. 
7  E.R.O.,  D/DSh  T25. 
'  C78/124/1.  9  Ibid. 

10  C2  Eliz./Si7/43. 
■■  C21/S3/5. 

"  e.g.  C78/124/1,  in  which  Hill   Hall 
is  also  referred  to  as  Mount  Hall. 
"  Hist.   Mon.   Com.   Essex,   ii,   235-6; 


H.  Avray  Tipping  in  Country  Life,  xli 
(1917)- 

'♦  For  the  activities  of  these  men  in 
Elizabeth's  reign  see  John  Summerson, 
Architecture  in  Britain,  1530—1830,  17— 
20. 

'5  Strype,  op.  cit.  274-81  (Catalogue  of 
Sir  Thos.  Smyth's  library  at  Hill  Hall, 
1566). 

'*  N.  Pevsner,  Bdgs.  of  England,  Essex, 

354- 

"  Strype,  op.  cit.  88,  100. 

'8  Ibid.  172;  W.  Watts,  Seats  of  Nobility 
and  Gentry  &fc.,  pi.  84  (engraving  1780 
and  descriptive  note). 


279 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


i6th-centuiy  wall-paintings,  some  discovered  as 
recently  as  1951.  A  modern  authority  has  described 
their  technical  accomplishment  as  'without  parallel 
among  surviving  examples  in  England'." 

The  subsequent  history  of  the  house  involved  many 
alterations,  making  it  difficult  to  date  accurately  the 
different  parts  of  the  building.  The  first  major  recon- 
struction took  place  in  the  late  17  th  and  early  i8th 
centuries  when  the  east  range  was  rebuilt  by  Sir 
Edward  Smyth,  and  bt.^"  The  work  was  probably 
completed  by  his  son.  Early  in  the  19th  century  there 
were  alterations  and  restorations  by  Sir  William  Smijth. 
Soon  after  1912,  during  the  tenancy  of  Mrs.  Charles 
Hunter,  the  house  was  extended  and  the  interior  much 
embellished  by  Mr.  (later  Sir)  Reginald  Blomfield.^' 
In  1940  the  explosion  of  a  German  landmine  near  the 
west  range  caused  considerable  damage.  In  1950—2, 
when  the  building  was  being  prepared  for  its  use  as  a 
prison,  a  thorough  restoration  was  carried  out  by  the 
Ministry  of  Works  under  the  direction  of  its  Ancient 
Monuments  Inspectorate. 

As  it  stands  today  Hill  Hall  consists  of  four  ranges 
of  building  enclosing  a  central  courtyard.  In  the  main 
it  is  of  two  stories,  but  at  the  ends  of  the  south  front 
there  are  two  tower-like  projections,  each  of  three 
stories.  A  lower  wing  continues  the  line  of  the  north 
range  at  its  west  end,  and  north  of  this  is  a  single-story 
service  wing.  At  the  junction  of  the  north  and  west 
ranges  there  is  an  octagonal  angle  buttress.  The  pro- 
jecting wing  contains  the  remains  of  a  gatehouse  which 
has  a  three-centred  arch  and  a  semi-octagonal  stair 
turret  flanking  it.  All  these  features  are  typically  Tudor 
in  character,  and  it  is  possible  that  they  were  the  work 
of  Sir  Thomas  Smyth  during  an  early  phase  of  his 
building  at  Hill  Hall.  One  authority  has  suggested 
that  they  were  in  existence  before  his  time.^^  The  north 
range  itself  has  mullioned  and  transomed  windows  and 
in  the  centre  are  moulded  Tudor  arches  leading  into 
the  courtyard.  At  least  one  of  the  massive  chimneys  is 
original.  Internally  the  first-floor  rooms  of  this  range 
are  decorated  with  wall-paintings  of  Sir  Thomas 
Smyth's  time  representing  the  story  of  Cupid  and 
Psyche.  These  have  been  identified  as  copies  of  a  set 
of  contemporary  engravings  after  paintings  by  Michael 
Coxie  (b.  i499).^3  They  were  probably  executed  by 
a  foreign  artist.  Each  of  the  scenes  has  life-size  figures 
surrounded  by  a  wide  border  of  fruit  and  foliage.  Parts 
of  two  scenes  were  discovered  in  1940  and  presented 
to  the  Victoria  and  Albert  Museum.  Three  others, 
which  came  to  light  in  195 1,  have  been  restored  and 
left  in  situ.^  Traces  of  the  painted  border  elsewhere 
suggest  that  the  series  originally  extended  over  the 
whole  first  floor  of  the  north  range.  At  the  north-west 
corner  of  this  floor  and  possibly  at  one  time  extending 
into  the  west  range  is  a  set  of  biblical  subjects.  These 
are  at  frieze  level,  probably  indicating  that  the  lower 
part  of  the  room  was  panelled.  The  two  most  complete 
of  the  remaining  pictures  show  Hezekiah  at  the  temple 
door  and  the  destruction  of  Sennacherib.  The  latter 
scene  has  always  remained  exposed  and  it  is  possible 
that  others  were  not  papered  over  until  early  in  the  19th 
century. 25    Other  early  features  in  the  north  range 


include  an  oak  staircase,  possibly  not  in  its  original 
position,  a  stop-moulded  door-frame,  and  several 
plastered  fireplaces.  An  elaborately  carved  overmantel, 
formerly  on  the  ground  floor,^*  is  now  missing.  At  one 
time  the  courtyard  windows  in  this  range  contained  a 
quantity  of  stained  glass,  all  reset.^'  Many  of  the 
heraldic  subjects,  including  the  arms  of  Smyth,  the 
Tudor  Royal  Arms,  and  the  crowned  badges  of  Henry 
VIII  and  Elizabeth  I,  date  from  the  time  of  SirThomas 
Smyth.  One  scene  from  a  set  of  the  Seven  Deadly  Sins 
described  by  Strype^*  was  still  in  existence  in  1920. 
The  glass  was  damaged  in  1940  and  is  still  under 
repair.  Some  has  been  reset  in  other  windows  of  the 
house. 

In  the  courtyard  all  four  walls  have  a  classical  treat- 
ment now  generally  believed  to  be  the  design  of  Sir 
Thomas  Smyth.  It  consists  of  a  somewhat  unorthodox 
version  of  two  superimposed  Roman  orders,  Doric 
below  and  Ionic  above.  The  widely  spaced  Doric 
columns  stand  on  high  bases  and  support  an  enriched 
entablature  resting  on  a  row  of  modillions.  The 
imitation  stone  appears  to  have  been  renewed  early  in 
the  19th  century. 

Across  the  courtyard  the  south  range  contains  the 
great  hall  with  the  original  kitchen  adjoining  it  on  the 
west.  Two  kitchen  fireplaces  with  massive  arches  were 
uncovered  in  195 1.  Both  these  rooms,  or  parts  of 
them,  originally  extended  to  the  height  of  two  stories. 
The  chambers  above  are  partly  in  the  roof  and  have 
16th-century  brick  dormers,  whereas  elsewhere  in  the 
house  the  attics  are  modern  insertions.  The  fittings  of 
the  great  hall  were  always  classical  in  character.  The 
fireplace  still  exists  and  has  half-round  Doric  pilasters 
and  a  pediment.  Its  ornament  includes  a  bust  of  Sir 
Thomas  Smyth  and  shields  bearing  his  arms  and  those 
of  his  second  wife's  family.  Two  oak  screens  have  been 
replaced  by  the  present  imitation  marble  columns.^' 
The  west  screen  had  round-headed  openings  and 
Corinthian  columns  on  high  bases.  Above  it  are  the 
arms  of  Elizabeth  I.  The  two-story  screen  on  the 
north  side  may  have  been  altered  in  the  i8th  or  early 
19th  century.  It  is  said  to  have  been  used  originally 
for  the  display  of  a  collection  of  armour  which  largely 
disappeared  at  the  time  of  the  Commonwealth.^" 

The  south  front  of  this  range  has  an  applied  classical 
order  with  a  deep  entablature  at  eaves  level  and  large 
Doric  columns  at  the  angles  of  the  two  projecting 
towers.  If  these  last  are  the  work  of  Sir  Thomas 
Smyth  they  represent  an  isolated  and  very  early 
example  of  the  use  of  giant  columns  in  this 
country. 

The  first  extensive  alterations  to  the  house  were 
probably  completed  in  17 14,  a  date  which  appears  on 
the  rainwater  heads  of  the  east  front.  The  sash 
windows  on  the  south  and  west  fronts  may  have  been 
inserted  at  this  period.  The  north  front  was  brought 
up  to  date  by  the  addition  of  a  central  pediment  (now 
missing),  a  Doric  portico,  and  a  clock  turret  sur- 
mounted by  a  bell  cupola.  The  absence  of  any  older 
work  inside  the  east  range  suggests  that  it  was  built  or 
rebuilt  at  this  time.  Facing  east  a  fine  new  fajade  was 
contrived  in  the  style  of  Queen  Anne  and  during  the 


'»  J.   E.  A.  Roberts,  Burlington  Mag. 
xxviii,  91. 

"  Strype,  op.  cit.  172. 

"  H.  A.  Tipping,  in  Country  Life,  xli. 

"  Ibid. 

*3  Burlington  Mag.  Ixxviii,  86—92. 

"  All  inf.  concerning  the  restoration  of 


1950—2  was  supplied  by  the  Anct.  Mons. 
Inspectorate,  Ministry  of  Worlds.  For 
photos,  of  the  newly  discovered  paintings 
see  lUus.  Lond.  Ne-zvs,  5  July  1952. 

25  Penny  Mag.  19  July  1845,  278. 

26  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  236. 

"  Ibid.    The  MS.  records  of  the  Hist. 


Mon.  Com.  include  a  complete  list  of  the 
glass  existing  in  1920. 

2'  Strype,  op.  cit.  172.  He  gives  1569 
as  the  date  of  this  glass. 

^^  Country  Life,  xx,  22-25  has  photos, 
of  the  screens  before  alteration. 

3°  Strype,  op.  cit.  172  n. 


280 


Sir  Thomas  Smyth  (1513-77) 


Hill  Hall:  East  Front,  c.  k. 
Reconstructed  c.  17 14 


Copyright  Country  hife 


Hill  Hall:  The  Great  Hall  c.  1908,  before  20TH-cENTuRy  alterations 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  MOUNT 


1 8th  century  this  was  considered  the  'principal  front'.J' 
We  must  assume  that  the  great  columns,  similar  to  those 
on  the  south  side,  were  adapted  or  copied  to  form  part 
of  the  new  composition.  This  includes  a  less  ponderous 
entablature  and  a  central  pediment.  The  tall  sash 
windows  have  the  segmental  heads  and  rusticated  quoins 
of  the  period.  The  treatment  of  the  central  doorway  is 
modern.  In  the  pediment  is  a  cartouche  bearing  the 
arms  of  Smyth  impaling  Hedges.^^ 

A  general  simplification  of  the  exuberant  Eliza- 
bethan roof-line  probably  took  place  at  this  period. 
Plain  parapets  replaced  gables  and  the  chimneys  are 
known  to  have  been  rebuilt.  The  sundial  on  the  south 
front  and  the  wrought-iron  grille  at  the  north  entrance 
are  of  the  same  period.  Internally  many  insertions 
were  made,  among  them  the  fine  inlaid  staircase  occupy- 
ing the  tower  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  house.  A 
heavily  ornamented  marble  fireplace  with  flanking  con- 
soles was  added  to  the  chimney-piece  of  the  Great 
Hall,  but  this  was  later  removed  to  the  upper  corridor 
of  the  west  range.33 

The  dates  1768,  1815,  and  1844  all  appear  on  the 
walls  of  the  house  and  it  may  be  assumed  that  alterations 
were  carried  out  at  those  times.  A  tablet  in  the  court- 
yard is  dated  1 8 1 5  and  bears  the  initials  of  Sir  William 
Smijth  (d.  1823)  and  his  wife.  This  was  probably  the 
date  at  which  the  cement  work  was  renewed. 

Soon  after  191 2  major  alterations  took  place  and 
Hill  Hall  became  one  of  the  more  luxurious  country 
houses  of  that  time.  Attics  with  hipped  dormers  were 
inserted  in  the  north  and  west  ranges.  The  north-west 
wing,  incorporating  the  old  gatehouse,  was  rebuilt  as 
staff  quarters.  A  new  kitchen  wing  was  added.  The 
oak  screens  were  removed  from  the  hall.  The  interior 
was  expensively  fitted  out,  many  of  the  furnishings 
being  museum  pieces.  The  dining-room  was  lined  with 
17th-century  carved  woodwork  of  Venetian  origin.^'* 
This  and  many  other  fittings  were  later  removed. 

The  restoration  of  1950—2  brought  to  light  many 
original  features  besides  the  wall-paintings  in  the  north 
range.  Owing  to  its  condition  the  pediment  on  the 
north  front  was  taken  down,  but  as  far  as  possible  all 
existing  details  were  left  unaltered. 

During  his  Ufetime  Sir  Thomas  Smyth  paid  great 
attention  to  the  grounds  of  Hill  Hall.  He  planted 
orchards  and  a  tree-lined  walk.  The  approach  avenue 
to  the  north  is  said  to  be  his  work^s  and  two  of  his  fish- 
ponds remain  in  the  garden  as  ornamental  pools.  Many 
'improvements'  were  made  to  the  park  during  the  late 
l8th  and  early  19th  centuries,  including  the  removal 
of  Mount  Hall,  the  inclusion  of  the  parish  church 
within  the  park,  and  the  construction  of  the  long  curving 
drives  to  north  and  south.^* 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  church  at  Theydon 

Mount    in    1236,    for    in    that    year 

CHURCHES    Robert,    parson    of    the    church    at 

Theydon,  was  involved  in  a  dispute 

with  Robert  de  Briwes  and  his  wife  Beatrice  over  26 

3'  Watts,  Seati  of  Nobility  and  Gentry 
fefc,  note  to  pi.  84.. 

32  Anne  Hedges,   ist  wife  of  Sir  Edw. 
Smyth,  d.  17 19. 

33  Country  Life^  xx,  22,  25  (photos.). 
3<  Ibid.  xli. 

35  Strype,  op.  cit.  171— 3. 

36  Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mounts 
p.  X.   And  see  above,  p.  276. 

3'  Cal.  Close,  1234-7,  516. 
38  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  i,  179. 
3'  Kelly's    Dir.     Essex    (1922,     1926); 
Chel.  Dioc.  rear  £*.  1937/. 


«   Tax  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  2ii. 

*'  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  250. 

■t2  Falor  Eccl  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 

43  Smith,  Eccl.  Hist.  Essex,  17,  273. 

■M  E.R.O.,  D/CT  351. 

••s  J.  J.  Howard  and  H.  F.  Burke, 
Theydon  Mount,  21—22. 

46  Hill  Hall  Estate  Act,  5  Geo.  IV, 
c.  18  (priv.  act). 

*'  J.  Chapman  and  P.  Andre,  Map  of 
Essex,  iyy7,  sheet  xvi.  According  to 
Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mount,  xi, 
the  parsonage  stood  on  the  north  side  of 


acres  of  land.3'  In  1248  the  advowson  passed  with  the 
manor  of  Theydon  Mount  to  John  de  Lessington.J' 
They  continued  to  descend  together  until  1925,  when 
the  advowson  was  sold  with  Hill  Hall  to  Sir  Robert 
Hudson.  The  advowson  then  passed  with  Hill  Hall  until 
the  house  was  purchased  by  the  Prison  Commissioners, 
when  it  remained  with  Lady  Edward  Hay,  now  Lady 
Menzies.^'  Since  1755  the  rectory  of  Theydon  Mount 
has  always  been  held  jointly  with  that  of  Stapleford 
Tawney  (q.v.)  although  not  formally  united  with  it. 

In  1 29 1  the  rectory  of  Theydon  Mount  was  valued 
at  £\  6s.  SJ.^°  In  1428  the  value  was  said  to  be  6 
marks.''!  Jn  1535  the  valuation  was  ;^i  3  6s.  8</.*^  The 
'improved'  value  was  given  as  ^^30  in  1604  and  as  ^^92 
in  1650.43  The  tithes  were  commuted  in  1838  for 
,^307  15/.+*  In  1 62 1  the  glebe  consisted  of  five  pieces 
of  land  totalling  40  acres.'ts  In  1824  27  acres  belong- 
ing to  the  rectories  of  Theydon  Mount  and  Stapleford 
Tawney  were  exchanged  for  lands  in  Stapleford 
Tawney  belonging  to  the  Hill  Hall  estate.''^ 

In  1777  the  parsonage  house  of  Theydon  Mount 
was  shown  as  lying  between  the  church  and  Hill  HaU.^'' 
By  this  time  the  union  of  Theydon  Mount  and  Staple- 
ford Tawney  had  rendered  one  of  the  rectory  houses 
redundant.  In  the  19th  century  the  rectors  lived  at 
Stapleford  Tawney  and  the  house  at  Theydon  Mount 
was  evidently  demolished.''*  The  rectory  continued  to 
be  at  Stapleford  Tawney  until  the  time  of  the  present 
rector,  the  Revd.  E.  B.  Rees,  who  arranged  for  the  sale 
of  the  old  house  and  built  a  new  one  at  Theydon 
Mount  in  195 1.  This  is  a  red-brick  building  to  the 
north  of  Hill  HaU."' 

In  his  will  of  1389  John  de  Northampton  provided 
for  the  endowment  of  a  chantry  in  the  parish  church 
of  Theydon  Mount,  out  of  the  income  from  Hill  Hall 
(see  above).  It  is  not  clear  how  long  this  chantry  lasted. 
In  142 1  the  feoffees  of  Edmund  Herde  conveyed  to 
Simon  Archer  and  two  others  properties  in  Theydon 
Mount  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  suitable  priest  to 
celebrate  in  the  parish  church  for  two  following  years  for 
the  souls  of  Edmund  and  his  father  Thomas.  The  priest 
was  to  receive  an  annual  stipend  of  j^io  1 3/.  4^'.  unless 
the  trustees  could  drive  a  better  bargain  {nisi  meliori 
precio  foterint).^^  The  chantry  certificates  of  1 546—8 
contain  no  reference  to  a  chantry  in  Theydon  Mount. 

The  original  parish  church  of  Theydon  Mount  was 
dedicated  to  ST.  MICHAEL  and  ST.  STEPHEN. 
In  1400  the  Pope  offered  indulgences  to  those  who 
should  visit  the  church  and  contribute  to  its  upkeep. '• 
Reynold  Malyns  (d.  143 1)  left  66/.  %tl.  to  the  church 
and  for  the  seats  that  had  been  made  there.^^  This 
church  was  burnt  down  in  161 1 ;  it  is  said  to  have  been 
struck  by  lightning. 53  The  present  church  was  certainly 
in  use  by  1614.54  Unlike  its  predecessor  it  is  dedicated 
to  ST.  MICHAEL  only.  It  adjoins  the  park  of 
Hill  Hall.  This  was  effected  between  1777  and  about 
1800  by  the  diversion  of  the  road  south-east  of  Hill 
Hall.ss    The  church  consists  of  nave,  chancel,  south  . 

the  park  on  the  site  of  the  present  North 
Farm. 

«  O.S.  I  in.  Map  {c.  1801);  O.S.  6  in. 
Map  {c.  1870),  sheet  Iviii;  E.R.O.,  D/CT 
351  j  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848);  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (1859  f.). 

*<>  Inf.  from  Rev.  E.  B.  Rees. 

5»  B.M.  Add.  Chart.  28836;  Winstonc, 
Eppingand  Ongar  Hightvay  Trust{2yg—So. 

5*  Cal.  Pap.  Letts,  v,  277. 

52  Reg.  Chichele,  ed.  E.  F.  Jacob,  ii,  453. 

53  Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mount, 
liii,  4.      54  Ibid.      55  See  above,  p.  276. 


ES.  IV 


281 


00 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


porch,  and  west  tower.  It  is  of  red  brick  with  plaster 
dressings.  Its  special  interest  lies  in  the  fact  that  it 
dates  from  the  single  period  i6i  1-14  and  has  had  few 
alterations.  One  or  two  early  renaissance  details  have 
been  used  but  the  main  structure  is  of  late  gothic  style 
and  arrangement  (see  plate  facing  p.  270). 

Externally  the  window  and  door  openings  are  of 
moulded  brick  covered  with  plaster  to  simulate  stone. 
The  windows  on  the  north  and  south  sides  and  in  the 
upper  stages  of  the  tower  have  four-centred  heads. 
The  larger  east  and  west  windows  have  interlacing 
tracery  and  may  date  from  the  i8th  century. 

The  square  tower  is  of  three  stages  with  a  castellated 
parapet  and  a  small  shingled  spire.  The  stair  turret  on 
the  north  side  reaches  to  the  belfry  and  has  splayed 
angles.  Near  the  top  these  are  corbelled  out  to  give  a 
square  section,  a  feature  which  is  also  found  on  a  stair 
turret  at  Hill  Hall.  The  parapet  is  of  moulded  brick 
and  has  a  segmental  pediment.  The  stair  is  lighted  by 
pierced  quatrefoil  openings. 

The  south  porch  has  a  curvilinear  gable  with  a 
heavily  moulded  brick  coping.  The  archway  is  four- 
centred  with  classical  imposts  from  which  rise  flanking 
pilasters  supporting  an  entablature  and  pediment.  This 
entrance  feature  is  plaster  covered  and  is  the  only 
typically  renaissance  detail  to  be  found  externally. 

Inside  the  church  the  chancel  and  tower  arches  are 
pointed  and  the  general  impression  is  gothic.  Many 
of  the  fittings  are  of  the  original  date.  The  marble  font, 
which  stands  against  the  west  splay  of  the  south  door- 
way, is  of  most  unusual  design  and  may  be  by  the  same 
hand  as  some  of  the  family  monuments  which  are 
described  below.  The  stem  consists  of  a  square  pillar 
supporting  a  moulded  bowl  of  black  marble.  Above 
the  bowl  is  a  bearded  mask  set  in  a  shell-headed  niche. 

In  the  west  window  are  several  pieces  of  heraldic 
glass  of  the  i6th  century  and  later,  all  of  which  have 
been  moved  from  Hill  Hall.  They  include  a  Tudor 
royal  arms,  crowned  badges  of  Henry  VIII  and 
Elizabeth  I,  the  arms  of  Sir  Thomas  Smyth,  and  a 
damaged  achievement  of  arms  that  has  not  been  identi- 
fied. On  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  the  Lord's  Prayer 
and  the  Creed  are  painted  in  black  letter  of  the 
original  date.  The  Ten  Commandments  in  similar 
script  are  visible  above  the  chancel  arch.'*  The  oak 
benches  in  the  nave  are  apparently  original.  The 
reredos,  which  has  coupled  and  fluted  Corinthian 
pilasters,  dates  from  about  1700.  The  black  and  white 
floor  paving  is  of  the  same  period. 

In  1762  the  spire  was  reshingled,  the  gutters  re- 
leaded,  the  windows  reglazed,  and  the  flooring  of  the 
seats  made  good  at  a  total  cost  of  £-}2.^''  In  1837  the 
church  was  restored  and  a  gallery  was  erected  under 
the  west  tower.  This  was  for  the  use  of  the  musicians 
and  for  the  servants  at  Hill  Hall.ss  The  communion 
rails  and  those  of  the  gallery  at  that  period  were  of  cast 
iron. 59  The  oak  pulpit,  reading-desk,  and  credence 
table  were  presented  in  1888  by  the  Revd.  L.  N. 
Prance.*"  The  stained  glass  in  the  east  window  was 
given  as  a  memorial  to  Major  Charles  Hunter  (d. 
1917).  In  1926  another  restoration  took  place  during 
which  the  rafters  of  the  roof  were  exposed,  the  gallery 
removed,  and  the  iron  communion  rails  replaced  by 

"  Hilt,  Mon.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  234;  inf. 
from  the  Revd.  E.  B.  Rees. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  142/8/1. 

"  Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mount, 
X.  For  repairs  to  the  bass  viol,  1796,866 
E.R.O.,  D/P  142/12/1. 


5'  Hist.  Mon.  Com.  Recs.  (photographs). 

*"  Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mount, 
xi.  i>>  E.R.  XXXV,  224. 

'2  Ck.  Plate  Essex,  105-6. 

65  John  Strype,  Life  of  Sir  Tho.  Smyth 
(ed.  1820),  154. 


oak.*'  The  square  pew  belonging  to  Hill  Hall  was 
removed  in  1953. 

There  is  one  bell  cast  by  John  Clifton  in  1653.  The 
church  plate,  all  of  silver,  consists  of  cup  and  paten 
cover  dated  1587,  paten  given  in  1714  by  Dame  Jane 
Smyth,  flagon  given  in  1824  by  the  rector,  the  Revd. 
Edward  Smijth,  and  a  salver  of  1780.  In  1683  there 
was  some  pewter  plate*^  but  none  of  this  now  remains. 

There  is  a  fine  series  of  monuments  to  the  Smyth 
family.  The  first  of  these,  that  of  Sir  Thomas  Smyth 
(d.  1577)  and  'Philip'  his  wife  (d.  1578),  was  pre- 
served from  the  earlier  church.  It  was  put  in  hand 
during  the  lifetime  of  Sir  Thomas  and  there  is  a  sug- 
gestion that  it  was  of  his  own  design.*-)  It  is  of  alabaster 
and  black  marble  and  stands  against  the  north  wall  of 
the  chancel.  The  reclining  effigy  of  Sir  Thomas  is  in 
armour  and  Garter  robes  and  has  a  salamander  at  its 
feet.  Below  is  an  inscribed  altar  tomb  and  above  an 
arched  canopy  under  which  are  a  long  inscription  and 
symbolic  carving.  There  are  flanking  Ionic  pilasters 
supporting  an  entablature.  Above  the  cornice  are  two 
black  marble  obelisks  and  an  achievement  of  arms. 

Opposite  is  a  monument  of  similar  proportions  to 
Sir  William  Smyth  (d.  1626)  and  Bridget  his  wife. 
A  crested  helmet  and  part  of  a  surcoat,  said  to  have 
belonged  to  Sir  William  Smyth,**  hang  near  by 
together  with  a  painted  cartouche  shield. 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  the  alabaster 
tomb  of  the  second  Sir  William  Smyth  (d.  1632).  The 
carving  is  of  fine  quality  and  the  costumes  are  of  great 
interest.  Opposite  this  monument  is  an  alabaster  and 
black  marble  tomb  enriched  with  consoles  and  cherubs' 
heads.  On  it  is  the  recumbent  effigy  of  Sir  Thomas 
Smyth,  bt.  (d.  1668),  in  armour  and  with  a  curled  wig. 

On  the  walls  of  the  chancel  are  many  tablets  to 
members  of  the  Smyth  family  dating  from  the  i8th 
and  19th  centuries,  and  several  painted  hatchments  of 
the  same  family.  The  two  black-letter  inscriptions  on 
the  south  wall  of  the  nave  have  been  adapted  as 
memorials.  One  serves  as  a  memorial  for  the  First 
World  War  and  the  other  is  in  memory  of  Sir  Robert 
Hudson  (d.  1927). 

Vestry  minute-books  of  Theydon   Mount  survive 

for  the  period  17 15- 
PARISH  GOVERNMENT  I942.*5  Apart  from  the 
AND  POOR  RELIEF  nomination  of  the  sur- 

veyors of  highways  for 
1719-92  at  vestries  held  first  in  December  and  at  a 
later  period  in  September,  the  books  have  very  icvf 
entries  other  than  those  for  the  annual  Easter  vestry 
for  the  passing  of  accounts  and  the  nomination  of  new 
officers.  It  is  therefore  not  possible  to  obtain  a  com- 
plete picture  of  the  administration  of  the  parish.  The 
attendance  at  the  Easter  vestry  was  usually  about  five. 

In  171 5  the  rateable  value  of  the  parish  was  £<)0(), 
a  penny  rate  thus  producing  ^3  1 5/.  9^'.  In  that  year 
there  was  a  churchwardens'  rate  of  l/,  a  constable's 
rate  of  2j<j'.,  and  two  overseers'  rates  totalling  5  Ji/.  The 
churchwardens'  rate  was  usually  !</.  until  1766,  when 
it  was  merged  in  a  general  rate.  The  constable's  rate 
was  also  iJ.  for  most  of  the  period  172 1-2  to  1756-57, 
when  it  was  merged  with  that  of  the  overseers.  The 
overseers'    rate   had   slowly   increased,   apparently   to 

'*  Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mount, 


65  E.R.O.,  D/P  142/8/1,  2.  Unless 
otherwise  stated  all  the  following  informa- 
tion is  derived  from  these  vestry  books. 


282 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


THEYDON  MOUNT 


\oti.  in  1727-8  and  is.  dd.  in  1752-3.  In  1759-60, 
however,  it  was  only  312'.  and  in  1765-6  it  was  \s.  In 
and  after  1 766  there  was  only  one  parish  rate  and  one 
account,  known  as  the  overseers'  account,  from  which 
the  churchwardens'  and  constables'  bills  were  settled 
as  well  as  those  for  poor  relief  About  1766  also  the 
vestry  books  cease  to  give  details  of  disbursements, 
these  being  transferred  to  separate  volumes,**  and  only 
contain  brief  totals  of  income  and  expenditure.  In 
1774-5  the  general  rate  was  zs.  dd.,  producing  £107.*' 
It  rose  to  5  J.  dd.  in  1796-7  and  in  1 800-1  the  rate  was 
9/.,  producing  £,\^2.  This  was  the  peak.  The  income 
from  the  rates  dropped  to  ^^254  two  years  later  and  in 
1828-9  was  £185.68 

The  parish  had  at  least  one  poorhouse  by  1776.*' 
In  most  cases,  however,  the  poor  seem  to  have  been 
relieved  outside  the  poorhouse,  by  cash  payments  and 
to  a  lesser  extent  by  the  provision  of  clothing,  fuel,  and 
rent.'"  On  at  least  two  occasions,  in  1783  and  1789,  a 
spinning-wheel  was  purchased.  In  March  1796  16 
people  were  receiving  weekly  relief.  In  1 8 1  o  Robert 
Burton  Hayward,  surgeon  of  Epping,  was  engaged  to 
attend  the  poor  for  a  year  at  a  salary  of  6  guineas,  with 
travelling  allowances  and  10/.  for  confinements.  There 
are  references  to  the  inoculation  of  pauper  families  in 
1772-3,  1792,  and  1793.  In  the  period  1757-8  to 
1 7  89— 90  the  overseers  held  office  for  two  years.  There- 
after they  served  only  for  one  year.  Sir  William  Smijth, 
Bt.,  of  Hill  Hall  was  overseer  in  1792-3.  Between 
1745  ^f"^  177°  fo"''  women  served  as  overseers.  In 
1833  an  assistant  overseer  was  appointed  at  a  salary 
of^io. 

A  church  clerk  is  mentioned  in  the  churchwardens' 
account  of  1756—7,  and  again  in  the  overseers'  account 
of  1792-3.  His  wages  were  loj.  and  10/.  dd.  respec- 
tively. In  1 842  the  parish  appointed  a  paid  constable. 
This  is  of  special  interest  because  the  Essex  County 
Constabulary  had  been  founded  two  years  earher. 
Theydon  Mount  appears  never  to  have  had  a  police 
constable,  even  in  later  years. 

During  the  period  1715-92  there  were  only  five 
years  when  a  member  of  the  Smijth  family  was  not 
nominated  as  one  of  the  surveyors.  Usually  it  was  the 
baronet  who  was  nominated. 

In  1836  Theydon  Mount  became  part  of  Ongar 
Poor  Law  Union. 

In  1 81 8  there  was  no  school  in  the  parish,  although 
the  poor  were  said  to  desire  schooling  for 
SCHOOLS  their  children."  In  1826  Mrs.  Letitia 
(later  Lady)  Bowser  Smijth  set  up  a 
girls'  school  in  some  cottages,  paying  the  fees  of  needy 
children  and  taking  an  active  interest  in  the  work.  It 
is  possible  that  these  cottages  were  situated  at  the  brick- 
field near  Hill  Hall.  In  1836  Sir  John  Smijth  estab- 
lished a  boys'  school,  which  the  Smijth  family  largely 
maintained  in  the  years  following.   In  1839  the  rector. 


besides  making  financial  contributions,  carried  out 
most  of  the  detailed  administration  at  both  schools. 
There  were  33  boys  and  42  girls  in  attendance,  the  fee 
evidently  being  id.  per  week.  The  textbooks  of  the 
National  Society  were  used  but  neither  school  was  a 
National  School.'^ 

About  1846  a  new  mixed  school  was  built,  ap- 
parently on  the  site  of  the  boys'  school  of  1836. 
Members  of  the  Smijth  family  seem  to  have  paid  most, 
if  not  all  of  the  cost,  and  to  have  remained  for  many 
years  the  owners  and  chief  source  of  income;  in  1846-7 
Sir  E.  Bowyer-Smijth  was  stated  to  be  the  only  con- 
tributor. Children  attended  the  school  from  Stapleford 
Tawney  as  well  as  from  Theydon  Mount.  After  a 
successful  start  the  school  seems  to  have  declined.  In 
1846—7  there  were  about  70  pupils  under  a  master 
and  a  mistress  who  were  paid  £40  and  ^^14  a  year 
respectively .'3  By  1 871  there  were  only  some  36  pupils 
and  the  building  was  in  poor  condition,  despite  con- 
tinued support  from  the  Smijths.  The  government 
declared  that  it  could  not  be  considered  an  efficient 
school  for  the  3 1  children  from  Theydon  Mount  and 
the  30  from  Stapleford  Tawney  needing  elementary 
schooling  unless  it  was  thoroughly  repaired. '■♦  Theydon 
Mount  parishioners  were  now  prepared  to  accept 
responsibihty  for  the  school  and  in  February  1873  the 
Smijth  family  transferred  ownership  to  the  rector  and 
churchwardens  as  trustees.  The  building  was  repaired 
so  as  to  accommodate  up  to  50  pupils,  the  building  of 
a  new  school  at  Stapleford  Tawney  making  greater 
accommodation  unnecessary.'s 

In  1880  the  school  seems  to  have  been  reorganized 
and  officially  reopened  as  Theydon  Mount  Church  of 
England  school.  In  1881  the  first  government  grant 
was  received,  one  of  £1 2,  and  this  amount  rose  slowly 
to  an  average  of  about  £44  in  1890— 1900.  Other 
income  came  from  'school  pence'  and  from  a  voluntary 
rate  which  in  1880  yielded  some  £■}■}■  The  master  was 
paid  £36  in  1877  and  ,^52  in  1886.  In  1887  he  was 
-  replaced  by  a  mistress  who  also  received  £^2.''^  The 
population  of  the  village  was  declining  and  average 
attendance  at  the  school  was  only  27  in  1893  and  23 
in  1 899.77  Under  the  Education  Act  of  1902  the 
school  passed  under  the  administration  of  the  Essex 
Education  Committee,  Ongar  District,  as  a  non- 
provided,  mixed  elementary  school.  Its  average  atten- 
dance was  37  in  1900,  45  in  1910,  36  in  1929,  and 
only  24  in  1938.  In  1939  it  was  reorganized  for 
mixed  juniors  and  infants  and  in  1942  it  was  closed 
because  of  the  insufficient  number  of  pupils.  The 
children  were  transferred  to  Theydon  Garnon  school.'* 
The  building  is  now  used  for  parochial  and  social  pur- 
poses." It  is  single-storied  and  of  brick,  with  a  slate 
roof. 

CHARITIES.    For  Theydon   Mount  charities   see' 
Stapleford  Tawney. 


«'  E.R.O.,  D/P  142/12/1,  2. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/P  142/12/1. 

6«  E.R.O.,  D/P  14.2/11/1,  2. 

'»  Rep.  Sel.  Cttee.  un  Overseers  Reins. 
1777,  H.C.  ser.  i,  vol.  ix,  p.  350. 

'**  The  following  paragraph  is  based  on 
the  overseers'  account  books :  E.R.O., 
D/P  142/12/1,  2. 

"  Reins.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  273 


(,8.9),  ix  (I). 

'*  Howard  and  Burke,  Theydon  Mounl, 
x;E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

73  Nal.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Ch.  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  18-19;  E.R.O.,  D/AEM 
2/8. 

'■<  Reins.  EUm.  Educ.  H.C.  201,  pp. 
112-13  (1871),  Iv;  Min.  of  Educ.  File 
13/367;  Chelmsford  Chron.  9  Aug.  1872. 


"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/367. 

'<•  E.R.O.,  D/P  nzjiij^. 

"  Retn.  of  Schs.  1893  [C.  7529],  p.  716, 
H.C.  (1894),  Ixv;  ibid.  1899  [Cd.  315], 
p.  74.,  H.C.  {1900),  hv  {2). 

"  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/367;  inf.  from 
Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

"  Inf.  from  Chelmsford  Dioc.  Council 
for  Relig.  Educ. 


283 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


NORTH  WEALD  BASSETT 


North  Weald  Bassett  lies  in  the  extreme  north-west 
comer  of  Ongar  hundred,  the  parish  being  divided 
almost  equally  between  this  hundred  and  that  of 
Harlow.'  It  is  3  miles  north-east  of  Epping  and  19 
miles  from  London.  The  name  Weald  (forest  land) 
is  no  longer  appropriate,  for  very  little  woodland  now 
survives,  and  much  of  the  parish  is  open  and  bare.  The 
main  road  from  London  to  Newmarket  and  Norwich 
runs  through  the  west  and  that  from  Epping  to  Chelms- 
ford through  the  south  of  the  parish.  The  Epping- 
Ongar  railway  runs  through  the  southern  tip  of  North 
Weald.  A  large  R.A.F.  station  and  wireless  masts 
are  prominent  features  of  the  landscape  and  there  has 
recently  been  much  domestic  building.  But  some  parts 
of  North  Weald  are  still  rural.  At  Woodside  in  the 
south-west  a  leafy  lane  runs  past  Wintry  Wood  and  in 
the  north  of  the  parish  there  is  a  view  across  to  the 
woods  of  Harlow  Park. 

In  1873-4  the  total  area  of  the  parish  was  3,433 
acres  of  which  1,739  acres  were  in  Ongar  hundred. 
The  part  in  Harlow  hundred  was  made  up  of  the  tithing 
of  Thornwood  in  the  west  (901  acres)  and  that  of 
Hastingwood  in  the  north  (793  acres).  A  detached 
portion  of  the  parish  consisting  of  1 1  acres  to  the  north- 
east of  the  main  body  and  near  Weald  Lodge  was 
situated  locally  in  Magdalen  Laver  parish.^  This  was 
transferred  to  Magdalen  Laver  in  1883.3  In  1946  the 
part  of  North  Weald  to  the  north  of  Weald  Bridge, 
including  Weald  Bridge  Farm,  Weald  Lodge,  and 
Bowlers  Green  was  also  transferred  to  Magdalen 
Laver .^  In  1949  the  parish  was  considerably  enlarged 
by  the  addition  of  parts  of  Netteswell  and  Latton 
parishes  in  the  north-west,  part  of  Harlow  in  the  north- 
east, part  of  Theydon  Garnon  in  the  south,  and  part  of 
Epping  Upland  (including  Wintry  Wood)  in  the 
south-west.5  The  present  area  of  the  civil  parish  is 
4,032  acres.* 

The  highest  parts  of  the  parish  are  in  the  south  and 
west,  rising  to  300  ft.  and  affording  good  views.  From 
there  the  land  slopes  gently  down  to  Cripsey  Brook, 
which  rises  in  the  west,  flows  north-east  through  the 
centre  of  the  parish,  and  forms  part  of  the  north- 
eastern boundary.  Shonks  Brook,  which  joins  Cripsey 
Brook,  forms  part  of  the  northern  boundary. 

Population  is  mainly  concentrated  along  the  Epping- 
Chelmsford  road  and  to  the  north  of  it.  There  are  also 
villages  at  Thornwood  and  Hastingwood. 

In  1086  North  Weald  was  one  of  the  most  thickly 
wooded  places  in  Essex.  Peter  de  Valognes'  manor 
was  said  to  contain  woodland  sufficient  for  1,500 
swine,  a  figure  larger  in  proportion  to  the  parish  area 
than  those  even  for  Waltham  Holy  Cross,  Loughton, 
and  the  Theydons.'  The  'wood  of  Henry  of  Essex' 
in  North  Weald  was  mentioned  in  1248.'  In  1260 
Philip  Basset,  Henry's  successor  as  lord  of  the  manor, 
complained  that  many  robberies  were  being  done  in 
this  wood  near  the  road  between  Ongar  and  Waltham, 
and  he  secured  the  king's  permission  to  assart  6  acres 


of  the  wood.'  Other  assarts  were  taking  place  in  the 
13th  century,  particularly  in  connexion  with  some  of 
the  estates  which  later  became  manors. '<"  The  park 
belonging  to  the  principal  manor  was  still  in  existence 
in  1 540."  It  gave  its  name  to  Park  Corner  in  the  south- 
west of  the  parish.  Late  medieval  conveyances  do  not 
mention  any  other  large  areas  of  woodland  except  in 
the  Paris  Hall  area,  where  about  60  acres  were  reported 
as  late  as  1520.'^  Norden's  Map  0/ Essex,  1594,  does 
not  show  North  Weald  as  a  densely  wooded  parish. 
In  1777  there  was  apparently  no  woodland  there  apart 
from  Weald  Hall  Coppice. '3  This  is  specially  interest- 
ing in  view  of  the  survival  of  large  woods  in  neighbour- 
ing parishes.  Weald  Hall  Coppice  still  (1954)  survives, 
and  there  is  also  a  small  wood  at  Canes. 

The  ancient  manor  houses  were  Weald  Hall,  near 
the  centre  of  the  parish.  Canes  i  mile  farther  north, 
Marshalls  near  Woodside,  and  Paris  Hall  at  Hasting- 
wood. All  four  were  on  moated  sites  and  there  were 
also  moats  at  Newhouse  Farm  in  Vicarage  Lane  and 
at  Schoolgreen  Farm.  Paris  Hall,  on  the  original  site, 
was  rebuilt  about  1600.  Marshalls  was  rebuilt  on  a 
new  site  in  the  17th  century.  Canes,  Weald  Hall,  and 
New  House  were  rebuilt  in  the  19th  century.'*  In 
addition  to  the  four  manor  houses  there  were  probably 
substantial  medieval  dweUings  at  Tylers  Green, 
Bowlers  Green,  Bridge  Farm  (near  Weald  Bridge), 
and  possibly  one  or  two  other  places.' 5  The  parish 
church,  which  dates  from  the  r4th  century,  is  J  mile 
east  of  Weald  Hall. 

In  1777  there  was  a  concentration  of  houses  around 
four  commons:  at  Weald  Gullet,  Tylers  Green, 
Thornwood,  and  Hastingwood.  There,  as  well  as  on 
the  older  sites,  a  number  of  houses  survive  from  the 
1 8th  century  and  earlier.  Apart  from  the  church  the 
oldest  existing  building  in  the  parish  is  probably 
Tylers.  This  is  a  timber-framed  and  plastered  house 
consisting  of  a  central  block  with  a  gabled  cross-wing 
at  each  end.  It  may  date  from  the  1 6th  century  but 
there  is  some  evidence  that  the  central  block  was  an 
earlier  open  hall  with  a  screens  passage  at  its  south-west 
end.  A  large  curved  and  chamfered  brace,  which 
appears  to  have  been  part  of  a  main  roof  truss,  was 
recently  removed  from  the  first  floor  of  this  block. 
Bluemans  Farm,  which  formerly  stood  immediately 
north-east  of  Tylers,  may  have  been  a  16th-century 
building,  but  it  has  recently  been  demolished.  It  was 
timber-framed  with  oversailing  gable-ends  at  the  back 
and  front.'*  From  the  17th  century  several  houses  sur- 
vive. Hastingwood  Farm,  known  locally  as  Rainbow 
Farm,  was  demolished  in  1954.  It  was  a  timber- 
framed  building  of  which  parts  dated  from  the  17th 
century  or  earher.  Two  small  crosswings  projected  on 
the  south  side  and  there  was  a  central  chimney  with 
four  diagonal  shafts.  Little  Weald  Hall,  formerly  New 
Hall,  near  the  church,  is  a  timber-framed  building 
probably  of  the  17th  century,  also  having  a  chimney 
with  diagonal  shafts.    The  'King's  Head'  at  Weald 


'  O.S.  2i  in.  Mafi,  sheets  52/40,  S^IS°- 

'  O.S.  6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  1. 

^  By  the  Divided  Parishes  and  Poor 
Law  Amendment  Act,  39  and  4.0  Vict. 
c.  61. 

<  By  the  Co.  of  Essex  {Rural  Parishes) 
Confirmation  Order.,  ig^d. 

'  By   the   Co.   of  Essex  (Alteration  of 


Rural  Parishes)  Conf.  Order  No.  2,  ig4g. 
'  Inf.  from  Epping  R.D.C. 

7  r.C.H.  Essex,  i,  538;  cf.  ibid.  375. 

8  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.),  86. 
»  Cal.  Pat.  1258-66,  65. 

'»  See,  e.g.   Merton  Coll.  MSS.    Deed 
3128  (Canes). 
"  L.&P.  Hen.  nil,  xv,  p.  349. 

284 


"  C./447/59- 

'3  Chapman  and  Andre,  Map  of  Essex^ 
J777,  sheet  xi. 

*♦  For  the  manor  houses  see  below. 
Manors. 

■5  P.N.  Essex,  86-87. 

">  Hist,  Men.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  199  (10). 


ONGAR  HUNDRED   north  weald  bassett 


Gullet  is  a  timber-framed  building  probably  of  the  same 
period.  It  was  restored  about  1927."  Wheelers,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Chelmsford  road  near  the  post-office, 
was  mentioned  as  an  estate  by  Morant.''  The  house  is 
an  irregular  timber-framed  structure  dating  from  the 
17th  century  or  earlier.  East  of  Wheelers  is  Brickwall 
House,  formerly  a  farm."  It  dates  from  the  late  17th 
century  and  has  a  hipped,  tiled  roof  and  a  central 
chimney  with  joined  diagonal  shafts.  Of  the  smaller 
buildings  the  former  school  house  by  the  church  is 
probably  the  original  17th-century  house,^"  and  there 
is  another  17th-century  cottage  to  the  east  of  the  vicar- 
age: this  has  external  chimneys  at  the  gable-ends.  Two 
ancient  timber-framed  cottages  which  formerly  stood 
on  the  north  side  of  the  main  road  near  the  end  of 
Church  Lane  were  destroyed  in  a  German  air  raid  in 
1 941." 

Schoolgreen  Farm,  at  the  north  end  of  School  Green 
Lane,  is  timber-framed  and  plastered  and  dates  from 
the  17th  or  early  i8th  century.  Opposite  this,  part  of 
a  homestead  moat  survives.  Esgors,  formerly  Isgoe,^^ 
at  Thornwood,  is  a  square  red-brick  house  dating  from 
about  1750.  It  formerly  had  a  frontage  on  the  com- 
mon but  is  now  set  back  about  100  yards  from  the 
main  road.  Weald  Place,  at  Duck  Lane,  is  a  good  red- 
brick house  of  about  the  same  period.  A  number  of 
other  buildings  in  Duck  Lane  and  Woodside  date  from 
the  1 8th  and  early  19th  centuries.  It  is  probable  that 
the  development  in  this  area  resulted  from  the  improve- 
ment in  the  main  road  north  and  south  after  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Epping  Turnpike  Trust  in  1768. 

In  1 80 1  North  Weald,  with  620  inhabitants,  was 
one  of  the  more  densely  populated  parishes  of  the 
hundred.^3  In  the  19th  century  the  population  followed 
the  trend  normal  in  rural  Essex  until  about  1 861: 
there  was  an  increase  to  886  in  1831  and  a  subsequent 
slight  decrease.  But  between  1861  and  1901,  when  the 
agricultural  depression  was  depopulating  most  villages, 
the  population  of  North  Weald  rose  from  842  to  i ,  1 3  5 . 
This  was  clearly  due  to  the  coming  of  the  railway  in 
1865.  Building  development  in  the  19th  century  was 
also  encouraged  by  the  inclosure  of  the  commons, 
which  took  place  shortly  before  the  opening  of  the 
railway,  and  it  was  at  Thornwood  and  Hastingwood 
that  most  of  the  development  took  place  in  that  period. 
Several  of  the  larger  houses  in  the  parish,  including 
Newhouse  Farm,  were  rebuilt  in  the  19th  century. 
Hastingwood  House,  which  was  built  about  1840, 
was  a  completely  new  residence.  It  is  a  large  gault 
brick  house  standing  in  extensive  grounds.  New  places 
of  worship  in  the  19th  century  were  the  Congregational 
chapel  in  Weald  Bridge  Road,  built  about  1830  but 
closed  about  1874,  the  chapel  of  ease  at  Hastingwood 
(1864),  the  iron  mission  church  at  Thornwood  (1888), 
and  the  Wesleyan  churches  at  Thornwood  (1883)  and 
Weald  Gullet  (i888).m  The  original  school  was 
relinquished  in  favour  of  a  larger  building  and  the  new 
school  was  extended  in  about  1 842  and  again  in  1 87 1  .^s 

The  population  rose  very  little  during  the  first  20 
years  of  the  present  century,  and  was  only  1,239  in 


"  Inf.  from  present  licensee. 

**  MoTAnt,  Essex,  I,  151. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387. 

"  See  Schools. 

"  Inf.  from  Mr.  H.  King. 

"  Chapman  and  Andri,  Mafi  of  Essex, 
lyyy,  sheet  xi. 

23  For  census  figures  1801  — 1901  see 
y.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  350. 

**  See  Nonconformity,  Church. 


25  See  Schools. 

26  Census,  191 1,  1921. 
"  Inf.  from  Mr.  D.  W.  Hutchings. 
28  Inf.  from  Mr.  H.  King. 
2'  Inf.  from  Essex  County  Council.    At 

the     195 1    Census    the    population    was 

3.127- 
30  See  Church,  Nonconformity. 
3>  Inf.  from  Rev.  B.  F.  Adeney. 
3*  For  the  ref.  to  it  in  1260  see  above. 


192 1. 2*  There  was  an  increase  to  1,642  in  193 1  and 
then  a  burst  of  building  lasting  until  the  Second  World 
War.  Between  the  World  Wars  development  was 
greatest  along  the  Chelmsford  road.  On  the  part  of  it 
to  the  west  of  Church  Lane  all  the  buildings  are 
connected  with  the  R.A.F.  Station.  Between  here 
and  Tylers  Green  building  is  almost  continuous,  much 
of  it  dating  from  the  1930's.  A  few  council  houses 
were  built  before  1939:  8  pairs  in  School  Green,  to 
the  north  of  the  Chelmsford  road,  5  pairs  opposite  the 
post-office,  and  9  pairs  on  the  road  to  Epping  Upland. 
The  Post  Office  Radio  Station  (formerly  owned  by 
Cable  and  Wireless  Ltd.)  was  estabhshed  at  Weald 
Gullet  in  1921."  During  the  Second  World  War  a 
few  buildings  were  destroyed  by  German  bombing. 
Two  of  these  have  been  mentioned  above;  a  third  was 
the  Woolpack  Inn,  which  stood  opposite  them.^^ 

Since  1945  three  large  housing  estates  have  been 
built:  at  Queen's  Road  and  Bluemans  by  the  rural 
district  council,  and  at  School  Green  by  the  R.A.F. 
In  1953  the  estimated  population  of  North  Weald  was 
3,200 — an  increase  of  almost  100  per  cent,  on  1931.^' 
It  should  rise  still  further,  on  the  completion  of  the 
School  Green  estate.  The  provision  of  public  build- 
ings has  not  kept  pace  with  that  of  houses.  The  iron 
mission  church  at  Thornwood  was  replaced  in  1923 
by  a  brick  church  and  in  193 1  the  Wesleyan  church  at 
Weald  Gullet  was  rebuilt.  In  1939,  however,  the 
Wesleyan  church  at  Thornwood  was  closed  owing  to 
lack  of  support.'"  A  village  hall  was  built  in  1928,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Chelmsford  road  near  Church 
Lane." 

Until  the  17th  century  the  Epping-Chelmsford  road 
was  probably  the  most  important  in  the  parish.s^  In 
1786  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Epping  Highway 
Trust  by  the  people  of  North  Weald  asking  that  the 
road  should  be  taken  over  by  the  trust,  in  the  first  place 
as  far  as  Ongar.33  An  Act  of  Parliament  for  this  pur- 
pose was  passed  in  the  following  year.'*  A  toll-gate  was 
erected  at  the  junction  of  the  main  road  and  Woodside. 
The  gate-keeper  lived  at  first  in  a  rented  cottage  but  a 
toD-house  was  built  about  1818.35  This  still  survives: 
a  single-story  building  of  brick,  now  plastered,  with  a 
tiled  roof. 

The  other  main  road  became  important  early  in  the 
17th  century  as  part  of  the  new  route  to  Newmarket.'* 
This  was  one  of  the  roads  taken  over  by  the  Epping 
Highway  Trust  at  its  formation  in  1768."  There  was 
a  toll-gate  at  Thornwood  Common.' '  Since  the 
coming  of  motor  traffic  this  road  has  become  one  of  the 
busiest  in  Essex. 

The  minor  roads  of  the  parish  probably  changed 
little  between  the  Middle  Ages  and  the  19th  century. 
The  main  change  in  recent  times  has  been  the  closing 
of  the  eastern  section  of  Weald  Hall  Lane  owing  to  the 
building  of  the  airfield.  Another  lane  which  has  dis- 
appeared formerly  ran  south  of  the  Chelmsford  road 
from  Weald  Gullet  to  Skips  Corner.  This  existed  in 
1777  and  1838  but  had  disappeared  by  1873-4." 
The  parish  boundary  follows  this  line. 

33  B.    Winstone,    Epping    and    Ongar 
Highiuay  Trust,  130— I. 
3*  Ibid.  132. 

35  Ibid.  i+o. 

36  See  Loughton. 

37  Winstone,  op.  cit.  54—83. 

38  Ibid.  94. 
3'  Chapman  and  Andr^,  Map  of  Essex, 

1777,  sheet  xi;  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387;  O.S. 
6  in.  Map  (ist  edn.),  sheet  1. 


285 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Weald  Bridge  has  always  been  the  most  important 
in  the  parish.  Between  15  56  and  1652  it  was  frequently 
presented  at  Quarter  Sessions  as  in  need  of  repair,  and 
responsibility  for  it  was  doubtful.''"  In  i6i5and  1652 
the  parish  was  said  to  be  responsible.'"  In  1653  the 
inhabitants  protested  that  they  had  been  wrongly 
indicted  for  not  repairing  the  Isridge:  they  had  spent 
;^4  l^s.  on  it;  but  they  asserted  that  it  was  a  county 
charge  and  asked  for  the  repayment  of  their  expenses.''^ 
The  justices  thereupon  ordered  that  several  hundreds 
should  be  taxed  for  the  repair  of  this  and  other  bridges.'*' 
Weald  Bridge  appears  in  the  lists  of  county  bridges 
from  about  i8oo.-«^  In  1858  the  county  surveyor 
described  it  in  detail.^s  It  appears  not  to  have  been 
altered  since  that  date.  Cracks  Bridge,  at  Weald 
Gullet,  was  taken  over  by  the  county  in  1881,  when 
the  surveyor  reported  that  it  must  be  rebuilt.  This  was 
done  within  the  next  year.''* 

During  the  late  i8th  and  early  19th  centuries  North 
Weald  was  fortunate  in  its  communications  with  the 
outside  world,  since  it  possessed  two  turnpike  roads, 
and  was  near  to  Epping.  In  1865  coach  travel  in  this 
area  was  superseded  by  the  opening  of  the  railway 
through  Epping  to  Ongar,  with  a  station  at  North 
Weald.  This  brought  London  within  easy  reach.  This 
line  was  electrified  as  far  as  Epping  in  1 949.''^  Beyond 
Ongar  public  transport  was  poor  until  the  introduction 
of  motor  buses.  There  are  now  (1954)  frequent  bus 
services  to  Epping,  Ongar,  Brentwood,  and  Chelmsford. 

North  Weald  was  late  in  getting  its  own  post-office, 
probably  because  it  was  served  directly  from  Epping. 
In  1883  a  day  mail  was  established  at  North  Weald 
and  a  sorting-office  sanctioned.'**  A  telegraph  office 
was  set  up  in  1886.*'  The  telephone  service  was 
introduced  in  1920.50 

Piped  water  was  supplied  to  North  Weald  by  the 
Herts,  and  Essex  Waterworks  Co.  before  1886. si 
Main  drainage  was  introduced  at  Thornwood  and 
Weald  Gullet  in  1911-12.52  Electricity  was  first 
supplied  in  193 1  and  gas  about  1932. '^  The  village 
hall,  opened  in  1928,  has  already  been  mentioned. 
There  are  football  clubs  at  Thornwood  and  North 
Weald.  A  branch  of  the  county  library  was  opened  in 
1932.5*  There  has  been  a  police  station  in  the  parish 
since  about  1 886.55 

For  much  of  their  history  the  larger  estates  in  North 
Weald  have  had  absentee  landlords.  This  applies 
specially  to  the  two  largest  estates.  Weald  Hall  and 
Canes  (see  below.  Manors).  In  1841  Weald  Hall  had 
an  area  of  800  acres  and  Canes  of  almost  300  acres. 5* 
Each  was  let  to  a  single  farmer.  This  is  interesting  in 
the  case  of  Weald  Hall  for  very  few  farms  in  the 
hundred  were  as  large  as  500  acres.  There  were  then 
no  other  estates  in  North  Weald  of  more  than  200 
acres,  but  even  the  small  farms  outside  the  main  estates 
in  the  parish  were  mostly  rented  by  tenant  farmers.  In 

«  E.R.O.,  Q/SR  2/19,  14/32,  21/22, 
142/17,  206/55. 

♦■  Ibid.  209/55,  354/130. 

«  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  2/83.  43  ibid. 

«  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  1,2. 

«  E.R.O.,  Q/ABz  3.  46  Ibid. 

4'  Inf.  from  London  Transport. 

■•'  P.M.G.  Mins.  1883,  vol.  261,  min. 
15782,  vol.  254,  min.  10599. 

**  Ibid.  1886,  vol.  303,  min.  43. 

**•  Ibid.  1920,  min.  6422. 

"  Kelly,  Dir.  Eisex  (1886). 

'*  Ibid.  1922.  The  provision  of  sewers 
had  been  considered  by  the  parish  vestry 
in  1868,  but  was  then  shelved:  E.R.O., 


D/P  84/8. 

53  Inf.  from  Eastn.  Elec.  Bd.  and  Eastn. 
Gas  Bd. 

54  Inf.  from  County  Librarian. 
"  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1886  f.). 
s6  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387. 
"  E.R.O.,  Q/RDc  54. 

58  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387;  cf.  F.C.H.  Essex, 
ii,  423. 

59  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1898  f.). 
^0  Cal.  Ifiq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  227. 
^^  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  iii,  123. 
'2  Inf.  from  Mr.  H.  King. 
'3  See    below,    Nonconformity;    Kelly's 

Dir.  Essex  (1890). 


all  there  were  some  16  farms  in  the  parish  in  1 841,  of 
which  about  half  were  over  100  acres.  Not  more  than 
four  were  owned  by  their  occupiers.  At  that  time  there 
were  approximately  equal  amounts  of  arable  and 
pasture — about  1,340  acres  in  each  case — and  more 
than  300  acres  of  uninclosed  common. 

The  inclosure  of  the  commons  at  Hastingwood, 
Thornwood,  Weald  Gullet,  and  Tylers  Green  was 
carried  out  by  Act  of  Parliament  passed  in  1857.57 
The  inclosure  award  was  made  in  1 861.  The  inclosed 
area  amounted  to  280  acres. 

Until  recent  years  North  Weald  has  been  mainly  an 
agricultural  parish.  One  old  field  name.  Teazle  Field, 
suggests  a  connexion  with  the  cloth  industry.58  Com- 
mercial fruit-growing  and  market-gardening  have  been 
carried  on  since  about  1900.59  This  was  made  possible 
by  the  railway,  which  brought  the  London  markets 
within  rapid  reach.  It  now  includes  tomato  growing 
in  large  greenhouses  in  the  Vicarage  Lane  area. 

A  windmill  belonging  to  the  manor  of  North  Weald 
was  mentioned  in  1281*0  and  there  was  a  mill  at 
Marshalls  in  1 359.*'  A  fair  called  'Gullet  Fair'  is  said 
to  have  been  held  at  one  time  on  the  former  green  at 
Weald  Gullet.*^ 

In  1888  an  army  post,  later  described  as  a  fort  with 
six  guns,  was  in  existence  at  Weald  Gullet.*'  It  was 
no  doubt  one  of  the  establishments  planned  by  the  War 
Office  for  the  defence  of  London**  and  it  continued  to 
exist  until  the  First  World  War.*5 

The  R.A.F.  Station,  first  established  in  191 7  and 
reopened  in  1928,**  has  become  an  important  part  of 
parish  life.  It  occupies  some  400  acres  between  Weald 
Hall  Lane,  Church  Lane,  and  the  Chelmsford  road. 
During  the  Battle  of  Britain  in  1940  it  was  one  of  the 
fighter  bases  engaged  in  the  defence  of  London. 

Richard  Biscoe  (d.  1748),  a  nonconformist  minister 
who  later  conformed  and  became  chaplain  to  George  II 
and  Boyle  lecturer  1736-8,  was  Vicar  of  North  Weald 
from  1738  to  1748.*^ 

There  is  some  doubt  about  the  identification  in 
Domesday  of  the  manor  of  NORTH 
MANORS  WEALD,  but  it  was  probably  made  up 
of  two  estates  which  in  1086  belonged  to 
Peter  de  Valognes  and  were  held  of  him  by  Ralf.  The 
larger  of  these  estates  was  'Walla',  which  was  entered 
in  Domesday  after  Loughton  and  Theydon  Bois  and 
would  therefore  seem  to  have  been,  hke  them,  in  Ongar 
hundred.*'  Walla  had  been  held  in  1066  by  two  free- 
men as  two  manors  and  as  two  hides  and  40  acres.  Peter 
de  Valognes  had  it  by  exchange.*'  In  the  hundred  of 
Harlow  Ralf  held  of  Peter  de  Valognes  'Walda',  con- 
sisting of  30  acres  which  before  1066  had  been  held  by 
a  freeman.'" 

The  tenancy  in  chief  of  the  manor  descended  as  part 
of  the  barony  of  Valognes  until  the  1 3th  century,  when 
the  barony  was  divided  among  coheirs.  North  Weald 

'4  333  Pari.  Deb.  3rd  scr.  1412-13;  5/> 
fVilliam  Butler,  An  Autobiography  (191 1), 

355-6- 

'5  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1914). 

66  Inf.  from  Mrs.  S.  Young. 

"  D.N.B.;  Morant,  Essex,  i,  152. 

"  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  538,  406  n.,  396-7. 

69  A  holding  of  40  acres  is  separately 
mentioned  at  the  end  of  the  Walla  entry. 
It  had  been  held  by  a  freeman  and  Peter 
had  it  also  by  exchange.  It  may  have  been 
part  of  the  estate  of  2  hides  and  40  acres. 

■">  y.C.H.  Essex,  i,  536*.  For  Peter  de 
Valognes  and  his  tenant  Ralf  see  also 
Loughton. 


286 


Semi-detached  Houses  at  Theydon  Bois 
Built  c.  1900 


P0ST-1945  Housing  Estate  at  North  Weald 


ONGAR  HUNDRED   north  weald  bassett 


fell  to  the  share  of  Lore,  wife  of  Henry  de  Balliol  and 
thus  continued  to  follow  the  same  descent  as  the  manor 
of  Benington  (Herts.)  which  had  been  the  caput  of  the 
barony."  In  1325  North  Weald  was  said  to  have  been 
held  of  John  de  Benstede  (d.  1323),  Lord  of  Bening- 
ton.'^ This  seems  to  have  been  the  last  occasion  on 
which  a  connexion  with  Benington  was  noted.  In 
1 33 1  North  Weald  was  said  to  be  held  of  the  king  in 
chief's  Subsequent  inquisitions  usually  report  the 
manor  as  being  held  in  chief. 

The  descent  of  the  tenancy  in  demesne  during  the 
1 2th  century  is  not  clear.  By  the  end  of  that  century  it 
was  held  by  the  family  of  Essex.'*  J.  H.  Round  sug- 
gested that  it  had  been  brought  into  that  family  by 
Cecily,  mother  of  Henry  and  Hugh  of  Essex.  She  was 
the  wife  of  Henry  of  Essex,  the  king's  constable,  who 
was  defeated  in  judicial  combat  in  1 163  by  Robert  de 
Montfort  after  having  been  charged  with  throwing 
away  the  royal  standard  in  battle  with  the  Welsh.'s 
Henry's  lands  were  forfeited  to  the  king  as  the  result 
of  his  defeat.  For  this  reason  one  would  not  expect  to 
find  that  North  Weald,  which  apparently  was  not 
forfeited,  had  belonged  to  him  in  his  own  right.  Henry 
of  Essex,  the  younger,  was  his  eldest  son  by  Cecily.'* 
In  1236  Henry  of  Essex  held  5  knights'  fees  in  Sutton, 
Springfield,  and  Layer-de-la-Hay  (Essex),  Barningham 
(Suffolk),  and  'Ikenton'  (Layston,  Herts.)  of  the  barony 
of  Valognes."  In  1244  Henry,  son  of  Hugh  of  Essex, 
was  engaged  in  litigation  concerning  the  advowson  of 
North  Weald. '8  Ten  years  later  Henry  of  Essex  com- 
pounded with  Lore  de  Balliol  for  the  customs  and 
services  due  from  his  tenement  to  her  at  Benington, 
and  agreed  to  render  suit  at  her  court  there  twice  a 
year.'9  In  1267-8  Hugh,  son  of  Hugh  of  Essex, 
granted  to  Philip  Basset  and  Ela,  Countess  of  Warwick, 
his  wife,  that  they  should  hold  North  Weald  for  their 
lives  from  him  and  the  heirs  of  his  body.^"  Soon  after 
this  Baldwin,  son  of  Hugh  of  Essex,  granted  Philip  and 
Ela  the  manor  of  North  Weald  and  5  knights'  fees 
belonging  to  it.*'  The  5  fees  were  specified  as  being 
one  in  Springfield,  one  in  Layer-de-la-Hay,  two  in 
Sutton  (Rochford  hundred),  and  one  in  Barningham 
(Suff.).  From  this  it  is  clear  that  the  whole  of  the 
knight  service  had  been  imposed  on  the  appurtenant 
manors,  leaving  North  Weald  itself  free  of  charge. 

Philip  Basset  died  in  1271,  leaving  as  his  heir  a 
daughter  Aline,  wife  of  Hugh  le  Despenser  (d.  1265) 
and  later  of  Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk  (d.  1306). ^^ 
Aline  died  in  1281.83  She  was  succeeded  by  her  son 
Hugh  le  Despenser,  who  was  later  summoned  to 
Parliament  as  a  peer  and  in  1322  was  created  Earl  of 
Winchester.**  In  1 3 10  it  was  stated  that  North  Weald 
belonged  to  him  and  not  to  his  son  Hugh  le  Despenser 
the  younger.*'  It  may  have  been  about  this  time  that 
John  de  Rivers,  lord  of  the  hundred  of  Ongar,  granted 
(the  elder  ?)  Despenser  view  of  frank-pledge  of  all  his 


men  in  the  manor  of  North  Weald,  exempting  Hugh 
and  his  heirs  from  all  tourns  and  suits  of  the  hundred.** 
The  two  Dcspensers  were  deeply  involved  in  the 
civil  wars  during  the  reign  of  Edward  II  and  the  owner- 
ship of  North  Weald  between  1320  and  1 33 1  is  not 
always  clear.  In  1320  the  younger  Despenser  conveyed 
to  Hugh  de  Audley  the  younger.  Lord  Audley,  I 
knight's  fee  in  North  Weald  and  the  manor  of  North 
Weald  except  for  5  J  fees  in  it.  The  agreement  was 
made  by  precept  of  the  king.*'  In  the  following  year 
Audley  was  deprived  of  the  manor  as  a  rebel,  and  it  was 
granted  to  Robert  Cole.**  In  1322,  however.  North 
Weald  was  granted  to  the  younger  Despenser,  to  be 
held  of  the  king  by  the  service  of  one  sparrowhawk 
annually.*'  The  manor  presumably  remained  in  the 
younger  Despenser's  possession  until  his  execution  in 
1326.  In  1327  it  was  granted  to  Edmund,  Earl  of 
Kent.">  Edmund  was  executed  in  his  turn  in  1330 
and  North  Weald  was  granted  for  life  to  Bartholomew 
de  Burghersh,  Lord  Burghersh  (d.  1355)."  In  the 
same  year  the  king  granted  that  Edmund,  Earl  of  Kent 
(d.  1 331),  should  inherit  his  father's  title  and  lands. '^ 
North  Weald  was  presumably  affected  by  this  grant, 
for  it  was  among  the  possessions  of  John,  Earl  of  Kent 
(d.  1352)-" 

The  manor  descended  with  the  earldom  of  Kent 
until  the  death  in  141 6  of  Alice,  widow  of  Thomas, 
Earl  of  Kent  (d.  1397),  who  held  it  in  dower.'*  It 
was  then  assigned  to  the  purparty  of  Eleanor,  wife  of 
Thomas  Montagu,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  who  was  Thomas, 
Earl  of  Kent's  third  daughter,  and  coheir  of  her  brother 
Edmund,  Earl  of  Kent  (d.  1408). '5  On  Salisbury's 
death  in  1428  the  manor  passed  to  his  daughter  Alice, 
suo  jure  Countess  of  Salisbury.'*  It  was  forfeited  in 
1459  *^  ^  result  of  the  rebellion  of  Alice's  husband 
Richard  Neville,  Earl  of  Salisbury."  North  Weald 
probably  passed  to  Richard's  son  Richard,  Earl  of 
Salisbury  and  Warwick,  'the  Kingmaker'  (d.  147 1), 
for  it  was  among  the  possessions  of  Warwick's  daughter 
.  Isabel,  wife  of  George,  Duke  of  Clarence  (d.  1478), 
at  her  death  in  1476.'*  The  manor  descended  to 
Isabel's  son  Edward,  Earl  of  Warwick,  but  was 
administered  by  the  Crown  during  his  minority."  On 
Edward's  execution  in  1499  it  was  forfeited  to  the 
Crown. 

North  Weald  was  held  by  Humphrey  Torrell  at  his 
death  in  1 5 17.'  He  presumably  had  it  by  royal  grant. 
The  manor  appears  to  have  been  restored  to  Margaret, 
Countess  of  Salisbury,  only  sister  of  Edward,  Earl  of 
Warwick  (d.  1499),  for  after  her  execution  in  1541  it 
was  in  the  king's  hands  as  part  of  her  lands.  In  1 544 
the  king  granted  it  to  Sir  Richard  Higham,  who  then 
conveyed  it  to  Sir  Richard  Rich,  later  first  Baron 
Rich.2 

The   manor   descended   in   the   Rich   family  until- 
1621,  when  Robert  Rich,  Earl  of  Warwick  (d.  1658), 


"  Cf.  F.C.H.  Herts,  iii,  74. 

"  Cai.  Inq.p.m.  vi,  p.  286. 

"  Ibid,  vii,  225.  For  the  service  see 
below. 

'*  J.  H.  Round,  'North  Weald  Basset 
and  the  Essex  family',  E.A.T.  N.s.  xiv, 
1 1 1-14;  and  see  below.  Church. 

"  E.A.T.  N.s.  xxiii,  24. 

''  E.A.T.  V,  106. 

"  Ibid.  N.s.  xiv.  III ;  Bk.  of  Fees,  578. 

'^  See  below,  Church. 

"  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  i,  203. 

>»  E.A.  T.  N.s.  xiv,  1 1 2 ;  Feet  of  F.  Essex, 
i,  266. 


«>  Cat.  Ami.  D.  i,  A.  774,  A.  768 ;  cf. 
A.  788,  A.  798. 

82  Complete  Peerage,  iv,  261. 

83  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  ii,  p.  227. 

8*  Complete  Peerage,  iv,  262  f. 

85  Cal.  Inq.  Misc.  ii,  p.  20. 

86  Cat.  And.  Z).  i,  A.  755. 

8'  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  201;  Cal.  Pat. 
1317-21,  208,456. 

*'  Cal.  Fine  R.  1319-27,  60;  Complete 
Peerage,  \,  346. 

89  Cal.  Chart.  R.  1  300-26,  449. 

«"  Ibid.  1327-41,  2. 

9'  Cal.  Pat.  1327-30,  516. 


9*  Complete  Peerage,  vii,  148. 

93  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  \,  p.  44. 

94  Cal.  Close,  1396-9,  248;  0138/22. 

95  Complete  Peerage,  v\\,  156. 

96  C139/4I. 

9'  Cal.  Pat.  1452-61,  545-6. 

98  C140/68. 

99  Cal.  Pat.  1476-85,  96,  135,  148, 
155;  ibid.  1485-94,  5,  27;  ibid.  1494— 
1509,  5. 

■  C.142/32/59. 

^  L.  &  P.  Hen.  VUI,  xix  (i),  p.  281, 
505. 


287 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


conveyed  it  to  Sir  Thomas  Cheeke,  Kt.3  In  1652  Sir 
Thomas,  settled  it  upon  his  second  son  Thomas.*  It 
descended  from  Thomas  Cheeke  to  his  son  Edward 
(d.  1707)  and  then  to  Edward  Cheeke,  son  of  Edward, 
who  died  childless  in  1 7 1 2.5  North  Weald  then  passed 
to  Ann,  daughter  of  Thomas  Cheeke  and  wife  of  Sir 
Thomas  Tipping,  ist  Bt.*  She  died  in  1727  and  the 
manor  descended  to  her  daughter  Katherine,  wife  of 
Thomas  Archer,  later  created  Baron  Archer.'  Katherine 
died  in  1754  and  her  husband  in  1768.*  The  manor 
passed  to  their  son  Andrew,  Lord  Archer  (d.  i778).9 
Andrew  left  four  daughters  and  coheirs:  Sarah,  who 
married  Other  Windsor  Hickman,  Earl  of  Plymouth 
(d.  1799),  Ann  who  married  Christopher  Musgrave, 
Maria  who  married  Henry  Howard,  and  Harriott  who 
married  Edward  Bolton  Clive." 

Between  1 791  and  1793  North  Weald  was  bought 
by  Daniel  Giles,  Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England."  It 
subsequently  followed  the  same  descent  as  Youngsbury, 
near  Ware  (Herts.),  until  about  1900."  Christopher 
Giles-PuUer  was  lord  of  the  manor  in  1 899,  but  by 
1902  the  manorial  rights  had  passed  to  Henry  E.  Paine 
and  George  F.  Beaumont.'^  In  1841  Lady  Louisa 
Puller  owned  801  acres  in  the  parish,  including  Great 
Weald  Hall,  and  William  C.  Kirkby  was  her  tenant  in 
all  except  4  acres  of  it.'* 

The  farm-house  known  as  Weald  Hall  Farm  was 
probably  built  early  in  the  19th  century.  It  is  a  square 
two-story  building  of  gault  brick.  To  the  south  of  the 
farm-yard  and  on  the  perimeter  of  the  airfield  there  was 
formerly  a  circular  moat,  probably  representing  the 
site  of  the  medieval  manor  house.  The  north  half  of 
the  moat  was  recently  filled  in  and  at  the  same  time  an 
embankment  west  of  the  farm  was  levelled.  The  square 
red-brick  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  now 
known  as  Weald  Hall,  dates  from  the  late  19th  century. 

The  manor  of  CANES  or  CAWNES  took  its  name 
from  the  family  of  Calne  or  Caune  which  held  it 
during  the  13th  and  14th  centuries.'^  Richard  de 
Calne  was  a  litigant  concerning  land  in  the  parish  in 
1204—5.'*  About  the  same  time  Richard  de  Caune 
granted  an  assart  called  'Unere  Redene'  in  Weald  to 
his  brother  Walter  de  Caune."  Richard  de  Caune  had 
sons  Richard  and  John,  both  of  whom  held  land  in 
North  Weald  about  i2  30.'8  In  1261  a  Richard  de 
Caune  held  land  in  the  parish.' »  Joan,  widow  of 
Richard  de  Caune,  is  mentioned  in  deeds  of  about 
1 290.2"  In  one  of  these  is  a  reference  to  the  'greenway' 
leading  to  Richard's  hall.^'  In  1295  Joan  granted  to 
Thomas,  son  of  Richard  de  Caune,  all  the  tenements 
which  she  held  in  dower  in  North  Weald.  In  return 
Thomas  granted  her  an  annuity  of  12  marks  for  life, 
to  be  paid  in  her  chamber  at  Hedingham  Priory.^^ 
Thomas  de  Caune  was  alive  in  1335.^^  His  son  and 
heir  John  had  app^arently  succeeded  him  by  April  1 343. 


Katherine  widow  of  Thomas,  was  then  still  living.^ 
Sir  John  de  Caune,  kt.,  held  land  in  the  parish  in  1 349.^' 
In  1371  John  Caune  (possibly  son  of  Sir  John),  then 
about  to  leave  for  Gascony,  enfeoffed  Sir  John  atte 
Vyne  and  others  with  all  his  lands  in  North  Weald 
and  elsewhere  to  the  uses  of  his  will.  If  he  returned 
from  Gascony  he  was  to  enjoy  the  property  for  life. 
If  he  died  abroad  it  was  to  be  sold  and  the  money  was 
to  be  applied  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul  and  those  of 
his  parentes  and  benefactors,  and  in  works  of  charity.^* 
It  is  not  clear  whether  John  de  Caune  died  in 
Gascony,  but  he  was  apparently  the  last  of  his  line  to 
hold  Canes.  By  October  1406  the  manor  was  held  by 
Thomas  Caune,  son  of  John  le  Rous  of  Norton  Mande- 
ville  (q.v.).^'  This  Thomas  presumably  assumed  the 
name  of  Caune  after  acquiring  the  manor.^*  The  name 
of  Rous  was  evidently  readopted  by  Thomas,  second 
son  and  ultimate  heir  of  the  above  Thomas  Caune.^' 
The  manor  descended  along  with  that  of  Norton 
Mandeville  until  about  1864,  when  Norton  was  sold 
by  Merton  College,  Oxford.  Canes  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  college  until  1923  when  it  was  sold 
to  the  lessee,  William  Hart.^o 

Between  1536  and  1593  the  manor  was  leased  by 
Merton  College  to  successive  members  of  the  Springer 
family.3'  In  1841  the  property  consisted  of  292  acres 
and  was  farmed  by  Frederick  Chaplin. 3^ 

The  present  farm-house  of  Canes  dates  from  about 
1 840.  It  is  a  square  stucco  building  with  a  low-pitched 
slate  roof.  South  of  the  farm  buildings  is  part  of  a  large 
moat.  In  the  early  19th  century  it  extended  farther 
north,  almost  enclosing  the  farm-yard.33  The  pond  in 
front  of  the  farm-house  may  represent  part  of  a  second 
moat. 

The  manor  of  MARSHALLS  was  held  of  that  of 
North  Weald.  It  derived  its  name  from  the  family  of 
Ralph  le  Mareschal  or  Marchal  who  held  land  in  the 
parish  in  1280.^*  In  1300  Hugh  le  Despenser,  lord  of 
North  Weald,  granted  to  John  son  of  Laurence  le 
Mareschal,  of  Laver,  clerk,  land  which  Laurence  once 
held  of  him,  at  a  yearly  rent  of  40/.,  John  agreeing  that 
if  the  rent  should  be  in  arrears  not  only  this  land  but 
also  his  property  in  Magdalen  Laver  might  be  dis- 
trained.'^  In  1 306  William  de  Sutton  and  Margery  his 
wife  conveyed  to  Peter  Mareschal  and  Amiane  his  wife 
2  messuages,  123  acres  of  land,  2  acres  i  rood  of  meadow, 
and  ^od.  rent  in  North  Weald.^*  Peter  and  Amiane 
were  still  alive  in  1317.37  Ini33i  Robert  son  of  Peter 
Mareschal  was  holding  a  messuage,  199  acres  of  land, 
18  acres  of  meadow,  3  acres  of  wood,  and  jar.  rent  in 
North  Weald  and  Theydon  Garnon.3*  The  reversion 
of  this  property  was  settled  upon  his  son  Thomas  and 
the  heirs  of  his  body,  with  remainder  to  Thomas's 
brother  Robert  and  his  right  heirs.  In  1359  Robert  le 
Mareschal   settled   an   estate   in   North   Weald   and 


J  E.R.O.,  D/DP  Ti50i  CP43/153, 
rot.  38.  Cheeke  had  married  a  daughter  of 
the  earl. 

♦  E.R.O.,  D/DPT150. 

5  Ibid.  This  MS.  includes  a  chart 
pedigree  of  Cheeke. 

'  Ibid.;  G.E.C.  Complete  Baronetage^ 
iv,  172. 

'  E.R.O.,  D/DP  T150;  Complete 
Peerage,  i,  i88. 

*  Complete  Peerage,  i,  l88. 

»  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DBm  Mi 97-203. 
">  E.R.O.,  D/DBm  M 197-203. 
>'  Ibid. 

"  y.C.H.  Herts.  Gen.  Vol.  15. 
'»  Kelly' I    Dir.    E:sex    (1899,     1902). 


Beaumont  was  a  solicitor  at  Coggeshall. 

■t  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387.  She  was  the 
widow  of  Sir  Christopher  Puller  (d.  I  824). 

'5  It  is  suggested  that  the  family  came 
from  Calne,  Wilts. :  P.N.  Essex  (E.P.N.S.), 
87. 

"•  Cur.  Reg.  R.  iii,  169,  iv,  26. 

"  Merton  College  MSS.  Deed  3128. 

'8  Ibid.  3155-60,  3192;  Feet  of  F. 
Essex,  i,  75. 

'9  Mert.  Coll.  Deed  3161. 

"  Ibid.  3214,  3181,  3185. 

^'  Ibid.  3214. 

22  Ibid.  3215. 

"  Ibid.  3246.  He  also  held  land  in 
Ongar  Park,  High  Ongar  (q.v.). 

288 


"  Ibid.  3238. 
^5  Ibid.  3229. 
2'  Ibid.  3249. 
"  Ibid.  3257. 

28  Ibid.  And  see  Norton  Mandeville. 
"  Ibid.  3267,  3256,3288. 
30  Mert.   Coll.   Conveyance  Reg.    This 
ref.  supplied  by  Dr.  J.  R.  L.  Highfield. 
3'   Mert.  Coll.  Deeds  2045-.9,  2059. 
32  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387.  33  Ibid. 

34  Winstone,  Epping  and  Ongar  High' 
•way  Trust,  271. 

35  Cat.  Anct.  D.  \,  A.  750. 
3'  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  107. 
3'  Ibid.  176. 

3'  Ibid,  iii,  16. 


ONGAR  HUNDRED    north  weald  bassett 


Theydon  Garnon  slightly  larger  than  that  of  1 3  3 1 
upon  his  son  Roger  and  Margaret,  Roger's  wife. 3 « 
Robert  Mareschal  occurs  in  1374.'"'  Margaret,  widow 
of  Roger  Mareschal  of  North  Weald,  executed  a  charter 
in  1402.'" 

For  most  of  the  15  th  century  the  descent  of  the 
manor  has  not  been  traced.  In  1496  Joan,  widow  of 
Sir  Robert  Billesdon,  died  holding  8  parcels  of  land 
called  Marshalls."*^  Sir  Robert  (d.  1492)  was  a 
haberdasher  of  London,  alderman  for  Bread  Street 
Ward  and  mayor  1483-4.  He  was  knighted  in  1 4.8^.^3 
His  wife  was  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Williams;  her 
heir  was  her  son  Thomas  Billesdon.'"  Soon  after  her 
death  Marshalls  was  acquired  by  Sir  William  Fitz- 
wiUiam  (1460  ?-i  534),  merchant  tailor  of  London, 
who  was  probably  connected  in  some  way  with  Sir 
Robert  Billesdon  because  he  lived  and  traded  in  Bread 
Street,  and  was  alderman  for  Bread  Street  Ward."*! 
In  1543  Marshalls  was  settled  upon  Sir  William's 
grandson  Sir  William  Fitzwilliam  (1526—99)  on  his 
marriage  to  Anne  daughter  of  Sir  William  Sidney.** 

In  1554  Sir  William  Fitzwilliam  sold  Marshalls 
to  John  Searle.'*'  The  Searles  were  a  local  family, 
many  of  whose  names  occur  in  the  parish  registers  of 
North  Weald.'t*  John  was  succeeded  on  his  death  in 
1 591  by  his  eldest  son  John.*'  In  1605  the  latter 
settled  the  reversion  of  the  manor  upon  his  eldest  son 
Samuel. 50  In  1 6 1 6,  after  John  Searle's  death,  the  manor 
was  claimed  by  Mary,  widow  of  Thomas  Searle,  a 
younger  brother  of  Samuel  Searle,  but  Samuel's  right 
was  maintained  by  the  court.''  Samuel,  who  was  a 
clergyman,  was  still  alive  in  1636.5^  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Samuel,  citizen  and  stationer  of  London. 53 
In  1660  Samuel  Searle  the  younger  sold  the  reversion 
of  Marshalls  after  his  death  to  John  Archer,  serjeant- 
at-law,  for  £680.54 

Archer,  who  became  a  justice  in  the  court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  and  was  knighted  in  1662,  died  in  1682.5s 
It  is  doubtful  whether  he  himself  ever  took  up  the 
reversion  of  the  manor.  Samuel  Searle  was  still  lord  of 
Marshalls  in  1680,  and  the  next  court,  in  1683,  was 
held  in  the  name  of  Eleanor  widow  of  Sir  John 
Archer.56  In  1676  Sir  John  had  settled  the  reversion 
of  the  manor  upon  his  eldest  son  John,  and  the  latter 
succeeded  to  Marshalls  in  or  after  1687,  in  which  year 
his  mother  is  last  known  to  have  held  the  court. 5'  John 
Archer  died  childless  in  1707.  He  left  a  will  desiring 
that  Eleanor  Wrottesly,  daughter  of  his  sister  Eleanor, 
wife  of  Sir  Walter  Wrottesly,  should  marry  William 
Eyre  of  Highlow  (Derbs.)  and  that  Eyre  should 
assume  the  name  of  Archer  and  inherit  Marshalls  in 
his  own  right. 58  The  will  had  an  unusual  result. 
Eleanor  duly  married  WiUiam  Eyre  but  died  childless, 

3»  Ibid.  123. 

"  Ibid.  171. 

*'  Cai  Close^  1402—5,  lig— 20:  cf. 
y.C.H.  /^orn.  iii,  283. 

*^  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen,  VII,  i,  p.  542. 

<3  A.  R.  Beaven,  The  Aldermen  of  the 
City  of  London,  i,  47. 

♦4  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  Vll,  i,  p.  542. 

«5  h.  &  P.  Hen.  Fin,  xviii  (i),  p.  46. 
For  Sir  William  Fitzwilliam  see  D.N.B. 
He  also  held  Arneways  in  Lambourne  and 
Gaynes  Park  in  Theydon  Garnon.  It  is 
possible  that  he  was  related  to  Joan 
Billesdon's  father. 

■"  L.  6f  P.  Hen.  FUI,  xviii  (i),  p.  46. 
For  Sir  William  the  grandson  see  D.N.B. 
He  was  Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland  undej 
Eliz.  I. 

«  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T104.    Consideration 


and  Marshalls  subsequently  passed  to  Eyre's  son  by  his 
second  wife.  The  manor  descended  in  the  Archer  and 
Archer-Houblon  families  until  19 14,  when  Capt. 
Lindsay  Archer-Houblon  sold  the  manorial  rights  to 
Raymond  E.  Trotter  of  Epping,  solicitor,  for  j^ioo.so 
In  1 84 1  J.  Archer-Houblon  owned  63  acres  in  North 
Weald,  for  57  acres  of  which  his  tenant  was  Thomas 
Speed.60 

A  rectangular  moat  enclosing  an  overgrown  area 
marks  the  position  of  the  medieval  site  of  Marshalls. 
It  lies  to  the  east  of  Woodside,  a  little  south  of  its 
junction  with  Duck  Lane.  The  house  itself  had  dis- 
appeared by  about  1768.''  The  present  Marshalls 
Farm,  which  dates  from  the  1 7th  century,  is  a  timber- 
framed  house  with  a  chimney  stack  which  is  T-shaped 
in  plan.  The  base  has  a  moulded  capping  above  which 
are  four  detached  shafts  set  diagonally. 

The  manor  of  PARIS  HALL  derived  its  name  from 
the  Paris  family,  which  held  land  in  North  Weald  in 
the  13th  and  14th  centuries.  In  1280  Sir  Humphrey 
de  Hastings  granted  Roger  de  Paris,  citizen  of  London, 
'all  the  lands  which  he  holds  of  my  fee  in  North  Weald 
Hasting  ...  to  hold  of  me  and  my  heirs  .  .  .  yielding  to 
me  .  .  .  \d.  (a  year).  .  .  .  Saving  to  me  and  my  heirs  the 
whole  foreign  service,  to  wit  the  scutage  of  the  king, 
so  much  as  appertains  to  the  fee  of  one  knight;  and 
making  therefore  yearly  for  me  and  my  heirs  to  Ralph 
le  Mareschal  and  his  heirs  20x.  at  two  terms  of  the  year, 
and  at  .  .  .  Pentecost  a  pair  of  gilded  spurs  or  6(2'.'*^ 
From  this  it  appears  that  Paris  Hall  was  previously 
held  by  Sir  Humphrey  de  Hastings  of  Ralph  le 
Mareschal  (see  above,  Marshalls).  The  family  name 
of  Hastings  is  preserved  in  the  modern  Hastingwood, 
which  adjoins  Paris  Hall.^5 

In  1298—9  Robert  de  Lincoln  and  Joan  his  wife 
quitclaimed  to  Roger  de  Paris  \  messuage,  180  acres 
of  land,  5  acres  of  pasture,  8  acres  of  meadow,  60  acres 
of  wood,  and  5/.  rent  in  North  Weald  which  they  had 
claimed  as  the  dower  of  Joan  of  the  endowment  of 
William  de  la  Haye,  formerly  her  husband.**  In  1303 
Nicholas  de  Paris  conveyed  land  in  Weald  and  Harlow 
to  Nicholas  Roland.*5  A  survey  of  the  knights'  fees  in 
the  half-hundred  of  Harlow  in  13 14  reported  that 
William  de  Paris  then  held  \  knight's  fee  in  North 
Weald  of  the  Earl  of  Gloucester.**  In  1324  William, 
son  of  Roger  de  Paris,  and  Alice,  William's  wife, 
acknowledged  the  right  of  Adam  de  Masshebury  to 
I  messuage,  180  acres  of  land,  13  acres  of  meadow,  45 
acres  of  pasture,  and  13J.  rent  in  North  Weald  Hasting 
and  Latton;  Adam  thereupon  granted  two-thirds  of 
the  property  to  William  and  Alice,  and  also  the  rever- 
sion of  one-third  which  Beatrice,  late  wife  of  Roger 
de  Paris,  held  in  dower  of  the  inheritance  of  Adam.*' 


stated  to  be  ,f  200. 

48  E.R.O.,  D/P  84/1/1,  2. 

49  E.R.O.,  D/DBT104. 

50  Ibid. 
5^  Ibid.     Samuel    Searle   was    b.    1676, 

Thos.  Searle  in  1680:  E.R.O.,  D/P 
84/1/1. 

5^  Cal.  Docs.  Essex  Arch.  Soc. :  N. 
Weald  2,  3.  For  his  early  career  see  Foster, 
Alumni  Oxonienses,  1500— 1704,  S— Z, 
p.  1330. 

"  Cal.  Docs.  Essex  Arch.  Soc.:  N. 
Weald,  2,  3. 

54  E.R.O.,  D/DBT104. 

5  5  D.N.B.  For  Archer  and  his  heirs  see 
also  Theydon  Garnon,  Coopersale  House. 

56  E.R.O.,  D/DB  M73.  For  lists  of 
quit-rents  paid  by  some  30  manorial 
tenants  between  1623  and  1682  see  ibid. 


E8.  IV 


289 


M77. 
5'  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DB  Ti  16. 

58  Lines.  Archiues  Cttee.  Archivist's  Rep. 
1951-2,  p.  20;  Lady  A.  Archer-Houblon, 
Family  of  Houblon,  ii,  pp.  306,  322. 

59  Family  of  Houblon,  306,  322;  E.R.O., 
D/DTc  M4. 

<">  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387. 

^'  Morant,  Essex,  \,  150. 

*2  Winstone,  Epping  ami  Ongar,  High- 
•way  Trust,  271. 

'5  A  Robt.  de  Hastings  lived  in  the 
parish  in  1 248  :  P.N.  Essex,  87. 

'4  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  n,  88. 

*5  Ibid.  93.  In  1 3 16  Roland  conveyed 
the  property  to  John  Frosshe  of  London : 
ibid.  170. 

'^  E.A.T.  N.s.  xxii,  241. 

"  Feet  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  2 1 6. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


The  agreement  was  made  in  the  presence  of  Beatrice, 
who  did  fealty .**  Adam  here  appears  to  have  been  a 
mesne  lord. 

A  William  de  Paris  of  North  Weald  died  about 
1338,  leaving  tenements  in  the  parish  of  All  Hallows- 
the-Great,  London,  to  Roger  de  Waltham,  corder,  and 
to  Sir  Ralph  Spigurnel  and  Alice  his  sister,  wife  of  the 
testator.*' 

No  further  mention  of  the  estate  has  been  found 
until  late  in  the  15  th  century.  In  1482-3  Paris  Hall 
seems  to  have  been  held  by  John  Symonds,  who  in  that 
year  was  said  to  have  made  an  agreement  with  Sir 
Thomas  Tyrell  providing  for  the  settlement  of  the 
manor  upon  John  and  Joan  his  wife  and  their  issue, 
with  remainder  to  Tyrell.''"  John  and  Joan  were  also 
said  to  have  agreed  to  pay  Tyrell  £\  a  year  during 
their  lives.^i  In  1501  Joan  Symonds,  now  a  widow, 
filed  a  suit  in  Chancery  against  TyreU  and  other  persons 
alleged  to  be  trustees  and  to  have  refused  to  make  over 
to  John  and  Joan  their  estate  in  the  manor.  Tyrell 
replied  that  the  annual  rent  of  ^4  had  not  been  paid 
for  more  than  seventeen  years  and  that  the  other  per- 
sons named  in  the  writ  had  never  actually  been 
enfeoffed  to  uses.^^  Joan  did  not  appear  in  court  and 
the  case  was  dismissed. ^s  Two  years  later  Paris  was 
among  the  possessions  left  by  Sir  John  Shaa  (d.  1 503).''* 
The  manor  was  then  said  to  consist  of  600  acres  of  land, 
1 20  acres  of  meadow,  200  acres  of  pasture,  60  acres  of 
wood,  and  ^^5  rent  in  Harlow,  Latton,  North  Weald, 
and  other  parishes.  Sir  John  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Edmund.  Some  time  later,  between  151  5  and  1529, 
Edmund  was  engaged  in  litigation  with  the  trustees  of 
the  settlement  of  the  manor  made  upon  him  by  his 
father.'s 

Edmund  Shaa's  heir  was  his  daughter  Alice,  who 
married  William  Pooley  of  Boxted  (Suff.)  in  1 548.'* 
After  William's  death  (1587)  Paris  Hall  passed  to  his 
son  John."  John  Pooley  died  in  1593  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother  William.^s  In  1594  William 
Pooley  conveyed  the  manor  to  Thomas  and  Katharine 
Fuller.79 

According  to  Morant  Fuller  was  a  clothier  of 
Coggeshall.*"  Paris  Hall  descended  in  his  family  for 
about  180  years.  A  William  Fuller  held  it  in  1705*' 
and  another  of  the  same  name  in  Morant's  time  {c. 
1768).*^  By  1775—6  Paris  Hall  had  been  acquired  by 
William  Hollick.83  He  conveyed  the  manor  in  1798-9 
to  William  Wedd  Nash.*"*  Nash  held  it  only  until 
1804-5  when  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  John 
Denner.85  In  1822-3  ''  came  to  a  Mr.  Chatham. ** 
In  1825—30  the  owner  was  Mrs.  Chatham. *'  James 
Ewing  held  Paris  Hall  in  1841  and  1848.88  By  this 
time  it  had  ceased  to  be  styled  a  manor.  In  1841  it 
was  a  farm  of  about  120  acres. 

In  1780  Paris  Hall  was  leased  to  Joseph  Clarke. 8' 
Thomas  Stallibrass  was  the  tenant  in  1796— 1822  and 

68  Feel  of  F.  Essex,  ii,  216.  '«  C142/238/94. 

<">  Kal.  of  frills  at  Ct.  of  Hustings,  ed.  "  CP25(2)/i36/i735 

Sharpe,  pt.  i,  1338.  ^ill^S- 

7001/245/95,96. 

'"  Ibid. 

"  Ibid. 

73  Ibid. 

7«  Cal.  Inq.  p.m.  Hen.  FII,  ii,  p.  430. 

75  C 1/447/59.  Edmund  desired  a  good 
estate  in  the  manor  before  his  marriage  to 
Lore,  dau.  of  Sir  Roger  Wentworth;  cf. 
Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  314. 

'6  Visits,  of  Essex  (Harl.  Soc),  486; 
C142/217/122. 

77    C142/2I7/122. 


*"  Morant,  Essex,  i,  151. 
«■  CP43/488,  rot.  8. 

82  Morant,  Essex,  i,  151. 

83  CP25(2)/ii22  Mich.  16  Geo.  III. 

84  CP25(2)/i3ii  Mich.  39  Geo.  III. 

85  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  444-6. 

86  Ibid.  463-4. 

87  Ibid.  466-71. 

88  E.R.O.,    D/CT    387;    fTiite's    Dir. 
Essex  (1848). 

89  E.R.O.,  Q/RPl  421. 
»»  Ibid.  437-65. 


John  Stallibrass  in  1823-4."'  I"  1825-30  John 
Skingle  was  tenant"  and  in  1841  Charles  Smith. w 
Early  in  the  present  century  the  farm  belonged  to 
Frederick  Bond,  who  owned  it  until  about  1938.  It 
was  then  bought  by  a  Mr.  Good.  In  1946  or  1947  it 
was  bought  by  a  Mr.  Parris  and  it  is  now  owned  by  his 
sons,  Messrs.  V.  and  L.  Parris. '^  The  house  and  garden, 
apart  from  the  farm,  were  bought  at  the  same  time 
from  Mr.  Good  by  Mr.  Denning,  their  present 
owner.''* 

Paris  Hall  is  a  timber-framed  house  built  late  in  the 
1 6th  century,  possibly  by  Thomas  Fuller  after  he 
acquired  the  property  in  1 594.  It  is  a  long  rectangular 
building  with  gabled  ends  and  a  fine  central  chimney 
with  six  tall  octagonal  shafts.  Near  the  west  end  a 
small  staircase  wing  projects  on  the  south  side  of  the 
house  and  at  the  farther  end  there  is  a  single-story 
service  wing,  evidently  a  later  addition.  Four  late- 
l6th-century  fireplaces  have  been  uncovered  inside  the 
house.  To  the  south  and  west  of  the  house  are  two 
arms  of  a  rectangular  moat. 

In  the  late  12th  century  the  advowson  of  North 
Weald  was  appurtenant  to  the  manor. 
CHURCH  Before  1161  Henry  de  Essex  had  made  a 
grant  to  the  nunnery  of  St.  Mary,  Clerken- 
well,  of  a  tithe  of  his  food,  drink,  candles,  and  game." 
After  his  fall  in  1163  certain  payments  were  made  to 
Clerkenwell  out  of  his  estate.'*  Before  19  October 
1 186  the  rectory  and  advowson  of  North  Weald  had 
been  granted  to  the  nunnery  by  his  wife  Cecily.  This 
grant  was  confirmed  by  her  son  Henry  de  Essex,  the 
younger,  and  in  1 194  by  Hugh  de  Essex,  another  son.'^ 
It  has  been  suggested  that  the  grant  was  made  in  place 
of  the  previous  annual  payment.'8 

William,  Bishop  of  London  (i  199-1 221),  confirmed 
the  grant  on  condition  that  a  competent  vicar  should 
be  assigned."  In  1275  John,  Bishop  of  London,  con- 
firmed the  appropriation  of  the  rectory  but  ordained 
that  he  and  his  successors  the  bishops  of  London  should 
hold  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage."  The  bishops  sub- 
sequently presented  the  vicar  at  every  vacancy  until 
1495,  when  the  Prioress  of  Clerkenwell  again  pre- 
sented.^ At  the  next  vacancy  in  1 5 1 1  the  right  of 
presentation  was  disputed.  The  bishop  presented  on 
this  occasion  but  the  issue  was  taken  before  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  and  the  Chief  Justice  of  the 
King's  Bench,  who  in  151 5  decreed  that  in  future  the 
prioress  and  the  bishop  should  present  alternately.  The 
prioress  duly  presented  in  15 19  but  before  her  next 
turn  the  priory  was  dissolved.^  The  Bishop  of  London 
continued  to  present  in  his  turn  until  1852,  when  the 
alternate  patronage  was  transferred  to  the  Bishop  of 
Rochester.*  Later  rearrangements  of  dioceses  have 
resulted  in  the  alternate  patronage  being  transferred 
successively  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  Albans  and  to  the 
Bishop  of  Chelmsford. 5 

«i  Ibid.  466-71. 
E.R.O.,   D/DC         "  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387. 

'3  Inf.  from  Mrs.  Denning.         »♦  Ibid. 

95  W.  O.  Hassall,  'Essex  Properties  of 
the  Nunnery  of  St.  Mary,  Clerkenwell*, 
E.A.T.  N.s.  xiiii,  24. 

96  Ibid.  97  Ibid. 

98  Ibid.;  £.^.r.  N.s.  xiv,  112. 

99  E.A.  T.  N.s.  xxiii,  24. 
'  Ibid.  25.    The  bishop  was  patron  of 

the  nunnery. 

2  Ibid. ;  Newcourt,  Kepert.  ii,  643. 

3  Ibid. 

4  Land.  Gass.  4  June  1852,  1585. 

5  Crockford's  Cler.  Dir.  1852  f. 


290 


ONGAR  HUNDRED    north  weald  bassett 


The  alternate  patronage  previously  vested  in  the 
Prioress  of  Clerkenwell  was  exercised  in  1553  by  one 
H.  Brown.*  In  1 560  the  queen  granted  it  to  William 
Doddington  of  London.'  The  next  presentation  in 
this  turn  was  made  in  1570  by  John  Searle,  probably 
the  man  of  that  name  who  had  recently  acquired  the 
manor  of  Marshalls  (see  above).*  The  presentation  was 
not  again  exercised  in  this  turn  until  1660,  when  John 
Searle  presented. «  It  would  seem  probable  that  the 
patronage  had  descended  not  to  John,  eldest  son  of  the 
first  John  Searle  but  to  a  younger  son  Edward  (d. 
1625)  who  was  father  of  the  John  Searle  of  1660. "o 
The  latter  was  probably  the  John  Searle  who  died  in 
1665."  He  left  a  son  and  heir,  also  named  John,  who 
made  conveyances  of  the  alternate  patronage  in  1 677 
and  1 698. '2  Andrew,  son  of  the  last-named  John 
Searle,  succeeded  his  father  but  is  said  to  have  died 
childless  soon  after  his  marriage."^  His  widow  later 
married  Capt.  Andrew  Searle,  a  relative  of  her  husband, 
and  had  two  sons,  Andrew  and  John.'*  In  1706  pre- 
sentation was  made  in  this  turn  by  John  Searle,  and 
the  new  vicar  was  John  Searle,  formerly  Rector  of 
Willingale  Doe,  son  of  a  John  Searle  and  perhaps 
brother  of  the  Andrew  Searle  who  had  died  childless. 's 
According  to  Morant  the  alternate  patronage  was  con- 
veyed by  John  Searle,  the  patron  of  1706,  to  his  son- 
in-law  George  Finch,  who  subsequently  sold  it  to 
William  Plummer  of  Gilston  Park  (Herts.). i*  It 
descended  with  Gilston  Park  and  in  1836  was  held 
by  Robert  Plummer  Ward,  who  had  married  Jane, 
widow  of  William  Plummer."  In  1848  John  Barnes 
was  patron  in  this  turn  and  in  1866—74  Pemberton 
Barnes.' 8  Mrs.  Pemberton  Barnes  was  patron  from 
about  1 874  to  about  1916  when  the  alternate  patronage 
was  vested  in  the  Church  Pastoral  Aid  Society." 

In  1227,  when  the  king  released  Clerkenwell  Priory 
from  the  payment  of  a  sixteenth  on  its  Essex  churches, 
the  sum  remitted  included  4/.  id.  from  North  Weald.^" 
In  1 29 1  the  vicarage  was  valued  at  £^\  ly.  \tl.^^  In 
1535  the  rectory  was  valued  at  £"]  5/.  4a'.  and  the 
vicarage  at  ^^13  3/.  i\.dM  In  the  following  year  the 
Prioress  of  Clerkenwell  granted  the  rectory  on  a  21- 
year  lease  at  £6  i  y.  \d.  a  year  to  John  Avere.  By  1555 
Avere's  interest  in  the  property  had  been  acquired  by 
George  Broke,  and  in  that  year  the  Crown  granted 
Broke  a  new  lease  for  21  years  at  the  same  rent  as 
before.^3  In  1560  the  rectory  was  granted,  along  with 
the  alternate  patronage  of  the  vicarage,  to  William 
Doddington.^  From  that  time  the  rectory  descended 
with  the  alternate  patronage  to  the  Searles  and  their 
successors.  About  1826  the  rectory  was  acquired  from 
the  Plummer  family  by  Daniel  Giles,  owner  of  Weald 
Hall  (see  Manors).^!  In  1841  Lady  Giles  Puller 
owned  f  of  the  great  tithes  and  27  acres  of  glebe  as 
impropriator.  The  vicar  of  North  Weald  owned  \  of 
the  great  tithes  and  all  the  small  tithes  and  14  acres  of 
glebe.  Their  tithes  were  commuted  in  that  year  for 
£426  and  £446  respectively.^*  It  is  clear  from  these 
figures  and  those  of  1535  that  the  vicarage  was  better 
endowed  than  was  usually  the  case  when  a  rectory  had 

'3  Morant,  Essex,  i 


*  Newcourt,  Repert.  ti,  643. 
'  Cal.  Pal.  1558-60,  386-8. 

*  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  644. 

'  Ibid.  Simon  Lynch,  who  became  vicar 
in  159Z,  held  the  living  for  64  years, 

>»  E.R.O.,  D/DB  T104;  D/P  84/1/1; 
Morant,  Essex.,  i,  150. 

"  Hist.  Man.  Com.  Essex,  ii,  198. 

"  CP25(2)/654  Mich.  29  Chas.  II ; 
CP25(2)/829  Mich.  10  Wm.  III. 


■♦  Ibid.;  E.R.O.,  D/DW  E11/3. 

15  Morant,  Essex,  i,  152  ;  J.  and  J.  Venn, 
Alumni  Cantab,  pt.  i,  vol.  iv,  p.  38. 

'6  Morant,  Essex,  \,  151. 

■'  Cler.  Guide,  1836;  Burke's  Com- 
moners, i,  71—72. 

■8  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1848);  Kelly's 
Dir.  Essex  (1866-74). 

"  Kelly's     Dir.     Essex     (1878-1914); 


been  appropriated.  That  this  was  so  was  no  doubt  due 
to  the  special  relationship  between  the  parish  and  the 
bishops  of  London  in  the  Middle  Ages. 

A  vicarage  house  beside  the  churchyard  was  men- 
tioned in  a  terrier  of  the  early  17th  century."  The 
present  vicarage  is  a  red-brick  and  roughcast  building 
probably  dating  from  the  early  19th  century. 

In   1 33 1   and   141 1    there  was  a  manorial  chapel 

attached  to  Weald  Hall,  then  owned  by  the  earls  of 
Kent.28 

The  parish  church  of  ST.  ANDREW  consists  of 
nave,  chancel,  south  aisle  and  lady  chapel,  west  tower, 
and  north  vestry.  It  is  built  of  flint  rubble,  brick,  and 
limestone.  The  red-brick  Tudor  tower  and  the 
chancel  screen  are  of  special  interest. 

There  was  certainly  a  church  in  North  Weald  in 
the  1 2th  century,  but  the  oldest  parts  of  the  present 
building  date  from  about  1330.  These  are  the  nave, 
aisle,  and  chapel.  The  walls  are  of  flint  rubble  with 
dressings  of  limestone  and  clunch  and  the  roofs  are 
tiled.  Separating  the  nave  and  aisle  is  an  arcade  of  five 
bays  with  octagonal  columns  and  semi-octagonal 
responds.  The  two-centred  arches  are  of  two  chamfered 
orders ;  the  middle  arch  is  narrower  and  lower  than  the 
rest.  At  its  east  end  the  aisle  is  widened  to  form  the 
lady  chapel. 

In  the  south  wall  of  the  aisle  is  a  1 4th-century  window 
of  two  trefoiled  ogee  lights  in  a  square  head,  containing 
fragments  of  14th-century  glass.  Farther  east  is  a  14th- 
century  south  doorway;  the  door  is  modern.  Farther 
east  still,  in  the  south  wall  of  the  chapel,  are  two  14th- 
century  windows  in  the  heads  and  trefoils  of  which  is 
14th-century  glass  consisting  of  tabernacle  work.  The 
sill  of  the  most  easterly  window  has  been  carried  down 
to  form  stepped  sedilia.  At  the  side  is  a  piscina,  also  of 
the  14th  century.  The  stonework  to  the  windows  and 
the  head  of  the  piscina  have  been  partially  restored. 

The  east  window  of  the  lady  chapel  consists  of  three 
trefoiled  ogee  lights  with  tracery  in  a  two-centred  head. 
This  is  a  14th-century  window  which  has  been  largely 
restored.  At  the  side  of  it  is  a  stone  bracket  with  a  flat 
top  which  may  have  been  intended  to  support  an 
image.  The  roof  of  the  chapel  is  gabled,  with  trussed 
rafters  of  uncertain  date.  The  moulded  wall-plate  on 
the  south  wall  is  of  the  14th  century.  Separating  the 
chapel  from  the  aisle  is  a  two-centred  arch. 

The  north  wall  of  the  nave  contains  a  14th-century 
doorway  with  chamfered  jambs  and  a  two-centred 
arch  with  a  moulded  label.  This  is  now  blocked  and 
a  floor  slab  has  been  set  upright  in  the  recess.  The 
original  door,  of  battens  with  ornamental  hinges,  dating 
from  the  late  13th  or  early  14th  century,  has  been  left 
externally. 

A  carved  oak  screen,  dating  mostly  from  the  early 
1 6th  century,  divides  the  nave  and  chancel.  It  consists 
of  five  bays,  the  centre  one  containing  a  pair  of  doors. 
The  side  bays  have  four-centred  traceried  heads,  sub- 
divided by  pendants  which  are  a  later  addition. 
Moulded  posts  support  a  cusped  and  ribbed  loft.  This 
is  said  to  be  the  only  case  in  the  county  where  the 
50. 


Chel.  Dioc.  Tear  Bk.  1 9 1 6  f. 

20  Rot.  Lit.  Claus.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii, 

21  Tax.  Eccl.  (RecT  Com.),  21  A. 

22  Val.  Eccl.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  437. 
"  Cal.Fat.  1554-5,  p.  323- 

«  Ibid.  1558-60,  pp.  386-8. 

25  E.R.O.,  Q/RPI  730-2. 

2«  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387. 

27  Newcourt,  Repert.  ii,  643. 

^8  E.A.T.  N.s.  xvi,  120,  XX,  289. 


193. 


291 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


coved  underside  of  a  former  rood  loft  has  survived.^' 
The  lower  panels  have  fluted  panelling  of  'linenfold' 
type  and  a  rail  carved  with  a  running  vine  and  con- 
ventional ornament.  The  doors  have  traceried  lower 
panels.  There  is  a  lettered  inscription:  'Orate  pro  bono 
statu  Thome  Wyher,  diacon.'  The  cornice  is  modern. 

The  west  tower  was  built  about  1 500.  It  is  entirely 
of  brick  and  is  unusually  high,  in  four  stages  with  an 
embattled  parapet  resting  on  a  corbel  table  of  small 
segmental  arches.  The  two-centred  tower  arch  is 
of  moulded  brickwork.  It  consists  of  four  orders, 
chamfered,  moulded,  and  plain.  The  responds  have 
two  shafts  each,  with  continuous  moulded  caps  and 
spreading  bases.  The  west  doorway  has  double 
chamfered  jambs  and  a  two-centred  arch  of  stone  with 
a  moulded  brick  label.  The  west  window  is  modern 
except  for  the  splays  and  rear  arch.  Across  the  south- 
west angle  is  a  chamfered  four-centred  doorway  to  a 
turret  staircase.  This  has  a  door  of  about  1500  with 
studded  battens  and  strap  hinges.  In  the  north  wall  is 
a  brick  fireplace  with  a  four-centred  head.  The 
windows  to  the  upper  stages  are  of  single  lights  in 
three-centred  heads  and  in  each  wall  of  the  bell 
chamber  there  is  a  window  of  two  four-centred  lights 
under  a  four-centred  head.  On  the  south  wall  is  a 
sundial  dated  1706. 

In  186;  the  church  was  reroofed.  A  church  rate  of 
6d.  in  {^\  was  levied  for  the  purpose  and  permission 
was  given  to  borrow  on  the  rates. 3"  New  pews  were 
installed  about  the  same  time. 3'  These,  however, 
incorporate  18th-century  panelling  in  the  seats  in  the 
nave,  chapel,  and  choir  stalls. 

In  1867  the  chancel  was  rebuilt.^^  Presumably  it 
had  originally  been  built  in  the  14th  century  along 
with  the  nave  and  aisle,  and  this  style  was  repeated  in 
the  new  work.  In  the  north  wall  of  the  nave  there  are 
three  windows  which  are  apparently  of  the  same  date 
as  those  in  the  chancel. 

In  1889  the  north  vestry  was  added  and  a  new  ceil- 
ing put  into  the  church.  A  new  organ  chamber  was 
built  and  the  organ  renovated.  At  the  same  time  the 
tower  was  restored  and  a  new  west  window  inserted. 33 
The  tower  was  again  repaired  in  1936,  the  brickwork 
being  repointed  and  the  bells  rehung.  A  new  wooden 
screen  between  the  tower  and  the  west  end  of  the  nave 
has  been  added  within  the  last  year.34 

There  are  six  bells,  dated  1755,  1887  (the  recasting 
of  a  1712  bell),  1712,  1755,  1673,  and  1803.35 

The  church  plate  consists  of  two  cups  dated  1563 
and  1876  and  a  third  undated;  patens  of  1567  and 
1875,  a  flagon  of  1730,  an  almsdish  of  1682,  two  un- 
dated almsdishes,  and  another  bought  recently.3* 

In  the  south  aisle  there  is  a  plain  16th-century  chest 
with  strap  hinges,  and  also  a  partially  restored  15th- 
century  chair.  There  is  a  17th-century  chair  in  the 
chancel.   In  the  aisle  is  a  modern  octagonal  font. 

On  the  north  wall  of  the  nave,  in  the  recess  formed 
by  the  blocking  up  of  the  14th-century  door,  is  a  floor 
slab  with  brass  effigies  of  William  Larder  and  his  wife, 
three  sons,  and  two  daughters.    It  is  surmounted  by 

^'  N.  Pevsner,  Buildings  of  Essex,  282. 

30  E.R.O.,  D/P  84/8/2. 

3'  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1870),  but  cf. 
ibid.  (1886). 

"  Ibid.  (1886). 

3'  Ibid.  (1906).  The  present  glass  in  tliis 
window  is  dated  1927. 

M  Inf.  from  tlie   Rev.    B.    F.   Adeney, 

1954- 

35  Ch.  Bells  Essex,  p.  440. 


shields  with  a  partially  destroyed  inscription  and  is 
dated  1606.  Other  floor  slabs  in  the  nave  are  to  John 
Searle  (1665)  and  his  wife  (1676)  and  to  Thomas 
Arrowsmith,  vicar  (1706),  and  his  wife  (1702).  The 
only  other  monuments  are  wall  plaques  dating  from 
1900  onwards.  The  stained  glass  in  the  east  window 
of  the  chancel  is  a  memorial  to  Henry  Cockerell,  vicar 
for  52  years,  who  died  in  1880.  The  glass  in  the  east 
window  of  the  chapel  is  in  memory  of  his  wife. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  church  is  a  memorial  to 
those  who  died  in  the  two  world  wars. 

The  lychgate  in  the  churchyard  was  dedicated  in 
1912.37  On  the  north  side  of  the  churchyard  is  a 
burial  ground  for  members  of  the  Royal  Air  Force  and 
the  Essex  Regiment.  A  stone  memorial  appears  to  have 
been  recently  completed. 

The  chapel  of  ease  at  Hastingwood  was  built  in 
1864  and  consists  of  a  nave  and  small  chancel.38  It  is 
of  red  brick  with  diaper  ornament  and  has  a  small  bell- 
cote  at  the  west  end.  The  east  window  contains 
memorial  glass  to  John  Stallibrass  of  Paris  Hall  (1872) 
and  his  wife  (1868). 

The  church  of  ST.  JOHN,  Thornwood  Common, 
was  built  in  1923,  and  was  the  gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
C.  E.  Hart. 39  It  replaced  a  small  corrugated  iron 
church  which  lies  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  main  road 
a  little  to  the  south  of  the  turning  to  Epping  Upland. 
This  iron  church  had  been  built  in  i888;'"'  it  is  now 
almost  derelict.  The  new  church  is  of  red  brick  and 
has  pointed  doors  and  windows.  It  consists  of  nave, 
chancel,  and  small  western  bell-cote.  It  is  also  a 
chapel  of  ease  to  St.  Andrew's. 

In  1672  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Bennett  in  North  Weald 

was  licensed  for  worship  by 

NONCONFORMITT    Presbyterians.*'  A  conventicle 

in  the  parish  was  licensed  in 

i704.« 

No  nonconformist  place  of  worship  was  mentioned 
in  the  returns  of  1829  as  then  existing  in  North 
Weald,''3  but  a  Congregational  chapel  was  opened  soon 
after.  This  was  probably  the  chapel  shown  on  the 
parish  map  of  1838,  near  the  south  end  of  Weald 
Bridge**  In  1841  Richard  Cecil,  minister  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  at  Chipping  Ongar  (q.v.),  reported 
that  students  under  his  care  had  resumed  preaching  at 
North  Weald  'amidst  encouraging  circumstances' .'•5 
Before  1847  a  resident  evangelist,  Mr.  Vale,  had  come 
to  North  Weald  and  was  receiving  financial  assistance 
from  the  Essex  Congregational  Union.**  About  1850 
he  began  preaching  at  Moreton  (q.v.),*'  where  he  was 
living  by  1857.*^  By  1859  he  was  preaching  there 
more  often  than  at  North  Weald.  Thenceforth  the 
congregation  at  North  Weald  seems  to  have  declined,*' 
and  services  probably  ceased  altogether  about  1874.5° 
The  former  chapel  has  apparently  been  demolished, 
although  the  house  beside  it  remains. 

From  about  1867  to  1875  services  were  held  in  the 
parish  at  Tylers  Green,  in  connexion  with  the  Con- 
gregational church  at  Abridge  in  Lambourne  (q.v.). 5' 

In  1883  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  chapel  at  Thorn- 


36  Ch,   Plate  Essex,   p.    14.2;   inf.   from 
Rev.  B.  F.  Adeney,  1954. 

37  E.R.  xxi,  168. 

38  Kelly's  Dir.  Essex  (1937). 

39  Ibid.  {1926). 
*"  Ibid.  (19°^)- 
*'  G.  L.  Turner,  Orig.  Recs.  of  Early 

Nonconformity,  U,  929. 
42  E.R.O.,  e/SBb  40. 
*3  E.R.O.,  Q/CR  3/2. 


**  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387. 
*s  Essex  Congr.  Union  Ref>s.  1841. 
*6  Ibid.  1847. 
*7  Ibid.  1850  f. 
IS  Ibid.  1857. 
*"  Ibid.  1859  f. 

5»  Ibid.  1874-5;  Congr.  Year  Bk.  1874, 
1875. 
5«  E.C.U.Reps.  1867-75. 


292 


ONGAR  HUNDRED    north  weald  bassett 


wood  Common  was  placed  on  the  plan  of  theWanstead 
and  Woodford  circuit.s^  In  1892  the  chapel  was  in 
debt,  but  a  mission  was  established  to  help  it  and  by 
the  next  year  the  debt  had  been  reduced  to  £'J.^'^ 

In  1898  a  sub-committee  was  formed  to  inquire  into 
the  affairs  of  the  chapel,  which,  it  was  feared,  were  not 
conducted  in  accordance  with  Methodist  regulations. s* 
In  1899  Mr.  Childs  was  appointed  lay  agent  at  a  salary 
of  ^£25  a  year  and  in  June  of  that  year  he  reported  a 
steady  growth  and  a  renewed  observance  of  Methodist 
principles. 55 

The  society  at  Thornwood  was  never  large,  al- 
though at  one  time  it  had  the  largest  Sunday  school  in 
the  circuit. 56  In  1935  the  need  for  extensive  repairs  to 
the  chapel  became  evident.^'  In  the  following  year 
land  was  given  for  a  new  building  by  a  Mr.  Slack.s* 
but  it  was  not  used  and  in  1939  the  chapel  was  finally 
closed  because  there  was  not  sufficient  support  to 
justify  either  the  erection  of  a  new  building  or  repairs 
to  the  old.  The  chapel  was  demolished  and  the  site 
sold.59  It  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  main  road 
nearly  opposite  Weald  Hall  Lane. 

In  December  1888  a  committee  was  formed  by  the 
Wanstead  and  Woodford  circuit  to  consider  building 
a  Wesleyan  chapel  at  North  Weald,  where  military 
barracks  had  recently  been  erected.*"  In  the  following 
year  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  rustic  wooden  chapel  at 
a  cost  of  ^150.*'  A  plot  of  land  was  leased  from  Mr. 
W.  J.  Smith  at  a  rent  of  10/.  a  year.*^  The  new  chapel 
was  opened  in  1890,  the  cost  of  building  having  been 
raised  by  public  subscription.*^ 

The  new  society  was  not  very  successful  and  in  1905 
it  was  decided  to  continue  it  only  on  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Local  Preachers'  Meeting.**  In  1907  an 
adjacent  plot  of  land  was  purchased  for  ^^120.  In 
19 10  the  original  lease  was  renewed  and  a  new  trust 
formed.*s 

In  1925  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new  chapel  at 
North  Weald.**  On  the  recommendation  of  the  circuit 
development  committee  the  chapel  was  built  in  1929 
at  a  cost  of  ;^i,074.*''  In  1930  it  was  reported  that 
young  men  from  Woodford  were  doing  valuable  work 
at  North  Weald,  but  in  1934  a  committee  was  set  up 
to  consider  the  work  there.**  In  1950  the  problem  of 
the  lease,  which  had  been  four  times  renewed  since 
1910,  was  solved  by  Mr.  T.  J.  E.  Bird,  who  bought  the 
freehold  for  £\2  and  gave  it  to  the  trustees.  The 
church  has  been  under  the  supervision  of  the  Epping 
minister,  who  is  at  present  the  Revd.  E.  B.  Roebuck. 
The  society  has  a  membership  of  I9.*9  The  chapel  is 
a  small  brick  building,  cement  rendered. 

The  existing  court  rolls  of  the  manor  of  Marshalls 

cover  the  period  1 572- 

PJRISH  GOFERNMENT     1 7  2  8  and  there  is  also  a 

AND  POOR  RELIEF  court  book  for  1832- 

1924.'°  For  the  manor 
of  North  Weald  there  are  rolls  for  I74I-93.'''  In  each 
case  the  business  recorded  is  that  of  a  court  baron  only. 

One  general  parish  book  survives  for  North  Weald, 


"  Address  by  Mr.  A.  W.  Leach, 
Wanstead,  19  Dec.  1919.  (Reported  in 
Mins.  of  Local  Preachers'  M  tgs.  Wanstead 
and  Woodford  Circuit,  1879-1930.) 

53  Mins.  of  Circuit  Quarterly  Mtgs. 
1887-99. 

St  Ibid.  55  Ibid. 

56  Address  by  Mr.  Leach. 

"  Mins.  of  Circuit  Quart.  Mtg.  1931- 

41- 
s»  Ibid. 


59  Papers  re  sale. 

<">  Mins.  of  Circuit  Quart.  Mtgs.  1887- 
99. 

6'  Ibid. 

62  Trust  Deeds  in  Circuit  safe.  Except 
where  otherwise  stated  the  account  is 
based  on  these  deeds. 

"  Mins.  of  Quart.  Mtgs.  1887-99. 

'*  Ibid.  1899-1909. 

'5  Ibid.  1909-16. 

"  Ibid.  1925-30. 


covering  the  years  1679— 1879."  From  about  1750 
to  1790  there  were  usually  vestry  meetings  at  Easter 
and  in  the  autumn  of  each  year.  Otherwise  there  were 
meetings  at  Easter  but  rarely  at  any  other  time.  The 
average  attendance  throughout  the  period  1679— 1836 
was  fairly  high,  being  about  10.  The  highest  recorded 
was  21  at  the  Easter  vestry  of  1702.  George  Hellier, 
the  curate,  usually  presided  between  1709  and  1727. 
Of  the  vicars  only  Francis  Stanley  attended  regularly. 
He  usually  presided  between  1765  and  1 781.  After 
178 1  the  churchwarden  was  usually  in  the  chair.  John 
Benton  was  probably  parish  clerk  in  1687.  He  was 
then  recorded  as  living  in  the  Church  House.  He  wrote 
the  rate  in  the  parish  book,  receiving  is.  for  this,  and 
also  washed  the  surplice.  After  his  death  his  son  Isaac 
succeeded  him.  In  1774  the  clerk  was  receiving  a 
salary  of  2  guineas.  In  1 803  John  Stokes  agreed  to 
retire  from  the  office  of  clerk  on  payment  to  him  of  ^^5 
and  the  promise  that  the  parish  should  provide  him 
with  a  house  for  life,  'the  workhouse  excepted'.  John 
Benton,  parish  clerk  in  1707,  was  also  sexton,  for  which 
office  he  was  supposed  to  receive  4</.  a  year  from  each 
house  in  the  parish. 

General  rates  'for  the  use  of  the  church  and  the  poor' 
were  levied  each  year  by  the  overseers.  The  church- 
warden did  not  usually  levy  a  separate  rate  but  was 
reimbursed  by  the  overseers.  The  hamlets  of  Thorn- 
wood  and  Hastingwood  were  separately  assessed  and 
levied  their  own  rates.  In  1679  a  rate  of  iJ.  in  ^^i 
produced  a  total  of  ^^9  2S.  (>d.,  of  which  [^\  1 8/.  <^d. 
came  from  the  main  body  of  the  parish,  £;i  5/.  <^d. 
from  Hastingwood,  and  ^i  \%s.  from  Thornwood. 
There  was  little  change  in  the  assessment  during  the 
next  century:  in  1786  a  \d.  rate  produced  ^^8  17^.  i  \d. 
for  the  whole  parish. 

Although  the  vestry  met  only  once  or  twice  a  year  it 
maintained  a  check  on  the  actions  of  its  officers  by 
requiring  that  no  grant  of  weekly  pensioiis  or  firewood 
to  the  poor  was  to  be  made  without  an  entry  in  the 
parish  book  and  the  subsequent  approval  of  the  vestry. 
It  also  tried  to  ensure  that  all  parishioners  took  their 
fair  share  of  common  burdens.  Thus  in  1697  it  was 
recommended  that  all  should  in  turn  take  poor  children 
as  apprentices,  with  an  allowance  of  40X.  for  clothing. 
Of  the  13  persons  present  8  did  so  and  4  others 
followed  their  example  later  in  the  same  year.  In 
1804  a  Mr.  Wilson  was  paid  ;^io  when  his  son  was 
drawn  for  the  militia. 

Until  about  1766  4  overseers  and  3  surveyors  of 
highways  were  appointed.  Thornwood  and  Hasting- 
wood each  had  i  overseer  and  the  other  2  were 
responsible  for  the  rest  of  the  parish.  There  was  ap- 
parently I  surveyor  for  each  division  of  the  parish.'^ 
These  arrangements  were  already  established  by 
1613.74  After  1766  the  total  number  of  overseers  was 
reduced  to  3,  there  being  i  instead  of  2  for  the  body  of 
the  parish.  This  continued  until  i8ro  when  a  single 
salaried  overseer  was  appointed  for  the  whole  parish.  • 
From  1822  3  overseers  were  again  appointed.  There 

6'  Ibid. 

'8  Ibid.  1931-4.1. 

"  Circuit  Plan  Jan.-Apr.  1953. 

">  E.R.O.,D/DBM68-76iD/DTcM4. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DBm  M197-203. 

'2  E.R.O.,  D/P  84/8.  Unless  other- 
wise stated  all  information  in  this  section 
is  taken  from  this  book. 

'3  The  appointment  of  surveyors  was 
not  regularly  recorded. 

74  E.R.O.,  Q/SBa  3. 


293 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


was  evidendy  a  system  of  rotation  for  service  in  this 
office,  for  in  1766  an  overseer  was  described  as  serving 
out  of  his  turn.  Before  the  19th  century  only  i  church- 
warden was  usually  appointed,  but  sometimes  2. 

The  parish  owned  2  houses,  each  divided  into  2 
tenements,  for  accommodating  the  poor.  One  of  the 
houses  stood  at  Weald  Gullet  and  was  copyhold  of 
the  manor  of  North  Weald;  it  was  acquired  for  parish 
use  in  1766.^5  The  other  was  at  Skips  Corner  and 
was  freehold.  How  long  the  parish  had  owned  it  is 
not  clear,  and  in  1838  when  the  houses  were  sold  the 
deed  of  conveyance  did  not  recite  any  earlier  deed  and 
only  stated  that  the  house  had  been  'for  many  years' 
parish  property.'* 

In  161 3-14  the  four  overseers  spent  £6  16/.  iid. 
on  poor  relief,  making  grants  of  money,  paying  rents, 
and  supplying  wood."  By  1680  disbursements  had 
risen  to  some  ;{^30-;£40  a  year.  There  was  a  steady 
increase  throughout  the  18th  century,  ;^200  being 
reached  in  1761  and  ^^300  in  1781.  By  1801-2  ex- 
penditure had  risen  to  ^^863  and  it  averaged  about  ;^8oo 
between  18 10  and  1822.  The  division  of  expenditure 
between  the  hamlets  and  the  main  body  of  the  parish 
varied  considerably  but  usually  approximated  to  their 
respective  proportions  of  the  rateable  assessment.  The 
parish  overseer  accounted  for  about  half  the  expendi- 
ture: in  1 801-2,  for  example,  his  expenses  amounted 
to  ;^45  5,  those  of  the  Thorn  wood  overseer  to  ^^237  14J. 
and  of  the  Hastingwood  overseer  to  ^^170  11^.  The 
hamlets  were  not  so  independent  that  they  were  left 
to  bear  the  burden  of  their  expenditure  alone.  The 
same  rates  were  levied  on  all,  whatever  their  share  of 
the  total  expenditure,  and  at  the  final  audit  at  Easter  a 
deficit  in  one  account  was  balanced  by  the  surplus  of 
another.  Usually  all  overseers  had  surpluses  which 
were  paid  to  the  churchwarden  to  meet  his  accounts. 
Doctors'  bills  for  attending  the  poor  were  being  paid 
from  1738.  From  1778  the  parish  doctor  received  a 
regular  salary  of  7  guineas  a  year.  North  Weald  was 
one  of  the  parishes  which  contributed  to  the  Society 
for  the  Promotion  of  Industry  founded  in  1794  by 
John  Conyers  of  Epping.  In  1836  the  parish  became 
part  of  the  Epping  Poor  Law  Union. 

Simon  Thorogood,  fishmonger  of  London,  by  his 
will  proved  in  1635,  left  ^^50  to  build  a 
SCHOOLS  schoolroom  at  North  Weald,  and  en- 
dowed it  with  ;^io  a  year  from  an  estate 
called  Hartsgrove  in  Barking  to  pay  a  schoolmaster  to 
teach  children  from  this  and  neighbouring  parishes. '^ 
The  school  was  not  actually  established  until  1678, 
because  of  what  Morant  called  'some  bad  manage- 
ment'.79  It  subsequently  flourished  and  seems  to  have 
had  a  continuous  existence  throughout  the  i8th 
century.8"  By  the  early  19th  century  it  had  ap- 
parently declined.  In  1818  there  were  said  to  be  only 
6  pupils  on  the  foundation,  possibly  because  two  other 
schools  had  been  established  in  the  parish.*'  About 
1829  the  vicar  revived  the  school  by  increasing  the 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DBm  M199. 

"  E.R.O.,  D/DCc  T25. 

"  E.R.O.,  C/SBa  3. 

'8  r.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  559;  P.C.C.  Tear 
Bks.  of  Probates,  1635-9,  P-  ^4>  E-R-O., 
D/P  84/1/,. 

'»  Morant,  Essex,  i,  151. 

">  Ibid.;  Colchester  Borough  Libr.  MS. 
Crisp*s    Marriage    Regs.,    vol.    A— B,    p. 

39- 

"  Reins.  Educ.  Poor,  H.C.  224,  p.  275 
(i8i9),ix(i). 


number  of  pupils  and  by  establishing  in  conjunction 
with  it  a  Sunday  school  which  flourished  for  many 
years.  In  1833  he  was  receiving,  in  addition  to  the 
trust  income  of  ;^i  o,  about  j£i  2  in  local  contributions.  *^ 
He  supervised  the  school  and  appointed  the  master, 
who  lived  rent  free  and  taught  in  a  cottage  situated  be- 
tween the  road  and  the  churchyard  and  thought  to  be 
the  original  17th-century  schoolhouse.  The  pupils 
paid  i(i'.  a  week  to  learn  to  read  and  a  higher  fee  for 
writing;  the  girls  were  taught  plain  needle-work,  ap- 
parently by  the  master's  wife.^J  In  1838  the  school 
was  occupying  one  of  a  pair  of  houses  immediately  east 
of  the  old  cottage.^ 

The  population  of  the  parish  was  almost  900  at  this 
time  and  the  schoolhouse  could  not  accommodate  all 
the  children  needing  education.  In  1839  there  were 
63  attending  it;  another  40  went  to  dame  schools  in 
the  parish. 85  In  1842  the  vicar,  Henry  Cockerell,  col- 
lected subscriptions  for  a  new  school.  The  pair  of 
cottages  previously  mentioned  was  either  rebuilt  or 
incorporated  in  a  new  school  building  of  red  brick.** 
Although  called  a  National  School  throughout  the 
remainder  of  the  century  it  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
in  union  with  the  National  Society. *'  The  attendance 
increased  rapidly  after  the  building  of  the  new  school, 
reaching  95  in  1846—7.**  The  master  and  mistress, 
who  were  untrained,  were  then  receiving  ^42  a  year, 
a  salary  which  the  vicar  thought  insufficient  to  attract 
competent  teachers.  Attendance  at  the  school  remained 
steady  for  20  years:  in  1867  there  were  97  pupils,  all 
children  of  farm  workers,  taught  by  an  uncertificated 
master  and  mistress.*'  There  was  a  special  class  for 
the  free  scholars,  said  to  number  40  in  1848.9" 

After  the  Education  Act  of  1870  Churchmen  in  the 
parish  decided  to  increase  the  accommodation,  which 
the  official  inquiry  in  1871  showed  to  be  quite  inade- 
quate." The  Education  Department  pressed  for  the 
provision  of  places  for  all  the  160  children  in  the  parish 
needing  elementary  education.'^  A  building  com- 
mittee was  therefore  established,  which  collected  ^£334 
in  voluntary  subscriptions  and  raised  a  further  ^^256 
by  means  of  a  voluntary  rate  of  9^/.  The  school  was 
extended  at  a  total  cost  of  ^^61 5  to  accommodate  about 
150.93  A  government  proposal  at  this  time  to  amalga- 
mate North  Weald  and  Stanford  Rivers  (q.v.)  in  a 
single  school  district  was  dropped  after  strong  opposi- 
tion from  North  Weald. 

The  enlarged  accommodation  and  the  increasing 
population  of  the  parish  made  possible  an  increase  in 
average  attendance,  from  59  in  1875  to  81  in  1886 
and  122  in  1893;  the  annual  grant  to  the  school 
increased  from  ^^33  to  ^{^61  and  ;^93  at  the  same  dates. ^'^ 
In  1 894  the  accommodation  was  further  increased  to 
214  places  by  the  addition  of  an  infants'  room  at  a  cost 
of  ^£250,  defrayed  by  local  contributions  and  some 
grants  from  church  organizations.  In  1897  a  new 
teacher's  house  was  built  in  place  of  the  old  cottage  in 
the  churchyard. 95    In   1902  the  average  attendance 


8^  Educ.  Enquiry  Ahstr.  H.C.  62,  p.  284 
(1835),  xli;  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

83  Ibid.;  V.C.H.  Essex,  ii,  559. 

8t  E.R.O.,  D/CT  387. 

85  E.R.O.,  D/P  30/28/19. 

8'  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/284. 

8'  Ibid.;  IVhite's  Dir.  Essex  (1863),  p. 
736. 

88  Nat.  Soc.  Enquiry  into  Church  Schs. 
1846-7,  pp.  14-15. 

8«  V.C.B.  Essex,  ii,  559. 

«o  White's  Dir.  Essex  (1848),  p.  429; 


D.  W.  CoUer,  People's  Hist.  Essex,  481. 

9>  Retns.  Elem.  Educ.  H.C.  20I,  pp. 
iio-ii  {1871),  Iv. 

«2  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/342. 

93  E.R.O.,  D/P  84/8. 

9*  Rep.  of  Educ.  Cttee.  of  Council,  1S7S 
[C.  1513-1].  P-  533.  H.C.  (1876),  xxiii; 
ibid.  1886  [C.  5123],  p.  520,  H.C.  (1887), 
xxviii;  Retn.  of  Schs.  i8g3  [C.  7529],  p. 
715,  H.C.  (1894),  Ixv. 

95  Ex.  Inf.  Nat.  Soc. 


294 


ONGAR  HUNDRED    north  weald  bassett 


was  150  and  the  annual  grant  ^^i  54.'*  Further  income 
came  from  the  contributions  of  local  churchmen,  21 
of  whom  gave  2s.  6d.  or  more  in  1900,  and  from  the 
original  endowment  of  ^^lo  a  year." 

By  the  1902  Education  Act  the  school  passed  under 
the  administration  of  the  Essex  Education  Committee, 
Epping  District,  as  a  non-provided,  mixed  school.  The 
number  of  pupils  continued  to  grow  for  some  years. 
In  1904  there  were  176  on  the  roll,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  160,  and  the  staff  comprised  5  teachers 
and  2  monitresses.'S  Average  attendance  fell  to  134 
in  1910  and  loi  in  1929.  In  1932  the  school  was 
reorganized  for  mixed  juniors  and  infants  and  by  1938 
the  average  attendance  was  only  71." 

In  June  1940  the  school  was  closed  because  of  its 
proximity  to  North  Weald  airfield.  For  several  months 
a  system  of  home  tuition  was  carried  on  in  the  village 
while  some  children  attended  the  primary  school  at 
Chipping  Ongar.  In  March  1941  a  temporary  school 
was  opened  in  the  parish  at  Wildingtree  Farm,  a  two- 
story  red-brick  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  to 
Magdalen  Laver.  In  1953  this  building  was  still  in 
use  but  a  new  primary  school  was  in  course  of  con- 
struction north  of  the  housing  estate  at  School  Green. 
In  May  1952  there  were  167  children  under  6 
teachers.'  The  school  was  granted  controlled  status 
in  1952.2 

The  small  timber-framed  cottage  between  the  road 
and  the  churchyard,  said  to  be  the  original  17th- 
century  school,  still  exists.  The  stairs  and  partitions 
are  probably  later  insertions.  Adjoining  the  cottage  to 
the  east  is  the  19th-century  school,  now  used  for 
storage  purpose  and  some  village  activities.  The  back 
of  this  building  is  of  two  stories  and  probably  repre- 
sents the  schoolmaster's  house  of  about  1842.  The 
road  frontage  appears  to  be  mostly  of  1871  with  later 
alterations  and  additions.  The  barge-boards  of  the 
central  gable  have  the  inscription:  'Train  up  a  child  in 
the  way  he  will  go  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not 
depart  from  it.'  The  teacher's  house,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road,  is  also  of  red  brick  and  is  dated 
1897. 


Richard  Rainsford  of  Epping  (d.  1604)  left  £^  to 

found  a  charity. 3   By  a  deed  of  1 6 10, 

CHARITIES   of  which  a  copy  was  extant  in  1834,  the 

income  was  to  be  applied  for  the  relief 

of  the  poor.   There  is  no  later  record  of  the  charity.* 

A  Dr.  Searle,5  at  an  unknown  date,  left  36  bushels 
of  barley  a  year  to  the  poor  of  the  parish.  In  1834  the 
cash  equivalent  was  paid  by  the  rector  in  respect  of 
land  adjoining  the  glebe.  The  charge  was  redeemed 
in  1936  for  £302  stock.  In  1949  £9  was  given  to  36 
persons  in  5^.  shares.* 

Mrs.  Anna  M.  Burrell,  by  will  proved  1809,  left 
£400  .stock  in  trust  for  equal  annual  payments  to  four 
poor  widows  of  the  parish.  In  1834  and  1949  the 
income  was  given  in  cash  to  widows.^ 

George  Rayment's  Charity  was  apparently  founded 
by  an  indenture  of  1862,  but  since  payments  from  it 
were  later  made  for  the  repair  of  a  tomb,  it  may  have 
originated  in  a  will.  The  endowment  is  ;^i  50  stock, 
held  in  trust  for  payments  every  February  to  four  poor 
persons  with  dependent  families.  In  1949  the  income 
seems  to  have  been  absorbed  in  that  of  other  charities: 
j^28  was  given  away  in  small  amounts  of  money  apart 
from  gifts  to  widows. 

The  Revd.  Frederick  Vane,  by  will  proved  1865, 
left  ^^50  in  trust  for  the  poor  of  the  parish,  to  be  dis- 
tributed on  St.  Thomas's  day.  About  1 871  the  income 
may  have  been  applied  to  the  parish  school.  In  1949 
the  income  was  distributed  along  with  that  of  the  other 
charities. 

Harriet  Smith,  by  will  proved  1887,  left  ^^300  in 
trust  to  maintain  the  tomb  of  her  parents  for  60  years. 
The  surplus,  and  after  that  period  the  whole  income, 
was  to  be  used  to  distribute  bread  each  year  to  the  poor. 
The  bequest  for  the  tomb  was  void.  In  1949  ;^l  os.  i  id. 
was  spent  on  bread  and  the  rest  of  the  income  was  spent 
with  the  other  charities. 

The  North  Weald  Comforts  Fund  was  formed  in 

1949  from  the  balance  of  between  £500  and  ;^6oo 
left  when  the  District  Nursing  Association  was  ter- 
minated. The  fund  is  to  be  used  to  help  the  sick.  In 

1950  j^i7  were  spent.8 


o*  Schs.  under  Bd.  of  Educ.  igo2  [Cd. 
1+90],  p.  73,  H.C.  (1903),  li. 
»'  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/284. 

98  Essex    Educ.    Cttee.    Handk.     1904, 
150. 

99  Min.  of  Educ.  File  13/284. 


'  Ex  Inf.  Essex  Educ.  Cttee. 

2  Ibid. 

3  E.R.O.,  D/P   84/1/1.    See   Morant, 
EsseXf  i,  50. 

*  Rep.  Com.  Char.  {Essex),  H.C.  216, 
pp.  250-2  (183s),  xxi(i). 


s  Ibid.  A  John  Searle,  D.D.,  was  vicar 
from  1706  to  17 1 5.  See  Church. 

*  Ref.  Com.  Char.  (Essex),  pp.  250-2; 
Char.  Com.  files. 

7  Ibid. 

8  Char.  Com.  files. 


295 


ANALYSIS  OF  SOME  MEDIEVAL  TAX  ASSESSMENTS:  ONGAR 

HUNDRED 

The  tables  below  bring  together  certain  statistics  derived  from  medieval  fiscal  records.  They  aim 
at  showing  how  the  places  in  Ongar  hundred  compared  in  wealth  and  density  of  settlement  with  one 
another  and  how  the  whole  hundred  compared  in  those  respects  with  other  parts  of  Essex  and  of 
England. 

Taxes  on  Movables 

By  the  last  quarter  of  the  13th  century  Englishmen  had  grown  accustomed  to  tax  assessments 
based  upon  the  value  of  movables,  a  fraction  of  the  assessed  value  of  each  eligible  taxpayer  being 
taken  in  tax.  Until  1332  a  different  fraction  was  taken  whenever  Parliament  granted  a  tax  and  a 
new  assessment  was  made  on  the  occasion  of  each  grant.  In  and  after  1334,  however,  it  became  the 
rule  to  take  a  fifteenth  in  country  villages  and  a  tenth  in  boroughs  and  on  ancient  demesne  of  the 
Crown.' 

The  assessment  of  1320  (summarized  below.  Table  i)  shows  the  form  of  these  assessments  up  to 
1332.  In  the  original  roll  each  place  has  a  boldly  written  heading  beneath  which  appear  the  names  of 
the  inhabitants  who  are  liable  to  tax.  The  assessment  of  the  movables  of  the  inhabitants  is  given, 
followed  by  the  sum  representing  the  fifteenth  part  of  this  value,  the  individual's  tax  liability.  A  total 
{summa)  for  each  place  is  given.   Totals  for  the  hundred  and  for  the  county  also  appear.^ 

In  1334  (see  Table  i)  the  whole  appearance  of  the  rolls  changes.  In  place  of  lists  of  names  there 
are  only  lists  of  villages.  This  change  mirrors  the  change  in  the  basis  of  taxation.  The  Exchequer  was 
now  content  to  collect  the  tax  on  the  basis  of  a  single  payment  from  the  whole  vill.  So  long  as  this 
payment  reached  at  least  the  sum  of  individual  villagers'  payments  in  1 332  the  Exchequer  did  not 
intervene.  The  appropriate  sum  for  each  vill  was  left  to  be  fixed  by  local  negotiation  between  the 
representatives  of  vills  and  the  royal  officials. 

There  is  no  suggestion  that  Edward  III  intended  this  arrangement  to  become  permanent,  but  in 
fact  the  sums  allotted  to  each  village  in  1 334  continued  to  form  the  basis  of  their  assessment  until  the 
reign  of  Charles  I.  If  the  Commons  granted  a  sum  greater  than  a  fifteenth  would  have  brought  in, 
then  some  additional  money  was  raised  from  a  new  form  of  tax  (such  as  the  poll  tax  of  1377,  see 
below);  or  else  more  than  one-fifteenth  was  granted,^  so  that  each  village  made  a  payment  of  two  or 
three  times  the  sum  allotted  to  it  in  1334.  This  sum,  for  brevity,  will  be  referred  to  as  'the  basic 
village  quota'.  The  difference  between  1332+  and  1334^  may  be  illustrated  from  Lambourne.  The 
summa  of  individual  assessments  in  1332  was  53^.  \od.  The  basic  village  quota  fixed  in  1334  was  57X. 
For  the  whole  hundred  of  Ongar  the  total  in  1332  was  ^^62  lys.  qd.    In  1334  it  was  £bb  6s.  T,d. 

Since  they  give  the  names  of  the  principal  property-owners  the  tax-lists  up  to  and  including  1332 
have  long  been  used  by  genealogists.  Economic  historians  have  also  found  them  interesting  as  a  rough 
indication  of  the  varying  levels  of  prosperity  to  be  found  in  different  places.  A  village  like  Theydon 
Bois  which  collected  33.r.  $^d.  from  23  taxpayers  in  1320  is  clearly  different  from  a  village  like 
Theydon  Mount  where  approximately  the  same  sum  (in  fact,  35^.  i  \d.)  came  from  only  7  taxpayers.* 
In  the  rather  different  social  and  agricultural  conditions  of  the  North  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  it  has  been 
suggested  that  a  vill  with  one  outstandingly  large  taxpayer  probably  had  a  lord  working  his  own 
demesnes,  while  a  number  of  roughly  equal  assessments  indicate  a  vill  with  a  weakened  manorial  struc- 
ture and  a  fair  number  of  tenants  occupying  part  of  the  demesne.' 

Interesting  as  are  the  questions  they  raise,  these  pre-1334  assessments  are  only  of  limited  value  in 
redetermining  the  relative  wealth  of  Essex  villages  and  of  little,  if  any,  value  in  determining  their 
populations.  There  are  several  reasons  for  this.  Some  types  of  movable  property  were  not  assessable 
to  tax,  while  some  persons  were  too  poor  to  be  taxable  at  all.  There  was  probably  also  a  good  deal  of 
evasion  and  under-assessment.    It  is  as  though  we  were  allowed  to  inspect  the  top  of  an  iceberg  but 

'  For  details  of  the  methods  of  assessment  and  col-  ■♦  AH  1332  data  are  from  E 179/ 107/ 17,  which  is 

lection  see  J.  F.  Willard,  Pari.  Taxes  on  Personal  Pro-  wrongly  dated  in  the  P.R.O.  Typescript  calendar  as 

ferty  i2go-i334;  Surr.  Tax.  Reins.  (Surr.  Rec.  Soc.  1334. 

xi),  v-lxxvi.  s  All  1334  data  are  from  E179/107/41  which  has 

^  The  totals  for  Essex  in  the  various  years  have  been  been  checked  in  E 164/7,  a  1 5th-cent.  engrossment  of 

brought  together  by  J.   F.  Willard:  E.H.R.  xxviii,  the  whole  country. 

519-21,  xxix,  319-21,  rxx,  72-73.    For  the  period  *  All  1320  data  are  from  E179/107/1  lo-ll. 

after  1334  the  totals  will  be  found  enrolled  in  E3 59.  '  T.   A.    M.    Bishop,    'Distribution   of  Manorial 

3  e.g.  1404,  two  loths  and  i5ths;  14 19,  one  and  Demesne  in  the  Vale  of  Yorkshire'  {E.H.R.  xlix), 

one-third  loth  and  15th.  386-406. 

296 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

debarred  from  looking  under  the  water.  It  is  not  very  useful  to  regard  the  recorded  number  of  tax- 
payers as  being  a  fixed  proportion  of  the  whole  village.  A  prosperous  village  would  have  a  much  higher 
proportion  of  its  inhabitants  named  on  the  tax-list  than  a  poor  village  with  only  one  or  two  names 
recorded. 

Taking  Ongar  hundred  as  a  whole,  these  early  assessments  enable  one  standard  to  be  applied  which 
may  yield  interesting  results  when  all  the  hundreds  have  been  compared.  Thus,  in  the  earliest  extant 
roll,  that  for  1237-8,  Ongar  hundred^  paid  ^t,^  lis.  iid.  out  of  the  Essex  total  of  £'jio  js.  id.,  or 
about  5  per  cent,  of  the  whole.  In  1320  it  paid  ^^68  is.  6d.  out  of  ;^i,333  I2s.,  or  about  5  per  cent, 
of  the  whole,  while  in  1332  it  paid  ;^62  lys.  gd.  out  of  ;^i,i78  lis.  6d.,or  again  a  share  of  just  over 
5  per  cent.  In  1334  the  share  of  this  area  was  ;^66  6^.  3^.  out  of  ;^i,234  14^.  yd.,  or  a  share  of  just 
under  5  per  cent. 

The  various  local  assessments  are  set  out  in  Table  i  for  the  25  units  of  collection,  or  29  named 
places.  In  studying  the  table  the  first  matter  to  be  considered  is  the  range  of  size  exhibited  in  the  village 
quotas  of  1334.  In  Ongar  hundred  most  villages  paid  between  20s.  and  60s.  Only  two,  Shelley  and 
Stondon  Massey,  paid  less  then  20^.,  and  only  5  paid  more  than  60s.  The  average  of  the  25  sums  is  53^., 
4  of  these  sums  representing  a  payment  for  2  places.  In  1 334  the  corresponding  average  for  Essex  as  a 
whole  is  68/.  yd. 

Although  the  basic  village  quotas  of  1334  remained  unaltered  there  were  occasions  when  they  were 
temporarily  modified,  abatements  or  reliefs  being  allowed  in  view  of  the  impoverishment  of  a  particular 
vill.  Such  occasions  were  the  three  collections  of  a  tenth  and  a  fifteenth  granted  in  1351  when  im- 
poverished vills  were  reimbursed  out  of  a  fund  provided  by  fines  collected  under  the  Statute  of  Labourers. 
Thus  one  effect  of  the  Black  Death  was  mitigated  by  applying  moneys  drawn  from  those  who  were 
attempting  to  profit  from  the  general  shortage  of  labour.  The  amount  which  the  Justices  of  Labourers 
had  to  distribute  in  relief  to  the  villages  depended,  of  course,  on  the  fines  imposed.  The  total  in  Essex 
was  large.  In  1 352  ;{^7 1 0  i  os.  was  so  collected,  of  which,  after  expenses,  £6j$  i  is.  was  allotted  among 
the  impoverished  vills.  Since  the  total  tax  obligation  was  only  ;^  1,234,  more  than  half  the  year's 
assessment  on  Essex  was  made  up  from  the  pool  of  fines.' 

Some  villages  received  an  allowance  equal  to  the  whole  of  the  tax  due:  Thorpe-le-Soken,  51J.  ^.d.; 
Bocking  103/.  iid.  Comparison  with  the  list  of  fines  paid,  which  has  also  survived  for  this  year,  shows 
that  Thorpe  had  lost  on  the  deal,  £^  11s.  ^d.  having  been  collected  there  in  fines  for  breach  of  the 
Statute.  No  place  in  Ongar  hundred  received  such  munificent  relief,  and  only  two  places  received  any 
relief  at  all:  High  Laver  was  given  40X.  (55  per  cent,  of  the  tax  due)  and  Magdalen  Laver  20/.  (48  per 
cent.).  It  is  difficult  to  resist  the  conclusion  that  local  opinion  considered  these  two  vills  to  have  been 
especially  badly  hit  by  the  plague,  but,  as  the  poll-tax  figures  for  1377  show,  they  were  certainly  far 
from  being  depopulated.'" 

No  record  of  reliefs  allowed  in  1 353  and  1 354  has  survived,  apart  from  county  totals."  In  1 358-60 
the  confiscated  goods  of  fugitives  and  felons  were  applied  to  the  same  use  but  no  record  from  Ongar 
hundred  has  yet  been  found. '^ 

In  1433  there  began  a  long  series  of  abatements  whereby  a  sum  of  ;^4,ooo  and  later  ;^6,ooo  was 
distributed  among  the  over-taxed  and  impoverished  villages  of  the  kingdom.  For  at  least  the  first  30 
years  of  the  abatements  the  evidence  indicates  that  a  genuine  reassessment  of  need  was  made  at  each 
new  collection  of  a  subsidy;  the  Devonshire  figures  show  quite  wide  differences  in  the  sums  allowed  to 
each  borough  from  one  collection  to  the  next.  Unfortunately  there  are  only  two  surviving  rolls  for 
Essex  in  this  period,  dated  1433  and  1436,  and  in  these  rolls  the  rate  of  allowances  in  Ongar  hundred 
is  the  same  in  each  year;  the  county  was  relieved  of  its  obligation  to  pay  ;^i  23  js.  ^d.  (or  about  10  per 
cent,  of  the  sum  due)  and  in  its  turn  the  hundred  of  Ongar  was  relieved  in  the  same  proportion, 
£6  i2s.  6%d.  being  allowed."  In  addition  to  the  general  abatements  granted  by  statute,  some  villages 
in  Essex  seem  to  have  been  allowed  a  second  sum  for  losses  suffered  per  inundacionem  aquarum  et  alia 
infortuna  [sic]  pericula.  Thus  Langham  received  I  os.  for  flood  damage.  No  flood  relief  was  given  in 
Ongar,  but  Chipping  Ongar  obtained  3;-.  \d.  extra  relief  in  1436  for  pericula  infortuna  which  were  not 
specified.  The  abatements  were  assessed  by  the  Abbot  of  Colchester  and  the  two  knights  of  the  shire 
in  the  current  Parliament:  in  1436  Edward  Tyrell  and  Thomas  Torell.  A  document  from  Totnes 
suggests  that  at  the  end  of  the  Parliament  the  knights  actually  brought  the  relief  back  with  them  for 
distribution,  but  the  procedure  in  Essex  is  not  specifically  known.'* 

The  size  of  the  abatement  allowed  in  1433  and  1436  for  each  of  the  places  in  Ongar  hundred  is 
set  out  in  Table  2.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  rate  of  abatement  was  everywhere  the  same,  apart  from 
the  one  extra  allowance  to  Chipping  Ongar. 

*  E179/107/1.  latter  document  provides  other  means  of  establishing 

'  E179/276/67;  E179/107/41.   On  the  significance  the  minimum  number  of  people  in  each  village. 

of  these  abatements  see  B.  Putnam,  Enforcement  of        "  Putnam.  Statutes  of  Laiourers,  316*. 

Statutes  of  Labourers,  passim.  "^  E179/107/42-43.  '3  E179/108/107-9. 

■0  E179/276/67;  E137/1 1/2.  The  list  of  fines  in  the         ■■»  H.  R.  Watkin,  Hist.  Totnes,  i,  409. 

Es.  IV  297  Qq 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 

Had  more  documents  survived  one  could  have  watched  the  rise  and  fall  of  abatements  at  each  of  the 
subsequent  Parliamentary  grants  until  the  abatements  themselves  became  conventionalized  and 
inflexible,  so  that  Elizabethan  villages  were  receiving  the  abatement  fixed  under  Edward  IV  or 
Henry  VII.  The  arrival  of  the  new  'subsidy'''  of  Henry  VIII,  assessed  on  goods,  wages,  or  land, 
brings  the  wheel  full  circle:  the  Exchequer  is  again  attempting  what  had  been  done  before  1334,  a 
realistic  assessment  not  on  a  whole  village  but  on  individuals  with  more  than  a  minimum  amount  of 
property  or  income. 

The  medieval  evidence  examined  so  far  has  dealt  only  with  sums  of  money,  the  relative  wealth  of 
villages.  It  has  had  very  little  to  say  about  numbers,  and  the  only  effective  contribution  to  population 
history  which  the  tax  lists  before  1334  can  make  is  to  provide  a  minimum  number  of  taxpayers. 

The  parish  tax  of  1428  was  of  a  nature  quite  different  from  the  fifteenths  and  tenths  so  far  con- 
sidered.'* It  was  in  proportion  to  the  sum  at  which  the  parish  was  taxed  for  the  ecclesiastical  tenths, 
but  a  special  exemption  was  provided  for  those  parishes  with  fewer  than  ten  householders.  The  names 
of  such  parishes  were  enrolled  and  have  been  printed  in  Feudal  Aids.  Five  such  tiny  parish  populations 
were  recorded  in  Ongar  hundred:  Theydon  Bois,  Theydon  Mount,  Little  Laver,  Shelley,  and 
Norton  Mandeville.  Only  Shelley  had  been  among  the  bottom  five  places  in  the  1334  assessment, 
although  three  other  places  of  those  exempted  in  1428  were  in  the  bottom  ten  in  1334.  None  of  the 
five  exempt  in  1428  had  obtained  tax  relief  in  1352. 

Poll  Taxes 

The  final  set  of  tax  documents  here  considered  is  unequivocally  concerned  with  heads  as  well  as 
with  pockets.  The  poll  tax  was  levied  on  three  occasions,  1377,  1379,  and  1381;  but  only  the  first 
collection  is  useful  to  demographers.  The  poll  taxes  of  1379  and  1381  were  extensively  evaded,  and 
indeed  the  attempt  to  check  the  evasion  in  an  Essex  village  is  usually  reckoned  the  immediate  cause  of 
the  Peasants'  Revolt.  The  lists  of  names  and  occupations  in  the  surviving  documents  of  1 379  and  1 38 1 
are  interesting  to  the  genealogist  and  indicate  the  'spread'  of  occupations,  but  they  can  only  be  regarded 
as  minimal  lists,  so  great  was  the  evasion.  Table  3  shows  in  column  i  the  actual  number  of  taxpayers 
in  1377.'''  Column  2  is  compiled  from  a  nominal  list  which,  though  undated,  is  certainly  either  of 
1379  or  1381.'^  The  extent  of  the  evasion  is  made  clear  if  columns  i  and  2  are  compared  together. 
Chigwell  has  lost  67  taxpayers,  Beauchamp  Roding  12,  and  Navestock  77.  Even  the  tax  of  1377  did 
not  fall  on  all  heads:  the  groat  was  only  exacted  from  those  over  14,  and  if  the  total  number  of  persons 
in  a  village  is  to  be  estimated,  it  is  necessary  to  invoke  some  such  assumption  as  that  of  Professor 
Russell,"  that  one-third  of  a  village  was  under  14  years  of  age.  If  this  assumption  is  accepted,  another 
50  per  cent,  must  be  added  to  the  numbers  recorded  on  the  tax  receipts  of  1 377.  But  there  is  no  reason 
why  one  should  not  add  40  or  60  per  cent.  In  Ongar  hundred  the  average  number  on  each  receipt  is 
85,  perhaps  130  persons.^" 

The  arbitrariness  of  such  assumptions  limits  the  utility  of  the  poll-tax  returns  for  demographers. 
The  returns,  however,  are  a  useful  guide  to  the  relative  size  of  villages  in  1377.  So  long  as  the  pro- 
portion of  boys  and  girls  to  adults  was  roughly  the  same  in  each  village  then  the  numbers  on  the  poll 
tax  receipts  will  be  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  village.  We  can  say  without  too  many  qualifications 
that  Stanford  Rivers,  with  1 80  taxpayers,  was  about  six  times  the  size  of  Theydon  Bois  with  its  30  tax- 
payers. We  can  also  arrange  the  villages  in  order  of  size,  as  has  been  done  in  Table  5,  and  say  that 
Chigwell,  with  203  taxpayers,  heads  the  list,  with  Little  Laver  and  Morrell  Roding  bringing  up  the 
rear  with  24  and  19  taxpayers.  All  these  statements  can  be  made  without  knowing  exactly  how  many 
persons  there  were  in  each  village  when  (or  before)  the  tax  collector  called. 

Table  3  sets  out  the  number  of  taxpayers  in  each  vill  as  recorded  on  the  receipts  filed  in  the  Exchequer. 
These  receipts,  given  by  the  collectors  to  the  constables  of  each  vill,  give  both  the  sum  paid  and  the 
number  of  heads,  ''de  capitibus' .  No  names,  other  than  the  constables',  appear.  Names  were  un- 
necessary as  long  as  everyone  was  paying  a  flat  j^d.  When,  in  1379  and  1381,  the  flat  rate  was  sup- 
planted by  a  graduated  tax,  varying  with  social  status,  nominal  and  occupational  lists  had  to  be  compiled. 

Ranking  by  size 

It  is  now  possible  to  bring  together  the  various  tax  assessments  which  have  been  considered.  One 
eflFective  method  of  comparison  is  the  technique  of 'ranking',  a  simple  comparison  of  the  relative  posi- 
tion of  each  place  in  relation  to  its  neighbour.  A  ladder  may  be  imagined,  with  the  successive  rungs 
representing  the  villages,  the  top  rung  being  the  largest  tax  assessment  and  so  on  to  the  lowest.  It  will 
be  seen  from  Table  4  that  a  village  does  not  always  maintain  itself  on  the  same  rung  from  one  tax  col- 
's E179/108/214.  '9  J.  C.  Russell,  Brit.  Medieval  Population,  23-24, 
'*  Feud.  Aids,  ii,  204-6.                                                   143. 

'7  E179/107/51.  ^0  The  clergy  were  taxed  separately  and  do  not  figure 

'*  E179/107/60.  in  the  returns. 

298 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

lection  to  the  next;  nor  are  the  villages  with  the  greatest  tax  assessments  always  those  with  the  greatest 
number  of  heads  recorded  on  their  poll-tax  receipts  in  1377. 

Until  comparable  figures  have  been  published  for  other  parts  of  the  county  and  for  other  counties 
it  is  not  possible  to  deduce  very  much  from  what  is,  statistically,  a  very  small  batch  of  figures.  Theydon 
Bois  and  Little  Laver  seem  to  move  down  the  ladder  as  the  years  pass  while  Loughton  and  Stondon 
Massey  rise.  Consideration  of  the  individual  parish  histories  may  offer  an  explanation  in  terms  other 
than  the  effects  of  the  Black  Death.  Remembering  that  only  two  vills  received  reliefs  in  1352,  and 
that  the  ranking  of  neither  of  these  changes  very  much,  we  may  hazard  that  the  long-term  effect  of 
the  Black  Death  was  not  serious  in  this  particular  hundred.  A  different  story  may  emerge  from  those 
hundreds  of  Essex  where  substantial  reliefs  were  granted  in  1352. 

In  the  small  sample  afforded  by  the  25  sets  of  data  in  Ongar  hundred  only  the  most  striking  changes 
in  'ladder'  position  are  likely  to  be  significant.  It  will  be  noticed  that  in  terms  of  absolute  size,  whether 
in  1 334  or  1 377,  the  first  three  places  are  held  by  the  same  three  villages,  Stanford  Rivers,  Navestock, 
and  Chigwell  with  Woolston.  Shelley  and  Kelvedon  Hatch  occupy  consistently  low  positions,  while 
Stondon  Massey  and  Loughton  seem  to  improve  their  status  over  the  years.  Only  Little  Laver  shows 
a  headlong  decline  from  a  middle  to  a  bottom  rung. 

It  is  significant  that  the  villages  high  on  the  absolute-size  'ladder'  are  not  at  the  top  of  the  density 
'ladder'.  The  top  place  is  firmly  held  by  Chipping  Ongar  whose  500  acres  were  not  the  sole  means  of 
its  inhabitants'  support.  Little  Laver,  whose  fall  has  been  noted  above,  also  shows  a  fall  in  terms  of 
density.  The  improved  position  of  Stondon  Massey  is  also  repeated. 

The  allotment  of  reliefs  in  1433—6  was  so  uniform  that  the  order  in  which  the  assessments  stand  in 
1334  is  very  little  disturbed,  only  Norton  Mandeville  falling  a  place. 

In  the  final  column  of  the  Table  an  attempt  is  made  to  indicate  the  degree  of  inequality  existing  in 
the  1320  assessments,  where  the  average  tax  paid  per  taxpayer  varies  considerably  from  village  to 
village — from  bs.  lod.  at  Stapleford  Tawney  to  is.  bd.  at  Theydon  Bois.  The  great  differences  in 
ranking  between  this  and  the  other  'ladders'  indicates  that  there  is  no  simple  connexion  between  the 
absolute  size  of  a  village  assessment  in  1320  and  the  number  of  villagers  among  whom  the  assessment 
was  shared. 

These  preliminary  comparisons  are  intended  more  as  a  suggestion  for  further  investigation  locally 
than  as  a  final  verdict.  In  the  same  way  inter-village  comparisons  of  density  and  size  become  really 
significant  only  when  an  area  wider  than  a  single  hundred  is  available  for  study.^'  Comparisons  with 
some  other  areas  of  England  have  been  made  in  Table  6. 

Densities 

The  Tables  of  densities  printed  below  (Tables  5  and  6)  have  been  contrived  on  the  assumption  that 
the  fiscal  units,  which  were  vills,  were  equal  in  area  to  the  parishes  of  1801.  For  this  there  is  no 
warrant,  but  it  is  the  nearest  approximation  that  can  be  reached.  No  important  changes  in  parish 
boundaries  within  the  hundred  can  be  traced  between  about  1300  and  1841. 

The  consideration  of  densities  may  be  related  to  the  settlement  history  of  the  hundred.  Anyone 
accustomed  to  the  much  more  clear-cut  settlement  history  of  the  Midlands  and  the  northern  plains 
must  find,  Essex,  and  this  part  of  Essex  in  particular,  a  hard  county  to  study.  In  the  Midland  areas  the 
work  of  colonization  and  clearing  was  almost  complete  by  the  time  that  Edward  Ill's  fifteenths  and 
tenths  were  being  collected.  Apart  from  the  villages  with  some  non-agricultural  occupations,  the 
population  as  shown  in  the  poll-tax  receipts  was  maintained  by  the  area  of  field-land  roughly  cor- 
responding to  the  modern  parish  area.  A  density  figure,  obtained  by  calculating  taxpayers  per  thousand 
acres,  is  a  useful  concept  and  serves  to  draw  attention  to  the  different  agricultural  experiences  and 
potentialities  of  different  villages.  In  the  same  way,  the  tax  paid  per  thousand  acres  in  the  1 334  village 
quotas  can  be  calculated,  and  this  will  be  referred  to  as  a  'tax  density'. 

In  Essex  the  same  calculations  can  be  made,  and  the  results  are  set  out  in  Table  5,  but  the  implica- 
tions of  the  results  are  less  certain  than  in  the  Midlands.  In  the  Essex  parishes  there  was  a  much 
greater  area  of  surviving  woodland;  the  nucleated  village  at  the  heart  of  continuous  open-field  land' 
could  only  have  been  found  in  a  very  limited  area  of  the  county.  Of  the  four  largest  villages  in  the 
medieval  tax-lists  of  Ongar  hundred,  only  Chigwell  has  any  substantial  village  nucleus;  while  Stanford  _ 
Rivers,  Theydon  Garnon,  and  Navestock  have  isolated  or  semi-isolated  churches  and  very  scattered 
settlement. 

The  density  figures  in  1377  show  that  half  the  vills  in  Ongar  hundred  had  densities  of  between  32 
and  44  taxpayers  per  thousand  acres,  indicating  very  similar  environmental  opportunities.  Apart  from 
this  group  stand  Theydon  Bois  and  High  Ongar  with  markedly  low  densities,  and  at  the  other  extreme 
is  Chipping  Ongar,  a  market-town  with  108  taxpayers  in  its  500  acres. 

If  the  density  for  Essex  as  a  whole  is  calculated,  it  works  out  at  47  per  thousand  acres,  about  the 

21  Tables  giving  sizes  and  densities  for   Midland      £»^.  251-3,  407-9. 
counties  appear  in  M.  W.  Beresford,  Lost  Villages  of 

299 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 

same  as  for  Somerset,  Buckinghamshire,  and  Nottinghamshire.  The  average  for  Ongar  hundred  is 
only  a  little  smaller:  38  per  thousand  acres.  If  similar  calculations  of  tax  density  are  made  in  terms  of 
shillings  per  thousand  acres  in  1334,  Ongar  hundred  again  appears  within  a  few  pence  of  the  average 
density  for  Essex  (23^.  ?id.  as  against  23^.  ^d.  for  the  county)  and  again  at  about  the  same  average  as 
for  Somerset,  Buckinghamshire,  and  Nottinghamshire.^^ 


Table  I 
TAXES  ON  MOVABLES,  1320  AND  1334:  ASSESSMENTS 


Place 
Bobbingworth  .... 
Chigwell  with  Woolston    • 

Fyfield 

Kelvedon  Hatch 

Lambourne       .... 

Laver,  High     .... 

Laver,  Little     .... 

Laver,  Magdalen 

Loughton  .... 

Moreton  .... 

Navestock         .... 

Norton  Mandeville  with  Little  Norton 

Ongar,  Chipping 

Ongar,  High  with  Paslow  . 

Roding,  Abbess  with  Morrell  Roding 

Roding,  Beauchamp 

Shelley    . 

Stanford  Rivers 

Stapleford  Abbots 

Stapleford  Tawney 

Stondon  Massey 

Theydon  Bois  . 

Theydon  Garnon 

Theydon  Mount 

Weald,  North,  Basse 

Total  .         . 


Number  liable 
to  tax 
1320 

9 

30 
33 
II 

13 
IS 
12 
II 

9 

23 
42 


Total  of 

personal  assessments 

1320 

s.       d. 


40 

115 
96 

25 
54 
74 
51 
33 
23 
60 
156 


4i 

I 

7i 

14 

2i 

5i 

5i 

4i 

o 

of 

3i 


included  in  High  Ongar 
74 

2i 

9i 


15 
26 
II 

12 

4 
44 
19 

7 
II 

23 
33 

7 

12 
432 


45 
76 
28 

35 

17 

164 

37 
48 
22 
33 
55 
35 
31 


3 
li 

3 

2l 

4i 

5* 
6 

li 

9i 


^68  I  6 


Basic  village 
tax  quotas 
from  1334 

s.      d. 

44  54 
97  o 
86  \\ 
28  4 
57  oi 
72  Hi 
48  8i 

41  10 

31  loi 

53  9 

132  3i 

32  6 
50  ^\ 

53  7 
36  lOj 

31  3i 

16  10} 
141  II 

44  2 
36  of 

17  3 

39  4 

55  3i 

33  II 

42  1\ 

^66  6  3 


Table  II 
TAXES  ON  MOVABLES,  1433  AND  1436:  RELIEFS 


Place 

Statutory  Reliefs* 
s.     d. 

Bobbingworth 

4     5i 

Chigwell  with  Woolston    . 

9     H 

Fyfield    .... 

8     7i 

Kelvedon  Hatch 

2   10 

Lambourne 

5     8i 

Laver,  High    . 

7     3i 

Laver,  Little    . 

4  loi 

Laver,  Magdalen 

4     2i 

Loughton 

3     2} 

Moreton 

5     44 

Navestock        .         .         . 

13        2j 

Norton   Mandeville  with  L 

ttle 

Norton 

3     3 

Ongar,  Chipping 

5     oit 

Place 

Statutory  Reliefs* 

Ongar,  High  with  Paslow. 

5     4i 

Roding,    Abbess    with    Morrell 

Roding         .... 

3     8i 

Roding,  Beauchamp 

3     14 

Shelley    . 

I     8J 

Stanford  Rivers 

14       2i 

Stapleford  Abbots     . 

4     5 

Stapleford  Tawney  . 

3     7i 

Stondon  Massey 

I     8| 

Theydon  Bois  . 

3     Hi 

Theydon  Garnon     . 

5     6i 

Theydon  Mount 

3     4i 

Weald,  North,  Bassett 

4     3i 

Total 

.^6 

12     6i% 

•  See  above,  p.  299. 

■f  In  addition  Chipping  Ongar  obtained  an  abatement  of  3^.  4^/. 
total  relief  17  per  cent,  of  its  tax  quota  as  against  the  10  per  cent 
\  In  the  manuscript  the  total  is  given  as  ,^6  \zs.  (>\d. 

^^  Other  Essex  tax  assessments  in  this  period  which 
have  not  been  incorporated  in  the  tables  are  those  of 


in  1436  for  'pericula  infortuna' :  see  above,  p.  299,  This  made  its 
allowed  to  other  places  in  the  hundred. 


1327:  E179/107/12;  the  subsidy  on  aliens  of  1441: 
El 79/270/3 1  with  a  nil  return  for  Ongar  hundred. 


300 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

Table  III 
POLL  TAXES  1377-81 


Taxpayers 

Names  recorded 

Taxpayers 

Names  recorded 

Place 

in  1377 

in  I37g  or  1381 

Place 

in  1377 

in  1379  or  1381 

Bobbingworth 

52 

48 

Roding,  Abbess   . 

52 

43 

Chigwell  with  Woolston       203 

136 

Roding,  Beauchamp 

43 

31 

Fyfield        . 

143 

127 

Roding,  Morrell . 

19 

• 

Kelvedon  Hatch . 

44 

45 

Shelley        . 

36 

42 

Lambourne 

84 

93 

Stanford  Rivers    . 

180 

97 

Laver,  High 

102 

89 

Stapleford  Abbots 

86 

67 

Laver,  Little 

24 

34 

Stapleford  Tawney 

61 

52 

Laver,  Magdalen 

51 

42 

Stondon  Massey  . 

52 

41 

Loughton   . 

81 

44 

Theydon  Bois 

30 

45 

Moreton     . 

114 

5ot 

They  don  Garnon 

134 

99 

Navestock  . 

163 

86 

Theydon  Mount. 

50 

42 

Norton  Mandevillewit] 

1 

Weald,  North,  Bassett 

73 

49 

Little  Norton  . 

52 

48 

Ongar,  Chipping. 

108 

6s 

Total      . 

2,117 

i.S92t 

Ongar,  High  with  PasloT 

V        80 

77 

•  May  be  included  with  Abbess  Roding. 


t  In  addition  there  are  some  illegible  names  in  the  Moreton  list. 


Table  IV 
RELATIONSHIP  BETWEEN  PLACES 


This  table  is  derived  from  Tables  I,  III,  and  V.  The  numbers  are  ordinals. 
Rivers  has  the  highest  assessment  and  Shelley  the 


Thus  in  the  first  column  Stanford 
lowest. 


1320 

1377 

1320 

1320 

1334 

Number  of 

Number  of 

1334 

1377 

Average  tax 

Assessment  Assessment 

taxpayers 

taxpayers 

Density 

Density 

per  taxpayer 

Place 

(Table  I) 

[Table  I) 

{Table  I)  (Table  III)  {Table  r)  {Table  V)   {Table  T) 

Bobbingworth 

13 

12 

21 

16 

II 

18 

4 

Chigwell  with  Woolstoi 

1        •          3 

3 

5 

I 

16 

10 

8 

Fyfield 

4 

4 

3 

4 

6 

4 

14 

Kelvedon  Hatch  . 

22 

23 

16 

21 

19 

20 

21 

Lambourne. 

8 

6 

12 

10 

12 

15 

7 

Laver,  High 

5 

5 

10 

8 

5 

6 

2 

Laver,  Little* 

9 

II 

13 

25 

2 

21 

5 

Laver,  Magdalen 

18 

15 

16 

19 

7 

8 

II 

Loughton    . 

23 

21 

21 

II 

25 

23 

18 

Moreton     . 

6 

8 

6 

6 

4 

2 

18 

Navestock    . 

2 

2^' 

2 

3 

9 

H 

10 

Norton  Mandeville  witl 

L  Little 

Norton*  . 

20 

21 

20 

16 

3 

3 

H 

Ongar,  Chipping . 

12 

10 

10 

7 

I 

I 

II 

Ongar,  High  with  Paslc 

)W        .             II 

9 

9 

12 

24 

24 

14 

Roding,  Abbess  with  R 

lorrell 

Roding    . 

21 

17 

16 

14 

22 

19 

18 

Roding,  Beauchamp 

15 

22 

13 

22 

12 

16 

II 

Shelley*       . 

25 

25 

5 

23 

10 

4 

5 

Stanford  Rivers    . 

I 

I 

I 

2 

8 

II 

9 

Stapleford  Abbots 

14 

13 

8 

9 

16 

12 

22 

Stapleford  TawTiey 

10 

18 

23 

15 

14 

12 

I 

Stondon  Massey  . 

24 

24 

16 

16 

21 

7 

22 

Theydon  Bois*     . 

17 

16 

6 

24 

18 

25 

25 

Theydon  Garnon 

7 

7 

3 

5 

19 

8 

24 

Theydon  Mount* 

16 

19 

23 

20 

14 

16 

2 

Weald,  North,  Bassett 

19 

14 

13 

13 

23 

22 

17 

*  Had  fewer  than  10  households  in  14.28. 


301 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Table  V 
DENSITIES  OF  POPULATION,  1320-1436 


Place 
Bobbingworth        .         . 
Chigwell  with  Woolston 
Fyfield 

Kelvedon  Hatch 
Lambourne  . 
Laver,  High 
Laver,  Little. 
Laver,  Magdalen 
Loughton 
Moreton 
Navestock 
Norton  Mandeville  with  Little  Norton 
Ongar,  Chipping   . 
Ongar,  High  with  Paslow 
Roding,  Abbess  with  Morrell  Roding 
Roding,  Beauchamp 
Shelley 

Stanford  Rivers 
Stapleford  Abbots  . 
Stapleford  Tawney 
Stondon  Massey  . 
Theydon  Bois 
Theydon  Garnon  . 
Theydon  Mount  . 
Weald,  North,  Bassett 


in  thousands 

Shillings  per  1,000 

of  acres 

1320 

1334 

1-6 

25 

27 

5 

23 

19 

2-5 

40 

36 

1-7 

IS 

17 

2-5 

22 

24 

1-9 

39 

38 

I 

51 

49 

I'2 

27 

35 

4 

6 

8 

1-5 

43 

39 

4-5 

36 

31 

0-8    With  High  Ongar    40 

0-5 

91 

100 

4-5 

14 

12 

2-4 

12 

15 

1-3 

27 

24 

0-6 

28 

28 

4-4 

37 

32 

2-4 

15 

19 

1-7 

30 

22 

i-r 

20 

■       16 

2-2 

16 

18 

3-2 

18 

17 

1-6 

22 

22 

3-4 

9 

13 

acres 
1433-6 

25 
17 
32 

15 
21 

35 
44 
32 
7 
34 
28 

35 
90 
II 

14 
22 

25 
30 
18 
20 
15 
15 
16 
21 
II 


Taxpayers 

per  1,000  acres 

1377 

32 

41 
60 
26 
35 
54 
24 
43 
20 
81 
36 
65 
216 
18 
30* 

33 
60 

41 
38 
38 
47 
14 
43 
33 
22 


Ongar  hundred 


Total  56-2 


24-3 


23.7 


21-2 


38 


*37' 


Allowing  800  acres  as  the  area  of  Morrell  Roding  (now  in  White  Roding).  The  separate  densities  would  be :  Abbess  32-5,  Morrell 


Table  VI 
COMPARISONS  WITH  OTHER  AREAS 


Area 

Density  per  1,000  acres 
Amount  paid     Taxpayers 

in  1334           '"  1377 
s.    d. 

Essex 

Whole  county 
Ongar  hundred 
Berkshire 

23 

23 

5 
8 

47 
38 

Whole  county 
Hertfordshire 

.         46 

0 

42 

Whole  county 
Leicestershire 

31 

4 

49 

Whole  county 
Norfolk. 

29 

7 

58 

Whole  county 
Suffolk 

51 

5 

65 

Whole  county 
Yorkshire 

30 

4 

60 

East  Riding  . 

.         28 

I 

36 

302 


ANALYSIS  OF  HEARTH  TAX  ASSESSMENTS  FOR  ONGAR 
HUNDRED,  1662,  1670,  AND  1674 


For  those  of  the  years  between  1662  and  1674  when  the  Hearth  Tax  was  administered  direct  by 
the  Crown  there  exist  for  Essex  five  Exchequer  copies  (not  all  complete)  and  two  county  duplicates  of 
Assessments  made  under  the  Hearth  Tax  Act,  1662  (14  Chas.  II,  c.  10).'  Of  these  Assessments  those 
portions  of  the  Michaelmas  1662,  Lady  Day  1670,  and  Michaelmas  1674  Assessments  relating  to 
Ongar  hundred  have  been  selected  for  analysis  here,  for  their  value  in  illustrating  the  distribution  of 
population  and,  to  some  extent,  the  varying  levels  of  prosperity. 

Apart  from  an  alphabetical  rearrangement  of  the  parishes  (the  High  Ongar  hamlets  of  Bobbingworth 
and  Marden  End  are  shown  beneath  the  parish)  the  principle  of  analysis  follows  closely  the  method  of 
compilation.  The  number  of  entries  per  hearth  total,  in  columns  for  1-16  hearths  and  another  for  17 
hearths  and  above,  is  shown  against  each  parish  or  hamlet  and  two  further  columns  supply  the  total 
entries  and  total  hearths.  For  the  Michaelmas  1 662  roll  one  line  per  parish  is  adequate,  footnotes  being 
provided  to  distinguish  empty  houses.  For  the  later  rolls  separate  lines  are  needed  for  the  chargeables, 
certified  exempt,  paupers,  and  empty  houses.  In  the  rolls  the  empty  houses  are  generally  intermingled 
with  the  chargeables  and  have  been  transferred  to  the  'empty  house'  line  in  the  appropriate  hearth 
column.  New  building  has  been  distinguished  by  footnotes  which  also  draw  attention  to  other  pecu- 
liarities. 

The  Michaelmas  1662  Assessment  is  taken  from  the  county  duplicate  (E.R.O.  Q/RTh  i),  the 
Exchequer  copy  of  which,  preserved  at  the  Public  Record  Office  (E 179/246/8),  being  now  defective. 
The  Assessment  was  enrolled  at  the  Quarter  Sessions  at  Chelmsford  on  15  July  and  its  adjournments 
on  24  July  and  26  August  and  subsequently  returned  into  the  Exchequer  on  a  date  now  missing  from 
the  Public  Record  Office  copy.  It  served  for  the  collection  of  the  tax  for  the  three  half  years  Michael- 
mas 1662  to  Michaelmas  1663. 

This,  the  least  comprehensive  of  names  of  the  three  Assessments  here  printed,  gives  details  only  of 
all  those  persons  legally  liable  for  the  tax  together  with  their  hearths,  for  no  provision  was  made  in  the 
Hearth  Tax  Act  of  1662  for  the  enrolment  of  those  legally  exempt.  Assessments  for  Michaelmas 
1662  are,  generally  speaking,  the  least  useful  for  a  local  study.  They  are,  however,  those  most  widely 
preserved  throughout  the  country  and  thus  form  a  useful  basis  of  county  by  county  comparison  for  the 
same  year. 

The  Michaelmas  1670  Assessment  is  taken  from  the  county  duplicate  (E.R.O.  Q/RTh  5),  the 
lists  of  which  it  is  the  enrolment  having  been  received  at  the  county  Quarter  Sessions  on  2  May  1671. 
The  Exchequer  copy  is  no  longer  extant.  It  served  for  the  collection  of  the  tax  for  the  three  half  years 
Michaelmas  1669  to  Michaelmas  1670.  It  seems  to  be  the  case  that  Assessments  made  at  this  time, 
where  preserved,  are  the  most  comprehensive  of  the  Assessments  made  during  the  second  period 
(Michaelmas  1669-Lady  Day  1674)  of  Crown  administration  of  the  tax.  This  roll,  compiled  in 
accordance  with  the  Revising  Act  of  1663  (15  Chas.  II,  c.  13),  shows  first  those  liable  for  the  tax, 
followed  by  those  whose  property  qualifications  and  exemption  from  church  and  poor  rates  excused 
them  from  Hearth  Tax  payments  on  certification  by  the  local  justices.  In  some  16  parishes  and 
hamlets  a  third  group  is  shown:  the  parish  paupers  who  as  recipients  of  alms  were  automatically 
excluded.  The  inclusion  of  so  many  lists  of  paupers  in  this  Assessment,  which  is  paralleled  in  other 
counties,  is  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  these  1670  Assessments  were  the  first  to  be  made  by  a  new 
administration.  It  is  this  roll  above  all  which  yields  most  information  on  the  pattern  of  settlement  and 
prevailing  prosperity  levels  in  Ongar  hundred  in  the  1 7th  century. 

The  Lady  Day  1674  Assessment  is  taken  from  the  Exchequer  copy  (E 179/246/22),  returned  into 
Quarter  Sessions  at  Chelmsford  on  13  April  1675  and  delivered  into  the  Exchequer  on  16  August 
1675.  In  this  Assessment  fewer  parishes  are  found  returning  paupers  and  their  hearths.  Instead  of 
1 6  parishes  and  hamlets,  3  parishes  only  enrol  their  paupers  and  2  of  them  give  no  details  of  the  paupers' 
hearths.  This  decline  in  the  enrolment  of  paupers  is  also  paralleled  in  other  counties;  it  is  probably  due  . 
to  the  need  for  reducing  unnecessary  listing  and  enrolling.  In  some  parishes  where  paupers  are  omitted, 
e.g.  Chigwell,  Kelvedon  Hatch,  and  Theydon  Garnon,  there  is  a  gain  among  the  certified  exempt, 
suggestive  of  mobility  in  the  prosperity  scale.    In  other  parishes  the  paupers  vanish  from  the  rolls  and 

■  Exchequer  copies  not  mentioned  in  this  Intro- 
duction are  those  for  1664  Mich,  (serving  for  Michael- 
mas 1664-Michaelmas  1665),  incomplete,  and  1673 
Lady  Day  (serving  for  Lady  Day  1672-Lady  Day 
1673),  damaged.  Most  of  the  original  lists  from  which 
the  latter  were  enrolled  are  preserved  at  the  Essex 


Record  Office.  For  some  account  of  the  Tax  and  its 
administration  see  F.C.H.  Camis.  iv,  272.  The  com- 
piler of  the  present  tables  is  indebted  to  Mr.  C.  A.  F. 
Meekings  for  the  correct  tax  dating  of  these  Assess- 
ments and  for  other  advice. 


303 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 

the  gross  total  for  these  parishes  is  decreased.  Fluctuations  in  prosperity  appear  also  to  account  for  the 
return  of  paupers  by  Bobbingworth,  Beauchamp  Roding,  and  Stapleford  Tawney  in  1674;  the  entries 
are  significantly  similar  to  their  certified  exempt  of  1670.  Similarly  the  decreased  number  of  those 
chargeable  in  1 674  is  roughly  balanced  by  increases  in  the  certified  exempt.  In  general,  however,  there 
is  a  total  loss  of  some  1 00  entries  due  to  the  omission  of  paupers. 

These  differences  in  totals  do  not  alone  justify  the  inclusion  here  of  extracts  from  the  1674  roll. 
The  value  of  the  1674  Assessment  lies  in  the  indications  it  contains  that  the  1670  Assessment  is  less 
comprehensive  than  would  at  first  appear.  In  the  1 674  roll  there  are  23  entries  in  1 8  parishes  declaring 
that  a  particular  person  is  charged  on  a  stated  number  of  hearths  in  2  or  4  houses.  Thus  in  Theydon 
Bois  Thomas  Bradley  is  charged  on  ii  hearths  in  2  houses;  in  Lambourne  Robert  Masters  has  9 
hearths  in  4  houses.  When  such  entries  are  compared  with  those  relating  to  the  same  taxpayer  in  the 
earlier  Assessments,  it  is  found  that  the  taxpayer  is  charged  on  usually  the  same  number  of  hearths,  but 
in  one  house  only,  or  that  his  name  occurs  more  than  once  in  the  list  of  entries.  Thus  in  1662  and 
1670  the  same  Thomas  Bradley  is  charged  on  1 1  hearths  in  one  house  but  Robert  Masters  appears 
three  times  in  the  1670  document  with  i,  3,  and  3  hearths  respectively.'  If  the  Bradley  type  of  entry 
was  a  commoner  practice  in  1670  than  the  evidence  has  so  far  revealed  it  means  that  many  families 
may  be  masked  behind  the  Assessment  entry. 

One  further  omission  from  the  Assessments  earlier  than  1 670  may  be  noted,  that  of  Morrell  Roding. 
A  search  of  the  1662  roll  and  the  books  for  Lady  Day  1666  (E179/246/19  and  E179/246/20)  shows 
that  neither  the  hamlet  of  Morrell  Roding  as  such  nor  its  4  taxpayers  appear  in  Assessments  made 
before  the  Michaelmas  1670  Assessment. 

The  information  contained  in  these  Assessments,  despite  possible  omissions,  enables  the  areas  of 
settlement  to  be  plotted  with  reasonable  accuracy.  There  emerges  from  the  data  a  somewhat  complex 
pattern  of  settlement.  The  densest  concentration  is  in  the  parish  of  Chipping  Ongar  with  most  of  the 
population  crowded  into  the  small  market-town.  Then  come  the  3  contiguous  parishes  of  Fyfield, 
Moreton,  and  Shelley  north  of  Chipping  Ongar.  To  the  south-east  there  is  a  fairly  high  level  of  density, 
and  a  marked  density  in  the  case  of  Navestock.  In  the  south-west,  except  for  Chigwell,  density  is  lower. 
The  lowest  densities  are  found  in  the  sparsely  inhabited  parishes  of  Abbess  Roding  and  Beauchamp 
Roding. 

To  some  degree  the  stratification  of  society  also  is  reflected  in  the  Assessments.  The  larger  houses, 
with  10  or  more  hearths,  are  found  in  all  but  5  parishes  but  are  most  numerous  in  the  south-west,  a 
more  fashionable  area  near  London.  Smaller  houses  on  the  other  hand,  except  in  the  detached  hamlets, 
are  evenly  scattered  and  the  proportion  of  houses  with  i  hearth  and  2  hearths  is  remarkably  uniform 
throughout. 

One  of  the  most  striking  features  is  the  relatively  low  level  of  pauperism  in  this  hundred  when 
compared  with  some  of  the  other  Essex  hundreds,  particularly  Hinckford.  Expressed  as  a  percentage 
of  the  total  of  taxpayers  and  paupers  in  parishes  returning  paupers  in  1670  we  find  that  paupers  in 
Ongar  hundred  amount  to  13  per  cent,  of  the  total.  In  the  same  Assessment,  paupers  in  Hinckford 
hundred  exceed  50  per  cent,  and  outnumber  by  1 1 0  entries  those  on  whom  the  Poor  Rate  was  levied. 


304 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 


MICHAELMAS  1662 


Total  of  entries^  ivith  hearths 


13 


H 


15 


16 


17+ 


Totals 


Entries     Heartht 


BoBBINGWORTH    . 

Chigwell 
Fyfield     . 
Greenstead 

'Hamlet' 
Kelvedon  Hatch 
Lambourne 
Laver,  High 
Laver,  Little  . 
Laver, 

Magdalen     . 
loughton 

MORETON  . 

Navestock 
Norton  Mande- 

ville 
Ongar,  Chipping 
Ongar,  High 
Hamlets  of: 

BoBBINGWORTH 

Marden  End 
RoDiNG,  Abbess. 
RoDiNG,  Beau- 
champ  . 
Shelley  . 
Stanford  Rivers 
Stapleford 

Abbots 
Stapleford 
Tawney 
Stondon  Massey 
Theydon  Bois 
Theydon  Garnon 

Theydon  Mount 
Weald,  North 
Bassett 


52 
33 

3 

13 
1 1 

4 
3 


9 

4-7 


29 

2 
3 

7 

I 

1 1 

10 

4 

2 

9 

15 

9 
16 


29 


19" 
9 

2+ 

S 

18 
16 


4 
H« 

3 
12 

4 
S 
3 


■('7) 


1(35) 


1(20) 


1(40)8 


2(22) 

(23) 
1(22) 


3° 

150 
62 


28 

51 
23 


24 

75 

33 

109 

19 
52 
65 

4 

7 


15 
>4 
51 

36 

19 
>9 

34 
68 

23 
45 


103 

5" 
141 

46 

190 
68 
30 

78 
280 
III 
292 

S3 
186 
156 

14 
28 

49 

40 

47 
203 

.58 

76 

74 
104 
299 

79 
118 


Totals 


337 


226 


172 


114 


66 


53 


32 


25 


1,090 


3.657'' 


'*'  Includes  an  entry  that  Robert  Masters  is  charged  on  j  hearths  in  an  empty  house. 

•'''  The  entry  states  that  Henry  Oddin  in  2  houses  is  chargeable  on  4  hearths. 

(*^*  Includes  an  entry  for  the  parsonage. 

''"  Includes  an  entry  for  an  empty  house  with  2  hearths. 

<*)  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  John  Rodgers  and  John  Avery  are  jointly  charged  on  4  hearths. 

•')  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that — CoUard  gentleman  and  John  Cudge  are  jointly  charged  on  10  hearths. 

^8'  An  entry  which  states  that  Sir  Robert  Abdy,  Bt.,  is  charged  on  40  hearths  and  also  for  2  in  an  empty  tenement. 

C')  In  E360/54  Benjamin  Wright  the  sheriff  is  charged  on  3,693  hearths. 


E8.  IV 


305 


Kr 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 
MICHAELMAS  1670 


Total  of  entries^  ivith  hearths 

Totals 

I 

2 

J 

■? 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

JT 

J2 

13 

'4 

^5 

16 

J-7  + 

Entries 

Hearths 

BOBBINGWORTH 

Charged 
Exempt 

■3 
8 

36 

17 
8 

22 

25 
8 

3 

28 
+ 
3 

12 

2 

S 

19 

I 

10 

S 

14 
2 

3 

I 

5 

3 

I 

10 

3 

6 

I 

I 

\ 

3 
4 

2 

I 

I 
I 

2 

I 

•(^4) 

32 
8 

104 
8 

Total 

40 

IIZ 

Chigwell 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 
Empty  . 

130 
21 
12 

3 

478 
25 
17 
15 

Total 

166 

535 

Fyfield 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

54 

27 

8 

128 

^9 
8 

Total 

89 

.65 

Greenstead 

'Hamlet' 
Charged 

+ 

8 
I 
8 

10 
3 
3 

6 

10 
2 

8 

5 
2 

12 

10 

8 

16 

13 

5 

+1 
13 

12 

2 

2 
r 
I 

6 

I 

10 
2 

7 

2 
I 

15 

2 
2 

9 

17 

2 
2 

I 
2 

7 
6 

6 
16= 

3 
1 81 

I 

2 
I 

8 

I 

6 

12'= 

3 

10 

3 

I 
I 

S 
I 

3 
4 
3 
3 

I 

3 

I 

2 

3 

2 

I 

3 

I 
I 

3 

I 
I 
4 

I 
I 

2 

I 
3 

I 
I 
2 

; 

2 
I 

I 

I 
I 

I 

I 
1 

■• 

2 
I 

I 

1(27) 

>3 

52 

Kelvedon  Hatch 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

22 
2 
9 

116 

3 
10 

Total 

33 

129 

Lambourne 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

46 

3 
4 

183 
3 

5 

Total 

S3 

191 

Laver,  High 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

28 
12 

2 

89 

•4 

2 

Total 

42 

I  OS 

Layer, 
Magdalen"" 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

36 
7 
3 

122 
9 
4 

Total 

46 

•35 

LOUGHTON 

Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

68 
12 
10 

248 
•4 

12 

Total 

90 

274 

MORETON 

Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

39 
13 

S 

III 
13 

5 

Total 

57 

129 

Navestock 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 
Empty  . 

100 

15 

15 

3 

277 
'7 
•9 
12 

Total 

'33 

325 

Norton  Mande- 

VILLE 

Charged 
Exempt 

I- 
3 

4 

4 

3 

I 

•• 

•  • 

16 
3 

51 
3 

Total 

19 

54 

(**  This  entry  is  among  the  paupers. 

***'  The  entries  for  Little  Laver  are  included  in  Magdalen  Laver  return, 

**^^  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  Robert  Davfges  refused  to  pay  for  3  separate  houses  in  his  possession  with  3,  4,  and  7  hearths 
respectively. 

t**)  Includes  an  entry,  inserted  below  but  separate  from  the  certified  exempt  and  presumably  misplaced  in  error,  which  states  that 

306 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

MICHAELMAS  1670  {cont) 


Total  of  entries,  ivitk  hearths 

Totals 

I 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

JJ 

12 

J-J 

14 

1-5 

I6 

^7+ 

Entries 

Hearths 

Ongar,  Chipping 
Charged 
Exempt 

Paupers 
Empty  . 

8 

22 

3 

I 

IS 
II 

7 

I 

IS 

s 

7 

I 

IO« 

S 

2 

'5 

7 

4 
4 

s-^ 

S 

2 

3 

I 

2 
2 

I 

l' 

l(20) 

56 

27 

10 

2 

209 

32 

'7 

3 

Total 

9S 

261 

Ongar,  High 

Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 
Empty   . 

46 
16 

9 

I 

131 
21 
II 

I 

Total 

72 

164. 

Bobbingworth 

'Hamlet' 
Charged 
Exempt 
Pauper 

2 

I 

I 

I 

I 

•• 

•• 

•• 

■■ 

4 

2 
I 

IS 

2 
I 

Total 

7 

18 

Marden  End 

Hamlet 
Charged 

2 

4 

2 

2 

I 
4 

I 

I 
I 

2 

■• 

l(20) 

8 

33 

RoDiNG,  Abbess 
Charged 

■3 

SO 

RoDiNG,  Beau- 

champ 
Charged 
Exempt 

7 
3 

2 

6 
i6 

12 

I 

12 

7 

4 
6 

5 
6 

4 

8 

S 

I 
I 

6 

II 

3 

S 

3 
1 

2 

I 
I 

i6 

3 

I 

2 
II 

8 

4 

S 

3 

2 

I 
I 

lO 

4 

3 

4 

I 

I 

2 

7 

2 

I 

2 

I 
S 

2 
I 

I 

I 

3 

I 

I 

2 

3 

I 

I 

I 

I 
I 

•• 

I 

I 

I 

1(4°) 

IS 
4 

38 

S 

Total 

19 

43 

RoDING,  MORRELL 

Charged 

4 

18 

Shelley 
Charged 
Exempt 

IS 
6 

49 
6 

Total 

21 

SS 

Staneord  Rivers 
Charged 
Exempt 
Empty  . 

65 
IS 

I 

225 
18 

I 

Total 

81 

244 

Stapleford 
Abbots 
Charged 
Exempt 

38 
8 

160 
9 

Total 

46 

169 

Stapleford 
Tawney 
Charged 
Exempt 

19 

7 

84 
8 

Total 

26 

92 

Stondon  Massey 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

18 

7 

S 

7°' 
8 
6 

Total 

30 

84- 

Theydon  Bois 
Charged 
Exempt 

36 

5 

105 

5 

Total 

4" 

no 

Robert  Greene  is  charged  on  3  newly  built  hearths.  A  Robert  Greene  is  also  found  among  the  chargeables  with  2  hearths.  Cf.  1674 
Lady  Day  where  he  is  charged  on  5  hearths  in  2  houses. 

^*)  Includes  an  entry  for  5  newly  built  hearths. 

(II  This  entry  charges  Elizabeth  Gouldesborough  on  6  hearths  for  the  castle  for  which  she  has  not  been  charged  in  the  earlier  entry 
of  10  hearths.  <8)  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  Christopher  Watson  refused  to  pay  and  has  nothing  for  distress. 


307 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 

MICHAELMAS  1670  icont:) 


Total  of  entries,  with  hearths 

Totalt 

I 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

II 

12 

13 

14 

IS 

16 

17+ 

Entries 

Hearths 

Theydon  Garnon 
Charged 

Exempt 
Paupers 
Empty  . 

8 

5 
3 

8 
8 
3 

1+ 

4 

'+ 

9 

8 

2 

4 

6 

I 

14 

4 

12 

t 

8 

2 
3 

6 

I 
2 

10 

s 

3 
I 

2 

I 

I 

2 

■■ 

2(22) 
(24) 

1(22) 

63 
13 

5 

I 

292 

21 

7 
7 

Total 

82 

327 

Theydon  Mount 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

23 
8 

3 

83 
8 

3 

Total 

34 

94 

Weald,  North 
Bassett 
Charged 
Exempt 
Paupers 

43 

4 

16 

121 

4 

'9 

Total 

63 

144 

Total 

592 

272 

191 

123 

68 

60 

38 

16 

19 

6 

8 

8 

3 

3 

6 

2 

8 

1.423 

4,112 

LADY  DAY  1674 


Total  of  entries,  -with  hearths 

ToM/i 

I 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

rj 

/2 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17  + 

Entries 

Hearths 

BOBBINGWORTH 

Charged 
Paupers'" 
Empty  . 

12 

20" 
33 

21 

27 

2 

8 
9 

5 
9 

2 

I 

3 

I 

6 

3 

2 

3 

I 

8 

I 

6 

20 

8 

2 
5 

6 

i6» 
2 

2 
7 

2 
6 

3^ 

2 

I 

6 

I 

9 

I 

3" 

2 

8 

3 

I 

I 
I 

I 

3 

I 

I 
4' 

2 

I 
i» 

2 

I 

I 
I 

I 

if 

I 

zt 

I 

I 

l(2l)a 

>(33) 

3° 
6 

3 

9 

Total 

39 

107 

Chigwell 
Charged 
Exempt 
Empty  . 

i'3 
36 

494 

39 

8 

Total 

151 

54' 

Fytield 
Charged 
Exempt 

46 
30 

130 
33 

Total 

76 

.63 

Greenstead 

'Hamlet' 

Charged 

10 

5° 

Kelvedon  Hatch 
Charged 
Exempt 

23 
10 

107 
II 

Total 

33 

118 

Lambourne 
Charged 
Exempt 

41 
10 

180 
II 

Total 

SI 

191 

(^'  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  the  taxpayer  is  charged  on  the  given  number  of  hearths  in  2  houses, 
(b)  No  paupers*  hearths  given. 

f"^)  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  the  i  hearth  shown  is  decayed. 
W  Includes  an  entry  that  the  taxpayer  is  charged  on  i  hearth  that  is  newly  built. 

<«)  Includes  one  entry  that  the  taxpayer  has  newly  built  2  hearths  and  is  chargeable  on  a  total  of  2  hearths  and  another  entry  that  a 
second  taxpayer  has  newly  built  2  hearths;  no  total  number  of  hearths  is  given. 

C)  Includes  an  entry  that  the  taxpayer  has  newly  built  13  hearths;  no  total  number  of  hearths  is  given. 
<8)  Includes  an  entry  that  the  taxpayer  has  newly  built  2  hearths  and  his  total  of  hearths  is  14. 
(W  Includes  an  entry  that  the  taxpayer  has  newly  built  2  hearths  and  his  total  of  hearths  is  6. 
W)  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  the  taxpayer  is  charged  on  the  given  number  of  hearths  in  4  houses. 

308 


ONGAR  HUNDRED 

LADY  DAY  1674  (cont) 


Total  of  entries,  -with  hearths 

To/a/i 

I 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

S 

9 

JO 

XI 

X2 

13 

J-^ 

15 

j6 

^■7  + 

Entries 

Heartht 

Laver,  High 
Charged 
Exempt 

6 
'3 

3 

6 

S 

9 
6 

lO 

3in 
20 

+ 

7 

22 
'3 

'9 

I 

2 
I 

S 
3 

II 

3 

3 

I 

H 
I 

7 

12 

I 

s 
13 

4 

jO 

6 

2 
t 

2 
3^ 

I 

+ 

3 
3 

II 

2 
18 

12 

7' 

I 

+ 
3 

I 

I 
S 

3 
9" 

4 

3 

I 

6 

I 
2 

I 

I 

3 
6' 

S" 

3 

5 

4 

I 
I 

2> 

I 
3' 

2» 

2 

I 

3 

I 
I 

I 

I 

2 

I 
4 

I 

2 

I 

I 

2 

2 
I» 

1 

I 

2 
2 

2 

I 
•• 

I 

2 

I 

I 

jm 

I 

•• 

1(23) 
1(20) 

28 
13 

93 
•3 

Total 

4" 

106 

Laver,  Little 
Charged 

'3 

41 

Laver, 
Magdalen'' 
Charged 
Exempt 

23 
6 

84 
7 

Total 

29 

9' 

LOUGHTON 

Charged 
Exempt 
Empty  . 

65 
6 

I 

253 
6 
2 

Total 

72 

261 

MORETON 

Charged 
Exempt 

36 
10 

"3 
10 

Total 

46 

123 

Navestock 
Charged 
Exempt 
Empty  . 

85 
20 

I 

256 

20 

2 

Total 

106 

278 

Norton  Mande- 

VILLE 

Charged 
Exempt 

17 
4 

53 
4 

Total 

21 

57 

Ongar,  Chipping 
Charged 
Exempt 

Empty  . 

49 
26 

2 

185 

30 
6 

Total 

77 

221 

Ongar,  High 
Charged 
Exempt 
Empty  . 

Total 

42 
21 

2 

134 
3 

65 

160 

Bobbingworth 
'Hamlet' 
Charged 

3 

•5 

Marden  End 

'Hamlet' 

Charged 

8 

33 

RoDiNG,  Abbess. 
Charged 

RoDiNG,  Beau- 
champ 
Charged 
PaupersP 

II 

49 

15 
4 

37' 
5 

Total 

19 

4.2 

RoDING,  MoRRELL 

Charged 

4 

18 

W   MS.  is  defective,  not  all  hearth  entries  are  legible  and  the  total  in  the  final  column  is  that  shown  on  the  rcJll. 
<')  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  the  taxpayer  is  chargeable  on  4  hearths  and  on  a  further  5  in  respect  of  the  parsonage, 
(m)  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  in  2  houses  there  is  i  hearth  decayed,  leaving  a  total  of  14  hearths. 
<"'  Includes  an  entry  that  i  hearth  is  decayed  leaving  i  on  which  the  taxpayer  is  charged. 

<■>)  Includes  an  entry  which  states  that  F.  Warner,  in  an  empty  house,  the  schoolhouse,  is  chargeable  on  2  hearths  and  that  there  is 
nothing  for  distress. 

(P)  The  entry  states  that  there  are  4  persons,  presumably  heads  of  households,  who  are  in  receipt  of  .alms  and  are  therefore  omitted; 

they  have  5  hearths. 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 
LADY  DAY  1674  {com) 


Total  of  entries^  luith  hearths 

Totals 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

jj 

12 

13 

■T'? 

IS 

j6 

J7+ 

Entries 

Hearths 

Shelley 

Charged 

+ 

5" 

3 

I 

2 

I 

ir 

17 

5° 

Exempt 

+ 

4 

4 

Toul 

21 

54 

Stanford  Rivers 

Charged 

II 

7 

10 

9 

7 

5 

I 

I 

i" 

I 

55 

219 

Exempt 

24 

5 

29 

34 

Total 

84 

253 

Stapleford 

Abbots 

Charged 

II 

S 

8' 

3 

I 

2 

4" 

I 

.(40) 

36 

157 

Exempt 

S 

I 

9 

10 

Empty 

I 

I 

5 

Total 

46 

172 

Stapleford 

Tawney 

Charged 

4 

4 

3 

4 

1 

I 

I 

I 

I 

20 

'*7, 

Paupers**         . 

6 

Total 

26 

87 

Stondon  Massey 

Charged 

2 

4 

7 

I 

3 

I 

18 

74 

Exempt 

8 

I 

9 

10 

Total 

27 

84 

Theydon  Bois 

Charged 

6 

II 

5 

6 

2 

I 

I 

I" 

33 

103 

Exempt 

12 

I 

13 

14 

Total 

46 

117 

Theydon  Garnon 

Charged 

5 

12' 

14 

7" 

8 

9" 

I 

I 

3" 

I 

I 

2(22) 
(24) 

64 

3°4 

Exempt 

17 

4 

21 

25 

Empty  . 

I 

I 

!>■ 

3 

•4 

Total 

88 

343 

Theydon  Mount 

Charged 

7 

3 

5  . 

2 

I 

I 

2 

1(22) 

22 

83 

Exempt 

9 

I 

10 

II 

Total 

32 

94 

Weald,  North 

Bassett 

Charged 

iS« 

9" 

ii» 

3 

2 

4 

I 

I 

46 

128 

Exempt 

11 

4 

12 

13 

Total 

58 

141 

Totals 

512 

217 

.78 

122 

78 

59 

36 

19 

23 

6 

10 

5 

4 

5 

4 

3 

8 

i,3°3>' 

4,0 1 0'' 

^**'  Includes  an  entry  that  there  are  2  newly  built  hearths  in  a  total  of  2. 
*')  Includes  an  entry  that  there  are  7  newly  built  hearths  in  a  total  of  7. 
*'*  Includes  an  entry  that  there  are  3  newly  built  hearths  in  a  total  of  3. 
**'  Includes  an  entry  that  there  are  2  newly  built  hearths  in  a  total  of  2. 
<")  Includes  an  entry  that  i  hearth  is  decayed  leaving  a  total  of  4. 
t^J  The  entry  states  that  there  are  3  empty  houses  with  a  total  of  7  hearths. 
**'  Includes  an  entry  that  1  hearth  is  newly  built;  the  total  is  i. 

'*)  Includes  an  entry  that  Richard  Gladwin  and  John  Bevan  are  jointly  charged  on  3  hearths. 

(y'  In  cross-totalling  allowance  must  be  made  for  the  omission  of  2  entries  in  the  Magdalen  Laver  chargeables  and  of  the  pauper 
hearths  in  Bobbingworth  and  Stapleford  Tawney, 


310 


ANALYSIS  OF  BISHOP  COMPTON'S  CENSUS  OF  1676: 

ONGAR  HUNDRED 

In  a  letter  of  1676  to  Henry  Compton,  Bishop  of  London,  Archbishop  Sheldon  required  the  bishop 
through  the  various  archdeacons,  parish  clergy,  and  churchwardens,  to  compile  an  ecclesiastical  census.' 
Compton  was  to  inquire  (i)  the  number  of  persons  'or  at  least  families'  who  by  'common  account  and 
estimation'  inhabited  the  respective  parishes,  (ii)  how  many  popish  recusants  'or  such  as  are  suspected 
of  recusancy'  there  were  among  such  inhabitants  and  (iii)  how  many  'other  dissenters'  were  resident 
in  the  parishes. 

These  instructions  are  patently  ambiguous.  In  particular,  since  detailed  information  about  the 
method  of  parochial  compilation  is  lacking,  it  is  not  clear  whether  the  first  column  of  the  manuscript^ 
census  relates  to  conformists,  as  the  manuscript  would  seem  to  suggest,  or  to  the  total  of  inhabitants  as 
in  some  dioceses  they  seem  to  be.  It  is  equally  difficult  to  know  whether  the  returns  include  all  adults 
over  16,  or  only  males  over  16,  or  all  inhabitants  including  children,  or  families  or  (as  seems  to  have 
been  the  case  in  some  dioceses)  a  mixture  of  some  of  these. 

Printed  below  are  abstracts  of  the  returns  for  most  of  the  parishes  in  Ongar  hundred.  No  figures 
are  given  for  Norton  Mandeville,  Abbess  Roding  or  Theydon  Garnon,  although  the  parish  names 
have  been  entered.  The  parishes  of  Loughton  and  Navestock  are  missing  from  the  return. 

The  rearranged  abstracts  are  here  reproduced  as  they  appear  in  the  returns  together  with  some 
guesses,  where  possible,  at  their  proper  interpretation,  based  on  a  comparison  with  fiscal  data  derived 
from  the  Hearth  Tax  Assessments  printed  above. ^  In  all  cases  the  first  column  headed  'conformists' 
has  been  understood  to  refer  to  the  conformist  element  in  the  parishes  and  not  to  the  total  of  inhabi- 
tants, &c. 

BISHOP  COMPTON'S  CENSUS  1676 


Non- 

Conformists 

Papists 

conformists 

Total 

Possible  interpretation 

Bobbingworth  . 

86 

,  . 

86 

All  adults 

Chigwell  . 

500 

500 

Fyfield      . 

210 

210 

Greenstead  'Hamlet' 

25 

.  . 

25 

All  adults 

Kelvedon  Hatch 

107 

.  . 

107 

Lambourne 

100 

,  , 

100 

All  adults 

Layer,  High 

135 

10 

HS 

Laver,  Little 

44 

9 

I 

54 

Total  populadon 

Laver,  Magdalen 

91 

9 

100 

Moreton  . 

127 

3 

130 

All  adults 

Ongar,  Chipping 

213 

I 

214 

All  adults 

Ongar,  High     . 

198 

2 

zoo 

Roding,  Beauchamp 

79 

I 

80 

Total  population 

Shelley     . 

56 

56 

All  adults 

Stanford  Rivers. 

490 

10 

500 

This  figure  seems  too  high  even 
for  total  population 

Stapleford  Abbots 

90 

90 

All  adults 

Stapleford  Tawney    . 

83 

83 

Stondon  Massey 

77 

3 

80 

Theydon  Bois   . 

100 

100 

Theydon  Mount 

99 

99 

Weald,  North,  Bassett 

263 

r 

264 

Total  population 

'  Engl.  Hist.  Doc.  viii  (ed.  A.  Browning),  p.  411. 
The  compiler  of  this  table  is  indebted  for  assistance  to 
Miss  E.  A.  O.  Whiteman. 


2  Preserved  in  the  William  Salt  Library,  Stafford. 

3  pp.  305  f. 


311 


INDEX 


Note.  The  following  abbreviations  are  used,  sometimes  with  the  addition  of  the  letter  s  to  form  the  plural:  abp., 
archbishop;  adv.,  advowson;  agric,  agriculture;  Alex.,  Alexander;  And.,  Andrew;  Ant.,  Anthony;  Art.,  Arthur; 
b.,  born;  Bart.,  Bartholomew;  Ben.,  Benjamin;  bp.,  bishop;  bro.,  brother;  Bt.,  baronet;  Cath.,  Catherine;  Cathm., 
Catholicism;  ch.,  church;  char.,  charities;  Chas.,  Charles;  Chris.,  Christopher;  ct.,  court;  ctss.,  countess;  d.,  died; 
dau.,  daughter;  Dan.,  Daniel;  dchss.,  duchess;  Edm.,  Edmund;  Edw.,  Edward;  Eliz.,  Elizabeth;  Elnr.,  Eleanor; 
Eus.,  Eustace;  f.,  father;  fam.,  family;  Fran.,  Francis;  Fred.,  Frederick;  Geo.,  George;  Geoff.,  Geoffrey;  Gil., 
Gilbert;  govt.,  government;  Hen.,  Henry;  Herb.,  Herbert;  hos.,  houses;  Humph.,  Humphrey;  hund.,  hundred; 
inc.,  inclosure;  ind.,  industry;  Jas.,  James;  Jos.,  Joseph;  jr.,  junior;  Kath.,  Katherine;  Laur.,  Laurence;  Lawr., 
Lawrence;  Id.,  lord;  Lond.,  London;  m.,  married;  man.,  manor;  Marg.,  Margaret;  Mat.,  Matthew;  Mic,  Michael; 
Nat.,  Nathaniel;  Nich.,  Nicholas;  noncf.,  nonconformity;  par.,  parish;  Pet.,  Peter;  Phil.,  Philip;  pop.,  population; 
Prot.,  Protestant;  pub.,  public;  rect.,  rectory;  Reg.,  Reginald;  rel.,  relief;  Revd.,  Reverend;  Ric,  Richard;  riv., 
river;  rly.,  railway;  Rob.,  Robert;  Rog.,  Roger;  Rom.,  Roman;  s.,  son;  Sam.,  Samuel;  Sar.,  Sarah;  sch.,  school; 
Sim.,  Simon;  sis.,  sister;  sr.,  senior;  Steph.,  Stephen;  stn.,  station;  svces.,  services;  Thos.,  Thomas;  top.,  topo- 
graphy; vet.,  viscount;  vctss.,  viscountess;  w.,  wife;  Wal.,  Walter;  Wm.,  William. 


Abberbury,  John  and  his  w.  Alice, 
II 

Abbott,  Rob.  and  his  w.  Bethia,  27 

Abbott  &  Habersham,  architects, 
256 

Abdy,  Sir  Ant.  Thos.  (d.  J775),  226 ; 
Sir  Ant.  (d.  1921),  226;  Chas.  B., 
271;  Joanna,  184;  Caroline,  see 
Hatch;  Sir  John,  Bt.  (d.  1691), 
191,  229;  Sir  John,  Bt.  (d.  1759), 

226,  229;  Kath.,  226;  Sir  Rob., 
Bt.  (d.   1670),  27,  28,   191,  226, 

227,  265,  305  n;  Sir  Rob.,  Bt. 
(d.  1748),  32;  Revd.  Thos.  (d. 
1798),  229,  230,  261,  272,  275; 
Sir  Thos.  Neville,  Bt.  (d.  1877), 
223,  226,  265,  269;  fam.,  223,  229, 
232;  see  also  Rutherforth  (later 
Abdy) 

Abdy  (later  Hatch-Abdy),  Caroline, 
see  Hatch;  John  Rutherforth,  26, 
225,  226,  229,  230,  265,  269 

Abercrombie,  Prof.  Patrick,   159 « 

Abridge,  in  Lambourne,  4,  19,  35, 
45.  72-77.  83,  84-86,  141,  144, 
158,  223,  230,  249,  250,  260,  292 

Abridge  Brewery  Co.,  76 

Adam,  Geoff,  s.  of,  see  Roinges, 
Geoff,  de 

Adam,  John  s.  of,  214 

Adam  s.  of  Fulk,  191 

Adam  le  Tailleur  and  his  w.  Joan, 
199 

Adams,  John,  100;  Sar.,  117 

Addington,  Ralph,  29  n;  Thos.  (d. 
1543).  29;  Thos.  (fl.  1543),  29 

Addison,  Wm.,  iiin,  ii2n,  113  n, 
117  n,  124  n,  126  n 

Adeane,  Anne,  see  Jones;  Hen.  J., 
30;  Gen.  J.  W.,  30;  Rob.  Jones, 

3°  . 
Adelaide,  queen  of  Wm.  IV,  256 

Adeney,  Revd.  B.  F.,  285  n,  292  n 

Adkyn,  John,  213 

jElfstan  (fl.  c.  1043-5),  '59 

^thelgyth  (Ailid)  (fl.  c.  1043-5),  '59 

Ailid,  see  ^'Ethelgyth 

Ailmer,  Roger  Fitz,  121 

Ailric  (fl.  io66),  65 

Ainsworth,  Wm.,  168 

Air  Ministry,  the,  180,  189 

Air  raids,  see  War  damage 

Airfields,  73,  76,  150,  181,  189 

Alan,  Count  of  Brittany,  192,  198 

Albyns,   in   Stapleford   Abbots,   27, 

222,  223,  224,  225-7,  235,  265 

Alchorne,  Wm.,  184 

Alderton,  in  Loughton,  2,  no,  in, 

118,    119,    120,    121 

ES.  IV 


Alderwich,  Nich.  and  his  w.  Alice, 

'33 
Aldgate  (Lond.)  21,  22,  45,  74,  157; 

St.  Botolph's  ch.,  61 
Alestan  (fl.  1066),  51 
Alexander,      Anna      Caroline,      see 

Ewing;    Caledon    du    Pt6,    io6; 

Edw.,  161;  Hen.,  145;  Nich.,  161, 

164,  172;  Thos.,  157 
Alexander   (later   Bennet),    Bennet, 

161  «,  162 
Aleyn,  Arabella  m.  i  Fran.  Thomp- 
son, 2  Ld.    Geo.    Howard,    235; 

Eliz.,  see  Scott;  Sir  Edm.,  Bt.,  235; 

Sir  Edw.,  Bt.,  235 
Algar  (fl.  1066),  65 
Alger,  Steph.,  132;  Wm.  Hill,  130, 

132;  Wm.  White,  132 
Algor,  Ric,  no 
All  Hallows-the-Great  (Lond.),  par., 

290 
AUam,  L,  55 
Allen,  Thos.,  230;  Capt.,  232;  Mrs., 

208 
Alsop,  Geo.,  163 
Altham,  Jas.,  29;  Thos.,  107 
Alvric,  the  father  of,  210,  214 
Alwin  (fl.  1066),  49,  88 
America,  United  States  of,  242;  see 

also  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island 
Amice,     Abbess     of     St.     Sulpice 

(France),  88 
Andrews,   Alice,    34;    Revd.    Edw., 

218;  Hannah,  213;  Rog.,  33,  34; 

Thos.,  33,  34;  Wm.,  33 
Anesti,  Ric.  de,  160 
Anglesey,    earls    of,    see   Annesley; 

earldom  of,  267 
Anne,  Queen,  88,  119 
Anne   (of   Cleves),    queen   of   Hen. 

VIII,  190 
Anne  (of  Denmark),  queen  of  Jas. 

I,  119 
Anne,  dau.  of  Thos.  of  Woodstock, 

Duke    of   Gloucester,    m.    Edm. 

Staflford,  Earl  of  Stafford,   191 
Annesley,   Art.,    Earl   of  Anglesey, 

267;  Art.,  Vet.  Valentia,  268;  Ric, 

Earl  of  Anglesey  (d.  1761),  268 
Annys,  Lazarus  and  his  w.  Mary, 

200 
Ansell,  Thos.,  102 
Ansty  (Herts.),  215 
Antrobus,  Revd.  Ric,  70 
Apilton,  Thos.  and  his  w.  Anne,  26 
Appeltons  (Old  Farm)  in  Chigwell, 

20,  26 
Arblaster,  Alice,  see  Legh;  Thos., 

206 


Archer,  And.,  Ld.  Archer,  288 ;  Ann 
m.  Chris.  Musgrave,  288;  Elnr. 
m.  Sir  Wal.  Wrottesley,  289; 
Elnr.  w.  of  Sir  John,  289;  Geo., 
168;  Harriott  m.  Edw.  Bolton 
Clive,  288;  Hen.  (fl.  1584),  261, 
274;  Hen.  (d.  1616),  268;  John 
(fl.  1548),  270;  Sir  John  (d.  1682), 
14,  261,  268,  270,  271,  289;  John 
(d.  1707),  268,  289;  John  (d.  1800), 
268,  269;  Kath.  Lady  Archer,  see 
Tipping;  Maria  m.  Hen.  Howard, 
288;  Ric,  270;  Sar.  m.  Other 
Windsor  Hickman,  Earl  of  Ply- 
mouth, 288;  Sim.,  281;  Susanna 
m.  Jacob  Houblon,  later  assumed 
surname  of  Newton,  268,  269; 
Susanna,  see  Newton;  Thos.  Ld. 
Archer,  288;  fam.,  261,  268,  289 

Archer  (formerly  Eyre),  Sir  Wm., 
268,  271,  289 

Archer- Houblon,  Harriet,  261,  269, 
271,  273;  John  (d.  183 1 ),  269; 
John  (fl.  1841),  268,  269,  289; 
Capt.  Lindsay,  289;  Mary  Anne 
w.  of  John,  269;  fam.  259,  261, 
268,  289 

Ardeley,  Wm.,  Abbott  of  St.  John's, 
Colchester,  297 

Arderne,  Sir  Pet.,  ii,  13 

Ardleigh,  77 

Arkesden,  262 

Ameway,  Adam,  78 

Arneways,  in  Lambourne,  see 
Arnolds 

Arnold,  John,  24;  John  Roger,  24; 
Mat.,  poet,  126;  see  also  Dent  and 
Arnold 

Arnolds  (Arneways),  in  Lambourne, 
73.  75,  76,  78,  81 

Amulph,  Prior  of  Rumilly,  182 

Arrowsmith,  Revd.  Thos.,  292 

Arundel,  earls  of,  see  Fitz  Alan 

Arundel  Herald,  see  Cosoun,  John 

Ascelyn,  Ric,  177 

Asevile,  Ralph  de,  68 

Ash,  John,  45  n;  Wm.,  45  n;  fam., 
45  n 

Ashby,  Giles,  272 

Ashfeld,  Thos.,  56- 

Ashhall,  see  Nash  Hall 

Ashley,  Sir  John,  1 1 ;  Solomon  (d. 
1778),  26;  Solomon  (fl.  1783),  26; 
Wm.,  1 1 ;  Winifred,  see  Pitfield 

Ashlyns,  in  Bobbingworth,  formerly 
in  High  Ongar,  4,  9,  89  n,  171, 
172,  I7'7,  183 

Ashpitel,  W.  H.  and  his  s.,  68 

Ashwell  (Herts.),  268 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Aske,  John  de,  47 

Assartis,  Ralph  de,  I2i 

Aston  Hall,  in  Oswestry  (Salop),  28 

Atforth,  Adam,  13 

Atkin,  Mrs.  J.  Worthington,  52 

Atkinson,  Rob.,  20 

Attlee,  Wm.,  171 

Atwood,   Alice,   see   Salyng;   Anne, 

215;  Dorothy,  see  Walter ;  John, 

2is;  Wm.  (d.  1600),  215;  Wm.  s. 

of  John  (d.  by  1664-8),  215;  Wm. 

(fl.  1664-8),  215;  Wm.  (fl.  1701), 

215;  Wm.  (fl.  c.  1723),  163 
Aubrey  dau.  of  Rainald  m.  Eus.  de 

Selflege,  205 
Aubrey,  Mary  Lady,  see  Colebrooke ; 

Sir  Thos.,  Bt.,  79 
Audelin,    Wm.    Fitz,    175;    his    w. 

Juliane,  see  Doisnel 
Audley,  Hugh  de.  Earl  of  Gloucester, 

IDS,    160,    235,    287;    Marg.    de, 

Ctss.    of   Gloucester,    see    Clare; 

Marg.  de,  m.  Ralph  Stafford,  Earl 

of  Stafford,  160,  235;  Sir  Thos.,  79 
Auger,  Thos.,  64 
Aumale,  Count  of,  see  Forz 
Austin,   Anne,   see  Bingham;   Wm. 

(d.  1634),  178;  Wm.  (fl.  1650),  178 
Australia,  36 
Austry,  John,  100 
Avery   (Averry,    Avere),    John    (fl. 

1536),  291 ;  John  (fl.  1662),  305  n; 

Thos.,  254;  Mr.,  203  n 
Avranches,  Maud  de,  m.  Hamon  de 

Crevequer,  131;  Sim.  de,   131  n; 

Wm.  de  (fl.  c.  1174-82),  131,  134; 

Wm.  de  (d.  1230),  131;  Wm.  de 

(d.  by  1235),  131 
Aylesford  (Kent),  150,  212 
Aylett,  John,  106;  Wm.,  106 
AylofFe,  Audrey,   see   Shaa;   Thos., 
178  n;  Wm.  (d.  i>;i7),  178;  Wm. 

(d.  1584),  i78;SirWm.  (fl.  1610), 
178 


Babington,     Norman    and    his    w. 

Marg.,  31;  Rob.,  31;  Thos.,  31; 

Sir  Wm.  (d.  1454),  31;  Wm.  (d. 

1474),  31 
Babraham  (Cambs.),  30 
Bacon,  Sir  Fran.,  224;  John,  sculp- 
tor, 147;  Sir  Nich.,  81 
Bagstar,  Geo.,  77 
Bainard,  Ralf,  159 
Baker,  Bernard,  205  ;  Bramston,  179, 

186;  Col.  F.  J.,  244;  John  (d.  c. 

1518),  274;  John  (fl.   1702),  271; 

John    (fl.    1732),    207;    John    (fl. 

1784),  236;  Marianne,  see  Meyer; 

Sarah,  see  Green;  Wm.  (fl.  1536), 

29;  Wm.  (fl.  1718),  17s,  179,  i86; 

Wm.  (fl.  1849),  179 
Balaclava,  battle  of,  83 
Baldwin,  Edwin,   100;  Geo.,   125 
Ball,    Edw.     Hughes,    see    Hughes 

(formerly  Ball);   Miss,   I2g  n 
Balliol,   Hen.  de,  287;  Lore  w.  of 

Hen.  de,  287 
Ballard,  Ric,  217 
Bampton,  John  de  (fl.   1362),   176; 

John  (fl.  1369),  99 
Banrilhon,  Eliz.,  158 
Bangor,  bp.  of,  see  Vaughan 
Banham,  P.  R.,  155  n 
Bank  of  England,  288 
Banks,  Sir  John,  Bt.,  212;  Mary  m. 

Sir  John  Savile,  212 
Bannister,  Revd.  John,  68 
Bannockbum,  battle  of,  160  n 
Barbados  (West  Indies),  102 
Barfoot  (Barefoot,  Barfott),  John,  74, 

77;Kath.  w.ofRob.,  81;  Rob.,  77, 

81,  83;  Thos.  14,  77,  86;  fam.,  77 


Barford,'  Ric,    77;    Mary    w.    of 

Ric,  77 
Barfott,  see  Barfoot 
Barker,  F.  H.,  170/1;  Jos.,  192 
Barking,  26,  274;  see  also  Claybury 
Barking,  Abbey  of,  190,  192,  193 
Barkway  (Herts.),  see  Nuthampstead 
Barley  (Herts.),  74 
Barlow,  Dr.  Nat.,   170;  Nat.   s.   of 

Dr.  Nat.,  170;  Wal.,  170 
Barnaby  Rudge,  by  Chas.  Dickens, 

20 
Barnard,    Hen.,    166;    Sam.,    186; 

Revd.  T.  M.  R.,  164;  Wm.,  90 
Barnes,  Ann  w.  of  John,  225 ;  John, 

225,  291 ;  Wm.  Pemberton,  225, 

29 1 ;  Mrs.  Pemberton,  29 1 
Barnes,  in  Springfield,  176 
Bamet,  John,  Bp.  of  Bath  and  Wells, 

146 
Bamet  (Herts.),  166 
Barneys,  Wm.,  163 
Bamingham  (Suff.),  287 
Bamston,  191 
Barrett,  Revd.  J.  L.,  201 
Barrington,   Alice   de,   91  «;   Alice, 

see   Battail,  9 1 ;   Anne   Lady,   see 

Rich;   Edm.,   27;   Eliz.   m.  John 

Sulyard,  9: ;  Eus.  de,  27;  Humph. 

de  (fl.  1 2th  cent.),   27;   Humph. 

s.  of  Humph,  de  (fl.  13th  cent.), 

27;    Humph,    (d.    by    1487),    27; 

John  (d.   c.    1368),   27;   John  (fl. 

1412),  91;  John  (d.  c.  1426),  27; 

John  (d.  1537),  27;  Kath.  m.  John 

Pykenham,  91 ;  Margery  de,  91  «; 

Sir  Nich.  de  (fl.  1249),  27;  Nich. 

(d.  by  1274),  27  b;  Nich  de  (d.  c. 

1330),  27,  265;  Nich.  de  (fl.  1344), 

27;    Nich.    (d.    1505),    27;    Nich. 

d.  (1515),  27;  Thos.  (d.  1472)  and 

his  w.  Anne,  27;  Thos.  (fl.   15th 

cent.)  and  his  w.  Marg.,  27;  Thos. 

(fl.  1563),  27;  fam.,  26,  27 
Barrington  (Cambs.),  27 
Barrington  Hall,  in  Hatfield  Broad 

Oak,  27 
Barringtons  (Little    Chigwell;    later 

Rolls  Park),  in  Chigwell,  4-5,  19- 

20,  23-24,  26-28,  37-38,  190,  199 
Barrow,  Maurice,  16 1,  162 
Barry,  Joan,  see  Mandeville;  John, 

234,  235 
Bartlet,  Ant.,  bellfounder,  loi,  164, 

217,  227;  Jas.,  bellfounder,  83 
Barwicks     (Berwick)     in     Stanford 

Rivers,  213,  236 
Basevi,  Geo.,  architect,  14 
Basing,  Anne,  see  Pawne;  Bridget  m. 

Wm.   Chatterton,    153,    178,    179; 

Rog.,  178 
Basire,  Jas.  (d.   1822),  24;  Jas.  (d. 

1869),  24 
Baskerville,  Wal.  de  (d.   1244),  59; 

Wal.  de  (fl.  1279),  59,  60 
Basle  (Switzerland),  83 
Basset,  Aline  m.  i  Hugh  le  Despen- 

ser,  2  Roger  Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk, 

287;   Ela,   Ctss.   of  Warwick,   see 

Ela;  Fulk,  Bp.  of  London,  31 ;  Sir 

Phil.,  160,  182,  210,  224,  284,  287 
Bastick,  John,  230 
Bataille,  see  Battail 
Batayle,  see  Battail 
Batayles,  in  Stapleford  Abbots,  see 

Battles  Hall 
Batells,  see  Ongar  Park 
Bath  and  Wells,  bps.  of,  see  Bamet, 

Burnell 
Battail  (Bataille,  Batayle),  Alice,  m; 

John    Barrington,    91;    Alice,    see 

Walden;  Anne,  m.  Pet.  de  Tale- 

worthe,  227;   Elnr.,  see  Oudeby; 

Eliz.,  see  Enfield;    Hubert,    227; 

Isabel   w.   of  Thos.   m.    2   Rob. 


Thomhill,  106,  177;  John  (fl. 
1397).  91;  John  (d.  1474),  106, 
107,  177;  John  (fl.  15 13),  107,  177; 
Marg.  m.  John  de  Boys,  91 ; 
Margery  m.  Wm.  de  Sutton,  227, 
288;  Mat.,  227;  Ric  (fl.  1 166), 
227;  Ric.  (fl.  1217),  227;  Ric.  (fl. 
1235-6),  227;  Ric.  (fl.  c.  1272), 
227;  Ric.  (d.  1540),  177;  Sim., 
227;  Thos.  (fl.  14th  cent.),  91; 
Thos.  (d.  1439),  106,  176,  177; 
Wm.  (fl.  1108-47),  227;  Wm.  (d. 
by  1200),  227;  fam.,  175,  227 

Battersea  (Lond.),  123 

Battle  (Suss.),  abbot  of,  see  Lucy 

Battles  Hall  (Batayles),  in  Stapleford 
Abbots,  26,  75,  76,  78,  85,  223, 
225,  227-8,  229 

Battye,  Wilhelmina,  see  Bowyer- 
Smijth 

Bayeux  (France),  bp.  of,  see  Odo 

Bayles,  Mr.,  73  n,  76  n 

Bayley  (Bayly),  Eliz.,  153;  John,  33 

Bayn,  Ann,  100 

Baynes,  T.  M.,  architect,  156 

Beachcroft,  Mary,  see  Matthews; 
Sam.,  90;  fam.,  90, 

Beattie,  Dr.  N.,  21;  Mrs.  N.,  35  n 

Beauchamp,  Joan  de,  Lady  Berga- 
venny,  see  Fitz  Alan;  John  de  (fl. 
1231),  198;  John  de  (fl.  1320),  46; 
Mathias  de,  46;  Maud  de,  see 
Lucy;  Nich.  de  (d.  1243),  46; 
Nich.  de  (fl.  1332),  46;  Olive  de, 
m.  Wm.  Fitz  Geoff,  de  Mande- 
ville, 198;  Ralph  de,  199;  Rog.  de 
(fl.  c.  1 190),  198;  Rog.  de  (d. 
1281),  46;  Revd.  S.  C,  loi;  Wm. 
de,  Ld.  Bergavenny  (d.  141 1), 
31  n,  262;  Wm.  (fl.  1424),  215 

Beaufort,  John,  Duke  of  Somerset, 
266;  Marg.  w.  of  John,  Duke  of 
Somerset  m.  2  Lionel  de  Welles, 
Ld.  de  Welles,  266 

Beaumont,  Geo.  F.,  288 

Beckenham  (Kent),  161 

Becontree,  hund.  of,  3,  118 

Beddington  (Surr.),  47 

Bedford,  dukes  of,  see  Russell,  Tudor 

Bedford,  earl  of,  see  Russell 

Behnes,  Wm.,  sculptor,  147 

Bek,  Ant.,  Bp.  of  Durham,  251 

Bekke,  John,  26 

Belfield,  Chas.,  145 

Belgian  refugees,  in  First  World 
War,  118 

Belknap,  Alice  w.  of  Sir  Wm. 
Shelley,  243 ;  Griselde  m.  John 
Hende,  243;  Sir  Edw.,  242,  243; 
Hamon,  243 ;  Sir  Hen.,  243 

Bell,  Mrs.  A.  D.,  260  n,  267  n;  Chas., 

37 

Bellamy,  Mrs.  E.,  107 

Bellhouse,  in  Stanford  Rivers,  209, 
211,  212,  213-14,  216,  218,  236, 
276  n 

Bellin,  Sam.,  24 

Belret,  Hen.,  67 

Benington  (Herts.),  287 

Benlace,  Ric.  de,  32 

Bennet,  Eliz.  Amelia,  see  Burrell; 
Emilia  Eliz.  m.  Sir  John  Swin- 
burne, Bt.,  i6i;  Isabella  Julia  m. 
Sir  Jas.  Willoughby  Gordon,  Bt., 
161;  Ric.  Hen.  Alex.  (d.  1814), 
i6i;  Ric  Hen.  Alex.  (d.  i8i8), 
161 

Bennet  (formerly  Alexander),  Ben- 
net,  161  n,  162 

Bennett,  Jos.,   162;  Mr.,  292 

Benson,  John  and  his  w.  Mary,  193 

Bensted,  Sir  John  de,  214,  287 

Bent,  Jas.  Theodore,  251 

Bentley,  Revd.  W.,  123 

Bentley,  in  South  Weald,  141,  166 


314 


INDEX 


Benton,  Alex.,  49;  John.,  293;  Ric, 

109 
Bare,  T.  E.,  145,  146  n 
Berewyk,  Alan  de  and  his  w.  Joan, 

213;  Ric.  de,  213;  Thos.  de  and 

his  w.  Alice,  213 
Bergavenny,  Barons,  see  Beauchamp, 

Neville 
Berkeley,  Jessie  Matilda,  222 
Berkshire,  medieval  tax  assessments 

for,  302 
Bermondsey    (Surr.,    later    Lond.), 

Priory     (later     Abbey)     of,      52; 

abbot  of,  53  n 
Bemers,  Anne  w.  of  Sir  Jas.  m.  2 

John  Bryan,   191;   Beatrice  w.  of 

Wm.  de,  191;  Edm.  de,  191;  Sir 

Jas.  de,   191;  John  s.  of  Edm.  de 

(fl.   1336),  191;  John  s.  of   Ralph 

de  (fl.    1336),    191;   Sir  John  de 

(fl.   before    1381),    191;    Margery 

de    m.    I    John    Fereby,  2   John 

Bourchier,     Ld.     Bemers,      191; 

Ralph  de  (fl.   1166),   191;  Ralph 

de  (fl.  1220),  191,  192;  Ralph  de 

(fl.   before    1336),    191;    Ric.   de, 

191;  Wm.  de,  191;  fam.,  190-1 
Bemers,  barons,  see  Bourchier 
Berrisford,  John,  28 
Berwick,  in  High  Easter,  190 
Berwick,    in    Stanford    Rivers,    see 

Barwicks 
Berwick  Berners,  in  Abbess  Roding, 

4,  5,  6,  188,  189,  190-2,  196 
Berwick-on-Tweed  (Northumb.),  38 
Beston,  John  de,  93 
Bettis,  John,  186 
Betts,  Lewis,  149 
Bevan,  John,  310 
Beverley,  Anne,  267 ;  fam.,  S4 
Bickerdike,  Thos.,  41 
Biddik,  Adam  de  and  his  w.  Joan, 

199;   Hen.  de,    199;   Joan  w.   of 

Hen.  de  m.  2  Arnald  Mounteneye, 

199;  Thos.  de,  199 
Bigod,  Aline,  Ctss.  of  Norfolk,  see 

Basset;  Rog.,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  287 
Billericay,  157 
Billesdon,   Joan,   see  Williams;   Sir 

Rob.,    14,   289;   Thos.,    14,   289; 

fam.,  14 
Bilsdens        (Monkis,        Bobynford, 

Gippes),  in  Bobbingworth,  9,  lo, 

12-14 
Bingham,  Anne  m.  2  Wm.  Austin, 

178;  Laur.,  178  n;  Wm.  and  his 

w.  Eliz.,  178;  Mr.,  165 
Bingley,  Percival  H.,  171 
Binkes,  Wm.,  153 
Birch,  John,  200;  Revd.  Ric,  200, 

201 ;  Wm.,  200 
Bird,  H.  L.,  178;  John,  bellfounder, 

246;  Ralph,  32;  T.  J.  E.,  293;  see 

also  Byrd 
Bird's  Green,  in  Beauchamp  Roding 

and  Willingale  Doe,  5,   197,   198, 

202 
Birmingham,  Eliz.  de,  see  Multon; 

Wal.  de,  66 
Biscoe,  Revd.  Ric,  286 
Bishop,  Amy,  170;  Edith,  170;  Edw. 

(fl.    1545),  264;  Edw.   (d.   1553), 

264;  Margery,  see  Hampden,  264; 

Rog.  and  his  w.  Alice,  81 ;  Mr.,  272 
Bishops  Hall,  in  Lamboume,  73,  74, 

75.  77.  79-80,  82,  83,  208,  228 
Bishop's    Stortford,    see    Stortford, 

Bishop's 
Bishop's   Stortford   Gas   Company; 

158,  204 
Bishopsgate  (Lond.),  74 
Bismere,  Reynold,  80 
Black,  Wm.,  275 

Blackburn,  Eliz.,  see  Blades;  John, 
26;  Joshua,  26;  fam.,  26 


Blackmore,  63,  153,  174,  178,  185, 
240,  241,  248;  see  also  Fingrith 

Blackwall,  Alice,  see  Prest;  Ric,  145 

Blades,  Eliz.  m.  John  Blackburn,  26; 
John,  26 

Blake  Hall,  in  Bobbingworth,  9,  10, 
12,  14,  16,  SI  n,  76  n,  105  n,  131, 

152.    153.    175.    176,    193.  203,  214 

Blewett,  Chas.,  77 

Blisland  (Comw.),  256  n 

Blomfield,  Sir  Art.,  architect,  34;  Sir 
Reg.,  architect,  280 

Blowes,  Mrs.  B.  S.,  43  n 

Blucke,  Mat.,  98,  100 

Blund,  And.,  25 

Blunt,  Wal.  le  and  his  w.  Maud,  79 

Boarstall  (Bucks.),  79 

Bobbingworth  (Bovinger),  4,  9-18, 
58,  103,  129,  130,  157.  159  «.  171. 
175.  177;  adv.,  13,  14;  agric,  10; 
Bp.  Compton's  census,  311;  Bob- 
bingworth Hall,  9,  10,  12,  13; 
Bovinger  Mill,  9;  char.,   18;  ch., 

9,  14,  184;  hearth  taxes,  304-6, 
308,  310  n;  hos.,  9,  12,  13,  14,  15; 
mans.,  10-14,  89  n,  254;  medieval 
taxes,  300—2;  par.  govt,  and  poor 
rel.,  15,  120  n,  221  n;  pop.,  9; 
postal  svces.,  9;  pub.  svces.,  10; 
rly.,  9;  rect.,  15;  roads,  9,  204; 
sch.,  9,  17,  139;  top.,  9;  see  also 
Ashiyns,  Bilsdens,  Blake  Hall 

Bobbingworth  'hamlet',  see  High 
Ongar 

Bobynford,  see  Bilsdens 

Bocking,  297 

Bodle,  Eliz.,  see  Scott;  Louisa  m. 
Geo.  Watlington,  32;  Mary  Eliz., 
32;  Rob.  (d.  1785),  32;  Rob.  (d. 
1851),  32;  Wm.,  32  n;  see  also 
Boodle 

Bodley,  G.  F.,  34 

Bohun,  Elnr.  de,  m.  Thos.  of  Wood- 
stock, Duke  of  Gloucester,  lo, 
191 ;  Humph,  de.  Earl  of  Hereford 
and  Essex  (d.  1298),  12,  191; 
Humph,  de.  Earl  of  Hereford  and 
Essex  (d.  1322),  10;  Humph,  de. 
Earl  of  Hereford  and  Essex  (d. 
1361),  6;  Humph,  de,  Earl  of 
Hereford  and  Essex  (d.  1373),  6, 

10,  191,  205;  Joan  de,  Ctss.  of 
Essex,  192,  205;  Mary  m.  Hen. 
Earl  of  Derby,  later  King  Hen.  IV, 
205 ;  Maud  de,  Ctss.  of  Hereford, 
see  Fiennes;  Wm.  de.  Earl  of 
Northampton,  10 

Bois,  see  Boys 

Bois   Hall,   in   Navestock,   67,    140, 

141,  142,  144-5,  149 
Bolbec,   Hugh  de,  227;  Marg.  de, 

see  Montfichet 
Bolesworth  Castle,  in  Broxton  (Mal- 

pas  par.,  Ches.),  254 
BoUes,  John  (d.  by  1495),  66;  John 

(d.  1533),  66;  Kath.,  see  Haugh; 

Ric  (d.  1521),  66;  Ric  (fl.  1538), 

66 
Bond,  Benj.,  252;  Eliz.,  252;  Fred., 

290;  Revd.  Wm.,  202 
Boodle,  Edw.,  164;  Ric,  273;  fam., 

164;  see  also  Bodle 
Boodle's  Club  (Lond.),  164 
Boote,  John,  33 
Booth,  Mr.,  35 
Borley,  192 

Borrow,  Rob.  and  his  w.  Alys,  218 
Bosco,  see  Boys 
Bosworth,  battle  of,  77  n 
Botelers,    in    Stanford    Rivers,    see 

Bridges  and  Piggsland 
Boughton,    Mary,   see   Ramsey;  Sir 

Wm.,  134 
Boulogne,  Eus.  Count  of,  12,  49,  75, 

88,  98,   100,   105,   159,   160,   182, 


210,  216;  Geoff,  of,  76,  105  n; 
Maud  of,  m.  King  Stephen,  see 
Maud;  Pharamus  of,  12,  49,  76, 
105;  Sibyl  of,  m.  Ingram  de 
Fiennes,  12,  49,  76,  105;  Wm. 
Count  of,  49,  76,  88,  160 
Boulogne,  honor  of,  76,  88,  105,  160, 

210,  211 
Bourchier  (Bousser),  Anne,  Baroness 
Bourchier,  m.  Thos.  Parr,  later 
Earl  of  Essex,  59,  131;  Bart.  Ld. 
Bourchier,  32,  131;  Eliz.,  131; 
Hen.  Earl  of  Essex  (d.  1483),  59, 
131,  134;  Hen.  Earl  of  Essex  (d. 
1540).  59.  131;  John  le  (fl.  1325), 
98;  John,  Ld.  Bourchier  (d.  1400), 
32,  59,  98,  131 ;  John,  Ld.  Berners 
(d.  1474),  191;  John,  Ld.  Berners 
(d.  1533).  191;  Margery,  Lady 
Bemers,  see  Berners;  Rob.  Ld. 
Bourchier,  59,  98,  131;  Wm.,  162 
Bourchiers  Hall  alias  Little   Laver 

Hall,  jee  Little  Laver 
Bourchiers    Hall,    in    Moreton,    see 

Nether  Hall 
Bournazel  (near  Toulouse,  France), 

279 
Bourne,  Alice  m.  John  Digby,  Earl 
of  Bristol,  13,  131 ;  Anne,  jee  Day; 
John,  59,  60;  Kath.,  13;  Marg.  w. 
of  Wm.,   14;  Ric.  (b.   1599),  59; 
Ric.  (fl.  1643),  49;  Ric  (d.  1660), 
59,  62;  Ric.  (d.  1682),  131;  Rob. 
(fl.  1612),  49;  Rob.  (d.  1639),  12, 
13,  14,   15,   131;  Rob.  (d.  1666), 
13,  17,  18, 131;  Rose,  jee  Walcott; 
Wm.  (d.  1581),  14,   15,  59;  Wm. 
(d.  1608),  59,  60;  Wm.  (fl.  1608), 
59;  fam.,  15 
Bousser,  see  Bourchier 
Bovill,  E.  W.,  99 
Bovinger,  see  Bobbingworth 
Bow  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  166 
Bowes,  Mr.,  95 
Bowtell,  Fran.,  109 
Bowyer-Smijth,  Adela  m.  Cyril  C. 
Stafford     Northcote,     235,     278; 
Revd.   Sir  Edw;,   Bt.,   239,   256, 
282,  283 ;  Letitia  w.  of  Revd.  Sir 
Edw.,   Bt.,   283;   Wilhelmina  m. 
Art.  B.  Battye,  235,  278;  Sir  Wm., 
Bt.  (d.  1883),  260;  Sir  Wm.,  Bt. 
(d.   1916),  276  n,  278;  fam.,  259, 
275 ;  see  also  Smyth  (later  Smijth) 
Boxted  (Suff.),  290 
Boyle,   Lady  Mary  m.  Chas.  Rich, 

Earl  of  'Warwick,  181 
Boys  (Bois,  Bosco),  Amy  w.  of  Hen. 
de,  253;  Hen.  de  (d.  by  1289),  251, 
252;  Hen.  de  (fl.  1293),  252;  Hen. 
de  (?  fl.  13th  cent.),  253;  Hen.  s. 
of  Hen.  de  (?  fl.  13th  cent.),  253;' 
Hugh  de,  251,  255;  John  de  (d. 
by   1 3 17)   and   his  w.   Christine, 
144;  John  de  (fl.  1412),  91;  John 
de  (d.    141 9),    144-5;   Lawr.   de, 
252;  Marg.  de,  see  Battail;  Maud 
w.  of  Ric.  de,    251   n;    Ric.   de, 
251  «;  Wm.   de   (fl.    n66),   251, 
255;  Wm.  de  (fl.  1235-6),  251 
Brace,  J.  &  Sons,  98 
Brackley,  Sam.,  134 
Bradborne,  Frances,  see  Prest;  Wm.,' 

145 
Braden,  Edw.,  230 
Bradley,  Thos.,  304 
Bradshagh,  Nich.,-212,  216 
Bradwell-juxta-Mare,  187 
Braham,   Frances  m.    i   John  J.   H. 
Waldegrave,   2   Geo.    Edw.    Earl 
Waldegrave,  3  Geo.  G.  Harcourt, 
4  Chichester  S.  P.  Fortescue,  Ld. 
Carlingford,   142,   144,   147 
Braintree,  157 
Brakelond,  Jocelin  of,  229 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Bramston,  Eliz.,  see  Harvey;  Thos. 
(fl.  1739),  200;  Thos.  Bemey  (fl. 
c.  1801),  180;  Thos.  H.  (fl.  1888), 
190;  Thos.  W.  (fl.  1868),  190,  199, 
200,  201 ;  see  also  Stane  (formerly 
Bramston) 

Branch,  Ellen  (d.  1567),  see  Hamp- 
den; Ellen  (fl.  1589),  see  Nichol- 
son; Sir  John,  264,  271 

Brand,  Fred.  Jos.,  123;  Gertrude, 
Baroness  Dacre,  see  Roper;  John, 
191;  Marg.  w.  of  Thos.,  191; 
Thos.  (d.  1718),  49  «,  191;  Thos. 
(d.  1770),  49,  191 ;  Thos.  (fl.  1780), 
45,  49,  191;  Thos.  Ld.  Dacre 
(d.  1851),  45,  49,  192;  Tim.,  49; 
fam.,  45,  54 

Brandon,  Chas.,  Duke  of  Suffolk, 
135.  201 

Brasenose  College,  O.xford,  132 

Brawn,  Revd.  Sam.,  122,  123;  the 
Misses,  127 

Braxted,  Great,  177 

Bray,  Sir  Reynold,  243,  264 

Breaut^,  Gil.  de,  68,  105,  147;  Joan 
de,  see  Mary 

Brecknock,  Anne,  139;  John,  206 

Bredstrete,  Thos.  de,  235 

Bregge,  see  Brigge 

Brandish,  see  Bundish 

Brent,  Joan  m.  John  Trethek,  13; 
Sir  Rob.  (d.  1421),  13;  Rob.  (fl. 

c.  1504).  13;  — (fl-  1496),  14 

Brentwood,  63,  64,  70,  141,  142, 
149,  15s,  158,  159  n,  165,  172, 
174,  189,  198,  240,  241,  286 

Brentwood  School,  29 

Brewer,  Galiena,  see  Dammartin; 
John,  151;  Wm.,  151 

Brewing,  2,  75,  76,  172,  175 

Brewster,  Mrs.,  84  n 

Brickmaking,  2,  24,  76,  116,  167, 
17s,  190,  210,  276 

Brictmar  (fl.  1066),  49,  98 

Brictwin  (fl.  1066),  210 

Bridges,  Geo.,  45;  Jas.,  81 

Bridges  and  Piggsland  (Bridges, 
Piggsland  and  Botelers)  in  Stan- 
ford Rivers,  214 

Bridgman,  Thos.,  186 

Bridham,  And.,  242 

Brigge  (Bregge),  John  atte,  214; 
Wm.  atte,  214 

Brinson,  Maj.  J.  G.  S.,  188  n 

Bristol,  bp.  of,  see  Newton 

Bristol,  earl  of,  see  Digby 

Bristow,  Andrew  Alfred  CoIIyer,  47, 
182 

Britain,  Battle  of,  286 

Brito,  Alice  m.  Sir  Wm.  de  Golding- 
ham,  25  «;  Philippa  w.  of  Rob., 
25 ;  Ralph,  25 ;  Rob.,  25 ;  Wm.,  25 ; 
Wm.  s.  of  Wm.,  25 

Brittany,  count  of,  see  Alan 

Briwes,  Beatrice  de,  see  Theydon; 
John  de,  277;  Rob.  de,  277,  281 

Brock,  Wm.,  148 

Brockett,  Edw.,  30 

Broke,  Geo.,  291 

Bromfield,  see  Broomfield 

Bromhale,  John,  214;  Lore,  see 
Salyng 

Bromley  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  26; 
see  also  Bow,  Stratford  Bow 

Brook,  Sir  Edw.,  193 

Brooks,  Sam.,  90  n 

Broomfield  (Bromfield),  Eliz.  m. 
Nich.  Staphurst,  81;  John  s.  of 
John,  78,  81,  86;  John  s.  of  Rob., 
78;  Rob.,  78,  83;  fam.,  83 

Brown  (Broun,  Browne,  Brun), 
Agnes,  see  Gate;  Ant.  (fl.  f.  1543- 
6),  78;  Ant.  (fl.  1554),  163;  Sir 
Ant.  (d.  1567),  29,  190;  Ant.  (d. 
1583),  192;  Baldwin,  192;  Bennet 


le,  98;  Emma  la,  152;  Geo.,  192; 

H.  (fl.  ISS3),  291;  H.  (fl.  1892), 

167;  Jane  m.  Sir  Gamaliel  Capel, 

192;   John   (d.    1467),    192;   John 

(fl.     1 6th    cent.),    193;    John    (fl. 

1849),   182;  Jos.,   123;   Kath.  m. 

Nich.  Waldegrave,  192;  Lancelot 

('Capability'),    245 ;     Thos.     (d. 

1488),     192;     Thos.     (fl.     1726), 

cartographer,  144;  Wm.  (fl.  1477), 

199;  Wm.  (d.  1665),  77,  78;  Wm. 

(fl.    1678),    78;   Wm.    (fl.    1829), 

pauper,  272;  Sir  Wistan  (fl.  1488), 

190,  192;  Wistan  (d.  1580),   192; 

W.  H.,  35;  elder  and  younger,  92; 

fam.,  192 
Broxboume  (Herts.),  244 
Broxton,    in    Malpas    (Ches.),    see 

Bolesworth  Castle 
Bruce,  Rob.,  King  of  Scots,  6 
Brucesmith,  Benj.,  171 
Brumpton,  Ric.  de,  199 
Brun,  see  Brown 

Brundish,  in  Moreton,  see  Bundish 
Brundish  (Suff.),  133 
Bryan,    Anne,    see    Bemers;   John, 

191 
Bryce,  Thos.,  63 
Brygges,  Sir  John,  26 
Buchanan,  Wal.,  165 
Buckford,  Thos.  (d.  1688),  26;  Thos. 

(fl.  1692),  26 
Buckhurst      (Munkenhill,      Monk- 
hams),  in  Chigwell,  20,  26,  28 
Buckhurst  Hill,  in  Chigwell,   i,  2, 

18-24,   28,   34,   36-42,    113,    114, 

116 
Buckhurst  Hill,  Urban  District  of, 

18,  no;  U.D.  Council,  22 
Buckingham,  dukes  of,  80,  161;  see 

also  Stafford 
Buckinghamshire,  177;  medieval  tax 

assessments  in,  300 
Buckland,  Mr.,  224 
Budworth,  Chas.  E.  D.,  62;  Revd. 

D.    P.    D.,    93;    Revd.    Phil.    (d. 

1861),  60,  62,  93,  95,  96;  Capt. 

Phil.  J.  (d.  1885),  60,  62,  92,  93, 

159,    167,    241;    Ric.    (fl.    1777), 

93  «;  Revd.  Ric.  (d.  1805),  93,  95; 

Canon  R.  D.,  93;  fam.,  95 
Bull,  John  (fl.  1 701),  215;  John  (fl. 

1710),  54;  Sarah,  215  n;  Mrs.  (fl. 

1729),  215 
Bullock,  Wm.,  208 
Bundish    (Brendish,    Brundish),    in 

Moreton,   129,  130,   133-4,  204 
Burden,  Geo.,  200 
Burford,  Jas.  Wm.,  107;  Pet.  Thos. 

and  his  w.  Ann,  107;  Thos.,  107; 

fam.,  1 07 
Burgate,   Anastasia  de  m.  John  le 

Merk,    151,    152;  Galiena  de,  see 

Dammartin;    Pet.    de,    151,    152; 

Rob.  de,  151,  152 
Burgh,  Eliz.  de,  Ctss.  of  Ulster,  m. 

Lionel,   Duke   of  Clarence,    105; 

Eliz.   de,   see   Clare;   Hubert   de. 

Earl  of  Kent,  277;  John  de,  133 
Burghersh,    Bart.    Ld.    Burghersh, 

287 
Burghley,  baron,  see  Cecil 
Burgoyn,  Thos.,  213 
Burling,  Mrs.,  9  n 
Burndish,  John  de  (d.   1336),   131, 

133;    John    de    (fl.     1353),     134; 

Nich.  de,  134 
Burnell,  Phil.,  76;  Rob.  Bp.  of  Bath 

and  Wells,  49,  76,  131 
Bumet,  Sam.-,  100 
Burnevill,   John   de,    105;    Rob.   de 

(fl.  1270),  105;  Rob.  de  (fl.  1285), 

105 
Burney,  Geo.,  112,  115 
Bums,  fam.  (paupers),  148 

316 


Burrell,  Anne  M.,  295 ;  Eliz.  Amelia 

m.  Ric.  Hen.  Alex.  Bennet,  i6i ; 

John,  168;  Pet.,  161 
Burton,  Ann,  see  Hicks;  Nich.,  196; 

Mic,  25;  Mr.,  architect,  15 
Bury  St.  Edmunds  (Suff.),  22,  60 
Bury  St.   Edmunds  (Suff.),  Abbey 

of,   223,   224,  228;  abbots  of,  see 

Hugh,  John,  Samson,  Simon 
Bush,  Wm.,  200 

Buss,  Frances  Mary,  251,  256,  258 
Bussell,  Revd.  Fred.  Wm.,  132 
Butler,   Edm.,   200;   J.   W.,    170  n; 

Ric,  271;  Wm.,  33 
BuxhuU,  Alan  de,  29 
Buxton,  D.  A.  J.,  162;  Edw.  North 

(d.  1924),  40,  lis;  Lt.-Col.  Edw. 

North  (fl.  1928),  252;  Gerald,  252, 

253  n;  fam.,  256 
Byles,  Revd.  Thos.,  166 
Byrd,  John,  228;  Wm.,  musician,  70, 

227-8,  241,  242,  243,  244,  247; 

fam.  244;  see  also  Bird 
Byron,  Emestus,  267;  Sir  John,  267; 

Marg.,  see  Fitzwilliam;  Sir  Nich., 

267 ;  Sophia  w.  of  Wm.,  267 ;  Wm. 

(d.  1648),  267 


Cable  and  Wireless  Ltd.,  285 

Cadbury,  North  (Som.),  51 

Cade,  Jack,  rebel,  177 

Caen  (France),  134 

Cain,  Eliz.,  275 

Calamy,  Edm.  (d.  1685),  135 

Calcroft,  Mrs.,  206  n 

Caldecote,  Hugh  de,  192;  Steph.  de, 
192 

Calne,  see  Caune 

Calne  (Wilts.),  288  n 

Calverly,  Horace  W.,  193 

Calvert,  Revd.  A.,  136;  Mary  m. 
John  Martin,  81 ;  Mrs.,  sis.  of  Rob. 
Tooke,  81 

Cambes,  John,  41 

Cambridge,  22,  113 

Cambridge  University,  68;  see  also 
Cheshunt  College,  Christ's  Col- 
lege, Corpus  Christi  College,  St. 
John's  College 

Cambridgeshire,  migrants  from,  38 

Campbell,  Revd.  C.  E.,  256 

Camps,  E.,  269;  Mrs.  E.,  269  n 

Canes  (Cawnes),  in  North  Weald 
Bassett,  152,  213,  284,  286,  288 

Canfield,  Little,  42,  128 

Canford  School  Trust,  52 

Canning,  Geo.,  statesman,  I33  « 

Cantebrigg,  Joiin  ae,  105,  170 

Canterbury,  abp.  of,  207;  see  also 
Cranmer,  Laud,  Odo,  Sheldon, 
Stafford,  Warham 

Capel,  Art.  (d.  1632),  190;  Art.  Ld. 
Capel  (d.  1649),  191;  Art.  Ld. 
Capel,  later  Earl  of  Essex  (d. 
1683),  191;  Chas.,  192 «;  Edw., 
13;  Sir  Gamaliel  (d.  1613),  190, 
192,  193,  195,  200;  Sir  Gamaliel 
(d.  1652),  190,  200;  Gamaliel  (d. 
1683),  190;  Gamaliel  (d.  1720), 
190;  Sir  Giles,  13,  191;  Hen.  13; 
Jane,  Lady,  see  Brown;  Mildred 
m.  Sir  Wm.  Lucklyn,  195;  Sar., 
192;  Thos.,  192  n;  Sir  Wm.,  13, 
191;  fam.,  188,  191,  195 

Capel-Cure,  Revd.  C.  L.,  193-4, 
201;  Mrs.  L.  J.,  194;  Miss,  195; 
see  also  Cure 

Capper,  Fran.,  134 

Carleton,  A\ex.,  254;  Chris.,  254, 
264,  265;  Geo.,  254,  265;  Jane, 
see  Hampden;  John,  254;  Olive 
w.  of  Geo.  m.  2  John  Rivers,  254 

Carlingford,  baron,  see  Fortescue 


INDEX 


Carlisle,  bp.  of,  loo  n 
Carpenter,  Thos.,  77 
Carre,  John,  242,  246 
Carroll,  Sir  Geo.,  117 
Carter,  Ric,  184 

Carter,  Geo.,  builder,  236;  Jos.,  bell- 
founder,  217;  Wm.,  bellfounder, 

184,  237 
Carteret,   Sir   Geo.,   Bt.   (d.    i68o), 

224,  225 ;  Geo.  Ld.  Carteret  (d. 

1695),  225;  Grace  w.  of  Geo.  Ld. 

Carteret,  225 ;  Hen.  Ld.  Carteret, 

225 
Carteret,  barons,  225 
Carrwright,  Ric,  211,  212,  235 
Carver,  Jonathan,  139 
Cary,  Mary  Lady,  211,  216;  Wm., 

2H 

Castlemaine,  vet.,  see  Child 
Catalonia  (Spain),  252 
Catchpole,  Jos.,  159 
Catherine    (of   Aragon),    queen    of 

Hen.  VIII,  215 
Catherine,  Empress  of  Russia,  261 
Caton,   John   (fl.    1847),    150,    153; 

John  (d.  1892),   154;  John  C.  (d. 

c.  1896),  155 
Caune  (Calne),  Joan  w.  of  Ric.  de, 

288;  John  de  (fl.  c.  1230),  288;  Sir 

John  de  (fl.   1349),  288;  John  de 

(fl.  1 371),  288;  Kath.  w.  of  Thos. 

de,  288;  Ric.  de  (fl.  1204-5),  288; 

Ric.  de  (fl.  f.  1230),  288;  Ric.  de 

(fl.  1261),  288;  Thos.  de  (fl.  1335), 

176,  288;  Wal.  de,  288;  (or  Rous), 

Eliz.  (fl.  1422),  w.  of  Thos.,  152; 

Eliz.  (fl.  1451),  w.  of  Thos.,  152; 

John,  152;  Ric,  152;  Thos.  (d.  by 

1422),  152,  288 ;  Thos.  (d.  by  145 1), 

152,  288 
Caversham  (Berks.),  148 
Cavill,  Jas.,  257 
Cawnes,  see  Canes 
Cecil,   Revd.   Ric,   165,  292;  Wm. 

Ld.  Burghley,  279 
Cecily,  dau.  of  King  Edw.  IV,  m. 

John  de  Welles,  Vet.  Welles,  266, 

267 
Cely,  Eliz.  w.  of  Wal.  m.  2  Thos. 

Smith,  224,  225;  Geo.  (fl.   1545), 

224;  Geo.  (fl.   1570),  225;  Wal., 

224,  225,  235 ;  fam.,  226 
Cem',  Rob.  de,  182 
Chaderton,  Hen.  (d.  1444),  67;  Hen. 

(fl.  1444),  67 
Chadwick,  Adam,  141 
Chafford,  hund.  of,  221  n 
ChaUis,  A.  J.  B.,  54 
Chamberlain,     Charlotte     m.     Ric. 

Luther,  68;  Eliz.  w.  of  Sir  Rob., 
178;  Sir  Rob.,  178 
Chambers  (Chamberline),  Wm.,  243 ; 

Mr.,  223 
Chambir    (Chaumbir),    John,    214, 

215 

Champion,  Ant.,  176;  Pet.,  176 
Chancellor,  Fred.,  15,  61,  184 
Chandler,  Percival,  29 ;  Dr.,  68 
Channon,   Hen.,  66;   Lady  Honor, 

see  Guinness 
Chantries,  131,  216,  281 
Chaplain,  Herb,  the,  29 
Chaplain,  John  the,  134 
Chaplin,  Audrey,  see  Latham;  Fred., 

288;    John,    130,    134;    P.,    167; 

Thos.,  134 
Chapman,  John  (fl.    1668),  27,   28; 

Wm.,  IS 
Chapman    &    Mears,    Bellfounders, 

154 
Chard  (Som.),  33 
Charles  I,  8i,  211,  216,  2i8,  224 
Charles  II,  212,  224 
Charles,  John,  77 
Charlesworth,  Revd.  W.  H.,  36 


Chartesey,  John,  213 

Chartsey,  Rob.,  190 

Chase,  Frances,  see  Lingard;  Rob., 

134 
Chater  &   Son,   makers  of  stained 

glass,  164 
Chatham,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  290 
Chatterton,     Bridget,     see    Basing; 
Henrietta  Lady,   24;  Wm.,    153, 
178 
Chaumbir,  see  Chambir 
Chauvel,  Revd.  A.  R.,  33 
Cheeke,  Ann  m.  Sir  Thos.  Tipping 
Bt.,   288;   Edw.   (d.    1707),   288; 
Edw.  (d.   1712),   288;   Sir  Thos. 
(fl.    1652),   288;   Thos.   s.   of  Sir 
Thos.  (fl.  1652),  288 
Chelmersford,  John  de,  214 
Chelmsford,  bps.  of,  33,  34,  93,  100, 
107.  I3S>  IS3.  194.  201,  245,  269, 
271,  290 
Chelmsford,  150,  154,  155,  158,  173, 
174,  198,  202,  203,  241,  272,  284, 
286,  303 
Chene,    Joan   de,   see   Lambourne; 

Wm.  de,  76 
Cheshunt  College,  Cambridge,  36 
Chester,  Archdeacon  of,  see  Everdon 
Chester,  Bp.  of,  see  Stubbs,  Vaughan 
Chetingdon,   Thos.   de  and  his  w. 

Joan,  253 
Cheval,  Wm.,  93 
Chevely,  fam.,  260 
Chevers,  Sir  Wm.  de,  178  « 
Chewton,  Vet.,  see  Waldegrave 
Cheyne,  Eliz.  m.  Geo.  Scott,  34 
Chichester,  bp.  of,  see  Montagu 
Chigwell,  Margery  de,  29;   Ric.  of 
(fl.  before  1294),  211;  Ric.  of  and 
his  w.  Joan  (fl.  1304-5),  80;  Rob. 
of,  211 
Chigwell,  I,  2,  4,  7,  18-43,  45,  72, 
hi;  adv.,  32;  agric,  23,  75;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311 ;  char.,  19, 
42;    Chigwell   Hall,    i8,    20,    23, 
24-26,  28,  29,  30,  32,  34,  37,  38; 
Church  Ho.,  20,  21;  chs.,  19,  20, 
32 ;  fire  stns.,  22-23 ;  Grange  Farm 
Camp,  21 ;  Guild  of  Holy  Trinity, 
33,  37;  hearth  taxes,  303-5,  308; 
hospitals,  22;  hos.,   i,   19-21,  26, 
28,  30,  32;  inds.,  23-24;  inns,  20, 
24;    mans.,    7,    24-32;    medieval 
taxes,  298-302;  noncf.,  35,  83-84, 
123;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel.,  37, 
186 «;   pars.,    18;   pop.,    20,   21; 
postal  svces.,  22;  pub.  svces.,  22; 
rect.,    33;    rlys.,    21-22;    R.A.F. 
Stn.,  18;  roads,  i8-2i,  113;  Rom. 
Cathm.,  35 ;  schs.,  18,  20,  21,  24, 
35,    38,   85;   stage   coach   svces., 
21-22;  top.,  18-19;  Tumours,  21, 
35 ;    vicar   of,    39;    vicarage,    33; 
woods,   18,  23;  worthies,  24;  see 
also       Harringtons,       Buckhurst, 
Buckhurst    Hill,    Chigwell    Row, 
Grange,   Grange   Hill,   Hainault, 
West  Hatch,  King's  Place,  Lux- 
borough,  Stocktons,  Woolston 
Chigwell     and     Woodford     Bridge 
(later    Chigwell,    Loughton    and 
Woodford)  Gas  Co.,  22,  75,  113 
Chigwell,  Little,  see  Barringtons 
Chigwell  Row,  in  Chigwell,  18,  19, 
21,  22,  23,  24,  34,  35,  38,  39,  40, 
41,  42,  73,  83-84 
Chigwell,  Urban  District  of,   i,   18, 

72,  no;  U.D.  Council,  22,  113 
Child,     Lady     Dorothy,     181;     Sir 
Josiah  Bt.,  181 ;  Sir  Ric.  Bt.,  later 
Vet.  Castlemaine  and  Earl  Tylney, 
181 
Childs,  Mr.,  293 
Chilham  (Kent),  212 
China,  153 


Chingford,  19,  20,  34  n,  42 

Chipperfield,  Hen.,  22 

Chisenhale-Marsh,  Hugo,  268; 
Thos.  Coxhead,  261,  262,  265, 
268;  W.  S.,  270,  271;  fam.,  268; 
see  also  Marsh 

Chishull,  John,  Bp.  of  London,  290 

Chivers  End,  in  High  Ongar,  4 

Chivers  Hall  (Passfield  Chivers),  in 
High  Ongar,  153,  173,  175,  178, 
180,  186 

Chivers  Hall,  see  Withers  Pawne 

Chivers  Pawne,  see  Withers  Pawne 

Cholmley,  John,  133;  Lewen  (fl. 
1722),  133;  Lewen  (d.  1753),  133; 
Mary,  133 

Christ  Church,  Albany  St.  (Lond.), 
108 

Christ  Church  Hospital  (Lond.),  178 

Christ's  College,  Cambridge,  94 

Church,  John,  55;  R.,  55;  Wm.,  his 
w.  and  dau.,  78;  Mr.,  78  n 

Church  Association  Trust,  183 

Church  Commissioners,  see  Eccle- 
siastical Commissioners 

Church  Pastoral  Aid  Society,  52,  291 

Church  Society  Trust,  183  n 

Churchill,  John  Spriggs,  159 

Clapham  (Suss.),  see  Michelgrove 

Clare,  Eliz.  de,  'Lady  of  Clare',  m. 
John  de  Burgh,  13,  105;  Gil.  de 
Earl  of  Gloucester  (d.  1295),  13  «; 
Gil.  de.  Earl  of  Gloucester  (d. 
1314),  13,  105  n,  151,  152,  160, 
235,  289;  Joan  de,  see  Joan  of 
Acre;  Marg.  de  m.  Hugh  de 
Audley,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  105, 
160,  23s;  Maud  w.  of  Gil.  de, 
Earl  of  Gloucester,  160,  235 

Clare,  honor  of,  151  n,  191  n,  215 

Clarence,  Hen.,  129 

Clarence,  dukes  of,  see  George, 
Lionel 

Clark  (Clarke),  Ann  m.  Sir  Nar- 
brough  D'Aeth,  13;  A.,  78;  Cath. 
m.  Barnabas  Eveleigh  Leigh,  13; 
Chas.,  237;  Dennis,.! 3;  Geo.,  33; 
H.  E.,  76  n,  78;  Jas.,  78;  John 
(d.  1726),  13;  John  Fran.  (d. 
1898),  io6;  Jos.,  290;  Joyce,  178; 
J.,  178;  Oswald,  171;  Ric,  10,  13; 
Sam.,  165;  Wm.  (fl.  1801),  99, 
100;  Wm.  (fl.  1809),  16;  Wm.  (fl. 
1878),  170 

Clarkson,  Revd.  John  (fl.  1799),  7on; 
Revd.  J.  R.  (fl.  1875),  137 

Clay,  Ric,  iii;  Ric.  Lomax  s.  of 
Ric,  III ;  Wm.  Nicholls,  100 

Claybury,  in  Barking,  23 

Clayaon,  Constance  w.  of  Lawr., 
145;  Wm.,  21,  22 

Clayton,  Revd.  J.,  123 

Cleeve,  Alex.,  59,  60,  62,  93;  Anne 
dau.  of  Alex.,  60;  Anne  2nd  w.  of 
Alex.,  60;  Jane  m.  Revd.  Thos. 
Velley,  60;  Revd.  John,  60,  93,  95 ; 
Mary  ist  w.  of  Alex.,  60,  62; 
Mary  m.  —  Hatt,  60;  fam.,  95 

Cleland,  Wm.,  28 

Clements,  Steph.,  45,  74,  157-8 

Clemmory,  Wm.,  102 

Clerk,  John  the,  of  Ongar,  164 

Clifford,  Rog.  de,  59 

Clift,  John,  200 

Clifton,  John,  bellfounder,  83,  282 
Clive,  Edw.  Bolton,   288;   Harriott, 

see  Archer 
Cloth  industry,  138,   167,  2io,  221, 

247,  272  n,  286 
Clovile,  Sir  Wm.  de,  205 
Clyf,  Wm.  de,  253 
Clynton,  Wm.  de,  Earl  of  Hunting- 
don, 132 
Cobham,    Eliz.,    see    Massey;    Sir 
Thos.,  263 


317 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Cochrane,  A.  S.,  244 

Cocke,  Sir  Hen.,  215 

Cockerell,  Revd.  Hen.,  292,  294 

Cocq,  Wm.  Le,  272 

Codenham,  Hen.,  216 

Codicote  (Herts.),  79 

Coe,  Wm.  (fl.  1775),  186;  Wm.  (fl. 

1838),  i66 
Coffin,  Thos.,  244 
Coggeshall,  157,  290 
Coke,  see  Cook 
Cokham,  Ric,  251 
Cokyng,  John,  278 
Colchester,  64,  165,  191 ;  see  also  St. 

Botolph's  Priory,  St.  John's  Abbey 
Cole,  Geo.,  93;  Hen.  (fl.  1730),  106; 

Hen.  (d.  c.  1760),  106;  Rob.,  287; 

Thos.,  216;  Wm.  (d.  i  Feb.  1730), 

106,  io8, 109, 132;  Wm.  (d.  24Feb. 

1730),  106,  108;  fam.,  132 
Colebrooke,  Sir  Jas.,  Bt.,  79;  Mary 

m.    Sir   Thos.    Aubrey    Bt.,    79; 

Mary  Lady,  see  Skinner 
Colegrave,  Wm.,  213 
Colepepir,  John,  253,  263;  Sir  Thos., 

263 ;  Wal.,  253,  263 
Coleraine,  Baron,  see  Hare 
Coleridge,  Sam.  Taylor,  poet,  133  n 
Colford,    Agnes    m.    Ric.    Makyn, 

147 
Collard,  —  (gentleman),  305  n 
Collins  (Collin,  Collen),  Dorothy  w. 

of  Thos.,  99;  Honora,  200;  John 

(fl.   1574),  91,  98,  99,   100;  John 

(fl.  1597),  200;  John  the  elder  (fl. 

1652),  200;  John  the  younger  (fl. 

1652),    and    his   w.    Kath.,    200; 

John  (d.    1750),  45,   SI,   56,   57; 

Mary  m.  Revd.  Jacob  Wragg,  5 1 ; 

Nich.    (fl.    1565),    51;    Nich.    (fl. 

1609),  99,  100;  Ric,  98  n,  99,  100; 

Rob.,  200;  Thos.  (fl.   1584),  98, 

99;  Thos.  (fl.  1640),  99;  Thos.  (fl. 

1660),  99;  Wm.  (fl.  c.  1714),  98  n; 

Mrs.,   102;  fam.,   51,   54,  56,  91, 

97,  98 
Collinson,  Revd.  G.,  123 
Collyer,  Kitty,  78;  Phil.  B.,  78;  fam., 

Colne,  Earls,  priory  of,  201 

Colne,  Wakes,  27 

Colshill,  Mary,  see  Crayford;  Thos. 
(fl.  1567),  26;  Thos.  (d.  159s),  34; 
Wm.  and  his  w.  Barbara,  33 

Colston,  Edw.,  163 

Colt,  Thos.,  266 

Colvill,  Edm.  and  his  w.  Kath.,  79 

Colville  Hall,  in  White  Roding,  193 

Colwall,  Arnold,  29;  Dan.,  29;  Eliz., 
29;  John,  29;  Susanna  w.  of 
Arnold,  m.  2  Foot  Onslow,  29 

Combers,  Bart.,  210;  John,  219 

Commons  (common  wastes),  2,  63, 
64,  140-1,  150,  175,  204,  233,  261, 
284,  285,  286 

Community  of  the  Resurrection, 
Mirfield  (Yorks.),  207 

Compton,  Hen.,  Ld.  Compton,  29; 
Hen.,  Bp.  of  London,  311;  Pet., 
29;  Sir  Wm.  (d.  1528),  29;  Wm. 
Ld.  Compton,  later  Earl  of  North- 
ampton (d.  1630),  29 

Compton  Abdale  (Glos.),  13 

Compton  Monceux,  in  King's  Som- 
bourne  (Hants),  176 

Comyn,  Anne,  see  Denny;  Fran.  (d. 
1697),  27,  28;  Fran.  (fl.  1700),  27 

Comyns,  Ann  w.  of  Sir  John,  200; 
John  Ric.  (fl.  1770),  200;  Sir  John 
(d.  1740),  200;  John  (fl.  1752), 
200;  Mary  w.  of  John,  200 

Coningsby,  Humph.,  264 

Constantine,  Wm.  s.  of,  261,  262 

Convers,  Nich.  le,  67;  Rog.  le  (fl. 
1261),  67;  Rog.  le  (fl.  1318),  67 


Conyers,  John,  poor  rel.  scheme  of, 

38,  238,  247,  294 
Cook  (Cooke,  Coke),  Sir  Ant.,  74, 

81,  106;  Eliz.  Lady,  see  Malpas; 

Frances,  see  Grey;  John  (d.  i486), 

26,  106,  213;  John  (fl.  1503),  1 06; 

Revd.  John  (fl.  1778),  195;  Marg., 

X06;  Sir  Phil.,  26,   106,   107;  Sir 

Thos.  (d.  1478),  26,  106,  107,  213; 

Thos.  (d.  by  1540),  26;  Tristram, 

26;  Wm.  (fl.  1520),  26;  Wm.  (d. 

1589),   106;   Sir  Wm.  (fl.    1608), 

106;  Mr.  (of  Fyfield),  44  n;  Mr. 

(of  Kelvedon  Hatch),  67  n 
Cooper,  Anne,  m.  Chas.  Fowler,  13; 

Dorothy,  m.  Ric.  Thompson,  13; 

John,  13 
Coopersale,    in    Theydon    Garnon, 

250,  254,  259,  260,  261,  271,  272, 

27s 
Coopersale     House,     in     Theydon 

Garnon,  259,  261,  268-9,  274 
Co-operative  Wholesale  Society,  32 
Copley,  Anne,  177  n;  Mary,  177/1; 

Wm.,  177 
Corbishley,  Revd.  Jos.,  137,  195 
Corbun,  W.  (fl.  1086),  118 
Comey,  Sam.,  10,  16 
Comhill  (Lond.),  245 
Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge, 

32,  82,  86 
Corunna,  battle  of,  147 
Cosoun,  John,  Arundel  Herald,  and 

his  w.  Agnes,  180 
Cottered  (Herts.),  218 
Cotton,  Edw.,  28;  Mary  m.  Jacob 

Houblon,  254 
Coulson,  Thos.,  42;  fam.,  42 
County  of  London  Electric  Supply 

Co.,  22 
Cousens,  Revd.  H.,  36 
Covell,  Eliz.,  m.  Roger  Forster,  29; 

Thos.,  29 
Coventry,  bp.  of,  jee  Langton 
Cowame,  Great  (Herefs.),  59 
Cowee,  Thos.,  156 
Cowley,  Thos.,  211,  212,  235 
Cowley,  earls,  see  Wellesley 
Cox,  Revd.  F.  A.,  36;  Revd.  J.  R., 

36;  Ric,  220 
Coxhead,  Deborah  Lady,  268;  Sir 

Thos.,  268 
Coxie,  Mic,  painter,  280 
Cozens,  Eliz.  w.  of  John,  106,  107; 

Hen.,   132;  John  (d.   1766),   106, 

108,  132;  John  (d.  1784),  106,  107; 

John  (fl.   1832),   106;  Wm.,   130, 

132;  fam.,  108 
Crabb,  John,  168;  Rob.,  10,  13,  i6 
Craig,  Hugh,  175 
Crane,  Sam.,  78;  fam.,  78 
Crank,  Jane,  226 
Cranmer,  Thos.,  Abp.  of  Canterbury, 

135 
Crauford,  Sir  Alex.,  Bt.,  33;  Cecilia, 

33;   Jas.,   33;  Jane,  see  Crokatt; 

John,  33 
Crayford,  Mary  m.  Thos.  Colshill, 

34 

Crevequer,  Agnes  de  m.  John  de 
Sandwich,  131;  Eleanor  de  m. 
Bart,  de  Kyriell,  131;  Hamon  de, 
131 ;  Isabel  de  m.  Hen.  de  Gaunt, 
131;  Iseult  de  m.  Nich.  de  Len- 
ham,  131 ;  Maud  de,  see  Avranches 

Crewe,  John,  254;  fam.,  254 

Cricket,  10,  142 

Cripsey  Brook,  9,  58,  87,  103,  129, 

130,  155,  157,  171,  172.  2°3,  284 
Crofts,  Wm.,  223  n,  224 
Crokatt,  Jas.,  28,  33;  Jane  m.  Sir 

Alex.  Crauford,  Bt.,  33 
Croke,  John,  213 
Cromwell,   Jane   m.    Tobias   Palla- 

vicine,    164;    Oliver,    Lord    Pro- 


tector,  91,   190,  242;  Sir  Oliver, 

164;  Thos.,  Earl  of  Essex,   190, 

224 
Crook,  Revd.  Jas.,  245,  246;  Mary 

w.  of  Revd.  Jas.  m.  2  Revd.  Thos. 

Smith,  245 
Crosbe,  Sir  John  and  his  wives  Anne 

and  Annes,  270 
Crouchman,  Jonas,  138 
Crowe,  Chris.,  161 
Crowfoot,  John,  43 
Croydon  (Surr.),  68 
Cruce,    Aveline   de    m.    1    Rog.    de 

Lees,     2     Alan     Waldesef,     205 ; 

Geoff,  de,   205 ;   Mirabel  de,  see 

Oger 
Crush,  —  (a  tenant  farmer),  92 
Cudge,  John,  305  n 
Cudworth,  Damaris  w.  of  Ralph,  94; 

Ralph,  Master  of  Christ's  College, 

Cambridge,  94-95 
Cure,  Capel  (d.  1816),  10,  13,  15-17, 

153,  177,  214;  Capel  (d.  1878),  10, 

12,  13,  14,  17,  139,  152,  153,  190, 

193,    194,    197,   212 «,   221,   238; 

Maj.  G.  E.  Capel  (d.  1943),  18; 

Revd.  L.  Capel  (d.  1912),  190,193, 

i94>    195;  Maj.  N.   Capel,   15  «; 

fam.,    12-15,    17,    175;    see    also 

Capel-Cure 
Currey,  E.  S.,  124 
Currie,  R.,  223 
Curton,  Emald  de,  49;  Eust.  de,  49; 

Oger  de,  49;  Wm.  de,  49 
Curwen,    Mary    Ann,    see    Ewing; 

Rob.  Ewing,  106 
Curzon,  Cecily,  see  Lampet;  Mary 

m.  (Sir  Thos.  ?)  Tey,  77;  Rob.,  76, 

77;  Wm.  (fl.  c.  1456),  76,  77;  Wm. 

(d.  1485),  76,  77 
Cutiller,  Salamon  le,  211 


Dacre,  barons,  jee  Brand;  baroness, 

see  Roper 
Dacre,     Marg.     Lady     Dacre,     see 

Fiennes 
D'Aeth,  Ann  Lady,  see  Clark;  Sir 

Narbrough    (fl.     1770),     13;     Sir 

Narbrough  (fl.  1789),  13 
Dagenham,  19,  75,  223 
Dalton,  Millican,  117 
Dammartin,    Bart,    de,     151,     153; 

Galiena  de  m.  i  John  Brewer,  2 

Rob.    de    Burgate,    3    Emald   de 

Mandeville,  151,  152,  153;  John 

de,    179;   Manasser  de,   59,    151; 

Odo  de,  151,  179;  Wm.  de,  151 
Danyell,  John,  bellfounder,  256 
dapifer,  Eudo,  190-1 ;  Rose  w.  of,  191 
dapifer,  Fulk,  191 
dapifer,  Hamon  (d.  by  c.  iioo),  59, 

65,  143.  151,  243 
dapifer,  Hamon  (d.  c.  1130),  151 
Darby,  Dulcibella  w.  of  Thos.,  90; 

Geo.,  90;  Thos.,  90 
Darby  (later  St.  Quintin),  Wm.  (d. 

1805),  90 
Darcy,  Rob.,  31;  Thos.  Ld.  Darcy, 

u8 
Dare,  Eliz.  m.  2  John  Marmaduke 

Grafton  (later  Dare),   252;   John 

Hopkins,  252,  255;  Rob.  Westley 

Hall  (d.  1866),  252;  Rob.  Westley 

Hall  (fl.  1901),  252;  fam.,  255, 256; 

see  also  Grafton  (later  Dare),  Hall 

(later  Dare) 
Dashwood,  Eliz.,  90 
David  (fl.  1086),  76 
Davies,  Jos.,  88;  Dr.,  273 
Daw,  Rob.,  190 
Dawges,  Rob.,  306  n 
Dawson,     Fran,     and     Mrs.,     187; 

Revd.  W.,  117 


INDEX 


Dawtrey,  fam.,  68 
Day,  Anne  m.  2  Wm.  Bourne,  3  Ric. 
Young,  59,  60;  G.,  90;  Mrs.  G., 
17/1;  Thos.,  author,  76 
De  La  Warre,  Baron,  see  West 
Deakins,  John,  270 
dean,  Wm.  the  (of  St.  Paul's),  179 
Death,  Wm.,  28 

Debden,  in  Loughton,  1,2,  no,  in, 
113,  117,  n8,  H9,  I20,  121,  122, 
123 
Deen,  Sir  Wm.,  263 
Defoe,  Dan.,  166,  189,  190,  198 
Delauney,  Pet.,  216 
Dellar,  Cath.  m.  Wm.  Stubbs,  Bp.  of 

Chester,  later  Oxford,  143 
Denn,  Wm.,  184 
Denner,  John,  290 
Dennett,  Rob.,  242 
Denning,  Mr.,  290;  Mrs.,  290  n 
Dennis,  Ric,  24 
Denny,   Anne   w.   of    Edm.   m.   2 

Fran.  Comyn,  27,  28;  Edm.,  27 
Dent  and  Arnold,  watchmakers,  24 
Deorwulf,  Bp.  of  London,  143 
Depeden,  John  de  (fl.  1346)  and  his 
w.  Maud,  89;  John  de  (fl.  after 
1358),  89 
Derham,    Anne,    see    Scott;    Revd. 

Wm.,  78 
Derwentwater,  earl  of,  see  Radcliffe 
Despenser,  Aline  le,  see  Basset;  Hen., 
Bp.  of  Norwich,  79,  228;  Hugh  le 
(d.  1265),  287;  Hugh  le.  Earl  of 
Winchester  (d.    1326),   287,   288; 
Hugh  le,  the  younger  (d.   1326), 
287;   Isabel,  m.   Ric.   Fitz  Alan, 
Earl  of  Arundel,  31 
Deu,  Agnes  de,  see  Multon;  Hamon 
de,  80;  John  (fl.  1262),  80;  John 
(fl.  1301),  80;  Juliane  w.  of  John, 
80;  Thos.,  80 
Devereux,  Rob.  Earl  of  Essex,  211 
Devon,  earl  of,  see  Rivers 
Devonshire,    medieval    tax    assess- 
ments, 297 
Dewar,  Mrs.  M.,  279  « 
Dews  Hall,  in  Lamboume,  73,  74, 

75.  77.  78,  79,  80,  82,  83,  84 
Dibben,  A.  A.,  78  n 
Dickens,  Chas.,  see  Bamahy  Rudge 
Digby,  Alice,   Ctss.  of  Bristol,  see 
Bourne ;  John  Ld.  Digby  and  later 
Earl  of  Bristol,  13,  14,  131 
Dimion,  Mrs.,  125 
Dimsdale,  Thos.,  261 ;  Dr.,  273 
Disney,  Dr.,  49 

Ditchfield,    Edw.    the    elder,    153; 
Edw.  the  younger,  153;  John  and 
his  w.  Eliz.,  153;  Thos.,  153 
Dive,     Charlotte,     m.     Sam.,     Ld. 

Masham,  92;  John,  92 
Dixon,  Jas.,  230 
Dod,  Revd.  Pierce,  125 
Doddinghurst,  63,  68 
Doddington,  Wm.,  291 
Doddridge,  Revd.  Phil.,  164 
Dodds,  Rob.,  bellfounder,  256 
Dodyngsells,  John  de,  25 ;  fam.,  25 
Doe,  Ernest  &  Son,  46;  Mrs.,  45  n 
Doisnel,     Juliane     m.     Wm.     Fitz 

Audelin,  175,  176;  Rob.,  175 
Dolby,   Chas.   (d.    I7S5),   64  n,   6g; 
Chas.    (d.    1781),    64;    Chas.    (fl. 
1834),  72;  Louisa,  72;  Wm.  (fl. 
1788),  64;  Wm.  (d.  1819),  69 
Dollman,  F.  T.,  34 
Donne,  see  Dun 
Doreward,  John  (fl.  1404),  32;  John 

(fl-  1439),  32;  Wm.,  32 
Dorling,  A.  W.,  36  «;  Revd.  Wm.,  36 
Dorset,  marquess  of,  see  Grey 
Douai  (Frandfe),  212 
Doule,  Hen.  and  his  w.  Eve,  30 
Dove,  Wm.,  224 


Dover,  Rose  of,  see  Lucy 
Dowdeswell,  Revd.  Edw.  C,  79,  217 
Down  Hall,  in  Hatfield  Broad  Oak, 

193 
Drake,  Fran.,  131 ;  Sam.,  158;  Thos., 

131 ;  Wm.,  131 
Dransfield,  Chas.  and  his  w.  Alice, 

47 
Draper,    And.    le,    79;    Mary,    21; 

Rob.,  78,  81;  Wm.,  78,  81 
Drokensford,  Anne  de  m.  Sir  Thos. 

de  Mandeville,  234;  John  de,  234; 

Marg.  de,  see  Tany ;  Thos.  de,  234 
Dryffeld,   Marg.  w.  of  Thos.,   177, 

and  see  Walden;  Thos.,  177 
Dudley  (Worcs.),  277 
Dun  (Donne),  Caesar,  265 ;  Sir  Dan. 

(d.    1617),    261,    264,    265,    271; 

Dan.  (fl.  1652),  265;  Joan  w.  of 

Sir  Dan.,  265,  271 ;  John,  265 
Duncombe,    Charity,   see   Muscott; 

Sir  Edw.,  106;  Eliz.,  see  Poyntz; 

Geo.,  252;  Wm.,  161 
Dunmow,  22,  27  n,  43,  74,  157,  166, 

188,  189,  197,  198,  203,  204,  260 
Dunmow,  hund.  of,  2,  4,  5,  188,  192, 

196,  197 
Dunmow,     Little,     priory    of,     81 ; 

prior  of,  see  Hugh 
Durham,  bp.  of,  see  Bek 
Dyer,  Thos.  (fl.  1786),  193;  Revd. 

Thos.  (d.  1852),  195;  fam.,  193 


Ealdred,  alderman,  143 

Earle,  Tim.,  100;  Revd.  Wm.,  41 

East  End  Mission,  73 

East  India  Co.,  153 

East  London  Waterworks  Co.,  22, 

"3 
Easter,  Good,  194 
Easter,  High,  see  Berwick 
Eastern  Electricity  Board,  10  «,  88  n, 

97  n,  104  «,  130  n,  275 
Eaton  Socon  (Beds.),  198-9 
Ecclesiastical   Commissioners   (now 

Church  Commissioners),  33,  34, 

144 
Edgar,  King,  143 
Edick,  Jas.,  132 
Edmund,  St.,  60,  61,  224 
Edmund,  Earl  of  Kent  (d.  1330),  287 
Edmund,  Earl  of  Kent  (d.  1331),  287 
Edmund,  Earl  of  Lancaster,  205 
Edmunds,   Isabella  m.  Hen.  West, 

Ld.  De  La  Warre,  226 ;  Magdalen, 

see  Wood;  Sir  Thos.,  225 
Edric,  Wm.  Fitz,  28 
Edward   the   Confessor,   65  «,    118, 

181,  229 
Edward  I,  100,  182,  265 
Edward  II,  160,  265,  287 
Edward  III,  6,  29,  134,  296 
Edward  IV,  29,  254,  266 
Edward  VI,  25,  225 
Edward  VII,  80  n 
Edward  VIII,  as  Prince  of  Wales, 

108 
Edward,  Earl  of  Warwick,  287 
Edwarde,  Rob.,  228 
Edwards,  Charlotte,  218;  Jas.,  106 
Eflingham,    baron   Howard   of,   see 

Howard 
Egan,  Edm.,  architect,  112,  113,  117 
Egremont  (Lines.),  65 
Eisdell,  Revd.  Thos.,  195 
Ekco  Electric  Ltd.,  76 
Ela,  dau.  of  Wm.  de  Longesp^e,  Earl 

of  Salisbury,  m.  i  Thos.  de  New- 
burgh,    Earl   of  Warwick,    2    Sir 

Phil.  Basset 
Elderton,  Wm.  (d.  1755),  153;  Wm. 

(fl.  1763),  153;  see  also  Elrington 
Eldred,  fam.  (paupers),  148 


Eleanor  (of  Castile),  queen  of  Edw. 

I,  12,  13,  100,  105  n,  182,  205 
Eleanor    (of   Provence),    queen    of 

Hen.  Ill,  31 
Electricity  supply,  45,  58,  65,  75,  97. 

113,  142,  151,  158,  174.  189,  204, 

209,  223,  233,  241,  251,  261,  286; 

see  also  County  of  London  Electric 

Supply    Co.,    Eastern   Electricity 

Board 
Elford,  Judith,  136 
Elizabeth   I,   Queen,   54,   118,   161, 

193,    210,    224,    242,    244,    280, 

282 
Elliott,  Edw.,  153;  Eliz.  w.  of  Ric, 

213;   Ric,  213,   216;   Sir  Thos., 

153,  211,  213 
Ellis,  Revd.  W.  W.,  109 
Elrington  (Elderton),  Edw.  (d.  1559), 

255;  Edw.  (d.   1578),  2ss;  Edw. 

(d.    1618),    252,    25s;    Edw.    (fl. 

1652),  252;  fam.,  252 
Elwes,  Anne  m.  Rob.  Meggott,  252; 

Gervase,    252;    Hen.,    255;    Sir 

Hervey,    253;    see   also    Meggott 

(later  Elwes),  Timms  (later  Her- 

vey-Elwes) 
Ely,  bp.  of,  see  Hotham 
Emevere,  Thos.,  207 
Emhal',  see  Hemenhal 
Enfield     (Enefeld),     Alice     de     m. 

Ralph  de  Tyle,  1 1,  99 ;  Alice  w.  of 

Sir  Hen.  de,  46;  Eliz.  de  m.  Thos. 

Battail,  91 ;  Sir  Hen.  de  (fl.  1299), 

46,  91,  99;  Hen.  de  (fl.  1301),  253; 

Sir  John  de  (fl.  1325),  46,  91,  99; 

John  de  (d.  1375),  11,  99;  Maud 

de,  II ;  Ric.  de,  91,  99  «;  Thos.  de 

(fl.  1329),  99;  Thos.  de  (fl.  1399), 

II,  99;  Thos.  de  (fl.   1409),   11; 
Wm.  de,  91,  99 

Enfiolds,  see  Envilles 
Engaine,    Joan    m.    i    Walter    Fitz 
Walter,  2  Adam  de  Welles,  Ld.  de 
Welles,  265;  Joan,  see  Greinville; 
John,  265 

England,  Bank  of,  288 

Envilles  (Enfields),  in  Little  Layer, 
45,46,  91,  97,  98,  188 

Epping,  boundary  of,  4,  258;  bus 
svces.,  158,  174,  286;  char.,  274-5 ; 
coach  svces.,  114,  261;  Copped 
Hall,  177;  Hayles,  90;  Hemnall 
St.,  259,  268;  inhabitants  of,  29, 
85,  215,  238,  264,  272,  274,  283, 
289,  294;  lands  in,  253,  274; 
Madells,  266;  magistrates  at,  115, 
125;  noncf.,  36,  83,  84,  165; 
postal  svces.,  158,  233,  286;  riy., 
2,  74,  1 10,  III,  114,  249,  250,  259, 
260,  286;  roads  to,  9,  19,  20,  103, 
no,  III,  113,  141,  173,  174,  203, 
249,  250,  260;  Rom.  Cathm.,  166, 
257;  tithing  of,  3-4;  otherwise 
mentioned,  260,  272,  273,  275, 
284 

Epping  and  Ongar  Highway  Trust, 
114,  285 

Epping  Forest,  i,  2,  18,  21,  23-24, 
no,  112,  113,  114-16,  123,  124, 
155,  249,  250,  251;  see  also 
Waltham  Forest 

Epping  Poor  Law  Union,  22,  38, 
109,  116,  125,  257,  273,  294 

Epping  Rural  District  Council,  22, 
113,  116 

Epping  Upland,  249,  258,  284 

Epping  Urban  District,  249,  258, 
260,  261 

Epstein,  Sir  Jacob,  117 

Ernie,  Mary  m.  Hen.  Goodricke, 
29;  Mary,  see  Penington;  Mic,  29 

Errington,  Geo.,  Abp.  of  Trebizond 
in  partibus,  70 

Escoiis,  see  Scohies 


319 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Essex,  Baldwin  of,  287;  Cecily  of, 
287,  290;  Hen.  of  (disgraced 
1 163),  276,  287,  290;  Hen.  of  (fl. 
c.  1 186),  287,  290;  Hen.  of  (fl. 
i244),284,287;Hughof(fl.  1194), 
287,  290;  Hugh  of  (fl.  1267-8), 
287;  Ralph  of,  99;  Rob.  of,  276; 
Swein  of,  234,  276;  fam.,  287 

Essex,  earls  of,  204;  see  also  Bohun, 
Bourchier,  Capel,  Cromwell, 
Devereux,  Fitz  Peter,  Mandeville, 
Parr,  Thomas  of  Woodstock ;  earl- 
dom of,  191 

Essex,  I,  23;  maps  of,  4,  198; 
medieval  tax  assessments,  297-9, 
302 

Essex  Committee  for  Compounding, 
211 

Essex  Congregational  Union,  35,  40, 
55.  83-84,  137,  19s,  292 

Essex  County  Council,  180 

Essex  County  Libraries,  lo,  36,  45, 
65.  75.  104.  "8,  13°.  142.  159. 
174,  189,  204,  209,  223,  241,  251, 
276,  286 

Essex  Regiment,  159,  292 

Esshe,  Lancelot  and  his  w.  Dorothy, 

47 
Estden,  Wm.  de,  234 
Estoft,  Kath.,  see  Thorley;  Wal.,  11, 

Ethelston,  Louisa,  see  Perry;  Rob. 

Peel,  32;  Rob.  Wicksted,  32,  90 
Etherwey,  Wm.,  Abbot  of  Stratford 

Langthome,  28 
Eton  College,  135 
Etsi  (fl.  1066),  198 
Eudo  dapifer,  igo,  191,  194,  262;  his 

w.  Rose,  191 
Evans,  John,  100;  Lucy,  45;  Sam., 

203/1,   205 ,   206  n,   207 ;   see  also 

Jones,  Marg.  Mary 
Eve,  Hen.,  200;  Ric.  (fl.  1780),  200; 

Ric.  (fl.  1787),  130;  W.,  130;  fam., 

130 
Everdon,  Sylvester  de.  Archdeacon 

of  Chester,  182 
Evermue,  Wal.  de,  277 
Evesham,  battle  of,  277 
Ewing,  Anna  Caroline  m.  Caledon 

du  Pr6  Alexander,   106;  Frances 

Eliz.     m.     Wm.     Jas.     Tyrwhitt 

Walker,  106;  Jas.,  104,  106,  290; 

Louisa  m.  Winthrop  Mackworth 

Praed,    106;   Mary  Ann  m.  Rob. 

Ewing  Curwen,  106 
Exeter,  archdeacon  of,  see  Travers 
Exeter,  bp.  of,  see  Oldham 
Exning  (Suff.),  106 
Exton,  Nich.  and  his  w.  Joan,  278 
Eyles,  Sir  John,  Bt.,  30  n;  Sir  Jos., 

28,  30 
Eyre,  Mrs.,  269 
Eyre  (later  Archer),  Sir  Wm.,  268, 

271,  289 
Eyver,  John,  78 


Fabian,  Rob.,  261 

Fairbaim  and  Mansfield  House,  in 
West  Ham,  boys'  clubs,  73 

Fairlop  Fair,  24 

Fairs,  24,  75,  105,  130,  160,  167,  175, 
182,  261,  276,  277,  286 

Fambridge,  Wm.  de,  46 

Fane,  Charlotte,  see  Luther;  Fran., 
68;  Revd.  F.  A.  S.,  153  n,  174; 
Capt.  F.  L.,  63  n,  65  n,  68  n;  Hen., 
68;  John  (d.  1824),  68;  John  (fl. 
1849),  65,  241;  John  Luther  (fl. 
1943),  68;  Thos.,  Earl  of  West- 
morland, 68  «;  fam.,  65,  68 

Farm,  Old,  see  Appeltons 

Felde,  Ric.  de  la,  177 


Felix  Hall,  in  Kelvedon,  226 

Felsted,  131,  152 

Felton,  Edmond,  177 

Fen,  Hugh,  33 

Fenrother,  Juliana,  255;  Rob.,  255  n 

Fenton,  Rog.,  24 

Fereby,  John,  191;  Margery,  see 
Bemers 

Ferguson  Radio  Ltd.,  76 

Feme,  Joan  m.  Wm.  Shelton,  177 

Ferrers,  Bridget,  see  Windsor;  Edw., 
278;  Wm.  de  (?Ld.  Ferrers,  d. 
1 371).  93;  Wm.  de,  Ld.  Ferrers 
(d.  1445),  93 

Field,  Margery,  119 

Fields,  common,  2,  23,  75,  116, 
151  n,  223 

Fiennes,  Ingram  de,  49,  76;  Ingram 
s.  of  Wm.  de,  49,  76  n;  John  de, 
176;  Marg.  de  (m.  Edm.  de  Mor- 
timer), 105/1;  Marg.,  Lady  Dacre, 
m.  Samson  Leonard,  176;  Maud 
de  m.  Humph,  de  Bohun,  Earl  of 
Hereford,  12;  Maud  de,  see  Mon- 
ceux;  Sibyl  de,  see  Boulogne; 
Wm.  de  (fl.  c.  1320),  12,  49,  76, 
105;  Sir  Wm.  de  (d.  1302),  12,  13, 
49.  76,  I  OS 

Fifhide,  Ric.  de,  134 

Filkes,  Revd.  J.,  148,  149 

Filshie,  Mr.,  43  n,  44  n 

Finch  (Fynch),  Dan.,  Earl  of  Not- 
tingham, 135;  Eliz.,  see  Savile; 
Essex,  Ctss.  of  Nottingham,  see 
Rich;  Geoff.,  192;  Geo.  (fl.  c. 
1706),  291;  Geo.,  Earl  of  Win- 
chilsea  (d.  1826),  142;  John,  212; 
Judith,  see  FuUerton;  Ric.  le  and 
his  w.,  192;  Rob.,  278;  Savile, 
212;  Thos.,  272 

Fineux,  John,  Chief  Justice  of  King's 
Bench,  290 

Fingrith,  in  Blackmore,  31  « 

Fisher,  Barbara,  42 ;  John  Brett  and 
his  w.  Judith,  49;  Revd.  T.  R.,  83; 
W.  R.,  114 

Fitch,  Anne,  see  Wiseman;  Fran., 
225;  Geo.,  230,  231;  John,  223, 
230;  J.  P.,  64  n,  65  «,  70  «;  Wm. 
(d.  1578),  22s;  Wm.  (fl.  1804), 
230 

Fitz  Alan,  Alice,  see  Warenne; 
Edm.,  Earl  of  Arundel,  31;  Eliz. 
m.  Thos.  de  Mowbray,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  31;  Isabel,  Ctss.  of 
Arundel,  see  Despenser;  Joan,  m. 
Wm.  de  Beauchamp,  Ld.  Berga- 
venny,  31,  262;  Marg.  m.  Row- 
land Lenthal,  3 1 ;  Ric.  Earl  of 
Arundel  (d.  1376),  31;  Ric.  Earl 
of  Arundel  (d.  1397),  31;  Thos., 
Earl  of  Arundel,  3 1 

Fitz  Alcher,  Alcher,  89,  93 ;  Hen.  (d. 
1234),  88,  89;  Hen.  (d.  1303),  89; 
Hen.  (fl.  1343)  and  his  w.  Beatrice, 
89,  93;  Ric.  (fl.  1212),  89;  Ric. 
(d.  c.  1253),  88,  89;  Steph.,  89; 
Wm.,  89 

Fitz  Edric,  Wm.,  28 

Fitzgerald,  Mrs.,  104  n 

Fitz  Ceroid,  Hen.,  191,  262;  Mar- 
gery m.  Baldwin  de  Rivers,  262; 
Warin  (d.  c.  1159),  262;  Warin  (d. 
1216),  262 

Fitz  Gilbert,  John,  29 

Fitz  Peter,  Geoff.,  Earl  of  Essex,  160 

Fitz  Richard,  John,  192;  Wal.,  192; 

Wm.,  192 
Fitz  Robert,  Maud  w.  of  Wal.,  see 

Lucy;  Wal.,  25 
Fitz  Walter,  Christine  m.  Wm.  de 
Mandeville,  Earl  of  Essex,  251; 
Eliz.  Lady  Fitz  Walter,  see  Mas- 
sey;  Emma  dau.  of  Ric,  91 ;  Eus., 
91;    Gunnore    w.    of    Rob.,    see 


Valognes;  Joan,  see  Engaine;  Joan, 

see  Multon;  John,  268;  Rob.  (d. 

1245).  251;  Rob.  (d.  1326),  265; 

Rob.  (fl.  c.  1330),  66;  Rob.  Ld. 

Fitz  Walter  (d.   1406),   25;   Wal. 

(d.  by  1326),  265;  Wal.  Ld.  Fitz 

Walter  (d.  1431),  263  n;  fam.,  25 
Fitzwaryn,  Mabel,  215 
Fitzwilliam,  Anne  Lady  Fitzwilliam, 

see  Sidney ;  Christiana  m.  Sir  Ric. 

Wingfield,  267;  John,  267;  Marg. 

m.  Sir  John  Byron,  267;  Sir  Wm. 

(d.   1534),   14,  78,  81,  267,  289; 

Sir  Wm.  (d.   1576),  78,  267;   Sir 

Wm.    (d.    1599),    267,    271,    289; 

Wm.   (fl.    1602),   267;   Wm.   Ld. 

Fitzwilliam  (d.  1644),  267  n;  fam., 

261 
Fleming,  W.  A.,  206 
Fletcher,  Hen.,  35;  Jos.,  35;  Thos., 

273 

Flint,  Jas.,  153;  Mary  Anne,  see 
Searle 

Floure,  Wm.,  254 

Fobbing,  1 00  n 

Foley,  Revd.  B.  C,  70  n 

Foliot,  Ric,  Archdeacon  of  Middle- 
sex, 151,  179 

Foliots  Hall,  see  Forest  Hall 

Fonteyns,  Rob.,  213 

Foottit,  Mr.,  surveyor,  217 

Ford  (Forde),  Fran.,  68;  Rev.  Jas., 
143,  147,  148;  Thos.  (fl.  1350), 
199;  Thos.  (fl.  1823),  238 

Fordham,  John,  165 

Forest  Hall  (Foliots  Hall,  Norton, 
Norton  Foliot),  in  High  Ongar, 
43,  45.  47.  51.  150.  151.  152.  154. 
172,  175,  176,  179-80,  181,  186, 
204 

Forests,  2,  63,  80,  140,  222,  234,  259, 
261;  see  also  Epping  Forest, 
Hainault  Forest,  Waltham  Forest 

Forster,  Eliz.,  see  Covell;  Mary,  see 
Penington;  Rog.,  29 

Fortescue,  Chichester  S.  P.,  Ld. 
Carlingford,  144;  Frances,  Ctss. 
Waldegrave  and  Lady  Carling- 
ford, see  Braham 

Fortescue-Aland,  Dormer,  Ld.  For- 
tescue, 77,  229;  John,  Ld.  For- 
tescue, 75,  77,  78,  85,  225,  228, 

231 

Forteye,  Rob.  atte,  1 9  n 

Forz,  Aveline  de,  see  Montfichet; 
Isabel  de,  see  Rivers;  Wm.  de. 
Count  of  Aumale  (d.  1241),  227; 
Wm.  de.  Count  of  Aumale  (d. 
1260),  262 

Foster,  Anna  w.  of  Abraham,  90; 
Abraham,  90;  Revd.  Sir  Caven- 
dish, Bt.,  270,  271 ;  Jacob  and  his 
w.  Sarah,  90,  93 ;  Mary  m.  Lewis 
Scawen,  90;  Pet.,  185;  Reynold, 
90;  Sar.  m.  Ric.  Merry,  90 

Foulger,  Bart.  Hartley,  35 

Fountain  (Fountaine),  John,  267; 
Mary,  42 

Fowler,  Anne,  see  Cooper;  Chas.,  13 

Fowlmere  (Cambs.),  262 

Fox,  Revd.  Hen.  E.,  165 

Francies,  Wm.  R.,  127 

Francis,  H.  H.,  117 

Frankfort,  Ld.,  260  n 

Frankfurt-am-Main  (Germany),  269 

Franks,  Aaron,  177;  Hen.,  177; 
Isaac,  177;  Jacob  Hen.,  177; 
Napthali,  177;  Phylah  m.  Nap- 
thali,  177 

Fraunceys,  Sim.,  199 

Fray,  John,  199 

Frayes,  in  Beauchamp  Roding,  182, 
198,  199-200,  201 

Freeman,  Geo.,  254;  Sir  Ralph, 
254 


320 


INDEX 


French,  Chas.,  io6;  Eliz.,  24;  Jas., 
242;  W.  &  C,  Ltd.,  24,  182 

Frere,  Jane,  see  Hookham;  John  (d. 
1807),  133;  John  Hookham  (d. 
1846),  130,  133 

Frinton,  205 

Frit,  Wm.  del,  180 

Frith,  Wm.  le  and  his  w.   Parnel, 

151 

Frith  Hall  (Old  Frith,  Old  Thrifts), 
in  High  Ongar,  57  n,  173,  180 

Frosshe,  John,  289 

Frost,  W.  J.,  137 

Fryerning,  1 94  n 

Fulham,  John,  33;  Nich.,  33 

Fulk,  Adam  s.  of,  191 

Fulk  dapifer,  191 

Fuller,  Hen.  (d.  1590),  26,  30;  Hen. 
(d.  1602),  26;  Hen.  (fl.  1621),  30; 
Hen.  (d.  1623),  26;  Hen.  (fl.  1668), 
26;  John  (d.  c.  1671),  23;  John  (fl. 
c.  1700),  30;  Kath.  w.  of  Thos., 
290;  Ric,  30;  Rob.,  Abbot  of 
Waltham,  252,  255;  Thos.  (d. 
c.  1575).  26;  Thos.  (fl.  1594).  290; 
Wm.  (fl.  1705),  290;  Wm.  (fl. 
c.  1768),  290 

Fullerton,  John,  212;  Judith  m. 
Savile  Finch,  212;  Weston,  212 

Furnyvall,  Alma  de,  266 

Fyfield,  2,  43-s8,  iS5.  iS9  «,  171. 
189,  195,  198,  201,  207;  adv.,  52; 
agric,  45-46;  Bp.  Compton's 
census,  311;  char.,  43,  55-56,  57, 
180;  ch.,  43,  52,  loi  n,  153,  182; 
Church  Houses,  54;  Clatterford 
End,  43;  Dame  Anna's  Farm,  43, 
44,  45;  Fyfield  Bridge,  44,  45; 
Fyfield  Hall,  7,  43,  44,  45,  47-49, 
180;  Fyfield  Pea,  46;  hearth  taxes, 
304-6,  308;  hos.,  43-45,  47-52; 
inds.,  46;  mans.,  6,  46-52,  99,  181 ; 
medieval  taxes,  300-2;  mills,  44; 
noncf.,  44,  55;  Norwood  End,  43, 
44>  45.  55  ";  par.  govt,  and  poor 
rel.,  55;  Pickerells  (Ash  Farm), 
44.  45.  49,  54;  pop-.  43;  postal 
svces.,  45;  pub.  svces.,  45;  rect., 
52;  roads,  43-45;  schs.,  43,  55, 
62,  186,  1 88,  197;  stage  coach 
svces.,  45,  74;  top.,  43-45; 
'Vicarage',  44,  52;  woods,  43;  see 
also  Herons,  Lampetts 

Fyfield,  'the  other  Fyfield'  (Domes- 
day village),  2 

Fynch,  see  Finch 


Gaisford,  G.  J.,  37 

Gallard.  Anne,  widow,  m.  2  John 
Wroth,  30;  John,  30 

Gallop,  Canon  E.  H.,  10  n,  15  n 

Gamage,  Mrs.  T.  W.,  53  n,  54  n 

Gardening,  landscape,  i,  64,  68,  93, 
144,  228,  245,  281 

Gardiner,  Thos.,  bellfounder,  136, 
246 

Gardner,  Wm.,  27,  28 

Gamett,  H.,  207 

Gas  Light  and  Coke  Co.,  22 

Gas  supply,  58,  209,  250,  261,  286; 
see  also  Bishop's  Stortford  Gas 
Co.,  Chigwell  &  Woodford 
Bridge  Gas  Co.,  Gas  Light  & 
Coke  Co.,  Ongar  Gas  Co.,  Rom- 
ford Gas  Co. 

Gascoigne,  Wm.,  278 

Gascony  (France),  2ii,  265,  288 

Gate  (Gates),  Agnes  w.  of  Sir  Geoff, 
m.  2  Wm.  Brown,  199 

Gate,  Sir  Geoff,  (d.  1477),  199;  Sir 
Geoff,  (d.  1526),  199;  Sir  John, 
199,  200;  Mary  w.  of  Sir  John, 
199,  200;  Wm.,  199 

ES.  IV 


Gatesbery    (Gatesbyry),    Ralph    or 

Ric.  de,  214 
Gaunt,   Hen.   de,    131;    Isabel,   see 

Crevequer 
Gaussens,  Sam.  R.,  201 
Gaynes  Park,  in  Theydon  Gamon, 

78  n,  259,  261 
Gellibrand,  Wm.,  229 
Geoffrey,  Prior  of  Waltham,  89 
Geoffrey  s.  of  Adam,  see  Roinges, 

Geoff,  de 
Geoffrey,  Wm.  Fitz,  198 
Geoffrey,  Wm.  s.  of,  see  Roinges, 

Wm.  de 
George   H,   92,   286;   as  Prince  of 

Wales,  78 
George  IH,  as  Prince  of  Wales,  92 
George,  Duke  of  Clarence,  287,  his 

w.  Isabel,  see  Neville 
Germain,  Gil.,  67;  Rog.,  67;  Wm. 

(fl.  1368),  67;  Wm.  (fl.  1421),  67 
Germains,  in  Kelvedon  Hatch,  63, 

67 
Gernon,  Eliz.  m.  Gil.  Prince,  263 ; 

Hugh,  261,  263;  Isabel,  253,  263; 

John  (d.  1321),  263;  Sir  John  (fl. 

c.  1339),  263;  John  (fl.  1346),  263; 

Lucy,  see  Whetynton;  Ralph  (d. 

1235-6),  49,  262;  Ralph  t^d.  1274), 

263;  Ralph  (fl.  1320),  263;  Rob., 

26,   27,    118,   227;   Thos.   (d.   by 

1361),    253,    263;    Thos.    (d.    by 

1428-9),  263  ;  Wm.  (d.  1258),  262; 

Wm.   (d.    1327),   262,   263,   266; 

Wm.  (d.   1340),  253,  263;  fam., 

258,  270 
Gerry,  J.,  156 
Gervase,  192 
Geyre,  Rob.,  215 
Gibb,  Frances,  23071;  fam.,  230 
Gibbs,  Dr.  Chas.,  218 
Gibson,   Charlotte,   58;   Hen.,    159, 

162,  167;  Jane  m.  Geo.  Scott,  32; 

Revd.  Rob.,  58,  201 ;  Thos.,  29 
Giddins,  G.  H.,  35 
Giffard,  John  de  and  his  w.  Eleanor, 

131. 133 
Gilbert,  Ann,  see  Taylor;  Anne,  100; 

J.  C,  165 
Gilbert,  John  Fitz,  29 
'Gilbert'   Poor  Law  Union  (1829), 

211,  221,  231,  238,  247,  248 
Gilbertson,  J.  M.,  88 
Gilderson,  Eliz.,  119 
Gildesburgh,  Sir  John  de,  191 
Giles,    Dan.    (d.    1800),    254,    288; 

Dan.(d.  i832),254, 291  ;Hen.,242, 

248;  Sar.,  86 
Giles-Puller,  Chris.,  288 
Gilston  Park,   in   Gilston   (Herts.), 

291 
Gingell,  D.  Taylor,  133;  John,  214; 

Mr.,  36,  37 
Ginger,  Mr.,  58  n 
Gippes,  see  Bilsdens 
Gittins,  Anne,  224;  Rog.  and  his  w. 

Anne,  224 
Gladwin,  Ric,  31071 
Glascock,  Geo.,  13;  John  (fl.  15 12), 

13;  John  (fl.  1543).  214;  John  (fl. 

1564).    13;   John  (fl.    1587),    193; 

John(fl.  1598),  13;  John  (fl.  1628), 

13;  Ric,  190;  Wm.,  190;  fam.,  64 
Glasse,  T.,  99 
Gloucester,  Hugh  de,  167 
Gloucester,   dukes   of,   see   Richard 

III,  Thomas  of  Woodstock 
Gloucester,    earls    of,    see    Audley, 

Clare,  Robert,  William;  earldom 

of,  151 
Gloucester,  honor  of,  160 
Gloucestershire,  lands  in,  276 
Gobyon,  Joan,  see  Spigurnel;  John, 

243 ;  Wm.  (fl.  1333).  243 ;  Wm.  (fl. 

1410),  243 

321 


Godfrey,    Margery,   see   Hampden; 

Ric,  278  n 
Godid  (Gotil,  Gotild)  (fl.  1066),  59, 

143.   151.  179 

Good,  Mr.,  290 

Godric  (fl.  1066),  234,  276 

Godwin,  Mr.,  95 

Goebell,  Ann  w.  of  Gerrard,  236; 
Gerrard,  236,  237;  John,  236; 
Rebecca  m.  Gerrard,  236;  Re- 
becca, see  Luther 

Goldingham,  Alan,  25 ;  Sir  Alex,  de, 
25,  26,  29,  32;  Alice  de,  see  Brito; 
Aline  w.  of  Wm.  de,  29;  Elnr.  de 
m.  John  Mannock,  25 ;  Eliz.  w.  of 
Sir  Wal.  de  m.  2  Mat.  Hay,  25; 
Isabel  w.  of  Sir  Alex,  de,  25 ;  John 
de  (.'  d.  by  1235),  25;  John  de  (d. 
by  1316),  25;  John  de  ^fl.  1340), 
253,  263;  Sir  John  de  (d.  c.  1362), 
25,  32;  Sir  Wal.  de,  25,  32;  Wm. 
de  (fl.  1 1 69),  25 ;  Wm.  de  (fl.  1 258), 
25,  29;  Sir  Wm.  de  (?fl.  13th 
cent.),  25  n 

Golding-Palmer,  Revd.  Hen.  and 
his  w.  Isabella,  100 

Goldringe,  — ,  27 

Goldsborough  (Gouldesborough), 
Eliz.,  162,  307  n;  Eliz.  m.  Ric. 
Turner,  164;  Thos.  (d.  by  1664), 
161;  "Thos.  (d.  1703),  161  n; 
Thos.  (fl.  1718),  161 

Goodall,  Revd.  A.,  165  n 

Goodricke,  Hen.,  29;  Mary,  see 
Ernie 

Goodwin,  Chas.,  148;  Geo.,  136 

Gordon,  Isabella  Julia  Lady,  see 
Bennet;  Sir  Jas.  Willoughby,  161 

Gotild  (fl.  1066),  see  Godid 

Gough,  Ric,  antiquary,  60  n 

Gould,  A.  &  C,  130;  Isaac,  35;  I. 
Chalkley,  117;  Revd.  Wm.,  229, 
230,  232 

Gouldesborough,  see  Goldsborough 

Grafton,  Eliz.  m.  Rob.  Westley  Hall 
(later  Dare),  252,  255,  257 

Grafton  (later  Dare),  Eliz.,  see  Dare; 
John  Marmaduke,  252 

Grainger,  Mary,  42 

Grange,  man.  of,  in  Chigwell,  29 

Grange  Hill,  in  Chigwell,  18,  19,  20, 
21,  22,  24,  29,  34 

Gras,  John  de,  211;  Pauline  w.  of 
John  de,  2ii 

Gravel  digging,  203,  242 

Graves,  Tim.,  215 

Graye,  Miles,  bellfounder,  136,  147, 
202,  271 

Grays  Inn  (Lond.),  29,  268 

Great  West  Hatch,  see  Hatch,  West 

Greatherd,  Anne  (dau.  of  Rob.  Hill), 
164 

Green  (Greene,  Grene),  Agnes  w.  of 
John,  208;  Chas.,  30;  Christian, 
147;  Edw.  and  his  w.  Ann,  30; 
Hadsley,  205,  207,  208;  Jas.,  132; 
John  (fl.  1586),  142,  144 «,  145, 
21971;  John  (d.  1595).  204,  205, 
206,  207,  208;  John  (fl.  1624),  205,  • 
207;  John  (d.  c.  1626),  149;  John 
(fl.  c.  1650),  205  n;  John  (d.  1653), 
145.  147;  John  (d.  1659),  145; 
John  (fl.  1664),  205  71;  John  (fl. 
1699),  205;  John  (fl.  1707),  30; 
John  (d.  1725),  145;  John  (d. 
1752),  145;  Jos.,  231;  Kath.  w.  of 
John,  208;  Mary  m.  Revd.  And. 
Trebeck,  204,  205,  207;  Dr. 
Maurice,  145;  Nat.,  132;  Rebecca 
m.  Thos.  Thorold,  147;  Ric,  143; 
Rob.  (d.  1624),  205,  207;  Rob.  (fl. 
c.  1624),  205;  Rob.  (fl.  1637),  145; 
Rob.  (fl.  1670),  30771;  Sarah  m. 
John  Baker,  205 ;  Sarah,  see 
Hadesley;  Thos.  (d.  by  1537),  213, 

Tt 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Green  (cont.): 

ai6,  217;  Thos.  (fl.  1543).  212; 
Thos.  (fl.  1582),  205,  207;  Thos. 
(fl.  c.  1600),  i45;Wm.  (fl.  c.  1233), 
192;  Wm.  (fl.  1543),  212,  213; 
Wm.  (d.  c.  1554),  171,  221;  fam., 
145,  204,  205 

Greenstead,  4,  58-63,  157,  159", 
171,  222;  adv.,  60;  agric,  58;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311 ;  char.,  62, 
221;  ch.,  I,  60-62,  162,  163; 
Greenstead  Green,  9,  58,  59,  62, 
210;  Greenstead  Hall,  58,  60; 
hearth  taxes,  305,  306,  308;  hos., 
58,  60,  155;  man.,  6,  59-60,  160, 
241 ;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel.,  62, 

168,  221  n;  par.  united  with  Chip- 
ping Ongar,  61,  163;  pop.,  58; 
pub.  svces.,  58;  rect.,  61 ;  schs.,62, 

169,  170;  top.,  58 
Greenstead  by  Colchester,  60  n 
Gregories,  in  Theydon  Bois,  253-5 
Gregory  s.  of  Ralph,  253 
Greinville,  Sir  Gil.,   265;  Joan  m. 

John  Engaine,  265 ;  Joyce  w.  of 
Sir  Gil.,  m.  2  Ric.  Montfichet,  265 

Grene,  see  Green 

Greville,  Anne  Lady,  see  Poyntz; 
Sir  Fulke,  161;  Giles,  218;  Thos., 
2i8 

Grey,  Frances  m.  Wm.  Cook,  io6; 
Lady  Jane,  106,  199;  Ld.  John, 
106;  Thos.,  Marquess  of  Dorset, 
106  n 

Griffin,  Revd.  R.  T.  K.,  189  «,  190  n, 
195  n,  197  n,  201  n,  202  n 

Griffinhoeff,  Revd.  N.,  70 

Gros,  Wm.  le,  33 

Gross,  Alfred  W.,  35 

Grosvenor,  Mary,  205;  Field- 
Marshal  Thos.,  Ill 

Groves,  Miss,  164 

Grymesby,  Edm.  de,  256 

Guercis,  Balthasar  de,  117 

Guild  of  All  Souls,  162 

Guildford  (Surr.),  29 

Guilds,  religious,  33,  136-7 

Guilliams,  Abel,  122 

Guinness,  Lady  Honor  m.  Hen. 
Channon,  66 

Gwyne,  John,  93 

Gyes,  John,  100 

Gynne,  Thos.,  55 


Habershon  and  Fawckner,  archi- 
tects, 207 

Habhale,  John,  11 

Hackney,  C.  H.,  241  n 

Hackney  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  Poor 
Law  Union,  156 

Hacun  (fl.  1066),  251 

Haddon,  Mrs.,  237 

Hadesley,  Edw.,  205  n;  Sarah  m. 
John  Green,  205  n 

Hadham,  Much  (Herts.),  igo,  244 

Hadler,  Councillor,  58  n 

Hadsley,  Mary,  154;  Rob.,  152,  154 

Hainault,  in  Chigwell,  i,  2,  19,  21, 

35,  37,  4°,  41 
Hainault  Forest,  i,  i8,  21,  23,  24, 

72,    75,    114,    143,    223;    see   also 

Waltham  Forest 
Hakeney,  Kath.  (fl.  1332)  w.  of  Rob. 

de,    11;   Kath.   de  (fl.    1361),    11; 

Rob.  de,  II,  14;  Thos.  de,  11 
Halden,  Thos.,  98,  99 
Hale,  Ric,  178;  Rob.,  178;  Thos., 

79;  Wm.,  79;  fam.,  79 
Hall,  John  (fl.  c.   1540),  242;  John 

(fl.  1799),  99;  John  (fl.  1848),  99; 

Revd.    Martin,    93 ;    Ric,    242 ; 

Wm.,  133 
Hall  (later  Dare),  Rob.  Westley  (d. 


1836),     252;    his    w.     Eliz.,    see 

Grafton 
Hallingbury ,  Great,  1 2 ;  Hallingbury 

Place  in,  268 
Halsham,  Sir  Hugh,  278 
Halstead,  272 

Haltoft,  Agnes,  see  Haugh;  Wm.,  66 
Ham,  East,  Old  People's  Home,  144 
Ham,  West,  Open  Air  Sch.,  43,  57; 

see  also  Stratford,  Stratford  Lang- 

thorne,   Fairbaim  and  Mansfield 

House 
Hambleton,  Revd.  Geo.,  255,  256 
Hambro,  Maj.  Jocelyn,  269;  Mrs.  J., 

269  n 
Hamburg  (Germany),  244 
Harney,  Baldwin,  178 
Hamilton,    Revd.    Ant.,    114,    120, 

121  n,   122;  Revd.  J.,  230;  Wal. 

Kerr,  Bp.  of  Salisbury,  117 
Hammersmith  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.), 

83 
Hamon  dapifer  (d.  by  c.  iioo),  59, 

65,  143,  151.  243 
Hamon  dapifer  (d.  c.  1130),  151 
Hamon,  Rob.  Fitz,  151 
Hampden,    Edm.,    277;    Eliz.,    see 
Prince;    Ellen   m.   John   Branch, 
264,  271 ;  Fran.,  264,  269;  Jane  m. 
I     Chris.     Carleton,     2     Francis 
Michell,  254,  264;  John  (d.  1450- 
i),  278;  John  (fl.  i486),  278;  Sir 
John  (fl.  1502),  264;  Sir  John  (d. 
1553),    278,    279;    Margery   m.    i 
John  Shirley,  2  Edw.  Bishop,  264; 
Margery  w.  of  Thos.  m.  2  Ric. 
Godfrey,     278;    Philippa    Lady, 
see  Wylford;  Thos.,  278 
Hamshire,  Wm.,  16 
Hanchett,  Wm.,  74 
Hancock,  Hen.,  26  n 
Hanley,  Mr.,  83 
Hanover  Square  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.), 

92 
Hanson,  Emily  Jane,  122 
Harbert,  Wm.,  bellfounder,  136 
Harcourt,     Frances,    Ctss.    Walde- 

grave,  see  Braham 
Hardbene,  John,  66 
Hardyng,    John,    bellfounder,    147; 

Rob.,  31 
Hare,  Hugh,  Ld.  Coleraine,  226 
Harewes,    Ric.  de.  Abbot  of  Wal- 
tham, 89 
Harlow,  87,  94  n,  103,  129,  158,  167, 
274,  284,  289,  290;  see  also  Hub- 
bards  Hall 
Harlow,  half  hund.  of,  3-7,  38,  284, 

286,  289 
Harold  Hill,  in  Romford,  142 
Harold,  King  (d.  1066),  24,  30,  65, 

118,  181 
Harper,  Eliz.,  see  Skrene;  Geo.  (fl. 
1507),  213;  Geo.  (fl.   1542),  161, 
iSi;  Ric.  (d.  1492),  213;  Ric.  (d. 
1507),  213 
Harrington,  John,  200 
Harrison,  John,  267;  Marg.,  267 
Harrod,  'Goodman',  109 
Harsnett,  Sam.,  Abp.  of  York,  24, 

34,  38 
Hart  (Archibald),  98;   Mr.  &  Mrs. 

C.  E.,  292;  Wm.,  288 
Hartley,  Revd.  B.,  174  n 
Harvey,  Sir  Eliab  (d.   1699),  5,   19, 
24,  27;  Adml.  Sir  Eliab  (d.  1830), 
5,  24,  28,  190,  200,  202;  Eliz.  m. 
Thos.  W.  Bramston,  190;  Emma, 
see   Skinner;   John,    206;    Josias, 
107  n;  Louisa  m.  Wm.  Lloyd,  23, 
28;  Thos.,  107/1;  Wm.  (d.  1731), 
27,  28;  Wm.  (d.  1742),  28;  Wm. 
(d.   1763),  28,  38,   190;  Wm.  (d. 
1779),  28,  30,  199;  fam.,  30 
Harvey-Elwes,  see  Timms 


Harwich,  157 
Hasilden,  Wm.,  91 
Hastie,  Capt.  Jas.,  244 
Hastings  (Hastinges),   Sir  Humph, 
de,   289;  John  de,   Earl  of  Pem- 
broke  (d.    137s),   262;   John  de, 
Earl  of  Pembroke  (d.  1389),  262; 
Lawr.  de.  Earl  of  Pembroke,  262; 
Rob.  de  (fl.  1248),  289  n;  Rob.  de 
(fl.  1314),  13 
Hastingwood,      in     North     Weald 
Bassett,  4,  5,  284,  285,  286,  289, 
292,  293,  294 
Hatch,   Caroline   m.   John   Ruther- 
forth   Abdy   (later  Hatch-Abdy), 
26,  229,  232;  Jas.  23,  26,  28,  30, 
34  n,  42;  Jemima  m.  Chris.  Jas. 
Mills,  26;  Louisa  m.  Wm.  Rufus 
Rous,  26;  fam.,  34 
Hatch,  West  (Great  West  Hatch),  in 

Chigwell,  19-22,  26 
Hatch-Abdy,     fam.,     34;     see    also 

Abdy,  Hatch 
Hatfield,  Wal.  of,  224 
Hatfield   Broad   Oak,   27,   95,    188, 
249;    see    also    Barrington    Hall, 
Down  Hall,  Hatfield  Heath 
Hatfield  Forest,  27 
Hatfield  Heath,  in  Hatfield  Broad 

Oak,  95 
Hatt,  Mary,  see  Cleeve 
Haugh,  Agnes  de  m.  Wm.  Haltoft, 
66;    Joan   de,    66;    Joan   de,    see 
Welby;   John   de   (fl.    1333),   66 
John  de  (fl.  1347),  66;  John  de  (fl, 
1395),  66;  John  de  (fl.  1457),  66 
Kath.  de  m.  John  Bolles,  66;  Ric. 
de,  66;  Thos.  de  (fl.   1370),  66 
Thos.  de  (fl.  1406),  66 
Haute,  Kath.  Lady  see  Wrytell;  Sir 

Ric,  177  n 
Havering-atte-Bower,  79,  118,   139, 

141,  224;  see  also  Pyrgo 
Havers,  E.,  55,  56 
Hawkins,  John  and  his  w.  Sar.,  27 
Hay  (Haye),  Lady  Edw.,  see  Latham, 
Audrey;    Eliz.,   see   Goldingham; 
Joan  w.  of  Wm.  de  la,  m.  2  Rob. 
Lincoln,  289;  Mat.,  25;  Rog.  de 
la,  59;  Wm.  de  la,  59,  60 
Haydon,  Jas.,  80 
Hayle,  Ric.  and  his  w.  Agnes,  29 
Haymarket  (Lend.),   253 
Hayward,   Burton,   283 
Heald,  Miss  M.  E.,  127  n 
Heales,  Mrs.,  93 
Heard,  John,  169 
Heath,  Noah  (fl.  185 1),  116;  Noah 

(fl.  1894),  36;  —  (a  tenant),  125 
Hedges,  Anne  m.  Sir  Edw.  Smyth, 

281  «;  fam.  (arms),  281 
Hedingham  Castle,  honor  of,  27,  19a 
Hedingham,  Castle,  priory  of,  288 
Heigham,  Sir  Clement,  229;  Lucy 

m.  Fran.  Stoner,  229 
Hellier,  Rev.  Geo.,  293 
Helston  (Cornw.),  79 
Hemenhal  (Emhal'),  Hen.  de,  268; 

Rog.  de,  268 
Hemerford,  And.,  161 
Hemersthorp,  John,  278 
Hemnalls,  in  Theydon  Gamon,  259, 

266,  268,  272 
Hempnall  (Norf.),  268 
Hende,  Griselde,  see  Belknap;  Joan 
m.  Wal.   Wr>'tell,   243;   Sir  John 
(d.  1418),  242,  243 ;  John  (fl.  1447), 
242,  243;  John  (d.  1464),  242,  243 
Hendry,  Thos.,  158 
Heneage, Eliz.,  199;  Cecil(a  woman), 

199;  Chas.,  199;  Sir  Mic,  199 
Henham,  272 

Henley-on-Thames  (Oxon.),  228 
Henrietta  Maria,  queen  of  Chas.  I, 
224,  225 


322 


INDEX 


Henry  I,  59,  151,  227 

Henry  11,  5,  89,  160,  262,  276 

Henry  HI,  7,  181 

Henry  IV,  135;  his  ist  w.  Mary,  see 

Bohun 
Henry  V,  205 
Henry  VI,  135 
Henry  VII,  29,  267 
Henry  VIII,   5,  25,   100,   135,   184, 

190,  216,  224,  242,  280,  282 
Henry,  Prince  of  Wales  (d.   1612), 

117,  119 
Henry  s.  of  Henry,  224  n 
Henry,  John  s.  of,  152 
Henshaw,  Rev.  Jos.,  183,  186  n 
Herbert,  Hen.  and  his  w.  Anne,  134; 

Wm.,  Earl  of  Pembroke  (d.  1630), 

120  n 
Herbert,  Ivo  nephew  of,  65 
Herde,  Edm.,  281;  Thos.,  281 
Hereford,  ctss.  of,  91 
Hereford,  earls  of,  see  Bohun 
Herefordshire,  lands  in,  243  n 
Heme  (Kent),  150 
Heron,  Revd.  A.,   136;  Eliz.  w.  of 

John,  gi,  and  see  Pykenham ;  John, 

91 ;  Thos.,  212 
Herons,  in  Fyfield,  43,  45,  49-51,  52, 

180 
Herringham,  Revd.  W.,  168 
Herstmonceux  (Suss.),   176 
Hertfordshire,    lands    in,    89,    278; 

medieval    tax    assessments,    302; 

migrants  from,  38 
Herts.    &    Essex  Waterworks    Co., 

10,  45,  58  n,  65,  75,  88,  97,  104, 

130,  142,  151,  158,  174,  189,  198, 

204,  209,  223,  233,  241,  250,  261, 

276,  286 
Hertingfordbury  (Herts.),  253 
Hewett,   Thos.   (d.   c.    1564),   37 «; 

Sir  Thos.  (fl.  1654),  228;  Wm.,  61 
Hewitt,  Mrs.  A.,  52 
Hewyt,  John,  19  n;  Ric,  62 
Heybridge,  54 
Hiccocks,  John,  254;  Wm.  (fl.  1655), 

100;  Wm.  (d.  1674),  254;  Wm.  (fl. 

1674).  254 
Hickling  (Norf.),  priory  of,  79 
Hickman,   Other  Windsor,   Earl  of 

Plymouth,    288;    Sar.,    Ctss.    of 

Plymouth,  see  Archer 
Hicks,  Ann,  m.  —  Burton,  25;  Sir 

Henry  (Harry),  Bt.,  25 ;  Howe,  25 ; 

Martha,  m.  —  Petty,  25 ;  Mic,  25, 

26;  Sir  Rob.,  Bt.,  25;  Sir  Wm., 

Bt.,  25 
Hicks  (later  Hicks-Beach),  Mic,  25, 

26 
Higgins,  Wm.,  115 
Higham,  Sir  Rich.,  287 
Highfield,  Dr.  J.  R.  L.,  288  n 
Highgate  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  147 
Highlow  (Derbs.),  289 
Hill,  Anne,  see  Greatherd;  Anne,  see 

King;  Eliz.,  see  Senewe;  John  (fl. 

i6th  cent.),  26,  37  n;  Maj.-Gen. 

John  (d.  1735),  92;  Ric,  54;  Rob., 

164;    Sir    Rowland,    inventor    of 

penny  post,  41 ;  Revd.  T.,  35,  83 
Hill  Hall,  in  Theydon  Mount,  i,  60, 

235,  259,  260,  275,  276,  277,  278- 

81 
Hills,  Ric,  189 
Hinchingbrook  (Hunts.),   164 
Hinckford,  hund.  of,  304 
Hinson,  John,  92 
Hinton,  Revd.  Edw.,  193 
Hoard,  Sam.,  135 
Hoare,  Gerard  Noel,  62 
Hodson,  John,  bellfounder,  19s 
Holbrook,  Mrs.,  60 
Holenden,  Rob.,  207 
Holland,  Alice,  w.  of  Thos.  Eari  of 

Kent,  287;  Edm.,  Eari  of  Kent, 


287;    Elnr.   m.   Thos.   Montagu, 

Earl    of    Salisbury,    287;    Thos. 

Earl  of  Kent,  287 
Holland,  earl  of,  see  Rich 
Holland,  emigrants  from,  119  n 
Hollick,  Wm.,  290 
Hollingsworth,   John,    243 ;    Lawr., 

243;  Rainold,  242,  243,  246;  Wm., 

243 

Hollingworth,  Joanna,  242,  244; 
Phil.,  246;  Ric,  24 

HoUis,  Thos.  Brand  (fl.  c.  1804),  49 

HoUoway,  J.  C,  127 

Holman,  Alex.,  179;  Anastasia,  179; 
Eliz.,  179;  Geo.,  179;  Sir  John, 
Bt.,  179;  Phil.,  179;  fam.,  179 

Holy  Trinity,  Aldgate  (Lond.), 
priory  of,  227,  229 

Hoo,  in  St.  Paul's  Walden  (Herts.), 
1 9 1-2 

Hoo,  Thos.,  31 

Hookham,  Jane  m.  John  Frere,  133; 
John,  133 

Hop  growing,  2,  75,  166,  198,  210 

Hopkins,  John,  252 

Hormead,  Great  (Herts.),  31/1 

Homer,  Thos.,  47;  W.  S.,  53 

Homers  (Hornets),  in  Beauchamp 
Roding,  198,  200 

Hornsey  (Mdx.),  io6 

Horsley,  West  (Surr.),  191 

Horsman,  Thos.  and  his  w.  Marg., 
n 

Hoskyn,  John,  200 

Hospitallers,  Knights,  77,  79 

Hotham,  Revd.  C.  G.  B.,  269,  270; 
Ivetta,  see  Scrope;  John  (d.  1351), 
46;  John,  Bp.  of  Ely  (d.  1337),  46; 
Sir  John  (fl.  1337),  46;  Pet.,  46 

Houard  (fl.  1066),  143 

Houblon,  Chas.,  10,  12,  14;  Revd. 
Jacob  (d.  1698),  137;  Rev.  Jacob 
(d.  1740),  12  n,  14-16,  163;  Jacob 
(d.  1770),  12,  15,  254;  Jacob  (d. 
1783),  268;  John  Archer,  10,  12, 
86,  104;  Mary,  see  Cotton;  fam., 
12,  16 

Houblon  (later  Nevrton),  Susanna, 
see  Archer 

Houghton,  Olivia,  128 

Houndsditch  (Lond.),  195 

Housham,  in  Matching,  91 

Housing,  council,  9,  10,  21,  44,  58, 
64.73.87.  103.  i°4.  "3.  129,  141, 
172,  173,  189,  198,  203,  208,  209, 
222,  250,  276,  285 

How,  John,  244,  245,  247;  Ric.  (d. 
1708),  244;  Ric.  (d.  1723),  244; 
fam.,  246 

Howard,  Lady  Arabella,  see  Aleyn; 
Lord  Edm.,  133;  Eliz.,  227;  Eliz. 
m.  John  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford 
(d.  1462),  227;  Ld.  Geo.,  235; 
Hen.,  Duke  of  Norfolk  (d.  1684), 
235;  Hen.  (fl.  c.  1780),  288;  Joan, 
see  Walton;  John,  Duke  of  Nor- 
folk, 133,  134;  John,  Ld.  Plaiz 
(d.  1409),  227;  Sir  John  (d.  1438), 
227;  Revd.  J.,  201;  Marg.,  see 
Plaiz;  Maria,  see  Archer;  Thos. 
Duke  of  Norfolk  (d.  1524),  133; 
Thos.,  Duke  of  Norfolk  (d.  1554). 
133;  Wm.  Ld.  Howard  of  Effing- 
ham, 244 

Howe,  Ctss.,  269 

Howe,  John,  145 

Howell,  Ann,  41;  Cath.,  41;  Miss, 

41 
Howitt,  Sam.,  24 
Howland,     Eliz.     m.     Wriothesley 

Russell,   Duke   of  Bedford,    190; 

John,  190;  fam.,  145 
Hoxton  Academy  (Lond.),  2i8 
Hubbard,  John,  24s;  Revd.  Thos., 

245 

3^3 


Hubbards  Hall,  in  Harlow,  268 
Hudson,   Revd.  J.,  230;   Sir  Rob., 

279,  281,  282. 
Hugh,  Abbot  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds, 

214 
Hugh,  Prior  of  Dunmow,  81 
Hughes,  Adml.  Sir  Edw.,  24,  74,  75, 

79.  83;  John,  92;  Revd.  J.,   123; 

Ruth  w.  of  Adml.  Sir  Edw.,  28 
Hughes      (formerly      Ball),      Edw. 

Hughes  Ball,  79 
Hulson,  John,  59;  Rob.,  59 
Humberstone,  Edw.,  195 
Hundreds,  boundaries  of,  4 
Hunsdon  (Herts.),  98 
Hunt  (Hunte),  John,  80;  Maurice, 

100;  Ric.  le  and  his  w.  Cecily,  80; 

Rog.  le  and  his  w.  Estrilda,  79 
Hunter,  Chas.,  279,  282;  Mrs.  Chas., 

279,  280;  Hen.,  178 
Huntingdon,  earl  of,  see  Clynton 
Hunts,    in    Lamboume,    see   Patch 

Park 
Huntyngfeld,  Wal.  de,  253 
Hurlock,  Brook,  163 
Hurren,  Hannah,  41 
Hutchings,    D.    W.,    73  n,     156  n, 

158/1,  159  n,  166  w,  167  n,  170  n, 

171  n,  '74  n,  185  n,  204  «,  285  n 
Hyett,  Eliz.,  254;  John  (d.   1719), 

254,    258;    John   (fl.    1719),    254; 

Thos.,  254 
Hylard,  John,  274 
Hyll,  Wm.,  269 


Ickleton  (Cambs.),  200 

Ikenton  (Herts.),  see  Layston 

Ilderton,  Thos.,  33,  34 

Ilford,   19,  21,  22;  see  also  Fairlop 

Fair,  Newbury  Park 
Ilford,  Little,  42 
Ilger,  Ranulf  brother  of,  10 
Ince,  Revd.  E.  G.,  33 
Inclosures,   2,   23,   59,   63,   64,   75, 

114-16,  140-1,  17s,  185,  204,  210, 

234,  250,  251,  261,  286 
Indies,  West,  see  Barbados 
Ingatestone,  151;  Hall,  70 
Ingelric  the  priest,  88,  159,  181,  210 
Ingham,  John,  133 
Inkersole,  John,  88,  92;  Thos.,  88, 

92 
Inner  Temple  (Lend.),  270 
Intilsham,  Thos.,  145 
Ireland,  267 
Islip  (Oxon.),  135 
lunanus  (fl.  1086),  49 
Iveagh  Trustees,  67 
Ivo  nephew  of  Herbert,  65 


Jackson,  Hen.,  27;  Ralph,  164 

Jacob,  John,  29 

Jacobs,  W.  W.,  author,  117 

Jacomb,  Wm.,  252 

James  I,  8,  100,  117,  119,  120  n,  211, 

212,  216,  224,  23s,  244,  256 
James  II,  119 
James,  Wm.,  54 
Jane    (Seymour),    queen    of    Hen. 

VIII,  184 
Jardyn,  Ric.  del,  277;  Wm.  del,  277 
Jeffryes,  Eliz.,  murderess,  24  n 
Jekyll,  John,  28;  T.;  architect,  229 
Jennings,  Revd.  Isaac,  218 
Jennyns,  John  and  his  w.  Joan,  91 
Jenour,  And.,  27  n;  Joshua,  24,  38; 

Marym.  i  Steph.  Wiseman,  2  Wm. 

Tyffin 
Jenyn,  John,  254 
Jepp,  Mr.,  272 
Jerusalem,  91 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Jessopp,  Sympson,  60 
Jessup,  Mr.,  169 
Jesuits,  70,  211  n,  218 
Joan  of  Acre,  dau.  of  Edward  I,  m. 
Gil.  de  Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester, 

13" 

John,  King,  25,  89,  160  «,  224 

John,  Abbot  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds, 
214 

John,  Abbot  of  Waltham,  252 

John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster, 
29 

John,  Earl  of  Kent,  287 

John  s.  of  Adam,  214 

John  s.  of  Henry,  152 

John  s.  of  Waleran,  46,  175 

John  the  chaplain,  134 

John  the  clerk  of  Ongar,  164 

John  the  miller  and  his  w.  Agnes,  29 

John  (fl.  c.  1258),  151 

Johnson,  Geo.,  215;  John  (d.  1814), 
architect,  130,  155;  Kath.,  see 
Salyng;  Ralph,  28;  Thos.,  24 

Johnston,  Hen.,  175 

Jollye,  John,  207 

Jones,  Anne  m.  Gen.  J.  W.  Adeane, 
30;  Rev.  C.  G.,  107;  Inigo,  120, 
226;  John,  100;  John  Algernon 
and  his  w.,  66,  70;  J.  W.  B.,  66, 
68  n,  69 ;  Marg.  Mary  w.  of  John 
( ?  dau.  of  John  Evans),  100,  and  see 
Weller;  Rob.,  30;  S.  H.,  17271; 
Miss,  175  n;  Mr.  (fl.  1767),  215 

Jonge,  see  Young 

Jonson,  Ben.,  dramatist,  117,  119 

Jordan,  Ric,  245 

Joscelin,  Anne,  see  Torrell;  Hen., 
145;  Sir  Thos.  (fl.  16th  cent.),  145; 
Sir  Thos.  (fl.  1604),  67,  145 


Katherine  (of  Aragon),  queen  of 
Henry  VHI,  117 

Keble  College,  Oxford,  207 

Kebyll,  John,  bellfounder,  69 

Keep,  Sarah  m.  Edw.  Petre,  213; 
Wm.,  212,  213 

Kelly,  D.,  228,  232  n 

Kelvedon  (Witham  hundr.),  63,  157; 
and  see  Felix  Hall 

Kelvedon  Hatch,  63-72,  153  n, 
159  n,  247;  adv.,  68;  agric,  65; 
Bp.  Compton's  census,  311;  char., 
72;  Church  Ho.,  69;  chs.,  68-69; 
communications,  64;  hearth  taxes, 
303-6,  308 ;  hos.,  63-64,  66,  67,  68 ; 
Kelvedon  Common,  63,  64,  65,  71, 
240, 241 ;  Kelvedon  Hall,  63, 66-67, 
69,  70;  Langford  Bridge,  63-65, 
172;  mans.,  6,  59  n,  65-68,  105, 
143,  242;  medieval  taxes,  299- 
302;  mill,  64,  65;  par.  govt,  and 
poor  rel.,  70;  pop.,  64;  postal 
svces.,  65;  Prot.  noncf.,  70;  pub. 
svces.,  65;  rect.,  68;  roads,  64; 
Rom.  Cathm.,  63,  65,  67,  68,  70, 
71,  148;  schs.,  64,  65,  66,  71,  248; 
top.,  63-64;  see  also  Germains, 
Myles's 

Kemp  (Kempe),  John,  25;  Thos. 
Bp.  of  London,  32,  152  n 

Kemsley,  A.  M.,  84,  137;  Hugh, 
270;  Jos.,  270  n,  271 ;  fam.,  270 

Kendall,  Wm.,  245 

Kent,  A.,  55;  Thos.  de,  278 

Kent,  earls  of,  see  Burgh,  Edmund, 
John,  Holland ;  earldom  of,  287 

Kent,  18,  14s,  259;  migrants  from, 
38;  sheriffs  of,  145 

Kerr,  Jas.  (fl.  1919),  177;  Jas.  (fl. 
1953),  206;  T.  C,  177. 

Kersey,  John,  cartographer,  226 

Keswick,  W.  J.,  269;  Mrs.  W.  J., 
269  n 


Kilpek,  John,  254 

Kimpton,  Revd.  Edw.,  206;  Eliz., 

206;  Harvey,  204,  206,  208 
Kindleton,  Geo.,  108 
Kineton  (Warws.),  95 
King,  Anne  m.  Rob.  Hill,  164;  H., 

285  n,  28671;  John  (fl.  1368),  14; 

John  (fl.    1502),    106,    107;  John 

(d.    1657)  and  his  w.   Eliz.,   164; 

John(fl.  1678),  108;  Jos.  (d.  1679), 

164,    169;    Jos.    (fl.    1717),    158; 

Lionel,  158;  Maria,  213;  Martha, 

131;  Rob.,  167;  Thos.  (fl.  1659), 

28;  Thos.  (fl.   1748),  238;  Wm., 

247;  Mrs.  (fl.  c.  1693),  109;  Mrs. 

(fl.  1795),  41 
King's  Bench,  chief  justice  of,  see 

Fineux 
King's  Place  (Langford's,  Potells), 

in  Chigwell,  20,  29-30 
King's     Somboume     (Hants),     see 

Compton  Monceux 
King's  Walden  (Herts.),  79 
Kingsbury,  Thos.,  218 
Kinsman,  Mrs.,  58  n 
Kipling,  Rudyard,  117 
Kirby,  Ric,  architect,  279 
Kirkby,  Wm.,  288 
Kirkeby,  Wm.,  271 
Kirton-in-HoUand  (Lines.),  188 
Kirwan,   Elnr.,  45;   Clement,   275; 

Mrs.,  275 
Klingender,  F.  C.  L.,  41 
Knapp,  John,  93 
Knevett,    Kath.  m.  Ric.    Rich,  49, 

205 
Knight,    Rob.  (d.   1744),  30;    Rob. 

Ld.    Luxborough   (d.   1772),    28, 

30;  Mr.,  83,  230 
Knights,  Edw.,  174 
Knightsbridge  (Mdx.,  later  London), 

53 
Knolls     Hill     (Knowles     Hill),     in 

Stapleford    Abbots,    73,    79,    85, 

222,  223,  225,  228,  231-2 
Kynaston,  J.,  215 
Kyne,  Revd.  Father,  165 
Kyng,  Ric.  le,  174 
Kyriell,  Bart,  de,  131;  Elnr.  de,  see 

Crevequer 


Lacemaking,  175 

Lacy,  Jas.  de  (fl.  J361),  11;  Jas.  (fl. 
1 691),  60  n;  Mary  w.  of  Nathan, 
60;  Nathan  (d.  1700),  60,  165  7: ; 
Revd.  Nat.  (fl.  1707),  165 

Lady  Hall,  in  Moreton,  see  Upper 
Hall 

Lagden,  Ric.  Thos.,  72 

Lagefare,  Eus.  de,  98 

Lake,  Canon  M.  N.,  12271;  Thos., 
213 ;  Miss,  41 

Lamboume,  Chris,  of,  76;  Sir  Jas. 
of.  76 ;  Joan  of,  m.  Wm.  de  Chene, 
76;  John  of  and  his  w.  Eliz.,  76; 
Rob.  of,  76,  8i;  Thos.  of,  76; 
Wm.  of  (fl.  1 261),  76;  Wm.  of  (d. 
1300),  76,  265;  Wm.  of  (d.  1361), 
76;  fam.,  76 

Lamboume,  baron,  see  Lockwood 

Lamboume,  72-86;  adv.,  81 ;  agric, 
75,  223;  Bp.  Compton's  census, 
311;  brewery,  76;  char.,  86;  chs., 
81-83,  227;  hearth  taxes,  304-6, 
308;  hos.,  73,  77,  78,  79,  80,  81; 
Lambourne  Hall,  7,  73,  75,  77,  86; 
mans.,  76-81,  228,  236,  265; 
medieval  taxes,  296,  300-2;  Myn- 
chynlands,  81 ;  noncf.,  35,  83-84, 
230,  292;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel., 
84;  pop.,  72;  postal  svces.,  74-75; 
pub.  svces.,  75;  rect.  82;  roads, 
73-74;  schs.,  85,  231,  232;  stage 


coach  svces.,  74;  top.,  72-74; 
worthies,  76;  see  also  Abridge, 
Arnolds,  Bishops  Hall,  Dews  Hall, 
Patch  Park,  Pryors,  St.  Johns 

Lamboume  End,  in  Lamboume,  19, 
72.  73.  74.  75.  83,  84,  85,  86,  222 

Lampet,  Cecily  m.  Wm.  Curzon,  76; 
Isabel  (Eliz.)  w.  of  Thos.,  51,  76; 
John,  76;  Lucy,  see  Whetynton; 
Thos.  (fl.  1382),  234,  235;  Thos. 
(fl.  1407),  263,  266;  Thos.  (d.  by 
1411),  51,  76;  Wm.,  76 

Lampetts,  in  Fyfield,  43,  45,  51,  52, 
897; 

Lancaster,  Rog.  de  and  Philippa  his 
w.,  27 

Lancaster,  duke  of,  see  John  of 
Gaunt;  duchy  of,  118,  119,  120, 
121,  191,  192,  211,  212,  216,  262 

Lancaster,  earl  of,  see  Edmund 

Land,  Wm.,  bellfounder,  62 

Landscape  gardening,  see  Garden- 
ing 

Langenhoe,  145 

Langford,  Rob.,  29 

Langford's,  see  King's  Place 

Langham,  297 

Langton,  Sir  John  de,  47 ;  Steph.  de, 
see  Normanby  (later  Langton); 
Wal.  de,  Bp.  of  Coventry,  265 

Larder,  Wm.,  292 

Larkin,  see  Lorkin 

Lascelles,  Geoff,  de,  160;  Maud  de, 
see  Lucy 

Lash,  Jas.,  148 

Latchingdon,  262 

Latham,  Audrey  m.  2  Ld.  Edw. 
Hay,  3  Niall  Chaplin,  4  Maj.- 
Gen.  Sir  Stewart  Menzies,  279, 
281 ;  John,  199 

Latton,  132,  284,  289,  290 

Laud,  Wm.,  bp.  of  London,  later 
Abp.  of  Canterbury,  242,  247 

Launders,  in  Rainham,  80  n 

Lavender,  John,  184;  Mr.,  134  71 

Laver  (Domesday  village),  2 

Laver,  High,  87-97,  103,  132;  adv., 
90  77,  93;  agric,  88;  Bp.  Comp- 
ton's census,  311;  char.,  94;  ch., 
87,  93,  107;  hearth  taxes,  305,  306, 
309;  hos.,  87,  91,  93,  95;  High 
Layer  Hall,  87,  91;  High  Laver 
Bridge,  87,  129;  mans.,  6,  11,  51, 
88-93,  98",  99;  medieval  taxes, 
297,  300-2;  noncf.,  95,  195;  par. 
govt,  and  poor  rel.,  95,  102  7j; 
pop.,  87;  postal  svces.,  87;  pub. 
svces.,  88;  rector  of,  60,  138;  rect., 
93;  roads,  87,  104;  schs.,  96,  102, 
104,  no,  138;  Tilegate  Green,  87, 
104,  no;  top.,  87;  worthies,  88; 
see  also  Matching  Green,  Otes, 
Thrushesbush 

Laver,  Little,  87,  97-103,  129,  188, 
189;  adv.,  100,  135,  182-3;  agric, 
97-98 ;  Bp.  Compton's  census,  311; 
char.,  102;  ch.  54  n,  loo-i,  182-3; 
hearth  taxes,  305,  306  n,  309;  hos., 
97,  98,  99,  100,  loi,  102;  Little 
Laver  Hall,  alias  Bourchiers  Hall, 
97,  98,  99,  100,  102;  mans.,  88, 
91,  98-100,  182;  medieval  taxes, 
298-302;  mill,  97,  98;  par.  govt, 
and  poor  rel.,  loi  221  71;  pop.,  97; 
postal  svces.,  96;  pub.  svces.,  97; 
rect.,  lOo-i;  roads,  87,  97,  198; 
Rom.  Cathm.,  loi;  sch.,  96,  102; 
top.,  97;  see  also  Envilles 
Laver,  Magdalen,  4,  103-10,  129, 
176  n,  284,  288;  adv.,  93-94,  107; 
agric,  104;  Bp.  Compton's  census, 
311;  Bushes,  104;  char.,  no;  ch., 
68,  107-8;  hearth  taxes,  305,  306, 
309,  31077;  hos.,  103-4,  106-7; 
Magdalen  Laver  Hall,  104;  man. 


324 


Laver,  Magdalen  (cont.): 

7,  13.  59  «,  76  n,  105-6,  132,  143, 

242;  medieval  taxes,  297,  300-2; 

noncf.,   108;  par.  govt,  and  poor 

rel.,   108;  pop.,   103;  pub.  svces., 

104;   rect.,    107;   roads,   87,    104; 

sch.,  87,  97,  104,  109;  top.,  103-4; 

Wynters  Armourie  (Winters),  103, 

104 
Lawson,  Sir  Hen.,  66 
Layer-de-la-Hay,  287 
Layston  (Ikenton)  (Herts.),  287 
Layton,  Revd.  Nich.,  201 
Leach,  A.  W.,  37  n 
Leake,  Frances,  Ctss.  of  Scarsdale, 

see  Rich;  Nich.,  Earl  of  Scarsdale, 

135 
Lebbon,  Herb.,  127 
Lee,  Jeffery,  122 
Leech,  John,  244 
Lees,  Aveline  de,  see  Cruce ;  Rog.  de, 

20s 
Lefsi  (fl.  1066),  76 
Legat,  Alice,  see  Mandeville;  Helm- 
ing, II,  234,  235 
Legh,  Adam  de  and  his  w.  Maud, 

46;  Alice  w.  of  Thos.  m.  2  Thos. 

Arblaster,   206  n;   Giles   de,   205, 

207;  Hen.  de  and  his  w.  Marg., 

205 ;  John  de  (fl.  1299),  205  ;  John 

de  (fl.  1349),  134,  205,  206;  John 

de  (d.  1422);  Thos.  de  (fl.  1374), 

205;  Thos.  (d.  1439),  205,  206  n; 

Thos.  (d.   1509),  20s,  206;  fam., 

206 ;  see  also  Leigh 
Leicester,    earls    of,    see   Montfort, 

Sidney 
Leicestershire,  medieval  tax  assess- 
ments, 302 
Leigh,  Barnabas  Eveleigh,  13 ;  Cath., 

see  Clark;  John,  246;  Thos.,  246; 

see  also  Legh 
Leighs,  Little,  131,  262;  priory  of, 

49 
Lenham,  Iseult   de,  see  Crevequer; 

John  de,   131,   133;  Margery  de, 

131 ;  Nich.  de,  131 
Lenthal,  Marg.,  see  Fitz  Alan 
Leofcild  (fl.  1066),  118 
Leonard,  Marg.  w.  of  Samson,  see 

Fiennes,     Marg.,     Lady     Dacre; 

Samson,  176 
Lepyngeden,  John,  99 
Lessington,  Hen.  de,  Bp.  of  Lincoln, 

277;  John  de,  277,  281 
Lester,  Thos.,  bellfounder,  136,  184 
Lestock,  Adml.  Ric,  24 
Lethieullier,  Smart,  61 
Leueva  (fl.  1066),  65 
Leuild  (fl.  1066),  190 
Leuric  (fl.  1066),  46,  175 
Levedai  (fl.  1066),  204 
Levenoth,   Geoff.,  28 ;   Rose   w.   of 

Geoff,  m.  2  Mat.  de  St.  Tronius, 

28 
Leventhorpe,  John  de  (fl.  1419),  80; 

John  (fl.  1454),  177;  Thos.  de,  80 
Leventhorpes,  in  Wennington,  80 
Lever  Art  Gallery,  Port  Sunlight,  77 
Leverpole,  Wm.,  180 
Lewer,  H.  W.,  117 
Lewin  (fl.  1066),  88,  198,  210 
Lewin,  Mary,  93;  Sam.,  93;  and  see 

Lewyn 
Lewis,  Jonathan,  10,  16;  Revd.  L. 

Elwyn,    53;    Revd.    Morgan,    85; 

Mr.,  39 
Lewthwaite,  Mr.,  238 
Lewyn,  Wm.,  228;  see  also  Lewin 
Lexden,  hund.  of,  262 
Leyton,  see  Leytonstone,  Ruckholts 
Leytonstone,  in  Leyton,  19,  35 
Libraries,  see  Essex  County  Libraries 
Limesi,  Alan  de,  25;  Gerard  de,  25 

Ralph  de,  24,  25;  fam.,  25 


INDEX 

Lincoln,    bps.    of,    see   Lessington, 

Sutton,  Winniffe 
Lincoln,  Hen.,  117,  123,  124;  Joan 

de,  see  Haye ;  Rob.  de,  289 
Lincolnshire,  lands  in,  266 
Ling,  And.,  182 
Lingard,    Anne,    134;    Eliz.,    134; 

Frances    m.    Rob.    Chase,     134; 

John,  134;  Sar.,  134 
Linton  (Kent),  201 
Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  105;  his 

dau.  Philippe,  m.  Edm.  Mortimer, 

Earl  of  March,  105;  his  w.  Eliz., 

see  Burgh 
Lipyeatt,  Revd.  J.,  16;  Revd.  J.,  the 

younger,  16 
Lisle,  Baldwin  de,  263;  Warin  de, 

262 
Lisle,  honor  of,  262,  263 
Little  End,  in  Stanford  Rivers,  208, 

209,  218,  221 
Little,  John,  17 
Littlebury  (Rowenho),  in  Stanford 

Rivers,  6771,  210,  211,  214-15 
Littlehales,  Baker  J.,  28 
Littleton,     Sir     Adam     Bt.,     161; 

Audrey  Lady,  see  Poyntz 
Livesaye,  Wm.,  29;  Wm.  s.  of  Wm., 

.29 
Livingstone,  Dr.  C.  H.,  22;  David, 

missionary  and  explorer,  159,  165, 

218 
Lloyd,  And.   F.,  28;   Lt.-Gen.   Sir 

Fran.,    28;    Louisa,   see   Harvey; 

Ric.  T.,  28;  Revd.  Rossendale,  28 
Locke,  John,  philosopher,  88,  91,  92, 

94.  95 

Lockwood,  Amelius  R.  M.,  Ld. 
Lamboume,  75,  77,  80,  82,  127; 
Revd.  Edw.  (d.  1802),  77,  80; 
Edw.  (d.  1804),  see  Percival 
(formerly  Lockwood);  Capt.  Geo., 
83;  Col.  J.  C,  80  n,  82;  Ric.  (d. 
1696),  80;  Ric.  (fl.  1735),  80,  83, 
84;  Ric.  (d.  1794),  80;  Wm.  J.,  77, 
79,  80,  85,  223;  Wm.  M.,  see 
Wood  (formerly  Lockwood);  fam., 
75,  80,  83 

Loft  Hall,  in  Navestock,  144,  145 

Lofte,  Isabel  atte,  145 

Lolly,  Dennis,  243 

London,  aldermen  of,  12,  28,  119, 
134,  211,  267,  270,  274,  289; 
citizens  of,  11,  59,  63,  79,  211,  213, 
214,  216,  242,  254,  289;  city  of, 
15,  ii5>  i34i  246;  coach  svces.  to, 
21,  22,  45,  114,  157,  158,  189,  198, 
261;  common  Serjeant  of,  134; 
Cutlers'  Co.,  233;  flight  of  Queen 
(then  Princess)  Anne  from,  119; 
Grocers'  Co.,  15;  Ironmongers' 
Co.,  242,  246;  inhabitants  with 
occupations  stated,  18,  27,  29,  3i«, 
32,  45,  59,  60,  63,  78,  79,  90,  lOI, 
III,  123,  149,  153,  154.  164,  167, 
177,  179,  199,  206,  213,  214,  216, 
224,  228,  236,  242,  254,  270,  271  n, 
278,  289,  294;  inhabitants  without 
occupations  stated,  25,  27,  37,  54, 
67,  83,  92,  192  n,  215,  221  n,  235, 
252,  264,  265,  278,  291;  judge  of 
sheriff's  ct.,  145;  (Lord)  Mayors 
of,  26,  30,  178,  243,  264;  Mercers' 
Co.,  83;  Merchant  Adventurers 
of,  242,  246;  migrants  from,  38; 
passage  of  St.  Edmund's  body 
from,  60,  224;  Quaker  meeting 
ho.,  Gracechurch  St.,  163;  riys. 
to,  2,  64,  75,  no,  III,  114,  15s, 
158,  249,  250,  286;  Recorder  of, 
145;  "Tower  of,  143;  otherwise 
mentioned,  i,  18,  19,  20,  72,  73, 
no,  155,  172,  188,  208,  220,  223, 
233,  249,  250,  260,  274,  275,  284, 
304 ;  see  also  Aldgate ;  All  Hallows- 


the-Great ;  Battersea ;  Bermondsey ; 
Bishopsgate;  Boodle's  Club; 
Bow;  Bromley;  Christ  Church, 
Albany  St.;  Christ  Church  Hos- 
pital; Cornhill;  County  of  Lon- 
don Electric  Supply  Co. ;  East  End 
Mission;  East  London  Water- 
works Co.;  Grays  Inn;  Hack- 
ney ;  Hammersmith ;  Hanover 
Square;  Haymarket;  Highgate; 
Holy  Trinity,  Aldgate;  Hounds- 
ditch;  Hoxton  Academy;  Inner 
Temple ;  Knightsbridge ;  Maida 
Vale;  Marylebone;  Metropolitan 
Police ;  Metropolitan  Water  Board ; 
Middle  Temple ;  Mile  End ;  North 
London  Collegiate  School ; 
Netting  Hill;  Paddington;  Poplar; 
Portland  Place;  Portman  Square; 
Queenhithe;  St.  Andrew,  Corn- 
hill;  St.  Bartholomew,  Smithfield; 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital;  St. 
George's  Chapel,  Albemarle  St.; 
St.  George's,  Hanover  Square; 
St.  Martin-le-Grand;  St.  Mary, 
Clerkenwell;  St.  Michael's,  Corn- 
hill;  St.  Paul's  Cathedral;  St. 
Thomas's  Hospital;  Shadwell; 
Shoreditch ;  Somerset  House ; 
Southwark;  Spurgeon's  College; 
Stepney;  Stepney  Academy;  Tot- 
tenham ;  Twickenham ;  Victoria 
and  Albert  Museum;  Walbrook; 
Walworth ;  Wapping ;  West- 
minster ;  Westminster  Abbey ; 
Whitechapel;  Wimbledon 

London,  Archdeacon  of,  see  Molyns 

London  Baptist  Association,  36 

London,  bps.  of,  32,  33,  61,  100  n, 
207  n,  290,  29 1 ;  see  also  Basset, 
Chishull,  Compton,  Deorwulf, 
Kemp,  Laud,  Vaughan,  William 
of  Ste.  Mfere  figlise 

London  Congregational  Union,  84 

London  (formerly  Stratford)  Co- 
operative Society,  175,  179,  180, 
182,  197,  199,  200,  213 

London  County  Council,  72,  75; 
housing  estates,  2,  and  see  Debden, 
Hainault 

Long,  Cath.  m.  Wm.  Pole-Tylney- 
Long-Wellesley,  181;  Sir  Jas. 
Tylney,  Bt.,  181;  Rob.,  190 

Longbarns,  in  Beauchamp  Roding, 
7,  182,  188,  189,  198-9,  201 

Looe,  West  (Comw.),  79 

Lordell,  Jas.,  14 

Lorkin  (Larkin),  John,  163,  164 

Loughteborough,  Rob.  de  and  his  w. 
Marg.,  30;  Wm.  de,  30 

Loughton,  I,  2,  3,  4,  21,  110-28, 
251,  284,  286;  adv.,  121,  122; 
agric,  116;  Bp.  Compton's  census, 
311;  char.,  117,  128;  chs.,  121-3; 
Goldings,  in;  hearth  taxes,  305, 
306,  309;  hos.,  110-13,  120,  121; 
inds.,  116;  Loughton  Bridge,  19, 
no,  113,  116;  Loughton  Camp, 
no;  Loughton  Hall,  no,  111,112, 
113,  116,  118,  119,  120,  122,  125; 
mans.,  6,  25,  77  n,  79,  118-21, 
medieval  taxes,  299-302;  Monk 
Wood,  118,  119,  121;  par.  govt, 
and  poor  rel.,  124;  pop.,  1 10-13; 
postal  svces.,  114;  Preservation  of 
Epping  Forest,  .114-16;  Prot. 
noncf.,  37,  123-4;  pub.  svces., 
113;  rly.,  22-23,  74.  "4;  rect., 
121;  roads,  20,  1 10-14,  249;  Rom. 
Cathm.,  123;  top.,  1 10-14;  wor- 
thies, 117;  see  also  Alderton, 
Debden 

Loughton  Urban  District,  18,  no; 
U.D.  Council,  116 

Loundres,  Sir  John  de,  13 


r 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Lovell  (Lovel),  Elnr.  m.  Sir  Edw. 
Waldegrave,  Bt.,  144;  John,  214; 
Sir  Thos.,  144 

Loveney,  Wm.,  1 1 

Lovetot,  John  de,  14 

Lowe,  Sir  Edw.,  237;  John,  81; 
Sam.,  95 

Lowrey,  Sir  Jos.,  123,  127 

Luck,  T.,  55,  56 

Lucking,  Jas.,  51 

Lucklyn,  Mildred  Lady,  see  Capel; 
Sir  Wm.,  195 

Lucy,  GeoflF.  de,  160;  Godfrey  de, 
Bp.  of  Winchester,  160;  Herb,  de, 
160;  Marg.,  see  Multon;  Maud 
de,  'Lady  of  Ongar'  m.  i  Geoff, 
de  Lucy,  2  Ric.  de  Rivers,  160, 
166,  210;  Maud  de  m.  Waher 
Fitz  Robert,  25 ;  Maud  de  m.  Wm. 
de  Beauchamp,  160;  Ric.  de  (d. 
1179),  s,  25.  59.  155.  160,  210; 
Ric.  de  (d.  by  1182),  160;  Rose  de 
m.  Fulbert  of  Dover,  160;  Thos., 
Ld.  Lucy,  66;  Wal.  de,  Abbot  of 
Battle,  160 

Luke,  Alice,  see  Stalbroke;  Wm., 
178 

Lungeviir,  Thos.  de,  49 

Lunnon,  Ric,  202 

Luther,  Amy,  69;  Ant.  (fl.  1580), 
228;  Ant.  (d.  1627),  63,  67,  69,  72; 
Ant.  (d.  1665),  68,  72,  245;  Char- 
lotte m.  Hen.  Fane,  68;  Charlotte, 
see  Chamberlain;  Edw.,  68;  Jane 
(d.  1745),  72,  23s,  236,  238,  239; 
John  (d.  by  1713),  235,  237;  John 
(d.  1786),  68,  69;  Rebecca  (d.  by 
1768)  m.  Florian  Goebell,  235, 
236;  Rebecca  (d.  1780),  6g;  Ric. 
(d.  1638),  63,  67,  69;  Ric.  (fl. 
1677),  157;  Ric.  (d.  by  1691),  68; 
Ric.  (d.  1767),  68;  Thos.  (fl.  c. 
1556),  278,  279;  Thos.  (fl.  158s), 
67;  Thos.  (d.  by  1694),  233  n,  235; 
Thos.  (d.  1722),  81,  235,  239; 
Wm.,  225;  fam.,  65,  69,  233,  237 

Luxborough,  baron,  see  Knight 

Luxborough,  in  Chigwell,  18,  20,  21, 
24,  25,  26,  28,  30,  74,  118 

Lymsey,  Edw.,  91;  John,  91 

Lynch,  Sim.,  291  n 

Lynton  (Devon),  99 

Lyon,  Geo.,  28;  Hen.,  28;  Hen.  s.  of 
Ric,  28;  John  (d.  1564)  and  Alice 
his  w.,  28 ;  John  (fl.  1616),  28 ;  Ric, 
28 


Mabel,  Abbess  of  St.  Sulpice  (Brit- 
tany), 88 

Mabel,  dau.  of  Rob.  Fitz  Hamon,  m. 
Rob.  Earl  of  Gloucester,  151 

Maida  Vale  (Lond.),  218 

Maidenheth,  Reynold  de,  Abbot  of 
Waltham,  89  n 

Maidstone  (Kent),  79 

Mainwaring,  Rog.  Bp.  of  St. 
Davids,  216 

Maitland,  Ebenezer  F.,  45,  51,  130; 
Miss  L  R.,  120  n;  John  (d.  1831), 
119;  Revd.  John  Whitaker  (d. 
1909),  112,  1 14-16,  117,  119,  120, 
121,  122,  124;  Cmdr.  J.  W.,  n6  n; 
Wm.  Whitaker  (d.  1861),  iii,  114, 
119, 120;  Wm.  Whitaker  (d.  1926), 
119,  I20 

Makyn,  Agnes,  see  Colford;  Jas., 
147;  Ric,  147 

Maldon,  24,  157 

Malpas,  Eliz.,  m.  Sir  Thos.  Cook, 
26,  213;  Phil.,  26,  213 

Malta,  133 

Malyns,  Alice  w.  of  Reynold  de,  277, 
278;    Edm.    de    (fl.    1357),    277; 


Edm.  de  (fl.  1384),  277;  Florence 
w.  of  Sir  Reynold  de,  277,  278; 
Hen.  de,  277;  Sir  Reynold  de  (d. 
1384),  266,  277;  Reynold  (d. 
1431).  277.  278,  281 

Man,  Gil.  le,  214 

Manby,  Frances  m.  John  Petre,  212 

Manchester,  duke  of,  see  Montagu 

Manchester,  earl  of,  see  Montagu 

Mandeville,  Alice  de  m.  i  Helming 
Legat,  2  Rog.  Spice,  234,  235; 
Arme  de,  see  Drokensford, 
Christine  de,  see  Fitz  Walter; 
Emald  de  (fl.  12th  cent.),  151; 
Ernald  de  (fl.  13th  cent.),  151, 
179;  Galiena  de,  see  Dammartin; 
Geoff,  de  (fl.  1086),  190,  204; 
Geoff,  de.  Earl  of  Essex  (d.  1144), 
151,  191;  Geoff,  de.  Earl  of  Essex 
(d.  1 166),  191;  Hugh  de,  151; 
Joan  de,  m.  John  Barry,  234,  235; 
John  de,  151,  152,  179;  Olive  de, 
see  Beauchamp;  Sir  Thos.  (d.  by 
1399).  234;  Thos.  (d.  1400),  234; 
Wm.  de,  Earl  of  Essex,  25 1 ;  Wm. 
Fitz  Geoff,  de,  198 

Mann,  John,  211 

Mannock,  Elnr.,  see  Goldingham; 
Geo.,  25  ;  John  (d.  1471),  25 ;  John 
(d.  1476),  25,  26 

Maple,  Thos.,  i6i 

Maps,  see  Essex 

March,  earls  of,  see  Mortimer 

Marchal,  see  Marshall 

Marconi  Wireless  Telegraphy  Co., 
210 

Marcy,  Agnes  de  m.  Nic  Spigumel, 
10,  243  ;  Agnes  w.  of  Serlo  de,  10; 
Alice  de  m.  John  de  Merk,  10,  14, 
243;  Denise  w.  of  Hamon  de,  10, 
14;  Hamon  de  (fl.  13th  cent.),  10, 
14;  Hamon  de  (d.  before  c.  1197), 
243;  Hamon  de  (fl.  1131),  243; 
Joan  de,  m.  Gil.  de  Breaut^,  105, 
147;  Ralph de(fl.  1086), 65, 67, 105, 
143,  242;  Ralph  de  (d.  by  1189), 
59,  105;  Ralph  de  (d.  by  1217- 
18?),  105,  242;  Ralph  de(fl.  1248), 
49;  Ric  de,  59;  Serlo  de  (fl.  1086), 
242-3;  Serlo  de  (d.  by  1244),  10, 
59  n,  243;  Wm.  de  (d.  by  1152?), 
105,  143;  Wm.  de  (d.  by  1205), 
105;  fam.,  59,  65,  67,  105,  143, 
242 

Marden  Ash  (Marden  End),  in  High 
Ongar,  4,  155,  161,  171,  172,  174, 
183,  186,  241,  303,  305,  307,  309 

Mareschal,  see  Marshall 

Margaret,  St.,  194 

Margaret,  queen  of  Edward  I,  234 

Margaret,  Ctss.  of  Salisbury,  287 

Margaret,  dau.  of  Wm.  Fitz  Ric,  m. 
Ric.  de  Tany,  234 

Margaretting,  31/1 

Marham  (Norf.),  256  n 

Markets,  167-8,  261,  276,  277 

Markham,  Ric.  de,  277 

Marks  Hall,  in  Margaret  Roding,  2, 
3,  240,  242-3,  245;  see  also  Ston- 
don  Massey 

Marks  Hall,  in  Romford,  228 

Marks  Hall,  near  Coggeshall,  77 

Marling,  Hen.,  96 

Marlow  (Bucks.),  103  n 

Marmion,  Hen.,  32 

Mamy,  Wm.  de  and  his  w.  Amice, 
199 

Marrable,  Jas.,  builder,  136 

Marschall,  see  Marshall 

Marsh,  Sar.,  268;  Thos.  Coxhead, 
268;  Wm.  Coxhead,  268;  fam., 
268;  see  also  Chisenhale-Marsh 

Marshall  (Marchal,  Mareschal,  Mar- 
schall), John  le,  288;  Laur.  le, 
288;  Marg.  w.  of  Rog.,  288;  Pet. 

326 


and  his  w.  Amiane,  288 ;  Ralph  le, 
288,  289;  Rob.  (fl.  1331),  288; 
Rob.  le  (fl.  1374),  288,  289;  Rob. 
(fl.  1387),  266;  Rog.  le(fl.  1331), 
289;  Rog.  (fl.  1 391),  199;  Thos., 
288 

Marshalls,  in  North  Weald  Bassett, 
14,  78  n,  267,  284,  286,  288-9,  293 

Martel,  Geoff.,  190 

Martin,  Alice,  232;  John,  81;  Mary, 
see  Calvert;  Sarah  Cath.,  117; 
Adml.  Sir  Thos.  B.,  117 

Marton,  Edw.,  29;  Oliver  (d.  1744), 
29;  Revd.  Oliver  (fl.  1759),  29 

Martyrs'  Memorial  Trust,  52 

Mary  I,  Queen,  ii8,  143,  211,  212, 
252,  269 

Mary  Macarthur  Holiday  Home, 
172 

Marylebone  (Lond.),  253 

Maryon,  Revd.  John,  193 

Masham,  Abigail  Lady,  88;  Char- 
lotte, see  Dive;  Damaris  Lady, 
95  n;  Eliz.,  94;  Sir  Fran.,  Bt.,  88, 
91,  94,  95,  96;  F.  C,  95;  Hen 
rietta,  see  Winnington;  Sam.  Ld 
Masham  (d.  1758),  88,  91,  92,  94, 
95,  98;  Sam.  Ld.  Masham  (d, 
1776),  92,  98,  99;  Wm.  (fl.  1614) 
91;  Sir  Wm.,  Bt.  (d.  c.  1656),  91 
Sir  Wm.,  Bt.  (d.  c.  1662),  91 ;  fam., 

88,95 
Mason,  Revd.  S.  C,  107 
Massachusetts,  U.S.A.,  242 
Massey,  Eliz.  w.  of  Wm.,  m.  2  Wal. 

Fitz  Walter,  Ld.  Fitzwalter,  3  Sir 

Thos.  Cobham,  263;  Wm.,  263 
Masshebury,   Adam   de,   289,   290; 

Eus.  de,  265 
Master,  Ric,  49 

Masters,  Edw.,  232;  Rob.,  304,  305  « 
Matching,  93,  95,  96,  98,  102,  188; 

see  also  Housham 
Matching  Green,  in  High  Laver,  87, 

95.  96,  97,  102,  189 
Matthews,   Mary   m.   Sam  Ma 

croft,  90;  Ric.  and  his  w.        '^t"  ' 

90,  93;  Mr.  (fl.  1877),  95 
Maud,  Empress,  191 
Maud,  queen  of  Stephen,  88,  160 
Mauduit,  Geoff.,  25 ;  Gil.,  25 
Maule,  Christine  w.  of  Pet.  de,  251 ; 

Hen.  de,  252,  253;  Pet.  de,  251; 

Wm.  de,  252 
Mavor,  Revd.  W.  S.,  69 
May,  Adam,  263 
May  &  Baker  Ltd.,  Manufacturing 

Chemists,  204 
Maynarde,  John,  224,  228 
Mayor,  Geo.,  52 

McCorquodale,  H.  M.,   180;  Ken- 
neth, 150  n,  180  n 
Mcintosh,  D.,  223 
McKinlay,  Mrs.,  150 
Mead,  Isaac,  200;  John,  200;  Wm. 

(fl.    1639),   200;   Wm.   (fl.    171 1), 

186;  Mr.  (fl.   1839),  75;  Mr.  (fl. 

1954),   200;   Mrs.,   200  n;    fam., 

200 
Meadows,  common,  75,  86,  143,  210, 

223 
Mears,  Thos.,  bellfounder,  184,  229, 

256;  Wm.,  bellfounder,  83 
Medley,  Geo.,  81 
Meekings,  C.  A.  F.,  303  n 
Meggott,    Anne,   see   Elwes;    Geo., 

252;  Rob.,  252 
Meggott  (late  Elwes),  John,  253 
Meggs,  Jas.,  271;  Hen.,  271;  Marg. 

w.  of  Jas.,  271 ;  Thos.,  271 
Melbourne,  Wm.,  142 
Melcesbom,  Wm.  de,  26 
Menzies,  Audrey  Lady,  see  Latham 
Mere  (Wilts.),  222 
Meredith,  Rob.,  190 


INDEX 


Merk,  Alice  de,  see  Marcy;  Anas- 

tasia  le,  see  Burgate;  John  de  (fl. 

1244),  10,  14,  243;  John  le  (d.  by 

1285),  151,  152;  John  le  (fl.  1285), 

152;  Galiena  le  m.  Gil.  de  They- 

don,  152;  Ralph  de,  lo,  14,  243; 

Wm.  de,  10 
Merrick,  Eliz.,  148 
Merrington,  Jas.,  158 
Merry,  Ant.,  90;  Ric,  90;  Sar.,  see 

Foster 
Merton  (Surr.),  215 
Merton  College,  Oxford,  152,  180  n, 

288 
Metcalfe,  W.  C,  114 
Metropolitan  Police,  26  n,  38,  113 
Metropolitan  Water  Board,  22,  113 
Mewes,  Eliz.,  jeeWelde;  Lewis,  199; 

Thos.,  199 
Mews,  Peter,  Bp.  of  Winchester,  76, 

82 
Meyer,  Ann,  244;  Anna  Maria,  109; 

Christian   P.,    98,    99,    102,    105; 

Herman  P.  D.,  99,  102 ;  H.  J.,  244; 

Jas.  (d.  c.  1828),  99;  Jas.  (fl.  1930), 

99;  Marianne  w.  of  Phil.  H.,  m.  2 

Col.  F.  J.  Baker,  244;  Phil.  H., 

241,  244,  245,  246,  248 
Michael  Fitz  Oger,  192;  his  w.  Sar., 

see  Selflege 
Michael,  Oger  Fitz,  192,  194 
Michelgrove,    in   Clapham   (Suss.), 

243  n 
Michell,  Fran.,  254,  264;  Jane,  see 

Hampden 
Middle  Temple  (Lond.),  68 
Middlesex,  archdeacon  of,  see  Foliot 
Middlesex,  lands  in,  256;  migrants 

from,  38 
Middlesex     and     Essex     Highway 

Trust,  19 
Mildmay,  Ambrose,  176;  Anne,  228; 

Carew    Hervey    (d.    1676),    228; 

Carew    Hervey    (d.    1784),    228; 

Jane  m.  Sir  Hen.  Paulet  St.  John 

(later  Mildmay),  Bt.,  85,  223,  228, 

23 1 ;   Judith   m.   Ben.   Wallinger, 

176;  Thos.,  176;  Wal.,  176 
Mildmay  (formerly   St.   John),   Sir 

Hen.  Paulet,  Bt.,  228 
Mile  End  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  60, 

236 
Millbank,  H.  W.,  217 
Miller,  John  the,  and  his  w.  Agnes, 

29 
Miller,   Revd.   Fran.   R.,   95;   John 

(fl.    1638),   200;   John  (fl.    1704), 

200;  Ric,  200;  Rob.,  186;  fam., 

200 
Mills,  2,  9,  10,  44,  46,  59,  64,  65,  98, 

99,  116,  130,  134,  152,  175,  210, 

223,  234,  261,  286 
Mills,  Chris.  Jas.,  26;  Jas.,  23,  26, 

28 ;  Jemima,  see  Hatch ;  Thos.,  254, 

265;  Wm.,  192-3 
Milton  (Northants.),  78 
Mineral  spring,  see  Spring 
Ministry  of  Works,  280 
Minors,  Ellen,  see  Nicholson 
MinshuU,   Mary,    177;   Sir  Ric.   (d. 

1667),  177;  Ric.  (fl.  1700),  177 
Missenden  (Bucks.),  abbey  of,  151 
Mitchell,     F.    G.,    226;    Septame, 

171 
Mitten,  Fran.,  273 
Moats,  1,9,26,43,44,  51.63,73.79. 

87,   99,    100,    loi,   103,   104,   107, 

129,  134,  140,  146,  150,  162,  173, 

178,  189,  192,  193,  196,  200,  216, 

233.  235,  244,  249,  254,  264,  265, 

284,  285,  288,  289,  290 
Mollett,  E.  and  C,  223 
Molyns,  John,  Canon  of  St.  Paul's 

and  Archdeacon  of  London,  262, 

269 


Monceux,  Enguerrand  de,  176;  Joan 
de,  see  Saunford;  John  de,  176; 
Maud  de  m.  John  de  Fiennes,  176; 
Waleran  de  (d.  by  1212),  176; 
Waleran  de  (?fl.  c.  1258),  151, 
205;  Wm.  de,  17s,  182  n 

Monkhams,  see  Buckhurst 

Monkis,  see  Bilsdens 

Montagu,  Alice  m.  Ric.  Neville, 
Earl  of  Salisbury,  287;  Anne, 
Ctss.  of  Manchester,  see  Rich; 
Chas.  Earl  of  Manchester,  181, 
183;  Edw.  Earl  of  Manchester, 
135;  Elnr.  Ctss.  of  Salisbury,  see 
Holland;  Ric.  Bp.  of  Chichester, 
later  Norwich,  216;  Rob.  Duke  of 
Manchester,  183;  Rob.  Earl  of 
Manchester,  18 1;  Thos.  Earl  of 
Kent,  287 

Montfichet,  Aveline  de  m.  Wm.  de 
Forz  Count  of  Aumale,  227 ;  Gil. 
de,  227;  Joyce  de,  see  Greinville; 
Marg.  de  m.  Hugh  de  Bolbec,  27, 
227;  Philippe  de  m.  Sir  Hugh  de 
Plaiz,  227;  Ric.  de  (d.  1202),  118; 
Ric.  de  (d.  1267),  27,  ii8,  227, 
265 ;  Wm.  de,  28,  227 

Montfort,  Rob.  de,  287;  Sim.  de. 
Earl  of  Leicester,  65,  263,  277 

Montgomerie,  W.,  178 

Montgomery,  Sir  Thos.,  161 

Moore,  Edw.,  147;  John,  147 

Mordaunt,  Arme  m.  Hen.  Torrell, 
14s;  Wm.,  14s 

More,  Fran.,  26 

Morell,  Joan  w.  of  Luke,  11,  14; 
Luke,  1 1 

Moreton,  9,  43,  57,  99,  103,  129-39, 
159  n;  adv.,  134-5;  agric-.  13°; 
Bp.  Compton's  census,  311;  char., 
137.  139;  ch.,  54  n,  100,  loi,  129, 
134-7;  fair,  130;  Guild  of  All 
Saints,  136-7;  hearth  taxes,  304-6, 
309;  hos.,  129-30,  133,  134.  .135. 
137;  mans.,  131-4;  medieval 
taxes,  300-2;  mill,  129,  130,  134; 
Moreton  Bridge,  9,  129,  130; 
Moreton  End,  129;  noncf.,  84,  95, 
133.  137.  16s,  195,  292;  par.  govt, 
and  poor  rel.,  137-8;  pop.,  129; 
postal  svces.,  87,  97,  130;  pub. 
svces.,  130;  rect.,  135;  roads,  129— 
30,  204;  schs.,  96,  138;  top.,  129- 
30;  see  also  Bundish,  Nether  Hall, 
Upper  Hall 

Morgan,  Ric,  77 

Morice,  see  Morris 

Morley,  John,  27 

Mornington,  earls  of,  see  Pole- 
Tylney-Long-Wellesley 

Moro,  'Duke  de',  279 

Morrell  Roding,  see  Roding  Morrell 

Morris  (Morice,  Morrice),  Anne  w. 
of  Wm.,  161;  Edw.,  161;  Eliz.  w. 
of  Jas.,  161;  Jacob,  135;  Jas.,  161, 
166;  John  (fl.  1591),  135;  John 
(fl.  1647),  161;  Rob.,  95;  Steph., 
253;  Wm.,  161,  163,  215 

Morris  (later  Poyntz),  Sir  John,  161 

Morsted,  Thos.,  263 

Mortain,  honor  of,  i6o;  .\nne  m. 
Ric.  Earl  of  Cambridge,  105 

Mortimer,  Anne  w.  of  Edm.  Earl 
of  March,  10,  165;  Edm.  Earl  of 
March  (d.  1381),  105;  Edm.  Earl 
of  March  (d.  1425),  10,  105; 
Marg.  de,  see  Fiennes;  Philippe, 
see  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence; 
Rog.  Earl  of  March,  105 

Moss,  Mary,  41 

Mot,  Rob.,  bellfounder,  246 

Moulton  (Lines.),  80 

Mounteneye,  see  Munteny 

Mountnessing,  see  Thoby  Priory 

Mowbray,  Anne  de,   133;  Eliz.  de. 


133;  Eliz,,  see  Fitz  Alan;  John, 
Ld.  Mowbray  (d.  1368),  132; 
John  de.  Earl  of  Nottingham  (d. 
1383),  133;  John  de,  Duke  of 
Norfolk  (d.  1432),  133;  John  de, 
Duke  of  Norfolk  (d.  1476),  31, 133; 
Thos.  de,  Duke  of  Norfolk  (d. 
1399).  31".  133;  Thos.  de.  Earl 
of  Nottingham  (d.  1405),  133 

Mulcaster,  Kath.  w.  of  Ric,  218; 
Ric,  218 

Mullocks,  John,  153 

Multon,  Agnes  w.  of  Hen.  de  (prob. 
dau.  of  John  Deu),  80;  Eliz.  de  m. 
Wal.  de  Birmingham,  66;  Hen. 
de,  65,  66,  80;  Joan  de  m.  Rob. 
Fitz  Walter,  66;  John  de,  Ld. 
Multon,  66 ;  Juliane  de  m.  Ric.  de 
Welby,  66,  80;  Lambert  de,  65; 
Marg.  de  m.  Thos.  Lucy,  Ld, 
Lucy,  66;  Thos.  de  (d.  1240),  65; 
Thos.  de  (d.  1294),  65,  66,  67;' 
Thos.  de,  Ld.  Multon  (d.  1322), 
66;  fam.,  65 

Munchensy,  Denise  (d.  1304)  w.  of 
Warin  de,  67,  262,  263 ;  Denise  de 
(d.  13 13),  262;  Warin  de,  262 

Munkenhill,  see  Buckhurst 

Munteny  (Mounteneye),  Amald, 
199;  Sir  Amulph  de,  214;  Edm. 
de,  214;  Joan,  see  Biddik;  John  de 
(fl.  1288),  214;  John  de  (fl.  1355), 
67,  214;  Marg.  w.  of  John  de,  214; 
Mic  de,  214;  Miles  de  and  his  w. 
Agnes,  67;  Ric.  de,  214;  Rob., 
214;  Thos.  de,  67,  214;  fam.,  67  n 

Murimuth,  Adam  de,  143,  144 

Muscott,  Charity  m.  Geo.  Dun- 
combe,  252;  Frances,  252 

Musgrave,  Ann,  see  Archer;  Chris., 
288 

Mylbome,  Wm.,  219  n 

Myles's,  in  Kelvedon  Hatch,  63,  64, 
65,  67-68,  143,  240,  245 


Napoleonic    wars,    sale    of   timber 

during,  60,  120 
Napper,  Anne  w.  of  Wm.,  218;  Rob., 

177;  Wm.,  218 
Nash,  Lance,  78;  Wm.  Wedd,  290 
Nash    Hall    (Ongar,    Little    Ongar, 

Ashhall),  173,  175,  180,  182,  185 
National  Freehold  Land  Society,  30 
National  Telephone  Co.,  22  n 
Navestock,   2,   139-50,  219  n,  225; 

adv.,     146;     agric,     142-3;     Bp. 

Compton's  census,  311;  bridges, 

140,  141,  142;  char.,  149;  ch., 
67,  146-7;  commons,  140-1 ;  com- 
munications, 142;  cricket,  142; 
earthworks,  140;  hearth  taxes, 
304-6,  309;  Horseman  Side,  140, 

141,  147,  148,  149;  hos.,  140-1, 
144,  145,  146;  inc.,  141;  mans., 
6,  59  n,  65,  67,  105,  143-6,  242; 
medieval    taxes,    298-302 ;    mills, 

140,  141;    Navestock   Hall,    140, 

141,  142,  144;  Navestock  Heath, 

140,  141,  142,  149,  222;  Nave- 
stock Side,  140,  141,  142,  149, 
222;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel., 
148;  pop.,  141 ;  postal  svces.,  142; 
Protestant  noncf.,  148;  pub. 
svces.,  142;  rect.,  146;  roads,  63, 
140— I ;  Rom.  Cathm.,  147;  schs., 

141,  149,  232;  Shonks  Mill  Bridge, 

142,  209;  top.,  139-43;  vicarage, 
141,  146;  woods,  139,  140; 
worthies,  143;  see  also  Bois  Hall, 
Loft  Hall,  Slades 

Navestock,    'the    other    Navestock' 

(Domesday  village),  2 
Nazeing,  123 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Neale,  Marg.,  208;  John,  308 

Neller,  Revd.  F.,  35 

Nelson,  A.  &  C,  coach  owners,  22, 

158 
Nesfield,  Eden,  120  n 
Nether   Hall    (Bourchiers  Hall),  in 

Moreton,  98,   106  n,   130,   131-2, 

J33 

Netteswell,  284 

Nettleton,  Revd.  John,  165 

Neuton,  John  de.  Treasurer  of  St. 
Peter's,  York,  89 

Neville,  Alice,  Ctss.  of  Salisbury,  see 
Montagu;  Cecily  (mother  of  Edw. 
IV  and  Ric.  HI)  m.  Ric,  Duke  of 
York,  254;  Edw.  Ld.  Bergavenny, 
262 ;  Geo.  Ld.  Bergavenny,  3 1 ; 
Isabel  m.  Geo.  Duke  of  Clarence, 
287;  Ric.  Earl  of  Salisbury  (d. 
1460),  287;  Ric.  Earl  of  Salisbury 
and  Warwick  (d.  1471),  'the 
Kingmaker',  287;  Miss,  i88 

New  Hall,  in  High  Roding,  193  « 

Newall,  John  L.,  47,  152,  154,  180, 
182;  J.  W.,  43,  180;  fam.,  17s 

Newarks  Norton,  in  High  Ongar,  6, 
150,  172,  175,  180,  181,  185 

Newburgh,  Ela  de,  Ctss.  of  War- 
wick, see  Ela 

Newbury  Park,  in  Ilford,  19 

Newman,  Joan,  28;  John  Thos., 
architect,  69 

Newmarket,  20,  113,  249,  259,  260, 
284,  28s 

Newport,  Rob.,  225 

Newport,  259  n 

Newstead  (Notts.),  267 

Newton,  Sir  John,  Bt.,  268;  Susanna 
m.  Wm.  Archer  (formerly  Eyre), 
268 ;  Susanna  Houblon,  see  Archer, 
Houblon;  Thos.,  Bp.  of  Bristol, 
204  «,  207 ;  see  also  Neuton 

Nichol,  Thos.,  45;  see  also  Nichols 

Nicholas,  Ant.  (fl.  1685),  153;  Ant. 
(d.  1727),  153 ;  Denton,  271 ;  Geo., 
229;  John,  153;  Martha  m.  Josiah 
Woodward,  244;  Mary  w.  of 
Prosper,  246;  Prosper,  193,  244, 
246;  Ric,  202;  Wm.,  153 

Nichols  (NichoUs,  Nycolls),  Humph., 
52 ;  John,  printer  and  author,  60  n ; 
Thos.  (fl.  1724),  16;  Thos.  (fl. 
1826),  157;  see  also  Nichol 

Nicholson,  Ellen,  m.  i  —  Minors, 
2  John  Branch,  264;  John,  237; 
Wm.,  264 

Nigel,  227 

Nile,  Battle  of  the,  156 

Nix,  Ric,  Bp.  of  Norwich,  79 

Noaks,  fam.  (paupers),  148 

Nobbs,  John,  241,  245 

Noble,  Ric,  164;  the  Misses,  170 

Noble  &  Son,  builders,  156,  162  n, 
165,  172,  184,  203,  217 

Nodes,  Eliz.,  see  Wollsey;  Wm.,  122 

Nollekens,  Jos.  (d.  1823),  sculptor, 
164 

Nooke,  Rob.,  52 

Norden,  John,  cartographer,  198 

Norfolk,  dukes  of,  see  Howard, 
Mowbray 

Norfolk,  earl  of,  see  Bigod 

Norfolk,  medieval  tax  assessments, 
302;  migrants  from,  38 

Norman,  Rob.,  89 

Normanby,  Alan  de,  46 

Normanby  (later  Langton),  Steph. 
de  and  his  w.  Alice,  46 

North,  Dudley,  Ld.  North,  199;  Sir 
John,  199 

North    London    Collegiate    School, 

251 
Northampton,  77 
Northampton,   earl  of,   see  Bohun, 

Compton 


Northampton,  Joan  w.  of  Ric.  de, 
278;  John  de,  281;  Kath.  w.  of 
Ric.  de,  278 ;  Ric  de,  278 

Northamptonshire,  lands  in,  266 

Northcote,  Adela,  see  Bowyer- 
Smijth 

Norton,  Gordon,  253;  Mrs.,  253  n 

Norton,  see  Forest  Hall 

Norton  Foliot,  see  Forest  Hall 

Norton  Mandeville,  4,  150-5, 
15971,  171;  adv.,  152-3;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311;  char., 
15s;  ch.,  52  n,  54  n,  loi  n,  152-4, 
172,  182,  25s  n;  curate  of,  174; 
fields,  150-2,  166  n;  hearth  taxes, 
305-6,  309;  hos.,  150,  151,  152; 
man.,  6,  59,  151-2,  179,  180,  288; 
medieval  taxes,  298-302;  noncf., 
154.  19s;  Norton  Hall,  150,  151, 
152;  Norton  Heath,  150,  151,  152, 
154,  159  n,  173;  Norton  Manor 
House,  150;  poor  rel.,  154;  pop., 
150;  pub.  svces.,  151;  rect.,  13, 
153;  schs.,  154,  187;  top.,  150-1; 
vicarage,  153 

Norwich,  22,  216,  229,  249,  261,  284 

Norwich,  bps.  of,  79;  see  also  De- 
spenser,  Montagu,  Nix,  Suffield, 
Wauton 

Notting  Hill  (Lond.),  200 

Nottingham,   165,  200 

Nottingham,  earl  of,  see  Finch, 
Mowbray 

Nottinghamshire,  medieval  tax 
assessments,  300 

Nowers,  —  (fl.  1519),  264 

Nowes,  Chas.  and  his  w.  Ann,  49 

Nuthampstead,  in  Barkway  (Herts.), 
31  n 

Nutt,  Geo.  (d.  by  1656),  28;  Geo. 
(fl.  1656),  28;  Wm.  (fl.  1669),  28; 
Wm.  (d.  1721),  28;  Wm.  (fl.  1725), 
28;  Wm.  (fl.  1816),  272;  Wm.  (fl. 
1848),  65 

Nycolls,  see  Nichols 

Nynge,  Amphyllis  m.  John  Shereflf, 
134;  Isabel,  134;  Marg.,  see 
Wynslowe;  Thos.,  134;  Wm.,  134 


Oakley,  Sir  John,  67 

Ockendon,  North,  161 

Ockendon,  South,  134 

Oda,  Abp.  of  Canterbury,  143 

Oddin,  Hen.,  305  n 

Odo,  Bp.  of  Bayeux,  65 

Offinton,  Laur.  de,  224 

OflSey,  Jos.,  134;  Thos.,  134 

Oger,  Emma  Fitz  m.  —  Saunford, 

205 
Oger  Fitz  Michael,  192,  194 
Oger  Fitz  Oger,  205 ;  Amy  w.  of,  see 

Selflege 
Oger,  Mic.  Fitz  and  his  w.  Sar.,  192 
Oger,  Mirabel  Fitz  m.  —  de  Cruce, 

205 
Oger,  Peter  Fitz,  205,  206 
Ognall,  And.,  278 ;  Bridget,  278 
Old  Farm,  see  Appeltons 
Old  Frith,  see  Frith  Hall 
Old  Thrifts,  see  Frith  Hall 
Oldfield,  Rob.,  bellfounder,  237 
Oldham,  Hugh,  Bp.  of  Exeter,  264; 

Revd.  John,  242,  245,  247,  248 
O'Leary,  J.  G.,  166  n 
Oliver,    Abraham,    76;    Ben.,    100; 

John,  loi;  R.  and  H.,  51;  Revd. 

W.  M.,  14,  15,  154,  207 
Olmestede,  John  de,  167 
Ongar,  John  the  clerk  of,  164 
Ongar  (Domesday  village),  2 
Ongar,  see  Nash  Hall 
Ongar,  Chipping,   i,  2,  4,  155-7I1 

209;    Ackingford   Bridge,    9,    58, 


15s.  157;  adv.,  162,  182;  agric, 
166;  Assembly  Rms.,  156;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311;  bridges, 
157,  174;  Budworth  Hall,  156, 
159;  castle,  5,  155,  159,  160,  161, 
162;  Castle  House,  155,  i62;char., 
171;  ch.,  162-4,  182,  207;  fair, 
160,  167;  fire-brigade,  158;  hearth 
taxes,  304-5,  307,  309;  hospitals, 
159;  hos.,  155-6,  162,  163; 'King's 
Head',  155,  167;  market,  155,  167; 
man.,  5,  6,  59,  88  «,  159-62,  182, 
210,  211,  262;  Mechanics'  Inst., 
159;  medieval  taxes,  297,  299—302; 
occupations,  166-7;  Ongar  Bridge, 
155.  156,  157,  172;  par.  govt,  and 
poor  rel.,  167-9;  P^""-  united  with 
Greenstead,  61,  163;  pop.,  156-7; 
postal  svces.,  158,  233;  Protestant 
noncf.,  137,  164-5,  218,  292;  pub. 
svces.  and  social  hfe,  60,    158-9, 

174;  rly-,  74,  III.  "4.  155.  158, 
209,  250;  rect.,  162-3;  roads  to, 
38,  58,  63,  64,  72,  87,  97,  141,  144, 
150,  188,  189,  203,  204,  214,  233, 
241,  285;  Rom.  Cathm.,  165; 
schs.,  18,  62,  no,  139,  169-71, 
187,  197,  208,  221,  232,  248,  295; 
stage  coach  svces.,  21,  157-8,  189, 
209;  top.,  155-7;  town  enclosure, 
155;  town  hall,  156,  167,  169  n; 
White  House,  155,  156,  159,  162, 
163;  worthies,  159;  otherwise 
mentioned,  43,  58,  63,  97,  103, 
129,  142,  151,  171,  174,  188,  198, 
203,  204,  222,  240,  241,  247,  286 
Ongar  Gas  Company,  158,  174 
Ongar,  High,  9,  64,  68,  15971,  i66, 
167,  171-88;  adv.,  182-3;  agric, 
175;  Bp.  Compton's  census,  311; 
Bobbingworth  hamlet  (Westwood 
hamlet),  4,  172,  186,  303,  305,  307, 
309;  brewery,  172;  char.,  187; 
chs.,  52  n,  152,  172,  182-5;  f^ir, 
175,  176.  182;  Fane  Nursing 
Home,  174;  hearth  taxes,  303,  305, 
307,  309;  hos.,  172-3,  176,  177, 
178,  179,  180,  181,  182,  183;  inch, 
175.  185;  inds.,  167,  175;  mans., 
175—82;  medieval  taxes,  299-362; 
mill,  175;  noncf.,  185;  High 
Ongar  Bridge,  155,  173,  174;  par. 
govt,  and  poor  rel.,  185-6;  pop., 
171,  208;  postal  svces.,  174;  pub. 
svces.,  174;  roads,  58,  174;  rector 
of,  175,  182;  rect.,  182-3;  schs., 
154,  186-7;  top-.  i7i~4;  s«e  "Iso 
Ashlyns;  Chivers  Hall;  Forest 
Hall;  Frith  Hall;  Marden  Ash; 
Nash  Hall;  Newarks  Norton; 
Ongar  Park;  Paslow  Hall;  Paslow 
Wood  Common ;  Passfield ; 
Withers  Pawne 
Ongar,  honor  of,  59,  160,  262 
Ongar,  hund.  of,  1-8,  18,  38,  76, 
85  «,  142,  143,  179,  188,  221  n, 
243,  266,  286-7;  medieval  tax 
assessments,  296-302;  hearth  tax 
assessments,  303-10;  Bp.  Comp- 
ton's census,  311;  see  also  Ward- 
staff 
Ongar,  Little,  see  Nash  Hall 
Ongar  Park  (Batells),  in  High 
Ongar,  13,  105,  166  n,  171,  172, 
'75.  183,  210,  211;  see  also  Stan- 
ford Park 
Ongar  Poor  Law  Union,  17,  56,  62, 
71,  85,  96,  102,  138,  148,  154,  169, 
174,  186,  196,  202,  208,  210,  221, 
231,  238,  248,  283;  workho.,  210, 

221 

Ongar     Rural     District,     i ;     R.D. 

Council,  156,  203 
Onslow,    Foot,    29;    Susanna,    see 

Colwall 


328 


INDEX 


Oram,  Mrs.,  102 

Orcop  (Herefs.),  59 

Ord,    Craven    (d.    1832),    60,    62; 

Revd.  Craven  (d.  1836),  60;  Capt. 

Harry  and  Mrs.,  45;   Mary,  see 

Redman 
Ormond,  Jas.,  Earl  of  Wiltshire,  31 ; 

John,  31 ;  Thos.,  31 
Orr,  T.  W.,  35 
Orsett,  272 
Osier  growing,  75 
Ospring  (Kent),  153 
Oswestry  (Salop),  see  Aston  Hall 
Otes,  John,  gi 
Otes,  in  High  Laver,  Son,  88,  91-93, 

99.  103  n 

Otto  IV,  Emperor,  224 

Otway,  Edw.,  245 

Oudeby,  Elnr.  m.  Thos.  Battail,  176; 
Thos.,  176 

Overman,  Thos.,  81 ;  Wm.,  81 

Owen,  Thos.  A.,  171 

Oxford,  78 

Oxford,  bp.  of,  see  Stubbs 

Oxford,  earls  of,  27,  78,  79,  80,  198; 
see  also  Vere 

Oxford,  Steph.  of,  227 

Oxford  University,  Ford  Lecture- 
ship, 143;  see  also  Brasenose 
College,  Keble  College,  Merton 
College,  Trinity  College,  Univer- 
sity College 


Pack  &  Chapman,  bellfounders,  184 

Paddington  (Lond.),  218 

Padfield,  Mr.,  260  n;  Mrs.  S.,  77 

Page,  Ambrose,  132;  Wm.,  246; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.,  245 

Paget,  Mr.,  247 

Paine,  Hen.  E.,  288 

Pall  Mall  (Lond.),  Schomberg  House 
in,  14 

Pallavicine,  Horatio,  164;  Jane,  see 
Cromwell;  Tobias,  164 

Palmer,  Ada,  21 ;  Edw.  (fl.  1624),  74, 
78?;  Edw.  s.  of  Edw.  (d.  c.  1680), 
78?,  80;  E.  J.,  brewer,  175;  Hen., 
74,  80;  Hen.  Billingsley,  80; 
Horace,  214;  Revd.  H.,  loi;  Jas., 
176;  John  (£1.  1659),  54;  John  (fl. 
1781-92),  272;  John  (fl.  1842), 
216;  J.  &  J.,  brewers,  175;  Ric. 
(fl.  1776),  272;  Ric.  (fl.  1801),  92, 
99,  100;  Revd.  Ric.  (fl.  1872),  loi ; 
Rob.,  92,  99,  100;  S.  Caroline, 
loi;  Thos.,  54;  Mrs.,  176;  fam., 
21,  75,  80;  see  also  Golding- 
Palmer 

Panfield,  priory  of,  134,  135 

Paris,  Alice  w.  of  Wm.  de,  289 ;  Alice 
de,  see  Spigamel;  Beatrice  w.  of 
Roger  de,  289,  290;  Nich.  de, 
289;  Rog.  de,  289;  Wm.  de,  289, 
290;  fam.,  289;  see  also  Parris 

Paris  Hall,  in  North  Weald  Bassett, 
284,  289-90,  292 

Parish,  Sam.,  239 

Parishes,  detached  parts  of,  4,  9,  103, 
129,  171-2,  182-3,  188,  197,  245 

Parker,  Chas.  G.,  269;  Hen.,  180; 
Jonathan,  119;  Rog.,  180 

Parkes,  Revd.  Parson,  237 

Parliament,  forged  Acts  of,  161; 
members  of,  see  Sir  Dan.  Dun, 
Adml.  Sir  Eliab  Harvey,  Amelius 
R.  M.  Lockwood,  John  Luther 
(d.  1786),  Cmdr.  J.  W.  Maitland, 
Sir  Nat.  Rich,  Sir  Hen.  Selwin- 
Ibbetson,  Bt.,  John  Strachey, 
Thos.  Walker,  J.  W.  Perry 
Watlington,  Sir  Rob.  Wroth  (d. 
1606) 

Pamdon,  Little,  15 


Parr,  Anne,  Baroness  Bourchier  and 

Ctss.    of    Essex,    see    Bourchier; 

Thos.    Ld.    Parr,    later    Earl    of 

Essex,  59,  131 
Parris,  John,   199  n;  Rob.,  199;  V. 

and  L.,  290;  Mr.,  290;  see  also 

Paris 
Parrish,  Miss,  144;  Mr.,  68 
Parsons,  John,  96 
Partridge,  And.,  261 ;  Hen.,  176 
Partrych,  Bart.,  142 
Pasfield,  see  Paslow  Hall 
Paslow    Hall    (Pasfield),    in    High 

Ongar,  5,  6,  47,  173,  175,  180,  185, 

186,  300-2 
Paslow   Wood   Common,    in    High 

Ongar,    171,    173,    174,   175,    185, 

186,  187,  188,  241 
Passfield,  in  High  Ongar,  2,  4 
Passfield  Chivers,  see  Chivers  Hall 
Passmore,  Revd.  W.,  95,  137 
Patch  Park  (Hunts.),  in  Lamboume, 

73,  78,  80,  236 
Patche,  John,  81 
Paul,  Wm.  &  Son,  116 
Paveley,  Jas.,  186 
Pavell,  John,  90  n 
Pavitt,  G.,  10 
Pawne,  Anne  m.  Rog.  Basing,  178; 

Wm.  (fl.  1498),  178,  179;  Wm.  (d. 

157°).  153,  178;  Wm.  (d.  1578), 

153,  178,  179.  186;  fam.,  175,  J78, 

179 
Peacock,  Chas.,  77;  Edw.  (fl.  1626), 

167;  Edw.  (fl.  1641),  77;  Ric,  77; 

Rob.,  264;  Wm.,  188 
Peach,  Sam.,  28 
Peake,  Mr.,  169 
Pearse,  Nich.,  128;  Sar.,  128;  Mrs., 

122 
Pearson,  Geo.,  127;  Revd.  John,  208 
Pebmersh,  Cecily  w.  of  Ralph  de, 

178;  Ralph  de,  178;  Wm.  de,  178 
Pecok,  see  Peacock 
Pekkebrigge  (Peghbrigg),  John,  64 
Pelby,  Mrs.  John,  124 
Pembroke,    earls   of,    see   Hastings, 

Herbert,  Valence 
Pendred,  Wm.,  216 
Penington,  John,  29,  34;  Mary,  m. 

I    Rog.   Forster,  2  Mich.  Ernie, 

3  Sir  Thos.  Perient,  29 
Perm,  Wm.,  Quaker,  24 
Penruddock,  John,  178,  179 
Percival,  Edw.  Lockwood  (d.  1842), 

77,   84,   85 ;   Louisa   Eliz.   Lock- 
wood,  79 
Percival  (formerly  Lockwood),  Edw. 

Lockwood  (d.  1804),  75 
Peregrine,  Revd.  D.  W.  and  Mrs., 

68,69 
Perient,  Mary  Lady,  see  Penington; 

Sir  Thos.,  29 
Perry,     Isaac,     83  n;     Louisa,     m. 

Robert  Peel  Ethelston,  32;  Maria 

Jane,  see  Watlington;  Revd.  N.  F., 

36;  R.,  16;  Thos.,  32;  Wm.,  193 
Peter  Fitz  Oger,  205,  206 
Peter,  Ralph  s.  of,  262 
Petre,  Cath.,  212;  Edw.,  212,  213; 

Frances,    see    Manby;    Geo.    (fl. 

i8ig),  212;  Geo.  Wm.  (d.  1797), 

212,  218;  John,  212,  213,  215,  216; 

Lucy  dau.  of  Wm.,  218;  Lucy  w. 

of   Wm.,    21 1 ;    Lady    Mary,    see 

Radcliffe;  Ric,  Jesuit,  218;  Rob. 

(fl.   1678),  Jesuit,  218;  Rob.  Ld. 

Petre    (d.    1742),    212;    Rob.    (d. 

1766),  Jesuit,  218;  Rob.  Edw.  Ld. 

Petre   (d.    1801),    142,    212,    215; 

Sar.,  see  Keep;  Susan,  212;  Wm. 

Ld.  Petre  (d.  1637),  211 ;  Wm.  (d. 

1677),  211,  218;  Wm.  (d.  1688), 

211;  Wm.  (d.  1728),  211,  212,  218; 

Wm.  (d.  1745),  212,  216,  218,  219; 


Wm.  Bernard,  Ld.  Petre  (d.  1884), 

165 ;  fam.,  209,  218,  219 
Petty,  Martha,  see  Hicks 
Peverel,  Rob.,  160,  162,  166 
Phelps,  Ric,  bellfounder,  164;  Rob., 

bellfounder,  271 
Philippa,  queen  of  Edw.,  Ill,  215 
Phillips,  E.,  215;  Miss  E.  A.,  41  n, 

I27n;  Tim.,  215;  Revd.  Wm.,  207 
Pig,  Wal.,  214 
Piggott  Bros.  &  Co.,  tent  makers, 

209,  210 
Piggsland,  in   Stanford   Rivers,  see 

Bridges  and  Piggsland 
Pinchon,  David,  148 
Pirgo,  see  Pyrgo 
Pitfield,     Winifred     m.      Solomon 

Ashley,  26 
Plaiz,  barons,  see  Howard;  barony, 

227 
Plaiz,  Sir  Hugh  de,  227;  John,  Ld. 

Plaiz,   227;   Marg.   m.    Sir  John 

Howard,    227;    Philippe    de,    see 

Montfichet;  Ric  Ld.  Plaiz,  227 
Playle,  Mat.,  213 
Pleshey,  6 
Ploket,  Nich.,  26 
Plomer,  Wm.  le,  31 
Plumer,  Wm.,  212 
Plummer,  Jane  w.  of  Wm.  m.  2  Rob. 

Plummer  Ward,  291 ;  Wm.,  291 
Plumtuna  (Domesday  village),  3 
Plymouth,  earl  of,  see  Hickman 
Plympton  (Devon),  79 
Pochin  (Putchin),  Geo.  (fl.  1700),  44; 

Geo.    (fl.    1704),    200;    Geo.    (fl. 

1770),    200;    John    (?fl.     1704), 

200  «;  John  (fl.  1720),  54;  Capt., 

200;  fam.,  54 
Poldu  (Comw.),  13 
Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley,  Cath., 

see  Long;  Wm.  Earl  of  Morning- 
ton  (d.  1863),  47,  182 
PoIe-Tylney-Long-Wellesley      (for- 
merly Wellesley-Pole),  Wm.  Earl 

of  Momington  (d.  1857),  45,  181, 

182 
Poley,  John,  215 
PoHce,  38,  45,  65,  75,  130,  159,  174, 

209,  223,  251,  283,  286;  see  also 

Metropolitan  Police 
Polstead  (Suff.),  76 
Pomfret,  Revd.  Sam.,  195 
Pond,  Sam.,  185 
Pontigny  (France),  277 
Poole  (Pool),  John  (d.  1602),  11,  12; 

John  (d.  1633)  and  his  w.  Anne, 

12;  John  (d.  c.  1676),  12;  John  (d. 

by  1701),  12,  16;  John  (fl.  1708), 

10,  12,  14,  16;  John  (d.  c.  1839), 

1 8 ;  Lora  w.  of  John,  1 2 ;  Mary,  see 

Powell;  Ric,  ii;  Wm.  (fl.  1740), 

16;  fam.,  15,  16 
Pooley,  Alice,  see  Shaa;  John,  290; 

Wm.    (d.    1587),    290;    Wm.    (fl. 

1594),  290 
Poor  Law  Union  (1829),  see  'Gilbert' 

Poor  Law  Union 
Pope,  Edw.,  37,  95,   117,   123;  Sir 

Thos.,  146 
Poplar  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  132 
Port  Sunlight,  see  Lever  Art  Gallery 
Porter,  Miss  O.,  142  n;  Revd.  R.  I., 

163 
Portland,  earl  of,  see  Weston 
Portland  Place  (Lond.),  253 
Portman  Square  (Lond.),  253 
Potel,  Ric,  29/1 
Potells,  see  King's  Place 
Potter,  Edw.,  235;  John  (d.  c.  1546), 

30;  John  (fl.  1834),  247;  Thos.  and 

his  w.  Marg.,  30 
Powell  (Powel),  Ann,  202;  Mary,  m. 

John   Poole,    12,    14;   Jas.,    125; 

Mrs.,  122;  fam.,  117 


329 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Powerscourt,  vet.,  see  Wingfield 

Fowling,  Wm.,  21 

Poynder,  Thos.,  98 

Poynings,  Rob.,  177 

Poyntz,  Anne  m.  Sir  Fulke  Greville, 
161;  Audrey  m.  Sir  Adam  Little- 
ton, 161;  Eliz.  m.  Wm.  Dun- 
combe,  161 ;  Sir  Gabriel,  161 ;  Sir 
Jas.,  161;  Kath.  m.  (Sir)  John 
Morris  (later  Poyntz),  161 ;  Poyntz, 
161 ;  Ric,  i6i ;  Thos.,  161 

Poyntz  (formerly  Morris),  Sir  John, 
106,  161 

Praed,  Louisa,  see  Ewing;  Winthrop 
Mackworth,  106 

Prance,  Revd.  L.  N.,  282;  Reg. 
Heber,  237 

Pratt,  Revd.  Benj.,  60;  C,  145;  Sam. 
and  his  w.  Anne,  193;  Mr.,  192; 
fam.,  14s 

Prentice,  Thos.,  132 

Prest,  Alice  w.  of  John  (second 
husb.)  m.  3  Ric.  Blackwall,  145; 
Frances  m.  Wm.  Bradbome,  145; 
John,  145;  Thos.  (d.  1852),  24; 
Thos.  (d.  1877),  24;  Wm.,  14s 

Preston,  Geo.,  64 

Prestwood,  John,  27 

Price,  Howel  J.  J.,  60  n,  63 

priest,  Ingelric  the,  88,  159,  181,  210 

Prince,  Eliz.  (d.  c.  1796),  149;  Eliz. 
m.  I  Wm.  Sparowe,  2  Francis 
Hampden,  253,  254,  264;  Eliz., 
see  Gernon;  Gil.,  263;  Joan  w.  of 
John,  263 ;  John  (d.  by  1471),  254, 
263 ;  John  (d.  1499),  254,  263,  264; 
Lucy  w.  of  John,  264;  Rob.,  263 

Prior  (Priour),  And.,  14s;  Edm.,  67, 
145 ;  Elnr.,  see  Ramsey;  John,  145 ; 
Ric,  89;  fam.,  145;  see  also  Pryor 

Prison  Commissioners,  279,  281 

Prittlewell,  priory  of,  276 

Pryor,  Mrs.  L.  F.,  142  «,  144  n 

Pryors,  in  Lamboume,  73,  78,  81, 
82,  236 

Pugh,  R.  B.,  77  n 

Puller,  Sir  Chris.,  288  n;  Lady 
Louisa  Giles,  254,  288,  291 

Purca,  Eliz.,  69 

Purcas,  Wm.,  200  n 

Purle,  Alice  dau.  of  Wm.,  192;  Wm., 
192 

Putchin,  see  Pochin 

Puxon,  E.  W.,  68;  his  w.,  69 

Pykenham,  Eliz.,  ?  m.  John  Heron, 
91;  Geo.,  91;  John  (d.  1436),  91; 
John  (fl.  1445),  91;  Kath.,  see 
Barrington,  91 ;  Margery  dau.  of 
Thos.,  91 ;  Margery  w.  of  John, 
91 ;  Thos.,  91 

Pykeryng,  Hugh,  266;  Sir  John,  266 

Pynchon,  Wal.  and  his  w.  Joan,  278 

Pyrgo  (Pirgo),  in  Havering-atte- 
Bower,  106,  230 

Pyrle,  John  s.  of  Rog.  le,  118 


Quakers,  see  Society  of  Friends 
Queenhithe  (Lond.),  206,  207 


Rabett,  Ann  m.  Ric.  Stane,  179 

Radbourne,  Mr.,  104  n 

Radcliffe,  Edw.  Earl  of  Derwent- 
water,  211;  Hen.  Earl  of  Sussex, 
8 1 ;  Lady  Mary  m.  Wm.  Petre, 
211,  212;  Rob.  Earl  of  Sussex,  81 

Railways,  2,  9,  19,  21,  22,  58,  64,  74, 
"4.  15s.  158,  209,  2SO,  251,  261, 
286 

Rainald  (fl.  1086),  204,  205 

Rainald,  Aubrey  dau.  of,  m.  Eus.  de 
Selflege,  205 


Rainham,  see  Launders 

Rainsford,  Ric,  295 

Ralf  (Ralph)  (fl.  1086),  59,  ii8,  131, 
286 

Ralph,  Gregory  s.  of,  253 

Ralph,  Ric.  s.  of,  262;  his  w.  Cecily, 
262 

Ralph  s.  of  Peter,  262 

Rampston,  Rob.,  34,  42,  122,  128 

Ramsden,  Sir  John  and  his  w. 
Anne,  199 

Ramsey,  Elnr.  m.  i  Ralph  Wrytell, 
2  Ric.  Prior,  89;  Joan  w.  of  Rob., 
95 ;  John  (fl.  1412),  89;  John  (fl. 
17th  cent.),  134;  Mary  m.  Sir 
Wm.  Boughton,  134;  Rob.  (fl. 
1406),  89;  Rob.  (fl.  143 1),  89,  95 ; 
Wm.,  134 

Randal,  Sam.,  148 

Ranulf,  brother  of  Ilger,  10 

Rattee,  Revd.  J.,  195-6 

Ray,  John,  41 ;  Revd.  P.  W.,  61,  62; 
Rob.,  132 

Rayleigh,  157,  276 

Rayleigh,  honor  of,  234,  276,  277, 
278 

Rayment,  Geo.,  295 

Rayner,  Edw.,  168;  Mary,  63,  222 

Read,  Geo.  (fl.  1721),  16;  Geo.  (fl. 
1954),  200;  John  Tysoe,  254 

Rebotier,  Chas.,  60;  David,  60; 
Esther,  60 

Red  Cross  convalescent  home,  66 

Redington,  Thos.,  108 

Redman,  John,  60 ;  Mary  m.  Craven 
Ord,  60,  62 

Rees,  Revd.  E.  B.,  276  n,  281,  282  n 

Reeve,  Edw.  (fl.  1849),  245,  246; 
Revd.  E.  H.  L.  (d.  1936),  242,  24s, 
246,  247,  249;  Revd.  E.  J.  (d. 
1893),  242,  245,  246,  247,  248; 
Jos.,  93 

Refham,  John  de,  211,  214;  Richer 
de,  211,  214 

Reformation  Church  Trust,  107 

Reynold,  Abbot  of  Waltham,  25 1 ,  25  2 

Reynolds,  John,  275 

Reyntot,  Edw.,  118;  Geoff.,  121 

Rhode  Island,  U.S.A.,  94 

Ribadeneira,  Pedro  de,  211  n 

Rice,  John  ap,  264 

Rich,  Anne  m.  Edw.  Earl  of  Man- 
chester, 181;  Anne  m.  Sir  John 
Barrington,  Bt.,  135;  Chas.  Earl 
of  Warwick,  5,  85  n,  135,  181; 
Essex  m.  Dan.  Finch,  Earl  of 
Nottingham,  135;  Frances  m. 
Nich.  Leake,  Earl  of  Scarsdale, 
13s;  Hen.  Earl  of  Holland,  224; 
Kath.,  see  Knevett;  Mary,  Ctss.  of 
Warwick,  see  Boyle;  Mary  m.  Sir 
Hen.  St.  John,  Bt.,  135;  Sir  Nat. 
(d.  1636),  242,  244,  247;  Col.  Nat. 
(d.  1701),  242,  244,  245,  247;  Nat. 
(fl.  1706),  244;  Ric.  Ld.  Rich  (d. 

1567).  5.  13.  14,  47,  49.  S'.  52. 
59.  85  n,  98,  99,  lOO,  131,  133-5, 
162,  172,  179,  i8i,  183,  190,  205, 
207,  215,  216,  287;  Ric.  (d.  1580), 
49,  205;  Rob.  Ld.  Rich  (d.  1581), 
49.  59.  131.  134.  135.  205,  207; 
Rob.  Ld.  Rich,  later  Eari  of  War- 
wick (d.  1619),  45,  49,  88,  131, 
134.  135.  205,  207;  Rob.  Earl  of 
Warwick  (d.  1658),  135,  175  n, 
18 1,  287;  Rob.  Eari  of  Warwick 
(d.  1659),  135;  Wm.,  125;  fam., 
287 

Richard  (fl.  1086),  10,  49,  98 

Richard  I,  89,  175,  i8i 

Richard  H,  135,  191 

Richard  IH,  266;  as  Duke  of 
Gloucester,  198,  227,  254 

Richard,  Duke  of  York  (d.  1460), 
105 ;  his  w.  Cecily,  see  Neville 


Richard,  Duke  of  York  (d.  1483), 
266 

Richard  Fitz  William  (fl.  1232-3), 
234 

Richard  Fitz  William  (fl.  1268),  192 

Richard  s.  of  Ralph,  262;  his  w. 
Cecily,  262 

Richard,  Wm.  Fitz,  234 

Richards,  Thos.,  206 

Richardson,  David  (fl.  1803),  230; 
David  (fl.  1827),  230;  John,  230; 
Thos.  and  his  w.  Anne,  49 

Richmond,  honor  of,  198 

Rigges,  Wm.,  179 

Risley,  Sir  John,  29 

Rivers,  Baldwin  de  (d.  I2i6),  262; 
Baldwin  de  (fl.  c.  1243),  210; 
Baldwin  de,  Earl  of  Devon  (d. 
1262),  262;  Isabel  de  m.  Wm.  de 
Forz,  262;  John  de  (d.  1294),  5.  6, 
160,  167,  182,  210,  263;  John  de 
(d.  1314),  160  n;  John  Ld.  Rivers 
(d.  c.  1322),  160,  211,  287;  John 
de  (fl.  1334),  211,  216;  John  (fl. 
1649),  254;  Margery  de,  see  Fitz 
Gerold ;  Maud  de,  see  Lucy ;  Olive, 
see  Carleton;  Ric.  de  (d.  1221  or 
1222),  160,  210;  Ric.  de  (d.  by 
1243),  160,  167,  210;  fam.,  5,  262 

Roach,  Rebecca,  223 

Roast,  Steph.,  98 

Robert  (fl.  1086),  276 

Robert,  Abbot  of  Tilty,  29 

Robert,  Abbot  of  Waltham,  251  n, 
252 

Robert,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  59,  151; 
his  w.  (Mabel),  151 

Robert,  Rector  of  Theydon  Mount, 
281 

Robert  Fitz  Hamon,  151 

Robert  Fitz  Wimarc,  234,  276 

Robert,  Walter  Fitz,  25 

Roberts,  Mr.,  119 

Robessart,  Sir  Lewis,  11 

Robinson,  Edw.,  272;  Revd.  Jas., 
no;  John,  14;  Rev.  Thos.  Jas., 
no 

Roche,  Thos.,  180 

Rochester,  Alice  de  m.  Rob.  de 
Scales,  98;  Edw.,  12;  Eus.  de,  98; 
Gresilda,  see  Wrytell;  John  f.  of 
Wm.,  II,  51;  Jolm  s.  of  Wm.,  11, 
12,  14;  Ralph  de,  98;  Ric.  de,  98; 
Rob.,  225;  Wm.,  II,  51 

Rochester,  bps.  of,  290 

Rochester  (Kent),  Castle  of,  276 

Rochford,  153 

Rochford,  earl  of,  see  Zuylestein 

Rockells,  in  Willingale  Doe,  180 

Roddington,  Thos.,  90  n 

Rodgers,  John,  305  n 

Roding,  riv.,  i,  2,  18,  19,  43-45,  63, 
64,  68,  72,  73,  no,  129,  139,  140, 
141,  142,  143,  150,  151,  15s,  171, 
172,  173,  174,  181,  183,  188,  197,  » 
198,  203,  208,  209,  210,  215,  222, 
233,  234/!,  240,  249,  259,  260, 
261,  275 

Roding,  Abbess,  i,  4,  5  n,  188-97; 
Abbess  Hall,  190;  adv.,  193-4; 
agric,  188,  189;  Bp.  Compton's 
census,  311;  ch.,  193-5;  Cocker- 
ells,  189,  195;  hearth  taxes,  304, 
305.  307.  308;  hos.,  188-9,  190. 
192,  193,  194,  196;  inds.,  189-90; 
mans.,  6,  7,  190-3,  196;  medieval 
taxes,  300-2;  noncf.,  137,  195-6; 
par.,  188,  197;  par.  govt,  and  poor 
rel.,  196,  221  n;  pop.,  188;  postal 
svces.,  189;  pub.  svces.,  189; 
rect.,  194;  roads,  189;  sch.  197; 
stage  coach  svces.,  189;  top., 
188-9;  woods,  7,  188-9;  worthies, 
190;  see  also  Berwick  Bemers, 
Rookwood  Hall 


Z2^ 


INDEX 


Roding,  Aythorpe,  195 

Roding,  Beauchamp,  i,  99,  197-203; 
adv.,  200- 1 ;  agric,  198;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311;  ch., 
zoo-2;  hearth  taxes,  304,  307,  309; 
hos.,  197-9,  200,  201,  203;  mans., 
6,  7,  182,  192,  198-200;  medieval 
taxes,  298,  300—2;  par.,  197,  201; 
par.  govt,  and  poor  rel.,  202;  pop., 
197;  postal  svces.,  198;  pub. 
svces.,  198;  rect.,  201;  roads,  189, 
198;  sch.,  197,  202-3;  Shallow 
Bridge,  198;  top.,  197-8;  see  also 
Bird's  Green,  Frayes,  Homers, 
Longbarns 

Roding,  Bemers,  181,  182,  188,  190, 
191,  194,  197,  198 

Roding,  High,  see  New  Hall 

Roding,  Leaden,  157,  189,  195 

Roding,  Margaret,  2,  3,  188,  189, 
195 ;  see  also  Marks  Hall 

Roding  Morrell,  in  White  Roding,  4, 

6,  188,  298,  300-2,  304,  307,  309 
Roding,  White,  4,  188,   189,  195-6, 

1 97 ;  see  also  Colville  Hall,  Roding 

Morrell 
Rodinges  (Domesday  village),  2,  188 
Rodings,  the,  43,  155,  158,  188 
Rodney,  Hon.  Sim.,  64  n 
Roebuck,  Revd.  E.  B.,  293 
Rogate  (Suss.),  206 
Roger  Fitz  Ailmar,  121 
Roger  (fl.  1086),  46,  51,  52,  105,  175 
Rogers,   Geo.,    130,    133;   John  (fl. 

1548),  270;  John  (fl.  1649)  and  his 

w.  Eliz.,  200;  Ric,  275;  Mr.,  272; 

Revd.,  127 
Rohrweger,  Julius,  117 
Roinges,  Geoflf.  de,  191 ;  Wm.  de,  191 
Rokewood,  Thos.,  99 
Roland,  Nic,  289 
Rolfe,  C,  architect,   164;  Eliz.,  see 

Salyng;  Wm.  (fl.  1553),  215;  Wm. 

(fl.  1629),  27 
Rolls  Park,  see  Barringtons 
Rolte,  Wm.,  25,  29,  153 
Romford,  19,  83,  139,  141,  142,  149, 

158,  174,  222,  223,  225,  228,  233, 

276;  see  also  Harold  Hill,  Marks 

Hall 
Romford  Gas  Co.,  65,  142,  223 
Rookery,  the,  see  Withers  Pawne 
Rookwood,  baron,  see  Selwin-Ibbet- 

son 
Rookwood  Hall,  in  Abbess  Roding, 

7,  188,  189,  190,  192-3,  195,  198, 
200 

Root,  Mr.,  35  n 

Roper,   Gertrude  Trevor,   Baroness 

Dacre,  m.  Thos.  Brand,  49,  igi 
Rose  w.  of  Eudo  dapifer,  191 
Ross,     Revd.     Geo.,     195;     Revd. 

Lauchlan,   195 
Round,  J.  H.,  59,  159 
Rous,   Agnes   w.   of  John   le,    152; 

John  le  (d.  by   1311),   152;  John 

elder  s.  of  John  le  (d.  by  1311), 

152;  John  younger  s.  of  John  le 

(d.    by    1332),    152;    John   le   (fl. 

1366),      152,     288;     Louisa,     see 

Hatch;  Maud  w.  of  John  le,  152; 

Nich.  le,  152;  Ric.  (fl.  1490),  152; 

Rob.  le,  152;  Thos.  (fl.  1473),  152; 

Wm.  John,  26;  Wm.  Rufus,  26; 

see  also  Caune  (alias  Rous) 
Rouse,  Clive,  83 
Rowe,    Geo.    Rob.,    24;   John,    38; 

Miss,  193  n,  196  n 
Rowenho,    in    Stanford    Rivers,    see 

Littlebury 
Rowley,  John,  99 

Roxweli,  153,  200;  see  also  Skreens 
Royal   Air    Force,    14,    18,    26,    76, 

284-6,  292 
Royal  College  of  Physicians,  178 


Royal  Exchange  Insurance  Co.,  158 

Roydon  Hall,  in  Roydon  (near  Diss, 
Norf.),  133 

Ruckhoits,  in  Leyton,  25 

Rudd,  R.,  223 

Rumilly,  priory  of  (France),  100, 
182,  216;  prior  of,  see  Amulph 

Russe,  Dan.,  200;  John,  200;  Wm., 
200 

Russell,  Eliz.  Dchss.  of  Bedford,  see 
Howland;  Ld.  Fran.,  81;  John, 
Earl  of  Bedford  (d.  1555),  81  n; 
John,  Duke  of  Bedford  (d.  1771), 
190;  Wriothesley,  Duke  of  Bed- 
ford, 190 

Rutherforth  (later  Abdy),  Revd. 
Thos.  Abdy,  226 

Rychyng,  John  de,  176 

Ryland,  Revd.  John,  166 

Rypton,  Cicely,  19 


Sabine,  Wm.  fitz,  140 
Sadler,  Sir  Ralph,  81,  153 
Saffron  Walden,  see  Walden,  Saffron 
St.  Albans,  bps.  of,  100,  127,  290 
St.  Andrew,  Comhill  (Lond.),  213  n 
St.  Aubyn,  Alice  de,  see  Sergeaux 
St.  Bartholomew,  Smithfield,  priory 

of,  255,  256 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  (Lond.), 

178 
St.  Benet's  Hulme  Abbey  (Norf.),  79 
St.  Botolph's,  Aldgate,  see  Aldgate 
St.  Botolph's  Priory,  Colchester,  32 
St.  Davids,  bp.  of,  see  Mainwaring 
St.  Edmund,  see  Edmund 
St.  Edmunds,  Fulk  of,  211;  Jas.  of, 

211 ;  John  of,  211 
St.  George's  Chapel,  Albemarle  St. 

(Lond.),  109 
St.      George's,      Hanover      Square 

(Lond.),  204,  205,  206 
St.  Hilary,  Pet.  de,  89 
St.  Ives  (Hunts.),  192 
St.  John,  Mary  Lady,  see  Rich;  Sir 

Hen.,  Bt.,  5;  Oliver,  190 
St.  John  (later  Mildmay),  Sir  Hen. 

Paulet,  Bt.,  228 
St.  John's  Abbey,  Colchester,  191, 

1 94 ;  abbot  of,  see  Ardeley 
St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  160, 

135 
St.  John's,  in  Lamboume,  73,  77-78, 

84-85 
St.  Margaret,  see  Margaret 
St.  Martin-le-Grand  (Lond.),  college 

of,  159,  181,  210  n;  dean  of,  see 

Stillington 
St.    Mary,   Clerkenwell,   priory   of, 

290,  291 
St.  Michael's,  Comhill  (Lond.),  242 
St.  Neots  (Hunts.),  256 
St.   Paul's  Cathedral,   32,   67,    142, 

143.  145,  146,  147.  151,  15.2,  172, 

179,  269;  dean  of,  see  William 
St.  Paul's  Walden  (Herts.),  see  Hoo 
St.   Peter's,   York,   treasurer  of,  see 

Neuton 
St.  Quintin,  Wm.  (d.  1859),  88,  90; 

see  also  Darby  (later  St.  Quintin) 
St.   Stephen,  Caen  (France),  abbey 

of,  134 
St.  Sulpice,  abbey  of  (France),  88; 

abbesses  of,  see  Amice,  Mabel 
St.     Thomas's     Hospital     (Lond.), 

io6  n,  178 
St.  Tronius,  Mat.  de,  28;  Rose  de, 

see  Levenoth 
Salisbury,  bps.  of,  see  Hamilton 
Salisbury,    ctss.    of,    see    Margaret, 

Montagu 
Salisbury,    earls    of,    see    Montagu, 

Neville 


Salisbury,  Revd.  Wm.,  137-8 

Salmon,  Revd.  Rob.,  186  n 

Salyng,  Alice,  215;  Alice  w.  of 
Augustine,  m.  2  Wm.  Atwood,  215; 
Alice  w.  of  Ric,  217;  Augustine, 
215;  Eliz.  m.  Wm.  Rolfe,  215; 
John  f.  of  Ric.  (fl.  c.  1398),  214; 
John  s.  of  Ric.  (fl.  1405),  214,  215; 
John  (fl.  1469-70),  of  Merton 
(Surr.),  215;  John  (fl.  1469-70), 
of  Stanford  Rivers,  215;  Kath.  m. 
Geo.  Johnson,  215;  Lore  w.  of 
Ric,  m.  2  John  Bromhale,  214, 
215;  Ric.  s.  of  John  (fl.  1 398),  214; 
Ric.  (d.  by  1405),  67,  214,  217; 
Ric.  (fl.  1405),  214,  215;  Ric.  (d. 
1528),  215;  Rog.,  215;  fam.,  67  n 

Samford,  Ric,  207 

Sammes,  Edw.,  63,  156,  164,  171; 
Mr.,  innkeeper,  219 

Sampforth,  Ric,  180;  see  also  Sand- 
ford 

Samson,  Abbot  of  Bury  St.  Ed- 
munds, 224,  229 

Sandale,  John  de,  160 

Sanders,  J.,  34  n 

Sandford,  Edw.,  150  n,  180;  John, 
180;  fam.,  180;  see  also  Samp- 
forth, Sanford 

Sandwich,  Agnes  de,  see  Crevequer; 
John  de  (fl.  c.  1235),  131 ;  John  de 
(fl.  1349),  132;  Juliane  de  m.  John 
de  Segrave,  131,  132,  133;  Nich. 
de,  132;  Nich.  s.  of  Nich  de, 
132 

Sanford,  Alice  de,  m.  Rob.  de  Vere, 
Earl  of  Oxford,  31 ;  Cecily  de,  31 ; 
Gil.  de,  31 ;  John  de,  31 ;  see  also 
Sandford 

Sarto,  Andrea  del,  136 

Saumford,  Rog.  de  and  his  w.  Joan, 

213 
Saunders,  Fran.,  30;  John,  28 
Saunford,   Emma,   see   Oger;    Joan 

de  m.  Waleran  de  Monceux,  205 
Savile,   Eliz.  m.  John  Finch,  212; 

Mary,  see  Banks;  Sir  John,  212 
Savill,  John,  49;  Lawr.  L.,  28;  Phil. 

(d.  c.  1922),  43;  Phil.  (fl.   1926), 

28;  Thos.,  74 
Saward,  Jacob,  78 
Sawbridgeworth  (Herts.),   158 
Scales,  Alice  de,  see  Rochester;  Rob. 

de  (d.  by  1250),  98;  Rob.  de,  Ld. 

Scales  (d.  1325),  98;  Rob.  de,  Ld. 

Scales  (d.  1369),  98 
Scarsdale,  earl  of,  see  Leake 
Scawen,  Lewis,  90;  Mary,  see  Foster; 

Rob.,  90;  Thos.,  90 
Schaefer,  Revd.  Father,  166 
School  boards,   39-41,  65,  71,   86, 

126,  203 
Schooling,  John,  132;  Wm.,  132 
Schwier,  Ernest,  132;  fam.,  132 
Sclater,  Revd.  Chris.,  124-5;  Revd. 

Wm.,  125 
Scohies  (Escoiis,  Scociis),  Wm.  de, 

131.  134 
Scott,  Anne  m.  Revd.  Wm.  Dcrham, 
78 ;  Eliz.  m.  Sir  Edw.  Aleyn,  Bt.,  32, 
235;  Eliz.,m.Wm.  Bodle,  32^;  Eliz., 
see  Cheyne;  Geo.  (d.  1534),  31; 
Geo.  (d.  1588),  19;  Geo.  (d.  Feb. 
1589).  31,  32,  235;  Geo.  (d.  De"c. 
1589),  32;  Geo.  (fl.  1625),  99;  Geo. 
(d.  1648),  32;  Geo.  (d.  1683),  32,  34; 
Geo.  (d.  1727),  32;  Geo.  (d.  1780), 
32, 78; Hugh,  3 1 ;  Jane, see  Gibson; 
John,  31,  235;  Margery  w.  ofWm., 
235,  237;  Mary,  32,  235;  Rog.,  31, 
32;  Thos.  (d.  15 12),  235;  Thos.  (d. 
1733).  32,  78;  Wal.,  3i,  235;  Wm. 
(d.  1491),  31,  32,  23s,  237;  Wm. 
(d.  1597),  32;  Wm.  (d.  1725),  32, 
34,  78;  fam.,  33 


E8.  IV 


331 


U  U  2 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Scrope,  Alice  le,  Baroness  Scrope 
m.  Sir  Hen.  le  Scrope,  47;  Eliz. 
dau.  of  Alice,  Baroness  Scrope,  47; 
Eliz.  sis.  of  Geoff,  le,  Ld.  Scrope, 
47;  Eliz.  w.  of  Thos.  le,  Ld. 
Scrope,  47;  Geoff,  le  (fl.  c.  1337), 
46;  Geoff,  le,  Ld.  Scrope  (d.  1517), 
47;  Hen.  le,  Ld.  Scrope  (d.  1392), 
46;  Hen.  le,  Ld.  Scrope  (d.  1415), 
44.  45.  47.  54;  Ivetta,  m.  John 
Hotham,  46;  John  le,  Ld.  Scrope 
and  his  w.  Eliz.,  47 ;  Margery  w.  of 
Steph.  le,  Ld.  Scrope,  47;  Ralph 
le,  Ld.  Scrope  and  his  w.  Elnr., 
47;  Sir  Ric,  266;  Sir  Steph.  (fl. 
1387),  266;  Steph.  le,  Ld.  Scrope 
(d.  1406),  46;  Thos.  le,  Ld.  Scrope 
(d.  147s)  and  his  w.  Eliz.,  47,  51 ; 
Thos.  le,  Ld.  Scrope  (d.  1493),  47 

Scruby,  Jas.,  158;  Maria,  158;  Wm., 
IS8 

Scurlocke,  Rowland,  199 

Sealy,  Mrs.  Geo.,  106 

Searle,  And.  (d.  by  1706),  291; 
Capt.  And.  (fl.  c.  1706),  291 ;  And. 
s.  of  Capt.  And.  (fl.  c.  1706),  291 ; 
Edw.,  291;  John  (d.  1591),  289, 
291;  John  (d.  1616),  289,  291; 
John  (d.  1665),  291,  292;  John 
(fl.  1698),  291;  John  (?fl.  1703), 
154;  John  (fl.  1706),  291;  Revd. 
John  (fl.  1706),  291,  29s  n;  John 
(fl.  1772),  153;  Mary  w.  of  Thos., 
289;  Mary  Anne  m.  Jas.  Flint, 
153;  Pet.,  78;  Sam.  (fl.  1624),  269; 
Sam.  (fl.  1636),  289;  Sam.  (fl. 
1680),  289;  Thos.,  289;  Dr.,  295 

Sedley,  John  (d.  by  1514),  14s ;  John 
(d.  1 581),  14s;  Wm.  (fl.  1547), 
14s;  Sir  Wm.,  Bt.  (d.  1618),  14s, 
150;  SirWm.,  Bt.  (d.  1656),  145 

Segrave,  John  de  (d.  1343),  132; 
John  de,  Ld.  Segrave  (d.  1325), 
132;  John  de(d.  1349),  132,  133  «; 
John  de,  Ld.  Segrave  (d.  1353), 
133;  Juhane  de,  see  Sandwich; 
Mary  de,  132 

Selflege  (Sellea),  Amy  de  m.  Oger 
Fitz  Oger,  205;  Aubrey  de,  see 
Aubrey  dau.  of  Rainald;  Emma 
de,  205 ;  Eus.  de  (d.  by  1 134),  205 ; 
Eus.  de  (fl.  1 1 34),  205;  Sar.  de  m. 
Mich.  Fitz  Oger,  192;  Wm.  de, 
192,  205 

Sellar,  David,  147 

Sellea,  see  Selflege 

Selwin,  Chas.,  193 

Selwin-Ibbetson,  Sir  Hen.,  Bt., 
later  Ld.  Rookwood,  117,  193 

Senewe,  Eliz.  m.  John  Hill,  26; 
John,  26 

Sergeaux,  Alice  de  m.  i  Guy  de  St. 
Aubyn,  2  Ric.  de  Vere,  Earl  of 
Oxford,  3  Sir  Nich.  Thorley,  11,  13 

Serjaunt,  Rog.  le,  30  n 

Serjeanties,  31,  131,  175 

Serjeants,  see  Stocktons 

Serlo  (fl.  1086),  59 

Settlement,  patterns  of,  i,  2,  63, 
197,  240;  see  also  Villages,  nucle- 
ated 

Sewardstone,  in  Waltham  Holy 
Cross,  115 

Sewell,  Edw.,  78;  Sam.,  78;  Sar.,  78 

Sexi  (fl.  1066),  105,  131 

Sewerage,  lo,  22,  45,  58,  65,  75,  88, 
113,  130,  142,  158,  174,  189,  209, 
223,  250,  261,  276,  286 

Seymour,  Edw.  Duke  of  Somerset, 
Protector,  227,  279;  Jane,  queen  of 
Henry  VIII,  see  Jane 

Shaa,  Alice  m.  Wm.  Pooley,  290; 
Audrey  m.  i  John  Wrytell,  ?  2 
Wm.  Ayloffe,  177;  Sir  Edm.  (fl. 
1486),  243 ;  Edm.  (fl.  c.  i  s  1 5),  290 ; 


Sir  John,  177,  178,  243,  290;  Lore, 

see  Wentworth 
Shadwell  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  35 
Shamelesford,  Ric.  de,  256 
Shanke,  Rob.,  142 
Shardelowe,  Sir  John,  93 ;  John  s.  of 

Sir  John,  93 
Sheering,  193 
Sheldon,  Gil.,  Abp.  of  Canterbury, 

3" 

Shelley,  Alice  Lady,  see  Belknap; 
Jane  w.  of  Wm.,  243-4;  John  (d. 
1550),  243;  John  (fl.  1610),  243-4; 
Sir  Wm.  (d.  1548),  242,  243 ;  Wm. 
(d.  1597),  242,  243,  247 

Shelley,  9,  155,  159  n,  179,  180,  181, 
183,  203-8;  agric,  204;  adv., 
206-7;  Bp.  Compton's  census, 
311;  char.,  208;  ch.,  206-8; 
common,  203,  204;  cycle  speed- 
way, 204;  hearth  taxes,  304-5, 
307,  310;  hos.,  203-4,  206,  207; 
man.,  6,  134,  204-6;  medieval 
taxes,  297-302;  poor  rel.,  208, 
221  n;  pop.,  203;  rect.,  207;  roads, 
204;  schs.,  169,  170,  208;  Shelley 
Bridge,  204;  Shelley  Hall,  168, 
204,  206;  top.,  203-4 

Shellow  Bowells,  198 

Shelton,  Humph.,  177;  Joan,  see 
Feme;  Wm.  (d.  by  1553),  177, 
216;  Wm.  (d.  1621  or  1622),  177 

Shenfield,  100  n,  242 

Shenley  (Herts.),  213 

Shepheard,  Walwyn,   193 

Shereff,  Amphyllis,  see  Nynge ;  John, 

134 
Sherfield    upon    Loddon    (Hants), 

180 
Shipton,  a  pauper,  109 
Shirley,    John,    264 ;    Margery,    see 

Hampden 
Shoreditch  (Lond.),  125 
Shuttleworth,  Hen.,  230;  John,  216 
Siday,  John  (d.  1689),  200;  John  (d. 

1704),  200;  Revd.  John  (fl.  1720), 

200,  202;  Mary,  200;  Wm.,  200  n 
Sidney  (Sydney),  Anne  m.  Sir  Wm. 

Fitzwilliam,   260,   261,   267,   271, 

274,    289;    Mary    m.    Sir    Rob. 

Wroth,   117,   119,   120;  Sir  Phil., 

119;  Rob.  Ld.  Sidney,  later  Earl  of 

Leicester,  119;  Sir  Wm.,  267,  289 
Siggiswyk,  Sir  Pet.,  157,  185,  201 
Simon,  Abbot  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds, 

224 
Simon,  Abbot  of  Waltham,  89 
Singleton,  Revd.  G.  E.,  95 
Siric  (fl.  1086),  234 
Skingle,  John,  290 
Skinner,  Emma  m.  Wm.  Harvey,  30, 

190;  E.  W.,  35;  Mary  m.  Sir  Jas. 

Colebrooke,  Bt.,  79;  Mary  w.  of 

Steph.,  79;  Mat.,  134;  Rob.,  134; 

Steph.,    79,    190;    Thos.,    carto- 
grapher, 153 
Skipwith,  Sir  Wm.  de,  266 
Skreens,  in  Roxwell,  180,  190,  199 
Skrene,  Alice  w.  of  Wm.,  213;  Eliz. 

w.  of  John,  m.  2  Ric.  Harper,  213 ; 

John    (fl.    1419),    213;    John    (d. 

1452),  213;  John  (d.  1474),  213; 

Wm.    (fl.    1408),    213;    Wm.    (d. 

1431),  213 
Slack,  Mr.,  293 
Slades,  in  Navestock,  67,  141,  142, 

144.  14S-6 
Sleybrond,  Geoff,  and  his  w.  Rose, 

81 
Slocock,  E.,  68;  Revd.  Sam.,  68 
Slocombe,  Chas.,  printer,  167 
Smart,  Benj.  (d.  by  1684),  252;  Benj. 

(fl.  1753),  252,  258;  John  (d.  by 

1679),  252;  John  (fl.   1679),  252; 

Jos.,  252 


Smijth,  see  Smyth,  Bowyer-Smijth 
Smirke,    Sir   Rob.,    architect,    122; 

Sydney,  architect,   122,  256 
Smith   (Smyth,    Smythe),   Augusta, 

236;  Chas.  (d.  1777),  212  n;  Chas. 

(d.  1814),  81,  212,  235,  237;  Chas. 

(fl.  1 841),  290;  Sir  Chas.  Cunliffe, 

Bt.  (d.  1 905),  236,  237;  Sir  Chas.  J., 

Bt.  (d.  1 831),  212;  Revd.  D.,  70; 

Eliz.,  see  Cely;  Eliz.  w.  of  Thos., 

246 ;  Fred,  and  his  w.,  1 23 ;  Harriet, 

295;  Judith,  212,  214;  Revd.  J.  S. 

Boys,  1 3  5  w ;  Mary,  see  Crook ;  Phil. 

228 ;  Ralph,  135 ;  Ric,  245 ;  Rodney 

('Gipsy'),  evangelist,  123;  Sydney, 

quotation    from,     10;    Thos.    (fl. 

1557),  224,  229;  Thos.  (fl.  1633), 

252;  Thos.  (fl.   1652),  59;  Revd. 

Thos.  (d.  1732),  24s;  Revd.  Thos. 

(d.  1791),  245,  246,  247;  Wm.,  62; 

W.  J.,  293 ;  see  also  Smyth  (later 

Smijth),   Bowyer-Smijth 
Smyth  (later  Smijth),   Anne   Lady, 

see  Hedges ;  Bridget  w.  of  Sir  Wm., 

282;    Edw.    (d.    1652),    278;    Sir 

Edw.,Bt.,(d.  i7i3),28o;SirEdw., 

Bt.   (d.    1744),   23s,    238,   281  n; 

Geo.,  278;  Jane  Lady,  282;  John 

(fl.  i6th  cent.),  278;  Sir  John,  Bt. 

(d.    1838),    235,    239,    276,    283; 

Philippa,     Lady,     see     Wylford; 

Revd.  Ric.  (d.  i8ii),  237;  Revd. 

Ric.  (fl.  1831-2),  237;  Sir  Thos. 

(d.  1577),  278-82;  Sir  Thos.,  Bt. 

(d.  1668),  282;  Sir  Wm.  (d.  1626), 

278,  282;  SirWm.  (d.  1632),  278, 

282;  Revd.  Sir  Wm.,  Bt.  (d.  1777), 

237;  Sir  Wm.,  Bt.  (d.  1823),  280, 

281,  283;  fam.,  281,  282,  283;  see 

also  Bowyer-Smijth 
Smythe,  see  Smith 
Snaring,  Geoff,  de,  121 ;  Phil,  de,  121 
Snelling,  Chas.,  147 
Soames,  Revd.  Hen.,  204,  207,  208, 

236;  Nat.,  207 
Soap  making,  242 
Society  for  the  Protection  of  Ancient 

Buildings,  130,  164 
Society  of  Friends,  244 
Soda,  John,  252 

Solihull  (Warws.),  see  Wolverley 
Somboume,     King's    (Hants),     see 

Compton  Monceux 
Somerset,  Rob.,  278 
Somerset,   dukes   of,   see   Beaufort, 

Seymour 
Somerset,  medieval  tax  assessments, 

300 
Somerset  House  (Lond.),  279 
Soper,  Rob.,  192 
Sorrell,  Anne  w.  of  Rob.,  180;  John, 

180;  Rob.,  180;  Thos.,  180 
South  Sea  Co.,  30,  80,  132 
Southcote,  in  Stone  (Bucks.),  262 
Southwark  (Lond.),  254 
Spakman,  Rob.,  33 
Sparowe,  Eliz.,  see  Prince;  Wm.,  264 
Speed,  Eliz.,  96;  John,   12;  Thos. 

(fl.  1789),  94  n;  Thos.  (fl.  1841), 

12,  289;  fam.,  90 
Spencer,    Ric,    22871;    Thos.    (fl. 

1597),  29;  Thos.  (fl.  1 641),  60 
Spenser,  John  le,  104 
Spice  (Spyce),  Alice,  see  Mandeville; 

Clement,    235;    Ric.   and   his  w. 

Isabel,  213;  Rog.,  235 
Spigurnel,  Agnes,  see  Marcy;  Alice 

m.    Wm.     de    Paris,     289,     290; 

Clarice  w.  of  Sir  Edm.,   1 1 ;  Sir 

Edm.  (d.  1296),  II,  243;  Edm.  (d. 

13 16),  243;  Hen.,  II,  14;  Joan  m. 

Wm.  Gobyon,  243 ;  John,  11,  243 ; 

Nic,  10,  II,  243;  Sir  Ralph,  290; 

Thos.,  II,  14 
Spiller,  Hen.,  211 


Zi"^ 


INDEX 


Spilsby  (Lines.),  ii6« 

Spooner,  Hen.,  54 

Spring,  mineral,  22 

Springer,  fam.,  288 

Springfield,  287;  Springfield  Place 
in,  269;  see  also  Barnes 

Springham,  Fran.,  228;  Jos.,  195 

Spurgeon's  College  (Lond.),  36 

Spyce,  see  Spice 

Spynay,  Alice,  253;  Jas.,  253;  Rob., 
253;  Wm.,  253 

Stacey,  Revd.  H.,  196;  J.,  10;  N.,  192 

Stafford,  Anne,  Ctss.  of  Stafford,  see 
Anne;  Anne,  w.  of  Humph.,  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  10,  88,  177  n; 
Constance  w.  of  John,  Earl  of 
Wiltshire,  2ii,  214;  Edm.  Earl  of 
Stafford,  191,  214;  Edw.  Earl  of 
Wiltshire  (d.  1499),  2ii;  Edw., 
Duke  of  Buckingham  (d.  1521), 
80,  91,  161,  211,  212;  Hen.  Duke 
of  Buckingham  (d.  1483),  11,  88, 
161 ;  Hugh,  Earl  of  Stafford,  160, 
176;  Sir  Hugh  (d.  1420),  214,  216; 
Humph.  Earl  of  Stafford,  later 
Duke  of  Buckingham  (d.  1460), 
10,  88,  98,  211,  214,  216;  John, 
Abp.  of  Canterbury  (d.  1452),  32; 
John,  Earl  of  Wiltshire  (d.  1473), 

211,  214;  Kath.  \v.  of  Hen.  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  m.  2  Jasper 
Tudor,  Duke  of  Bedford,  ii,  88; 
Marg.  Ctss.  of  Stafford,  see 
Audley;  Ralph,  Earl  of  Stafford, 
160,  211,  215,  216,  235,  266;  Thos. 
Earl  of  Stafford,  i6o;  fam.,  5 

Stafford,  earls  of,  5,  6,  160-1,  212, 
215,  216 

Stains,  J.,  223 

Stalbroke,  Alice  w.  of  Sir  Thos.,  m.  2 
Wm.  Luke,  178;  Sir  Thos.,  178; 
fam.,  178 

Stallibrass,  John  (fl.  1823-4),  290; 
John  (d.  1872),  292;  Thos.,  290 

Standon  (Herts.),  see  Youngsbury 

Stane,  Alice  w.  of  Wm.,  180;  Ann, 
see  Rabett;  John  (fl.  1614),  179; 
John  Bramston  (fl.  1862),  45,  152, 
1 80;  Mary  Alice  m.  John  West- 
brook,  180;  Ric.  (d.  1601),  179; 
Ric.  (d.  1614),  179;  Ric.  (d.  1714), 
178,  179,  180,  181,  184,  185;  Ric. 
(fl.  1725),  180;  Wm.  (fl.  1582), 
205,  207;  Wm.  (fl.  1675),  178; 
Wm.  (fl.  1725),  17s,  178,  180; 
Wm.  s.  of  Wm.  (fl.  1725),  180; 
Wm.  (fl.  1742),  186;  fam.  175 

Stane  (formerly  Bramston),  Revd. 
John,  45,  49,  152,  176,  180,  204, 
223 

Stanfield,  Revd.  Jos.,  168,  230 

Stanford,  Little,  in  Stanford  Rivers, 
2,  209,  210,  214 

Stanford  Park,  in  Stanford  Rivers, 

176,  21 1 ;  see  also  Ongar  Park 
Stanford  Rivers,  65,  142,  159,  160, 

177,  208-22,  275-6;  adv.,  182-3, 
216;  agric,  209-10;  Bp.  Comp- 
ton's  census,  311;  bridges,  209; 
chantry,  216;  char.,  62,  171,  221- 
2;  ch.,  182-3,  216-18;  hearth 
taxes,  305,  306,  310;  hos.,  208-10, 
213,  214,  215,  216,  218;  inds.,  210; 
mans.,  6,  88  n,  153",  166,  172, 
17s.  176,  182-3,  209,  210-16, 
218-19,  235,  236,  262;  medieval 
taxes,  298-302;  mills,  210;  par., 
208,  216;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel., 
196,  218-21,  248;  pop.,  171,  208; 
postal  svces.,  158,  209;  Prot. 
noncf.,  148,  165,  218;  pub.  svces., 
209;  rly.,  209;  rector  of,  79;  rect., 
182-3,   216,   218;   Rom.   Cathm., 

212,  218;  schs.,  62,  170,  221,  294; 
Stanford  Hall,  58,  182,  210,  212- 


13 ;  top.,  208-9;  Wash  Bridge,  171, 
183,  208,  209;  woods,  208,  209, 
210;  worthies,  210,  216;  jee  also 
Barwicks;  Bellhouse;  Bridges  and 
Piggsland;  Little  End;  Little- 
bury;  Stanford,  Little;  Stanford 
Park;  Toot  Hill;  Traceys 

Stanlake,  Ant.,  90 

Stanley,  Fran.,  293 

Stansted  Mountfichet,  27 

Stanton,  Hervey  de,  224 

Staphurst,  Eliz.,  see  Broomfield; 
Nich.  (fl.  c.  1687),  81;  Nich.  (fl. 
1713),  81,  82 

Stapleford  (Cambs.),  224  n 

Stapleford  (Domesday  village),  2 

Stapleford  Abbots,  75,  222-32,  233; 
adv.,  228-9;  agric,  223;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311;  Bourne 
Bridge,  223,  230,  231;  char.,  232; 
ch.,  228-30;  common,  223 ;  hearth 
taxes,  305,  307,  310;  hos.,  222, 
223,  225,  226-7,  228,  229,  232; 
inc.,  223;  man.,  6,  78,  79,  223-8; 
medieval  taxes,  300-2 ;  mills,  223 ; 
par.  govt,  and  poor  rel.,  221  «, 
230-1;  pop.,  222;  postal  svces., 
223;  Prot.  noncf.,  83,  230;  pub. 
svces.,  223;  rect.,  229;  road,  74; 
Rom.  Cathm.,  230;  schs.,  85-86, 
231-2,  239;  Stapleford  Hall,  223, 
225;  top.,  222-3;  Tysea  Hill 
chapel,  229-30;  see  also  Albyns, 
Battles  Hall,  Knolls  Hill 

Stapleford  Tawney,  14,  159  n, 
233-9,  275,  276;  adv.,  236,  281; 
agric,  233-4;  Bp.  Compton's 
census,  311 ;  char.,  239 ;ch.,  236-7; 
Cutler's  Forge,  233;  Great  Taw- 
ney Hall,  233,  235;  hearth  taxes, 
304-5,  307,  310;  hos.,  233,  234, 
236;  mans.,  6,  31,  234-6,  277; 
medieval  taxes,  299,  300-2;  mill, 
234;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel., 
221  n,  237-8;  Passingford  Bridge, 
223,  232,  233,  259;  pop.,  233; 
postal  svces.,  233;  pub.  svces., 
233;  rect.,  236;  sch.,  232,  238-9, 
283 ;  Stapleford  Tawney  Hall, 
233,  234,  235;  Tawney  Common, 
233.  238;  lop.,  233;  see  also 
Suttons 

Starkey,  Hen.,  133;  Eliz.  w.  of  Sir 
Humph.,  145 ;  Emma  m.  Hen. 
Torrell,  145;  Sir  Humph.,  67,  145 

Starkins,  Geo.,  92,  96 

Steeple  Aston  (Oxon.),  38 

Stephen,  King,  88,  160,  181 

Stepney  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  33 

Stepney  Academy  (Mdx.,  later 
Lond.),  123 

Stevens,  C,  223;  Fran.  Worral,  41; 
Ric,  230 

Steward,  Mr.,  209 

Stewart,  Wm.,  273 ;  see  also  Stuart 

Stillington,  Rob.,  Dean  of  St. 
Martin-le-Grand  (Lond.),  181; 
Wm.,  181 

Stocktons  (Serjeants),  in  Chigwell, 
20,  23,  30 

Stoke  by  Nayland  (Suff.),  25 

Stoke  Doyle  (Northants.),  274 

Stoke,  South  (Lines.),  267 

Stokes,  John  (fl.  1368),  263;  John 
(fl.  1803),  293;  Ric,  170,  171;  R., 
230;  Thos.,  178,  180;  Wm.,  170; 
Mrs.,  178 

Stokesby,  John,  263;  Julia,  121 

Stokton,  John,  30;  Wm.,  30 

Stonard,  see  Stoner 

Stonarde,  see  Stoner 

Stondon  Massey,  63,  68,  181,  186, 
240-9;  adv.,  245;  agric,  241-2; 
Bp.  Compton's  census,  311;  char., 
248-9;     ch.,     245-7;     Hallsford 


Bridge,  172,  173,  174,  181  n,  240, 
241;  hearth  taxes,  305,  307,  310; 
hos.,  240-1,  244-5,  248;  inds., 
242;  man.,  242-5;  medieval  taxes, 
297,  299-302 ;  par.  govt,  and  poor 
rel.,  221  n,  247-8;  pop.,  241; 
postal  svces.,  241;  Prot.  noncf., 
247;  pub.  svces.,  241;  rect.,  3, 
243,  24s;  roads,  241;  Rom. 
Cathm.,  240,  243,  244,  247;  schs., 
248;  Stondon  Hall,  140,  240,  241, 
242,  244,  246;  Stondon  House, 
240,  242,  244,  245,  246,  248; 
Stondon  Place,  240,  242,  243-4, 
246,  247;  top.,  240-1;  worthies, 
242 ;  see  also  Marks  Hall,  in  Mar- 
garet Roding 
Stone  (Bucks.),  see  Southcote 
Stone  Hall,  in  Little  Canfield,  42, 

145 

Stone,  Jollye,  207 

Stoner  (Stonard,  Stonarde,  Ston- 
nard).  Amy  m.  Geo.  Waldron, 
228;  Anne  w.  of  John,  30;  Cle- 
ment, 79,  228;  Fran.  (d.  1604), 
79  n,  228,  229;  Fran.  (fl.  1612), 
79,  228;  Geo.  25,  118,  121,  122; 
Hen.,  229;  Joan  w.  of  John,  122; 
John  (d.  1540),  118,  121,  122; 
John  (fl.  1543),  5,  6;  John  (fl. 
1555).  29;  John  (d.  1579),  25,  30, 
118;  Kath.  w.  of  John,  122;  Lucy, 
see  Heigham;  Rob.,  5;  Susan  m. 
Sir  Rob.  Wroth,  25,  30,  118;  fam., 
79,  228 

Stonestreet,  Revd.  G.  G.,  241,  244 

Stonhurst,  Ric.  de,  266 

Stonnard,  see  Stoner 

Storey,  'Goodman',  109 

Storkey,  Mrs.,  203  n,  206  n 

Stortford,  Bishop's  (Herts.),  130, 
158,  189,  204;  see  also  Bishop's 
Stortford  Gas  Co. 

Strachey,  Rt.  Hon.  John,  M.P.,  82 

Stradbroke,  earl  of,  26 

Straker,  Mr.,  36 

Stratford  Bow,  in  Bromley  (Mdx., 
later  Lond.),  Prioiy  of,  81,  153,  194 

Stratford,  in  West  Ham,  78,  no, 
114,  155,  164,  212 

Stratford  Co-operative  Society,  see 
London  Co-operative  Society 

Stratford  Langthome,  in  West  Ham, 
abbey  of,  28,  118,  121;  abbots  of, 
28,  see  also  Etherwey 

Stratten,  Revd.  Jas.,  218 

Streatham  (Sum),  190 

Strelley,  Nich.  and  his  w.  Eliz.,  47 

Strickland,  Marrock,  69 

Stringer,  Ant.,  181 

Strype,  Revd.  John,  251,  256 

Stuart,  C.  C,  273;  Humph.,  26;  see 
also  Stewart 

Stubbs,  Cath.,  see  Dellar;  John,  272; 
Wm.,  Bp.  of  Chester,  later  Oxford, 

143.  146 
Stuele,  Wm.  de,  99 
Stukeley,  Wm.,  antiquary,  140 
Suasso,  fam.,  11971 
Sudbury,  Wm.  and  his  w.  Cecily,  199 
Suen  (fl.  1066),  262 
Suffield,  Wal.  de,  Bp.  of  Norwich,  79 
Suffolk,  duke  of,  see  Brandon 
Suffolk,  lands  in,  205 ;  medieval  tax 

assessments,  302;  migrants  from, 

38 
Sulyard    (Suliard),    Ann    m.    John 

Wright,  69;  Anne  w.  of  Edw.,  80; 

Edw.    (d.    1516),    91;    Edw.    (fl. 

1574),  80,  91 ;  Eliz.,  see  Barrington, 

91;  Eus.,  80,  91,   161;  John  (fl. 

c.  1412),  91;  Sir  John  (d.  1488), 

91 ;  John  (fl.  1547),  80;  Mirabel  w. 

of  Edw.,   94;   Sir  Wm.,   80,  91, 

103  n;  fam.,  80  n 


333 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Sunbury  (Mdx.),  90 

Surrey,  earls  of,  see  Warenne 

Surrey,  mans,  in,  151  n;  migrants 
from,  38 

Surridge,  Dan.,  zio  n;  J.,  223 

Sussex,  259 

Sussex,  earls  of,  see  Radcliffe 

Sutcliffe,  Revd.  Rob.,  84 

Sutton,  John  de  and  his  w.  Maud 
(fl.  1291),  235;  John  s.  of  John  de 
(fi.  1291),  23s;  John  de  (fl.  13 18), 
227;  John  de  (fl.  1324),  266,  277; 
Sir  John  de  (fl.  1348),  277;  Sir 
John  de  (fl.  1376),  76,  79;  John  de 
(d.  1393),  227;  Marg.  w.  of  John 
de,  277;  Margery  de,  see  Battail; 
Oliver  de,  Bp.  of  Lincoln,  277; 
Ric.  de  (fl.  1308),  277,  278;  Sir 
Ric.  de  (d.  1396),  144,  227;  Rob. 
de,  277 ;  Roland  de,  277 ;  Thos.  de, 
227;  Wm.  de  (fl.  1258),  277;  Wm. 
de  (fl.  c.  1287),  213;  Wm.  de  (d. 
by  1318),  75,  227,  288;  fam.,  145 

Sutton,  287 

Sutton  (Surr.),  133 

Suttons,  in  Stapleford  Tawney,  72, 
81,  212,  217,  233,  234,  235-6,  238, 

239 
Swan,  John,  murderer,  24  n 
Swein  of  Essex,  234,  276 
Swinburne,      Algernon      C,      162; 

Emilia    Eliz.    Lady,    see   Bennet; 

Adml.  Chas.,  162;  Lady  Jane,  162; 

Sir  John,  Bt.,  161,  166,  167 
Switzerland,  245 
Sydney,  see  Sidney 
Symonds,   Joan   w.    of  John,   290; 

John,  290 
Sympson,  Joan,   19,  29,  42;  Nich., 

37  « 


Tabor,  Jas.,  144;  Wm.,  184,  187 
Tabrum,  Litchfield,  145,  149;  Rob., 

206 
Tailleur,  Adam  le  and  his  w.  Joan, 

199 
Takeley,  245 
Talbot,  Wm.,  129  n,  136,  139;  Mr., 

137  n 
Taleworthe,  Anne  de,  see  Battail ;  Pet. 

de,  227 
Tanner,  Lilla,  164;  Miss  L.  W.,  164 
Tany,  Emma  w.  of  Gil.  de,  46;  Gil. 

de,  46,  175;  Graeland  de,  46,  52; 

Hasculf   de    (fl.    1094),    46,    52; 

Hasculf  de  (d.   1 192-3),  46,  52; 

John    de,    251;    Laur.    de,    234; 

Marg.  de  m.  John  de  Drokensford, 

234;  Marg.  de,  see  Margaret,  dau. 

of  Wm.  Fitz   Ric;   Maud  w.  of 

Hasculf  de,  46,  52;  Pet.  de,  251, 

252;  Ric.  de  (d.  1270),  234,  277; 

Ric.  de  (d.  1296),  234,  277;  Rog. 

de,  234 
Tarling,  —  (a  builder),  94 
Tasburgh,  Wm.,  26 
Tasker,   Helen,  ^Ctss.   Tasker,   165, 

i66  « 
Tattam,  Revd.  Hen.,  2i6 
Taunton  (Som.),  38 
Tavarez,  Revd.  Dr.,  70 
Tavemer,  Eliz.  w.  of  Rob.,  77;  Rob. 

(d.    1556),   77,   78,   81;   Rob.  (fl. 

1625),  78;  Thos.,  77,  78;  fam.,  75, 

81 
Taylor,  Ann  (fl.  18 16),  244;  Ann  m. 

Jos.    Gilbert,    IS9,    165  n;    Revd. 

Isaac  (d.   1829),  13771,  159,  162, 

165,  185,  210;  Isaac  (d.  1865),  159, 

210,    218;   Jane   (d.    1793),    244; 

Jane  (d.  1824),  159,  165;  Josiah, 

78;  Phil.,  230;  Dr.  Rob.,  92,  99; 

Wm.(d.  1752),  244;  fam.,  165,246 


Taylor  (later  Taylor-How),  Wm.  (d. 

1777),  241.  244 
Tee,  Jas.  Herb.,  123,  124 
Telegraph  and  Telephone  services, 

22,  45,  65,  75,  114,  130,  142,  158, 

209,  223,  233,  241,  250,  261,  286 
Tempest,  John,  212,  215 
Temple,  Revd.  Wm.,  148,  218;  Mr., 

273  n,  274  n 
Tendring,  49 
Terays,  Beatrice  de,  277;  Hen.  de, 

277 

Terling,  Cecil  de,  105 

Tey  (Teye),  Mary,  see  Curzon;  Ric. 
de,  263,  266;  Sir  Thos.,  77 

Thames,  riv.,  valley  of,  18 

Theydon,  Beatrice  de  m.  Rob.  de 
Briwes,  277,  281;  Galiena  de,  see 
Merk;  Gil.  de  (fl.  1297),  152;  Gil. 
de  (d.  by  1299),  253;  Gil.  de  (fl. 
1323),  i53 ;  Gregory  de,  253 ;  Hen. 
de,  276;  Paulinus  de,  276,  277; 
Rob.  de,  276;  Rose  de,  253;  Wm. 
de,  276 

Theydon  (Domesday  village),  2 

Theydon  Bois,  Lawr.  de,  see  Boys 

Theydon  Bois,  2,  80,  86,  115,  249- 
58,  266,  286;  adv.,  255;  agric, 
251;  Birch  Hall,  249,  252-3;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311;  char., 
258;  ch.,  255-7;  forest,  251; 
hearth  taxes,  304-5,  307,  310; 
hos.,  249-50,  253,  254,  255,  258; 
inc.,  250,  251;  mans.,  251-5; 
medieval  taxes,  296,  298—302; 
poor  rel.,  257;  pop.,  249,  250; 
postal  svces.,  250;  Prot.  noncf., 
257;  pub.  svces.,  250-1;  riy., 
250,  251;  rect.,  255;  roads,  19, 
72,  74,  113,  250,  259,  260;  Rom. 
Cathm.,  257;  Rural  Preservation 
Society,  249,  251;  schs.,  257-8; 
Theydon  Green,  249,  250,  256, 
257;  Theydon  Hall,  251,  252,  253, 
258;  top.,  249-50;  Village  Asso- 
ciation, 251;  worthies,  251;  see 
also  Gregories 

Theydon  Garnon,  2,  4,  255,  258-75, 

278,  284,  288-9;  adv.,  264,  269; 
agric,  261 ;  Bp.  Compton's  census, 
311;  char.,  274;  ch.,  254,  269-71; 
fair,  261 ;  Fiddlers  Hamlet,  259, 
260,  261;  forest,  259;  Garnish 
Hall,  261,  264,  265;  hearth  taxes, 
303.  305.  308,  310;  hos.,  259-60, 
265,  268,  269;  inc.,  261 ;  mans.,  7, 
67,  253,  254,  262-g;  market,  261; 
medieval  taxes,  299—302;  mills, 
260,  261,  264;  par.  govt,  and  poor 
rel.,  271-3;  pop.,  260;  postal 
svces.,  261;  Priests'  House,  271; 
pub.  svces.,  261 ;  rector  of,  230  n; 
rect.,  269;  roads,  260-1 ;  sch.,  273, 
283;  Theydon  Bridge  (Mason's 
Bridge),  261;  top.,  258-61;  wor- 
thies, 261;  see  also  Coopersale, 
Coopersale  House,  Gaynes  Park, 
Hemnalls 

Theydon  Mount,  2,  258  n,  259, 
*7S-83;  adv.,  236,  281;  Bp. 
Compton's  census,  311;  brick 
making,  276;  chantry,  281;  char., 
239;  chs.,  281-2;  fair,  276,  277; 
hearth  taxes,  305,  308,  310;  hos., 
275,  276,  279-81;  mans.,  6,  235, 
276-81;  market,  276,  277;  medie- 
val taxes,  296,  298,  300-2;  Mount 
End,  275,  276;  Mount  Hall,  278, 

279,  281 ;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel., 
282-3 ;  pop.,  275 ;  pub.  svces.,  276 ; 
rector  of,  see  Robert;  rect.,  233, 
236,  281;  roads,  276;  schs.,  239, 
273,  283;  top.,  275-6;  see  also  Hill 
Hall 

Theydons,  the,  2,  284 


Thistlewood,  G.,  10 

Thoby   Priory,    in    Mountnessing, 

210 
Thomas  of  Woodstock,  Earl  of  Essex 

and  Duke  of  Gloucester,  191 ;  his 

dau.  Anne,  191;  his  w.  Elnr.,  see 

Bohun 
Thomas,   Sir  Godfrey  J.  V.,    108; 

John,  67 
Thomas  &  Storrs,  271  n 
Thomlinson,  see  Tomlinson 
Thompson,    Arabella,    see    Aleyn; 

Dorothy,  see  Cooper;  Fran.,  235; 

Ric,  13;  Wm.,  and  his  w.  Agnes, 

Thorley,  Alice,  see  Sergeaux;  Kath. 
m.  —  Estoft,  II,  13;  Sir  Nich.,  11, 

13 
Thorn  Electrical  Industries,  76 
Thometon,  Rob.,  190 
Thornhill,  Isabel,  see  Battail;  Rob., 

177 
Thomthwaite,  Mr.,  170 
Thomwood,  in  North  Weald  Bassett, 

4,  5,  284,  285,  286,  292,  293,  294 
Thorogood     (Thorowgood,     Thor- 

rowgood),     Abraham,     90,     95; 

Catlyn,  74,  80,  82;  Sir  John,  178; 

Pate,  80;  Sim.,  294;  fam.,  75 
Thorold,  Rebecca,  see  Green,  Thos., 

147 
Thorowgood,  see  Thorogood 
Thorp,  Thos.,  213 
Thorpe-le-Soken,  297 
Thorrowgood,  see  Thorogood 
Thoumaian,  Revd.  G.,  41 
Threshers  Bush,  see  Thrushesbush 
Thrifts,  Old,  see  Frith  Hall 
Throckmorton,    Eliz.    w.    of    Geo., 

106;   Geo.   (fl.    1676),    106,    io8; 

Geo.  (fl.   1703),   106;  John,   106; 

Thos.,  106;  Wm.,  106 
Throgmorton  plot,  243 
Thrushesbush  (Threshers  Bush),  in 

High  Laver,  87,  95,  195 
Thurgot  (fl.  c.  1043-5),  159 
Thurkettle,  Rob.  and  his  w.,  69 
Thurloe,  John,  190;  Thos.,  190 
Thurstan  s.  of  Wine,  159,  166 
Thynne,  Sir  John,  278 
Tilbury,  155,  172 
Tilty,  78 
Tilty    Abbey,    29;     abbot    of,    see 

Robert 
Timms  (later  Hervey-Elwes),  John, 

253 
Tindal,  Rob.,  132 
Tipper,  Wm.,  190;  Lady,  149 
Tipping,    Ann,    Lady,    see   Cheeke, 

288;  Kath.  m.  Thos.  Archer,  Ld. 

Archer,  288;  Sir  Thos.,  Bt.,  288 
Tirell,  Sir  Hen.,  162;  Rob.  and  his 

w.  Joyce,   99;   Revd.  Wm.,  65  n, 

68,  69  n,  72  n;  see  also  Tyrell 
Titanic,  sinking  of  the,  1 66 
Titchmarsh  (Northants.),  77 
Todd,  John,  78,  81 
Toesni,  Ralf  de,  105 
Toheham,  Maurice  de,  59 
Toke,  Nich.,  201 
ToUeshunt  d'Arcy,  145,  263 
Tomlinson     (Thomlinson),     Alice, 

188,    249;    Jas.,    204,    206     207; 

Josiah,  184;  J.  H.,  207;  Ric,  204; 

fam.,  204,  206,  207 
Tooke,  Revd.  John,  81,  84;  Rob., 

81 ;  Revd.  Thos.,  81,  82,  83;  Miss, 

jee  Calvert;  fam.,  83 
Toot  Hill,  in  Stanford  Rivers,  5,  58, 

159  n,   208,   209,   210,   220,   221, 

259,  260 
Topping,  Revd.  W.  D.,  95  n,  107  n, 

108  n 
Torkeseye,  Mat.  de,  29 
Torrance,  Mat.,  104,  106,  178 


334 


INDEX 


Torrell  (Torell),  Anne  m.  Hen. 
Joscelin,  14s;  Anne,  see  Mor- 
daunt;  Emma,  see  Starkey;  Hen. 
(d.  1481),  145;  Hen.  (d.  1526), 
145;  Humph,  (fl.  1503),  145; 
Humph,  (d.  1517),  287;  Humph, 
(d.  1544),  14s;  Thos.,  297 

Torrells  Hall,  in  Willingale  Doe,  182 

Tottenham  (Mdx.),  41 

Toulouse  (France),  279 

Towton,  Battle  of,  266 

Tozer,  Revd.  Isaac,  165 

Traceys,  in  Stanford  Rivers,  ai2, 
215-16,  236 

Tracy,  Agnes  de,  215;  Hugh  de  (fl. 
1315).  215;  Hugh  de  (fl.  1353), 
215;  Jas.  de,  215;  John  de  and 
Margery  his  w.,  215;  Mabel  w.  of 
Thos.  de,  215;  Margery  de,  215; 
Thos.  de  (d.  by  133s).  176,  215; 
Thos.  de  (d.  1353),  215;  Wm.  de, 

215 

Trafalgar,  Battle  of,  24,  138 

Traherne  (Trayheme),  Phil.  (fl. 
1677),  167;  Phil.  (fl.  1694),  s; 
Rowland,  5 

Travers,  Adam,  Archdeacon  of 
Exeter,  264 

Trayheme,  see  Traherne 

Trebeck,  Revd.  And.,  204,  205,  207; 
Revd.  Jas.,  204,  205,  206,  207; 
Mary,  see  Green 

Trebizond,  abp.  of,  see  Errington 

Tregoz,  Eve,  see  Valeynes ;  Nich.,  263 

Tretheck,  Joan,  see  Brent ;  John,  1 3 ; 
Wm.,  13 

Trigg  &  Moore,  builders,  69 

Trinity  College,  Oxford,  143,  146 

Trotter,  Raymond  E.,  289 

Tuck,  Zach,  234 

Tudor,  Jasper,  Duke  of  Bedford  (d. 
I49S)>  io>  243;  Kath.,  see  Stafford 

Tugendhat,  Mrs.,  60  n 

Tuke,  Sir  Brian,  224,  229 

Tunbridge,  Josias,  90;  Thos.,  90 

Turner,  Eliz.,  see  Golsborough; 
Ric,  164;  Wm.  (fl.  1657),  267; 
Wm.  (fl.  1682),  193;  Wm.  Fred, 
(d.  c.  1905),  117,  128;  Mr.,  archi- 
tect, 237;  —  &  Son,  architects,  loi 

Turnpikes,  19,  20,  1 13-14,  174;  see 
also  Epping  and  Ongar  Highway 
Trust,  Middlesex  and  Essex  High- 
way Trust 

Turpin,  Dick,  highwayman,  114 

Turstin  the  Red,  143 

Turvin,  John,  93  n,  183 

Tuson,  Thos.,  122 

Tusser,  Wm.,  145 

Twickenham  (Mdx.),  106 

Tnyneham,  W.  H.,  226;  W.  H.,  jr., 
226  n,  227  n,  234  n 

Tyfiin,  Mary,  sec  Jenour;  Wm.,  27 

Tylby,  — ,  a  clerk  in  holy  orders,  254 

Tyle,  Alice  de,  see  Enfield;  John  de, 
II,  99 ;  Ralph  de,  1 1 ,  99 

Tylney,  earl,  see  Child 

Tyng,  Wm.,  214 

Tyrell,  Edw.,  297;  Sir  Thos.  (fl. 
1464),  11;  Sir  Thos.  (fl.  1482-3), 
290;  Sir  Thos.  (fl.  1500),  264; 
Thos.  (fl.  1529),  264;  see  also 
Tirell 

Tyro,  Mr.,  164 

Tyser,  Wal.  P.,  142,  144 

Tyson,  Revd.  Mic,  82  n 


Ulmar  (fl.  1066),  190,  262 

Ulsi  (fl.  1066),  143 

Ulster,  ctss.  of,  see  Burgh 

UIvric(fl.  1066),  118 

Ulwin  (fl.  1066),  251 

University  College,  Oxford,  24s  n 


Upminster,  78 

Upper  Hall  (Lady  Hall),  in  Moreton, 

130,  131 
Urania  by  Mary,  Lady  Wroth,  119, 

120 
Uvedale,  John  de,  234 


Vale,  Mr.,  95,  137,  292 

Valence,  Agnes  de,  252,  253 ;  Aymer 
de.  Earl  of  Pembroke,  262 ;  Mary 
w.  of  Aymer  de.  Earl  of  Pem- 
broke, 262 

Valentia,  vet.,  see  Annesley 

Valentyne,  Marg.,  30 

Valeynes,  Eve  de  m.  Nich.  Tregoz, 
263 

Valognes,  Geoff,  de,  251;  Gunnore 
de  m.  Rob.  Fitz  Walter,  25 1 ;  Pet. 
de,  116,  118,  121,  251,  284,  286; 
lam.,  251 

Valognes,  honor  of,  121,  251,  253, 
286,  287 

Vane,  Revd.  Fred.,  149,  295 

Vannell,  Raphael,  235 

Vaughan,  Ric,  Bp.  successively  of 
Bangor,  Chester,  and  London, 
135,  163,  216 

Velley,  Jane,  see  Cleeve ;  Revd.  Thos. 
(?d.  1750),  16,  60,  168;  Thos.  (d. 
1806),  93,  159;  fam.,  95 

Vera,  Alice  de,  Ctss.  of  Oxford,  see 
Sergeaux;  Alice  de,  see  Sanford; 
Aubrey  de  (fl.  1086),  192,  198; 
Aubrey  de  (fl.  early  12th  cent.), 
27,  201 ;  Aubrey  de  (fl.  1 166),  192 ; 
Aubrey  de.  Earl  of  Oxford  (d. 
1 194),  224  n;  Aubrey  de.  Earl  of 
Oxford  (d.  1214),  198  n;  Aubrey 
de  (d.  1579-80),  227-8;  Edw.  de. 
Earl  of  Oxford,  227-8;  Eliz.  de, 
w.  of  John  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford 
(d.  1513),  227;  Eliz.  de,  Ctss.  of 
Oxford,  see  Howard;  Hugh  de. 
Earl  of  Oxford,  31;  Joan  de,  m. 
Wm.  de  Warenne,  3 1 ;  John  de. 
Earl  of  Oxford  (d.  1360),  27,  192; 
John  de.  Earl  of  Oxford  (d.  1462), 
II,  227;  John  de.  Earl  of  Oxford 
(d.  15 1 3),  91,  192,  227;  John  de. 
Earl  of  Oxford  (d.  1540),  225,  227; 
John  de.  Earl  of  Oxford  (d.  1562), 
227;  Rob.  de.  Earl  of  Oxford  (d. 
1 296),  3 1 ;  Rob.  de.  Earl  of  Oxford 
(d.  1392),  198 

Veryard,  Mr.,  226 

Victoria  and  Albert  Museum 
(Lond.),  269  n,  280 

Victoria,  Queen,  216 

Villages,  nucleated,  i,  43,  72-73, 
iio-ii,  173,  188 

Vincent,  Wm.  (fl.  1924),  127;  Revd. 
Wm.  St.  And.  (fl.  1823),  238 

Viney,  H.,  223 

Vivian,  Revd.  C.  H.,  126 

Vyne,  Sir  John  atte,  288 


Waddell,  Rosetta,  42 

Wade,  Sir  John,  106 

Wakering,  Little,  277 

Walbrook  (Lond.),  262 

Walcott,  Rose  m.  Rob.  Bourne,  131 

Walde,  E.  H.  S.,  150  n 

Waldegrave.'Anne,  Ctss.  Waldegrave, 
149;  Chas.,  144;  Edw.  (fl.  <;.  1509), 
11,51,90,  177;  Sir  Edw.  (d.  1561), 
143,  146,  147;  Sir  Edw.,  Bt.  (fl. 
1643),  144;  Edw.  (d.  1809),  147; 
Elnr.,  see  Lovell;  Frances  Lady 
(d.  1599),  144;  Frances,  Ctss. 
Waldegrave,  see  Braham;  Francis 
(Frances)    m.  John   Wright,  69; 


Geo.  Edw.  Earl  Waldegrave,  144, 
147,  149;  Gresilda,  see  Wrytell; 
Henrietta  Lady  Waldegrave,  147; 
Hen.  Ld.  (d.  1689),  144;  Jas. 
Earl  Waldegrave  (d.  1741),  140, 
147;  Jas.  Earl  Waldegrave  (d. 
1763),  145;  John,  Earl  Walde- 
grave (d.  1784),  142,  145;  John 
Jas.  Earl  Waldegrave  (d.  1835), 
144;  John  Jas.  (d.  1840),  144; 
Kath.,  see  Brown;  Nich.,  192; 
Wm.  Fred,  styled  Vet.  Chewton, 
147;  fam.,  65,  67,  142,  143,  14s, 

147 
Walden,  Alice  de  m.  —  Battail,  176; 

And.  de,   106,   176;  Humph,  de 

(d.  1331),  105,  176,  211;  Humph. 

de  (fl.  1336),  176;  Joan  w.  of  And. 

de,   176;  John,  201;  Marg.  w.  of 

Thos.  de,  ?m.  2  Thos.  Dryffeld, 

176.  177;  Rog.  de,  176;  Thos.  de 

(fl.  1336),  176;  Thos.  de  (d.  1420), 

106,  176;  fam.,  17s 
Walden,  King's  (Herts.),  79 
Walden,  Saff'ron,  157,  166,  278 
Walden,  St.  Paul's  (Herts.),  see  Hoc 
Waldesef,   Alan,   205;  Aveline,   see 

Cruce 
Waldron,   Amy,   see   Stoner;   Geo., 

228 
Waleran,  John  s.  of,  46,  51,  52,  175 
Wales,  131 
Wales,  prince  of,  see  Edward  VHI, 

George  H,  George  HI,  Henry 
Walgrave,   John,   bellfounder,    147, 

195 
Walker,  Revd.  Ant.,  43,  52,  54,  55  n, 

S6,  57,  180;  Chas.,  175;  Frances 

Eliz.,     see     Ewing;     Revd.     Jos. 

Gordon,    132;    Leonard,    stained 

glass  artist,  164  w;  Thos.,  79,  80; 

Wm.  (d.  1708),  79,  80  n,  82;  Wm. 

Jas.    Tyrwhitt    (fl.     1865),     106; 

Revd.  W.  H.,  165;  fam.,  75 
Wall,  Howard,  43  n 
Wallenger,  see  Wallinger 
Waller,  Humph.,  188;  Jane  M.,  128; 

Thos.,    277;    W.    Chapman,    34, 

112,  116,  117,  122,  124,  128 
Wallinger   (Wallenger),    Ant.,    176; 

Ben.,  176;  Jas.,  149;  Judith,  176; 

Judith,  see  Mildmay;  Wal.,  176 
Wallis,  Geo.  Starkins,  88,  92  n 
Walpole,    Sir    Edw.,    28;    Horace, 

226 
Walsingham,  Sir  Edm.  (d.  1550),  90; 

Edm.(d.is89),9o;  Sir  Fran.,  I78n; 

Elnr.,  see  Wrytell;  Jas.,   11,   90, 

177-8;  Sir  Thos.  (d.  1584),  11,  12,  . 

13,   14,  90;  Sir  Thos.  (d.  1630), 

12,  13,   14,  90;  Sir  Thos.  (fl.  c. 

165s).  90 
Walter  (fl.  1086),  251 
Walter,  Dorothy  m.  John  Atwood, 

215;  Wm.,  215 
Walter  Fitz  Robert,  25 
Waltham  Abbey  (par.),  see  Waltham 

Holy  Cross 
Waltham,  abbey  of,  28,  81,  88,  116, 

118,   121,   175,   181,  251-3,  256; 

abbots  of,  28,  81,214,  266;  see  also 

Fuller,  Harewes,  John,  Maiden- 

heth,    Reynold,    Robert,    Simort; 

prior  of,  see  Geoffrey 
Waltham  Cross  (Herts.),  116 
Waltham   Forest,   29,   81;    see  also 

Epping  Forest,  Hainault  Forest 
Waltham,  Great,  27,  131,  200 
Waltham,  half-hund.  of,  4  «,  5,  38 
Waltham     Holy     Cross     (Waltham 

Abbey),   5,    30  n,    113,    115,   264, 

284;  see  also  Sewardstone 
Waltham,  Little,  259  n 
Waltham,  Rog.  de,  290 
Walthamstow,  78,  iii,  123,  196 


335 


A  HISTORY  OF  ESSEX 


Walton,  Isabel  w.  of  Sir  Ric,  225; 
Joan  m.  John  Howard,  Ld.  Plaiz, 
227;  John  (fl.  13th  cent.),  227; 
John  s.  of  John  (fl.  13th  cent.), 
227;  John  de  (fl.  1319),  140; 
Margery,  227;  Sir  Ric,  225,  227 

Walworth  (Lond.),  218 

Wankford,  Mrs.,  109 

Wanstead,  37,  iii,  123,  181 

Wapping  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  254, 
268 

War  damage,  35,  69,  iii,  122,  123, 
141,  144,  146,  147,  185,  192,  209, 
217,  222,  226,  230,  244,  250,  280, 
28s 

Warblington,  Wm.  de,  176 

Ward,  Dudley,  269;  Jane,  see 
Plummer;  Revd.  J.  H.,  209  n, 
217  n;  Nat.,  242,  247;  Rob. 
Plummer,  291 

Wardstaff,  of  Ongar  hund.,  5-8,  76, 
80;  of  Harlow  half-hund.,  7 

Warenne,  Alice  de  m.  Edm.  Fitz 
Alan,  Earl  of  Arundel,  3 1 ;  Joan 
de,  see  Vere;  John  de.  Earl  of 
Surrey  (d.  1304),  31;  John  de. 
Earl  of  Surrey  (d.  1347),  31 ;  Wm. 
de,  31 

Warham,  Wm.  Abp.  of  Canterbury, 
290 

Warley,  Great,  221  n 

Warley,  Little,  239 

Warner,  F.,  309  n;  John  &  Sons, 
bellfounders,  154 

Warwick,  ctss.  of,  85 ;  see  also  Ela 

Warwick,  earls  of,  see  Edward, 
Neville,  Rich 

Warren,  Revd.  W.  H.,  62 

Water  supply,  113,  158,  276  «;  see 
also  East  London  Waterworks 
Co.,  Herts.  &  Essex  Waterworks 
Co.,  Metropolitan  Water  Board 

Waterhouse,  Paul,  designer,  256 

Waterloo,  battle  of,  in,  138 

Waterton.  Joan  m.  Lionel,  Ld.  de 
Welles 

Watkinson,  Mr.,  213 

Watlington,  Geo.,  32;  John  Wat- 
lington  Perry,  32,  90;  Louisa,  see 
Bodle;  Maria  Jane  m.  Thos. 
Perry,  32 

Watson,  Chris.,  307  n ;  Eliz.  (d. 
1782),  232;  Eliza  (d.  by  1871), 
128;  Fothergill,  156;  John  and  his 
w.  Eliz.,  30;  T.  H.,  architect,  122 

Watts,  Jas.,  107 

Wauton,  Sim.  de,  Bp.  of  Norwich,  79 

Waylett  (Waylet),  John  (d.  1566),  13, 
51,  181 ;  John  (fl.  1566),  181 ;  John 
(d.  1612),  i8i;  John  (fl.  1620), 
181;  John  (fl.  1728),  bellfounder, 
184;  Jos.,  215;  Ric,  193;  Wm.  (fl. 
1569),  181 ;  Wm.  (fl.  1785),  79 

Weald  Bassett,  North,  2,  3,  4,  26, 
103.  153.  176,  177.  258,  274,  27s, 
884-95;  adv.,  290-1;  agric,  286; 
army  post,  286;  Bp.  Compton's 
census,  311;  char.,  295;  ch., 
290-2;  commons,  284,  285,  286; 
Cracks  Bridge,  286;  fair,  286; 
G.P.O.  Radio  Stn.,  285;  hearth 
taxes,  305,  308,  310;  hos.,  284-5, 
288,  289,  290,  291,  295;  inc.,  286; 
man.  chapel,  291;  mans.,  6,  251, 
254,  286-90;  medieval  taxes, 
300-2;  mills,  286;  noncf.,  137, 
292-3;  par.  govt,  and  poor  rel., 
293;  pop-.  285;  postal  svces.,  286; 
pub.  svces.,  286;  rly.,  286;  R.A.F. 
Stn.,  284,  285,  286,  295;  rect., 
291;  roads,  285;  schs.,  221,  294; 
top.,  284-6;  Tylers  Green,  284, 
285,  286,  292;  vicarage,  291; 
Weald  Bridge,  286;  Weald  Gullet, 
284,  28s,  286,  294;  Weald  Hall, 


284,  286,  288,  291;  woods,  284; 
see     also     Canes,     Hastingwood, 
Marshalls,    Paris    Hall,    Thorn- 
wood 
Weald,  South,  29,  66,  70,  139,  140, 
141 ;  see  also  Bentley,  Wealdside 
Wealdside,  in  South  Weald,  148 
Weaver,  Revd.  Sam.,  165 
Webb,  Geo.,  242;  Mr.,  220 
Webster,  Julia,  170;  Sir  Thos.,  Bt., 

177;  Mr.,  2S3 
Weir,  Revd.  A.  W.  L,  136  n 
Welby,  Ada  de,  80;  Eliz.  de,  66,  80; 
Joan  de  m.  John  de  Haugh,  66, 
80;  Juliane  de,  see  Multon;  Marg. 
de,  8o;Ric.  de,  66,  80 
Welde,  Eliz.  de  m.  Lewis  Mewes, 
199;  John  de,  163,  184;  Ric.  de, 
199;  Wm.  atte,  192,  199 
Wele,  John,  31 
Welle,  see  Welles 

Weller,  Jane  m.  Sir  Thos.  Spencer 
Wilson,  Bt.,  100;  John  Badger, 
lOon;  Marg.  Mary  w.  of  John 
Badger  ( ?  dau.  of  John  Evans),  see 
Jones 
Welles  (Welle),  Adam  de,  Ld.  de 
Welles  (d.  1311),  265;  Adam  de, 
Ld.  de  Welles  (d.  1345),  265,  268; 
Cecily  de,  Vctss.  Welles,  see  Cecily, 
dau.  of  Edw.  IV;  Eudo  de,  266; 
Joan  de.  Lady  de  Welles,  see 
Engaine ;  Joan  de.  Lady  de  Welles, 
see  Waterton;  John  de,  Ld.  de 
Welles  (d.  1361),  266;  John  de, 
Ld.  de  Welles  (d.  1421),  266;  John 
de  (fl.  1457),  266;  John  de.  Vet. 
Welles  (d.  1499),  266;  Lionel,  Ld. 
de  Welles,  266,  267;  Marg.  de, 
Dchss.  of  Somerset,  see  Beaufort; 
Maud,  Lady  de  Welles,  266;  Ric. 
de,  Ld.  Willoughby  and  Ld.  de 
Welles,  266 ;  Sir  Rob.  de,  266 
Wellesley,  Art.  Duke  of  Wellington, 
in;  Gerald,  Duke  of  Wellington, 
66;  Hen.  Eari  Cowley  (d.  1884), 
47;  Wm.  Earl  Cowley,  47,  52 
Wellesley-Pole,     Wm.,     see     Pole- 

Tylney-Long- Wellesley 
Welling  (Kent),  137 
Wellingborough  (Northants.),  38 
Wellington,  dukes  of,  see  Wellesley 
Wells,  Revd.  J.,  16;  W.  C,  83 
Welsh  cattle  dealer,  242 
Wennington,  see  Leventhorpes,  80  n 
Wentworth,  Lore  m.  Edmund  Shaa, 
290  n;  Ric,  11,  13;  Sir  Rog.,  290; 
Thos.  Ld.  Wentworth,  54 
West  Hatch,  see  Hatch,  West 
West,  Hen.  Ld.  De  La  Warre,  226; 
Isabella,  Lady  De  La  Warre,  see 
Edmunds;   John,    158;   Sir  Rey- 
nold, II,  13;  Mrs.  S.,  234 
West  Indies,  see  Barbados 
Westbrook,  John,  180;  Mary  Alice, 

see  Stane 
Westminster,  92 
Westminster  Abbey,  65,  66,  181 
Westminster,  abp.  of,  see  Wiseman 
Westmorland,  earl  of,  see  Fane 
Weston,  Sir  Jerome,  199,  200,  201; 
Sir  Ric.  (d.  1572),  199,  200;  Ric. 
Earl  of  Portland  (d.    1635),    199, 
200 
Westwood  'hamlet',  see  High  Ongar 
Westwood,  Mrs.  Ann,  69 
Wetherspane,  see  Withers  Pawne 
Wetmere,  Osbert  de,  251 ;  Ralph  de, 

251 
Wheeler,  Hen.,  100 
Wheler,  John,  242 
Whetynton,   Lucy   de   m.    i   Thos. 

Gernon,  2  Thos.  Lampet,  253, 263, 

266;  Maud  de,  263 
Whiston,  Edw.,  100 


Whitaker,  Anne,  119,  126,  128;  Wm. 
and  his  w.  Anne,  119 

Whitbread  &  Co.,  brewers,  76 

White,  G.  and  D.  W.,  47;  John,  158; 
J.  (of  Fyfield),  45  ;  J.  (of  Moreton), 
130;  Ric,  16;  Revd.  Thos.  (fl. 
1707),  24s;  Thos.  (fl.  1839),  204; 
Tyndale,  244,  246;  Mr.,  84 

Whitechapel  (Mdx.,  later  Lond.),  2i, 
42,74,  114,157 

Whitehouse,  Canon  I.,  34  n 

Whiteman,  Miss  E.  A.  O.,  311  n 

Whitley,  Revd.  W.  T.,  123 

Whitmore,  Sir  Thos.,  Bt.,  161 ;  Sir 
Wm.,  Bt.,  161 

Whitney,  G.,  45 

Whytehome,  John,  33 

Wicksted,  Revd.  Wm.,  202 

Wight,  Isle  of,  65 

Wilcox,  Revd.  Dan.,  195 

Wild,  Eliz.  w.  of  Sam.,  256,  258; 
Sam.,  256;  fam.,  256 

Willets,  Emily,  170 

Willey,  — ,  carrier,  74 

William  I,  30,  65,  118,  143,  159, 
210  «,  276 

William  III,  269 

William  IV,  as  Prince  Wm.,  117 

William  of  Ste.  Mfere  £glise,  Bp.  of 
London,  81,  290 

William  the  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,  179 

William,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  59 

William  Fitz  Audelin,  175;  his  w. 
Juliane,  see  Doisnel 

William  Fitz  Edric,  28 

William  Fitz  Geoffrey,  198 

William  Fitz  Richard,  234;  his  dau. 
Marg.,  234 

William  Fitz  Sabine,  140 

William,  Ric.  Fitz  (fl.  1232-3),  234 

William,  Ric.  Fitz  (fl.  1268),  192 

William,  Robert,  of  Havering,  7 

William  s.  of  Constantine,  261,  262 

William  s.  of  Geoffrey,  see  Roinges, 
Wm.  de 

Williams,  Alex.,  21 1 ;  A.  E.  B.,  256  n, 
257  n;  Helen  Maria,  24;  Joan  m. 
Sir  Rob.  Billesdon,  14,  289;  John 
(fl.  isth  cent.),  14,  289;  Sir  John 
(fl.  1543),  181;  John  (fl.  1851), 
120;  Rog.,  founder  of  Rhode 
Island,  U.S.A.,  94  n;  Mrs.,  232 

Willingale,  Alf.,  115;  Sam.,  115; 
Thos.,  IIS,  116 

Willingale  (modern  par.),  150,  171, 
198 

Willingale  Doe,  5,  197,  198,  200, 
291 ;  see  also  Bird's  Green,  Rock- 
ells,  Torrells  Hall 

Willingale  Spain,  180 

Willoughby,  Joan  m.  Ric.  de  Welles, 
Ld.  Willoughby  and  Ld.  de 
Welles,  266;  Rob.,  Ld.  Willough- 
by, 266;  Wm.  Ld.  Willoughby, 
267 

Wills,  Trenwith,  66 

Wilmer,  Thos.,  27 

Wilson,  Jane  Lady,  see  Weller;  Sir 
John  Maryon,  Bt.,  45,  98,  100; 
Jos.,  74;  Leonard,  116;  Sir 
Spencer  Maryon,  Bt.  (d.  1897), 
100;  Thos.  (fl.  1842),  213;  Sir 
Thos.  Maryon,  Bt.  (d.  1821),  100; 
Sir  Thos.  Spencer,  Bt.  (d.  1798), 
100;  Revd.  Wm.  (d.  1822),  135, 
138,  139;  Revd.  W.  L.  (fl.  1890), 
41,  127;  Mr.,  293 

Wilton,  John,  22 

Wiltshire,  earls  of,  see  Ormond, 
Stafford 

Wiltshire,  Wm.,  202 

Wimarc,  Robert  Fitz,  234,  276 

Wimbledon  (Surr.),  215 

Wimund  (fl.  1086),  151 

Winchilsea,  earl  of,  see  Finch 


336 


INDEX 


Winchester,  bps.  of,  see  Lucy,  Mews 
Winchester,  earl  of,  see  Despenser 
Windsor,  Bridget  m.  i  Edw.  Ferrers, 

2  And.    Ognall,   278;   Wm.    Ld. 

Windsor,  278 
Wine,  Thurstan  s.  of,  159 
Wingfield,     Christiana     Lady,     see 

Fitzwilliam ;   Sir  Ric,   later  Vet. 

Powerscourt,  267 
Wingham,  Rev.  P.  H.,  35  n,  37  n 
Wingrue,  Jonathan,  69 
Winkworth,  D.  E.,  127  n 
Winniffe  (Wynnyff),  John,  83 ;  Thos. 

Bp.  of  Lincoln,  76,  81,  83 
Winnington,     Henrietta    m.     Sam. 

Ld.  Masham,  92,  99 
Winsford  (Som.),  256  n 
Winstanley,  Thos.,  274 
Winter,  Alice,  103 
Wiseman,  Anne  m.  Wm.  Fitch,  225 ; 

Geo.,  225  ;  John  and  his  w.  Agnes 

(fl.  1539),  201 ;  John  (d.  1615),  27; 

Mary,  see  Jenour;  Nich.,  Cardinal 

and  Abp.  of  Westminster,  70  n, 

165;  Ric.  (d.  1616),  228;  Sir  Ric. 

(d.  1654),  228;  Ric.  (fl.  1654),  228; 

Sir  Rob.,  228;  Steph.,  27;  Thos. 

(d.    1563),   27;   Thos.   (fl.    1565). 

193 ;  Thos.  (fl.  1617),  27;  Wm.,  27 
Witham,  157 
Withers       Pawne       (Wetherspane, 

Chivers  Pawne,  Chivers  Hall,  the 

Rookery),    in    High    Ongar,    173, 

174,  179,  182,  185 
Wivenhoe,  225 
Wodeward,  see  Woodward 
WoUsey,  Eliz.  m.  Wm.  Nodes,  122 
Wolsey,  Thos.,  Cardinal,  242 
Wolverley,  in  Solihull  (Warws.),  24 
Wood  (Woode),  Alan  and  Joan  his 

w.,  62;  Hen.,  158;  Sir  John,  224, 

225 ;    Magdalen    m.     Sir    Thos. 

Edmunds,  225;  Rob.,  270;  Wm. 

(fl.    1719),    186;   Wm.   (fl.   1828), 

169;  Mr.,  64 
Wood    (formerly    Lockwood),    Lt.- 

Gen.  Wm.  M.,  77,  85 
Woodford,  19,  20,  21,  22,  28,  35-36, 

84,  no.  III,  114,  119,  233,  293 
Woodham,  Walter,  25 
Woods,  Geo.  A.  H.,  154;  Ric,  land- 
scape gardener,  64,  68 
Woodstock,     Thos.     of,     Duke    of 

Gloucester,  see  Thomas 


Woodthorp,  Thos.,  i6 

Woodward  (Wodeward),  John,  132, 

133;    Josiah    (fl.    c.    1700),    244; 

Revd.  Josiah  (fl.  1710),  131,  132; 

Martha,  see  Nicholas;  Wm.  and 

his  w.  Agnes,  1 1 
Woolston,  in  Chigwell,  2,  6,  19,  20, 

23,  26-27,  30-32,  37-38,  78,  235, 

299-302 
Wootton,  Wm.,  80 
Wormlayton,  Arme,  271;  Fulk,  254; 

Jane,  271;  Jane  w.  of  John,  271; 

John  (d.  by  1 680),  254 ;  John  (d.  by 

1725),  271;  John  (fl.  1727),  254 
Wormsley  (Oxon.),  68 
Wragg,  Revd.  C,  70;  Revd.  Jacob, 

51;    Mary,    see    Collins;    Revd. 

Thos.,  16 
Wright,  Ann,  see  Sulyard ;  Anne,  70 ; 

Ben.,  30571;  Revd.  D.  V.,  122  n; 

Edw.  Carrington,  66,  70;  Eugenia 

(d.  1710),  70;  Eugenia  w.  of  John, 

70;     Frances,     see     Waldegrave; 

Geo.,  71;  John  (d.  1551),  66,  69; 

John  (d.  1608),  67,  68,  69,  247; 

John  (d.  1654),  69,  70,  72;  John  (d. 

1656),  69,  72;  John  (d.  1661),  247; 

John(d.  1731),  70;  John(d.  1751), 

66,  69,  70;  John  (d.   1792),  70; 

John  (d.   1826),  66;  John  Fran. 

(d.  1868),  6s,  66,  70;  Wm.,  186; 

Mrs.  (fl.  1870),  93;  fam.,  63,  65, 

66,  69,  70 
Writtle,  154,  178,  180,  200 
Wroth,  Anne,  see  Gallard;  Eliz.  m. 

John  Wroth,  119,   125;  Hen.  (d. 

c.  1656),  25,  30,  119;  Sir  Hen.  (fl. 

1669),  25,  114;  Jas.  (d.  1616),  77, 

119,  252;  Jane  m.  Wm.  Hen. 
Zuylestein,  Earl  of  Rochford  (d. 
1709),  119;  John  (d.  1642),  30,  77, 
H9,  252;  John  (d.  1662),  25,  30, 
119;  John  (fl.  1703),  83;  John  (d. 
1708),  30,  119;  John  (d.  1718),  30, 
119;  Mary  Lady,  see  Sidney;  Sir 
Rob.  (d.   1606),  25,  30,  77,   118, 

120,  252;  Sir  Rob.  (d.  1614),  77, 
117,  119,  120,  252;  Susan  Lady, 
see  Stoner;  Sir  Thos.  (d.  1573),  25, 
74,  252;  fam.,  122 

Wrottesley,  Elnr.  m.  Wm.  Eyre 
(later  Archer),  268,  289;  Elnr. 
Lady,  see  Archer;  Sir  Wal.,  289 

Wrytell,  Audrey,  see  Shaa;  Elnr.  m. 


James  Walsingham,  1 1 ,  90,  1 77-8 ; 
Elnr.,  see  Ramsey;  Gresilda  m. 
1  John  Rochester,  2  Edw.  Walde- 
grave, II,  51,  90,  177;  Joan,  see 
Hende;  John  (d.  1485),  88  n,  89, 

177,  243;  John  (d.  1507),  89,  177, 

178,  243;  Juliane,  90,  177;  Kath. 
w.  of  Wal.,  m.  2  Sir  Ric.  Haute,  5 1 , 
88  n,  89,  177;  Ralph,  89;  Wal. 
(d.  1475),  II,  26  B,  51,  88  n,  89, 
90,  177,  242,  243;  fam.,  51,  89  «, 
17771 

Wyberd,  John,  188 

Wyher,  Thos.,  292 

Wylde,  Sim.  le  and  his  w.  Joan,  152 

Wylford,    John,    278;    Philippa    m. 

I  Sir  John  Hampden,  2  Sir  Thos. 

Smyth,  278,  279,  282;  Wm.,  278 
Wylkinson,  John,  264 
Wymundham,  Pet.,  199 
Wynnyff,  see  Winniffe 
Wynslowe,  Marg.  m.  Wm.  Nynge, 

134;  Thos.,  134 
Wynter,  Ric,  173 
Wythiale,    John,    254;    Sim.,    254; 

Thos.,  254 
Wyvill,    Marmaduke    and    his    w. 

Agnes,  47 


Yeallett,  Geo.,  45 

Yeates,  Revd.  J.  T.,  83 

Yonge,  see  Young 

York,  abp.  of,  see  Harsnett 

York,  dchss.  of,  see  Neville 

York,  duke  of,  see  Richard 

Yorkshire,  lands  in,  89,  90 ;  medieval 
tax  assessments,  296,  302 

Young  (Jonge,  Yonge,  Younge); 
Anne,  see  Day;  Geo.,  179  71;  Art., 
agriculturist,  23;  Edw.,  60;  Greg., 
179;  Jane,  179;  Kath.,  60;  Louisa 
Eliz.,  258;  Ric,  59,  60;  Rob.,  60; 
R.,  230;  Mrs.  S.,  28671;  Thos., 
200;  Wm.,  60  71 

Youngsbury,  in  Standon  (Herts.), 
254.  288 


Zuylestein,  Jane,  Ctss.  of  Rochford, 
sec  Wroth;  Wm.  Hen.,  Earl  of 
Rochford  (d.  1781),  119 


337 


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